Hello, my name is Elle and I have been lurking for a couple of months. On July 9th, what I thought was a stomach flu with really urgent bathroom breaks began. After two weeks, the doctor thought I had eaten some bad fruit and gotten a parasite. By August 2nd the doctor was sure it was UC or Crohns. To be honest, I suspected it before he did, but I never mentioned it to him because I didn't want him to think I was a hypochondriac.
Where I live is a 2 year wait for a gastroenterologist, but having read the posts on this website (notably the one that suggested crying - THANKS), I managed some waterworks and got on a call back list for a random gastroenterologist when a cancellation occurred. I now have an appointment on November 9th, and hope to have a firm diagnosis shortly afterward. I have to say, the whole thing scares me... the pain, the fatigue, the altered diet (I can only fully tolerate lactose-free milk, very ripe bananas, hard boiled or poached eggs and white bread - I do eat other foods, but pay the price).
I have two young girls and am actually happy that I became sick right at the beginning of my husband's vacation because I was so determined to not ruin my daughters' vacation that I didn't allow it to stop me. I know I can do anything now, even though I'm ill, because I've done it during the summer. If I had become ill at any other time, I fear I would have let it control my life.
I have had my two daughters since birth, they are Amber 2 1/2 and Kaylee 1 year old. They are currently foster children, but we are in the final stages to adopting them. They are my life's breath and my universe.
In retrospect, I've had some symptoms of IBD for many years, I suppose if I had a regular doctor it would have been noticed much earlier, but there is a doctor shortage here. No one has a family doctor, we all use walk-in clinics.
I think, what I will miss most, is the ability to have spontaneous relations with my husband. He's very understanding, heck, he's cleaned up more vomit from me in the past months than from our children in their whole lives. But it's very "unstimulating" to have to ask how I'm feeling (meaning am I going to have a bowel accident) before becoming romantic. I find I'm also too nervous during to really enjoy myself either... but I guess that'll fade after time.
I was also an avid veggie eater, I LOVE salads and fresh vegetables. I really miss Greek salads fiercely. I guess I just have to keep reminding myself that life is not about the foods we eat, but about the people we spend it with.
Well, that's me. I hope to both contribute to this wonderful community and find support here.
Where I live is a 2 year wait for a gastroenterologist, but having read the posts on this website (notably the one that suggested crying - THANKS), I managed some waterworks and got on a call back list for a random gastroenterologist when a cancellation occurred. I now have an appointment on November 9th, and hope to have a firm diagnosis shortly afterward. I have to say, the whole thing scares me... the pain, the fatigue, the altered diet (I can only fully tolerate lactose-free milk, very ripe bananas, hard boiled or poached eggs and white bread - I do eat other foods, but pay the price).
I have two young girls and am actually happy that I became sick right at the beginning of my husband's vacation because I was so determined to not ruin my daughters' vacation that I didn't allow it to stop me. I know I can do anything now, even though I'm ill, because I've done it during the summer. If I had become ill at any other time, I fear I would have let it control my life.
I have had my two daughters since birth, they are Amber 2 1/2 and Kaylee 1 year old. They are currently foster children, but we are in the final stages to adopting them. They are my life's breath and my universe.
In retrospect, I've had some symptoms of IBD for many years, I suppose if I had a regular doctor it would have been noticed much earlier, but there is a doctor shortage here. No one has a family doctor, we all use walk-in clinics.
I think, what I will miss most, is the ability to have spontaneous relations with my husband. He's very understanding, heck, he's cleaned up more vomit from me in the past months than from our children in their whole lives. But it's very "unstimulating" to have to ask how I'm feeling (meaning am I going to have a bowel accident) before becoming romantic. I find I'm also too nervous during to really enjoy myself either... but I guess that'll fade after time.
I was also an avid veggie eater, I LOVE salads and fresh vegetables. I really miss Greek salads fiercely. I guess I just have to keep reminding myself that life is not about the foods we eat, but about the people we spend it with.
Well, that's me. I hope to both contribute to this wonderful community and find support here.
I was just diagnosed and I can say I have definitely realized that this is all about the people around us, like you said. The sacrifices come on so quickly and they will continue to come, but our support system never has to be one of them. I hope we both can find support here. 
