Hello Im Jan ..

[Jandeacs]

I was Diagnosed with Crohn's in 2003 .. Im a senior now and having a bit of a bad time .. I had symptoms long before the diagnosis . seems quite comon for IBD suffers .. I was put on Pentasa . and told to take Prednisalone for flare ups . I waas offered an op at that time , as there was a narrowing of 12cms . in the lower part of the illeum .. ( I think ) Lol . I cant type . i said no thankyou , I wish i knew what I kniow now . I would have welcomed it with open arms .. I did go through a huge amount of stress during 2006-2007 .. But i Moved to a smaller place in 2008, i hated it , so moved again , to where I am now , which i love , but flare up after flare , prednisolne 40mgs nearly all the time as soon as i reduced up it would flare again , new consultants . I kinda slipped through the net .. kept getting infections , worn out , To xcatch up in august 2010 Bade flare up ! .. finaly saw a conultant in december 10 asfter putting my appoinment b ack twice .. he said he would refer me to surgeons .. i was just able to take fortisip , febuary 8th 2011. bang .. emergency illeostomy .. that pain is something else . thank goodness for morphine .. I had a prolapse 2 days after op and a hernia 3 dayas after .. ugh .. I went home after 8 days feeling quite fit , surgeon said my bowwel was lkike a piece of leather ..
eveery 3 days i had a blockage .. phew , A&E staff got to know me . until 8th april another emargency illeostomy .. this time Hernia ! no blockages .. But I developed Pneumonia in hospital .. then a huge wound opened up in my first incision .. MRSA ! .. Al this time I was waiting for a reversal .... tyo ill to have it , went home after two weeks district nurses to dress the wound . took two mnths to c lear . then blow me down just as i was felling better apart from chest infections and numerous anti-biotics . another dem ergency , this time pancreatitis .. plus pneumonia plus septicemia ..
i dont want to frighten anyone or cause alarm this was mostly because of my Depleted immnunre system , plus tooo many steriods .i recovered agaIN ! .. on a very light fat free diet and fortisip yogurts there quite nice although Im 66 .. im still here . You can get through anything if you want to enough .. Im not winging .. Im still smiling .. Still got a huge Hernia under my stoma .. and its very watery another reason for infections .. plus the MRSA . im clear now .. So Im going to see my Surgeon Tommorow .. to Hopefully get a date for Reversal yeahhhhhhhhhhhh , fingers c rossed for me plz . I keep losing my Pottasium . so take it orally now ..
If anyone wan ts to ask m e anything plz do .. but those of you that hav e had a reversal Plz could you gtell m e what to expect .
lots of love n caring to you alo .
Jan ..

 

[Grumbletum]

Hello Jan
Good to meet you, only wish the circumstances were nicer ones! Oh my, what an awful time you've had. Kudos to you that you are still smiling I certainly hope you get a date soon and that the reversal goes smoothly. If anyone deserves a break, it's you.

 

[scottmyster]

HI Jan, Welcome to the forum, boy you went through hell and back again. Are you doing ok now? i hope you are for all that you went through. Good luck on your reversal and everything works out fine for you. and it's nice to meet you. Best wishes

 

[David]

Hi Jan and welcome. I wish you all the best going forward!

*hugs*

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hi Jan :bigwave: Glad you made it here! So nice to see another more mature crohnie. I am not quite up there but I assure you I have had most of the problems but no stoma. Fingers crossed. I did take the surgery to have a resection in 1993 not long after they took out my appendix with exploratory surgery... The resection was laproscopic and did wonders, but of course there was no computers back then, no info, no support so I wrecklessly put it on the back burner, but as stress would have it, not long after the major stress in 2003 was another resection from hell! I have been fighting since then. Yes, prednisone is an evil drug and if you can avoid it I would try would of had I known. I know that calcium is important and moreso now that I am older.

I too lose a lot of potassium and keep up on that, low potassium is dangerous. Had an IV with concentrated potassium, they gave me double morphine than what I asked for and an ice pack, that was very painful, so I am careful. Too much isnt good either...

You have been through enough, can't help you with the reversal but there are many of people here who have. :welcome: to the forum!

 

[Astra]

Hiya Jan
and welcome

You poor love, what a lot you've been through!
Really hope you can get back on track now, hopefully we can help and support you on the way!
Enjoy the forum, lots of friends here for you
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Jandeacs]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh you All bought tears to my Eyes .. such lovely comments and such support .. I feel so welcomed . bless you all . I can say this now Ive had no Support through this year .. I live on my own .. my two children both have businesses i never see them .. so its really lovely for me to feel such support and some one to talk to .. I have cataracts as well from the steriods . lens gone hard so it not a simple op . seeing the eye ppl this friday . So Happy I found my way here too . i feel like Ive got a new Family .. I am here for any of you .. I am a strong woman .. and Happier hellping others done it all my life . I have cheated Death Three times now .. Funny feeling .. So was having someone elses blood , very strange .

Thankyou All ~waving ~ at you ..