Hello to everyone!

[MichelleinKansas]

Hi, my name is Michelle and I live in Kansas.

I joined a few weeks ago when I got the phone call that my pill cam showed mild Crohn's disease but I waited until after my follow up appointment, which was yesterday, before posting. I guess I didn't quite feel like I belonged yet.

I had the Prometheus IBD sgi Diagnostic test last July that showed "Pattern not consisent with IBD", but my second colonoscopy in two years showed ileitis and proctitis so we did the pill cam. My GI told me yesterday that I have small ulcers throughout my entire small intestine, more concentrated in the ileum than the jejunum.

I have been tapering off my third round of Prednisone and am down to 20mg and yesterday I started Azathioprine. They are now doing some genetic testing to dial in my dosage, testing for D3, B12, and zinc levels and getting a baseline for all the future blood work I will have to have.

I have to say that I'm scared but also hopeful that I will finally get some relief from all this darn pain!. The last ten years has been a real struggle just to get my PC to refer me to a GI doctor and to get anyone to believe I have this pain.
It is real!

I look forward to contributing here and I have already learned so much and gotten peace of mind from reading everyone's stories. Thank you all so much!

Michelle

 

[Astra]

Hiya Michelle
and welcome

So glad you've joined us, lots of Crohnie friends here for you.
Good luck with the Aza, lots of success stories with this med, I couldn't tolerate it tho.
Lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Angrybird]

Hello Michelle and welcome to the forum

How are things with the tum at the moment since being on the Pred? I will be keeping fingers crossed that the Aza can do the trick for you, definetly check out our sub forum for this so you can chat with others who are on it: http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64. I am very pleased they are going to be starting checks on your vitamin levels as it is common with crohn's to have deficiencies in this area.

Wishing you all the best and please keep us updated on how you are doing.

AB
xx

 

[723crossroads]

Hi Michelle, Welcome to the forum!
So glad you finally got your diagnosis. Don't you just feel gratified now that you know for sure that is what it is and people won't give you that look? I really hope the meds they put you on make a huge and lastling relief for you!!! Bless you!!! T

 

[MichelleinKansas]

Since I tapered the Prednisone to 20mg I have been having some issues, but my doctor said as long as they are tolerable we will leave it like it is and do a very slow taper from here to give the Azathioprine time to work.

 

[Astra]

I kept flaring when I hit 20mg too, try to stay on it til the Aza kicks in, usually 12 weeks.