Hello

[roundtuit]

:sign0144:My name is Joni, and I was diagnosed with Crohn's in June of this year.
I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 years ago, and have battled digestive issues since then. I have had a total of 3 peri-rectal abcesses, a severly infected gall bladder removed and a hysterectomy. 3 of those surgeries were in the last 2 years. I am currently experiencing bizarre skin rashes and stomach aches that the dermatologist thinks are autoimmne and likely related to the Crohn's. I just had a skin biopsy last week to rule out Lupus. I still work full time for a very understanding employer.
I am currently taking Lialda, Allegra, Hydroxyzine, Vicoden, and a couple different 1% Steroid Creams. I also just started Yoga to help with the stress.
I am glad I found this site, but must say that I am going to have to get used to sharing so much of my "crappy" problems. On the other hand I am hoping I can learn to communicate with Dr's better. I am going to my 1st appointment with a new PCP next week.

 

[Entchen]

Hi, Roundtuit, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Dallies]

Hi Joni, and welcome to the forum, wow you've been through so much. It's very encouraging that you work full time for an understanding employer. It's great to have you here xxxx

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Joni and :welcome:

Wow, you have had a lot to deal with! Ah, share away with the crappy problems it might help lighten the load and we don't mind one bit. Do you think the yoga is helping? or is it too early to tell. There is a thread on here you may be interested in......................

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=10889&highlight=yoga+crohns+disease

I hope all goes well with docs visit next week. Please stick around as this is a friendly place with heaps of knowledgeable people and also keep us posted on how you are going. Any questions just fire away!

Welcome aboard!

Take care,
Dusty

 

[Astra]

Hi Joni
and welcome

Yes, you've been through quite a lot!
Feel free to share all your 'crappy' problems, that's what we're here for!
glad you found us, lots of support here and friends too!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Dexky]

Hi Joni and welcome!! I wonder if you could elaborate on those "bizarre" rashes you are having. The skin is an early indicator of liver malfunction we have learned lately. Just something to consider. Good luck!!

Dusty....How do you find that stuff????

 

[lseibert]

Welcome Joni,
You have suffered through a lot, hope you find support and some answers here.

 

[reidyjo81]

Just wanted to say welcome and share away ! I find it helps so much to speak about what I am going through with people that have gone through or are going throught the same thing. Sure your find it helps too.
Love Jo xx

 

[DustyKat]

Dusty....How do you find that stuff????

It's called having a memory Dex............

 

[roundtuit]

Hi Joni and :welcome:

Wow, you have had a lot to deal with! Ah, share away with the crappy problems it might help lighten the load and we don't mind one bit. Do you think the yoga is helping? or is it too early to tell. There is a thread on here you may be interested in......................



I hope all goes well with docs visit next week. Please stick around as this is a friendly place with heaps of knowledgeable people and also keep us posted on how you are going. Any questions just fire away!

Welcome aboar

Take care,

Thanks for the yoga link. Great info. I am finding that yoga is helping quite a bit, especially with my moods and joint pain. After spending pretty much 2 years on the couch, I had been trying to get some exercise and finding that the joint pain made that pretty much impossible. A couple 20 minute rides on the recumbant bike and I was hobbling around like an old woman for days...and CRANKY...OMG! The soreness I get from yoga is more muscular and reminds me of the soreness I experienced as a child. Compared to the soreness I get from other exercise, it is almost pleasant lol. I do know that a good instructor makes all the difference. My instructor is all about making sure the poses are correct and that they do not cause pain. I have already learned that doing the poses incorrectly brings on the joint pain with a vengance , so until I am sure I can do the poses correctly, I only do them in class. As for farting...haha, not just Joni-Croni farts in class. Most of the others I meet say that breaking wind is a part of the practice. To me that means Yoga was made for us Crohnies!!!
Thanks for the great welcome message! Joni O
Haha..I had to take the link out of the reply!

 

[roundtuit]

Hi Joni and welcome!! I wonder if you could elaborate on those "bizarre" rashes you are having. The skin is an early indicator of liver malfunction we have learned lately. Just something to consider. Good luck!!

Dusty....How do you find that stuff????

Hi Mark, father of EJ...nice to cybermeet you.
You want to know about the rashes? O Boy. It all started with a reaction to a CT scan with contrast while I was on sulpha drugs (january). My face swelled and my eyelids peeled. Yuk. No one knows for sure what caused it, but I had never had any trouble with previou's CTs with contrast.
Then I got hives. Right after my hysterecomy in feb. One minute I would have big fat ones covering both legs, then little ones on one arm, then the stomach, then a foot. Benedryl didn't touch it. I ended up on prednisone because I got Asthmatic bronchitis and was still having hives, although not as often. They would often pop up right after I showered.
Then I turned red. I was the most beautiful shade of red. My chest, neck, and face were the brightest red you can imagine, although it would often get redder as the day progressed. I happened to have an appt with my gastro when I was like that, and he referred me to a dermatologist right off. The Derm's PA put me on Allegra, and several other drugs, as well as some steroid cream. It took about 8 weeks to clear up fairly well and I weaned off the drugs.
Then the eczema started. I have always had sensitive skin and eczema from time to time, but this was different. It would start on top of joints, and it was on my feet too. I also had a couple spots that were perfect circles. I took pictures and showed them to the derm on my next appt. I told him the steroid cream would keep things in check but was concerned about long term use over such large parts of my body. He had me quit the steroid cream and told me to come in for a skin biopsy when I got real bad. I had had a slightly elevated ANA and he wanted to redo the bloodwork too to rule out lupus.
So it gets real bad and guess who is out of the office for 2 weeks! haha. I saw the other derm who does NOT think it is lupus so did not do the bloodwork, but did do the skin biopsy.
Now I am back on Allegra, 2 different steroid creams, and the industrial streangth benedryl. Just waiting for the results of the skin biopsy.
So now you know the rest of the ( rash) story...lol

 

[roundtuit]

Thanks so much everyone, for the warm welcomes. I will do my best to pay it forward!

:sign0144:My name is Joni, and I was diagnosed with Crohn's in June of this year.
I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 years ago, and have battled digestive issues since then. I have had a total of 3 peri-rectal abcesses, a severly infected gall bladder removed and a hysterectomy. 3 of those surgeries were in the last 2 years. I am currently experiencing bizarre skin rashes and stomach aches that the dermatologist thinks are autoimmne and likely related to the Crohn's. I just had a skin biopsy last week to rule out Lupus. I still work full time for a very understanding employer.
I am currently taking Lialda, Allegra, Hydroxyzine, Vicoden, and a couple different 1% Steroid Creams. I also just started Yoga to help with the stress.
I am glad I found this site, but must say that I am going to have to get used to sharing so much of my "crappy" problems. On the other hand I am hoping I can learn to communicate with Dr's better. I am going to my 1st appointment with a new PCP next week.

 

[roundtuit]

OK...I got my new thermometer!!!
I wait until I am relaxed and sitting down for a few minutes....I am a 97.1
hmmm
I wait until I start sweating, about 10 minutes later and I am 96.8.
My body never ceases to mystify me.

 

[gypsigirl28]

hi welcome to the forum

 

[roundtuit]

Thank you....such a lovely bunch of people.