Hello, everyone. I'm a long-time lurker just summoning up the rest of my courage to finally join here (I'm pretty shy)!
My name is Emma, and I'm from the UK. I was diagnosed shortly after my 9th birthday, which was relatively quick from what I've seen of others who had symptoms for absolutely ages! Don't know how I could have coped if it'd taken so long for me - I was passing pretty much pure liquid. My GP was... pretty much useless and told me to hold off red meat and fat, but my mum was suspicious as that same GP had misdiagnosed my granddad which probably contributed to him dying when he did. I don't remember much of what happened next (I've probably been blocking it out mentally), but I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy in September that year and got a diagnosis. I was put on Pentasa, and have been on and off iron tablets.
My problems, really, first started in 2009. In November I was thrown into hospital for removal of a stricture and then placed on an Elemental 028 diet for 6 weeks afterwards. I didn't mind the surgery much, but being on liquid food ruined me emotionally for some reason. I'd always been a girl that loved her food, but my doctor saw my bursting into tears as such an odd response he asked my mother if I should be referred for therapy!
Things started getting better... and then in summer 2011 they started getting worse. In December I went to talk to the same consultant in London I had for my surgery, and he suggested an MRI, which I had in February. I knew nothing of the results until Wednesday this week, when we asked the nurse doing my pre-op assessment to check them. They found thickening of the bowel lining, which didn't surprise me. So now I'm waiting for my colonoscopy in early May, and to see where to go from there!
I'm still on these Elemental drinks (but alongside regular food) and because I'm a stubborn teenager, it's really wrecking my relationship with my parents. I don't want to drink them, because I have bad memories associated with them, and then my parents get mad because I'm not drinking them and everyone ends up frustrated and not talking!
Wow, I've written a lot - I convinced myself I'd keep it short! But it seems an absolutely amazing place here and I hope I'm able to be as active a part of the community as I'd like, even with my shyness. :ysmile:
My name is Emma, and I'm from the UK. I was diagnosed shortly after my 9th birthday, which was relatively quick from what I've seen of others who had symptoms for absolutely ages! Don't know how I could have coped if it'd taken so long for me - I was passing pretty much pure liquid. My GP was... pretty much useless and told me to hold off red meat and fat, but my mum was suspicious as that same GP had misdiagnosed my granddad which probably contributed to him dying when he did. I don't remember much of what happened next (I've probably been blocking it out mentally), but I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy in September that year and got a diagnosis. I was put on Pentasa, and have been on and off iron tablets.
My problems, really, first started in 2009. In November I was thrown into hospital for removal of a stricture and then placed on an Elemental 028 diet for 6 weeks afterwards. I didn't mind the surgery much, but being on liquid food ruined me emotionally for some reason. I'd always been a girl that loved her food, but my doctor saw my bursting into tears as such an odd response he asked my mother if I should be referred for therapy!
Things started getting better... and then in summer 2011 they started getting worse. In December I went to talk to the same consultant in London I had for my surgery, and he suggested an MRI, which I had in February. I knew nothing of the results until Wednesday this week, when we asked the nurse doing my pre-op assessment to check them. They found thickening of the bowel lining, which didn't surprise me. So now I'm waiting for my colonoscopy in early May, and to see where to go from there!
I'm still on these Elemental drinks (but alongside regular food) and because I'm a stubborn teenager, it's really wrecking my relationship with my parents. I don't want to drink them, because I have bad memories associated with them, and then my parents get mad because I'm not drinking them and everyone ends up frustrated and not talking!
Wow, I've written a lot - I convinced myself I'd keep it short! But it seems an absolutely amazing place here and I hope I'm able to be as active a part of the community as I'd like, even with my shyness. :ysmile:
