Hi everyone, my name is Julie and I have been living with CD for the past 15 yrs, phew where did that time go?? I'll condense my story as much as I can lol.
My problems started after an overseas trip to Bali for our honeymoon in 1994, I returned home with Bali belly (gastro) which didn't seem to go away. I was started on Flagyl until I realised I was pregnant and had to stop that medication. I suffered on and off with the d's and constipation during my pregnancy and had a text book delivery of my beautiful daughter in Oct 1994. Throughout the first year of being a new mum I suffered with the d's more and more frequently until in Oct 1995 I had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with CD and started on 50mg of Prednisolone and Mesalazine. I managed to wean off of the Pred and started taking natural supplements such as Slippery Elm Bark Powder (gross!) and managed to go into remission and fell pregnant with my son who was born in Jan 1998. I started to have problems with my feet, they would hurt so much when I got out of bed on a morning but would gradually feel better as the day went on. I started having the d's again and losing blood so was started back up on the Prednisolone again. At different times over the years I have tried Azathioprine, 6-MP and Methotrexate but have been unfortunate enough to have had reactions in one form or another from each of them and told to stop the meds. The only thing that I've been taking pretty much the whole time is Prednisolone, needless to say I have Osteopaenia now.
In Jan 2000, I had a Right Hemi-Cholectomy and a Cholecystectomy and managed to wean off the pred for a while (not long enough though). I've had problems with fistulas and arthritis over the last few years and had been advised to consider Infliximab or Humira. I tend to just put up with things and get on with it as best I can. I say I'm stubborn but my gastro says I'm very stoic! Anyway I finally decided to bite the bullet and had my first Infliximab infusion yesterday and am pleased to say that I tolerated it fine although I'm told that it's usually the 2nd infusion that you may have a reaction...I hope not. I look forward to reading some of the experiences of my fellow IBD sufferers and sharing some of mine with you.
I am grateful for finding these forums as it will be wonderful to know that someone understands exactly what I'm going through and how it feels to live with IBD.
My problems started after an overseas trip to Bali for our honeymoon in 1994, I returned home with Bali belly (gastro) which didn't seem to go away. I was started on Flagyl until I realised I was pregnant and had to stop that medication. I suffered on and off with the d's and constipation during my pregnancy and had a text book delivery of my beautiful daughter in Oct 1994. Throughout the first year of being a new mum I suffered with the d's more and more frequently until in Oct 1995 I had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with CD and started on 50mg of Prednisolone and Mesalazine. I managed to wean off of the Pred and started taking natural supplements such as Slippery Elm Bark Powder (gross!) and managed to go into remission and fell pregnant with my son who was born in Jan 1998. I started to have problems with my feet, they would hurt so much when I got out of bed on a morning but would gradually feel better as the day went on. I started having the d's again and losing blood so was started back up on the Prednisolone again. At different times over the years I have tried Azathioprine, 6-MP and Methotrexate but have been unfortunate enough to have had reactions in one form or another from each of them and told to stop the meds. The only thing that I've been taking pretty much the whole time is Prednisolone, needless to say I have Osteopaenia now.
In Jan 2000, I had a Right Hemi-Cholectomy and a Cholecystectomy and managed to wean off the pred for a while (not long enough though). I've had problems with fistulas and arthritis over the last few years and had been advised to consider Infliximab or Humira. I tend to just put up with things and get on with it as best I can. I say I'm stubborn but my gastro says I'm very stoic! Anyway I finally decided to bite the bullet and had my first Infliximab infusion yesterday and am pleased to say that I tolerated it fine although I'm told that it's usually the 2nd infusion that you may have a reaction...I hope not. I look forward to reading some of the experiences of my fellow IBD sufferers and sharing some of mine with you.
I am grateful for finding these forums as it will be wonderful to know that someone understands exactly what I'm going through and how it feels to live with IBD.
