Hi,
My first visit here. I am just newly diagnosed (It took them 2 years to diagnose me) I am a 56 year old woman. I have been struggling with cramping, gas, ++bleeding pain and diarrhea and severe fatigue since Dec 2010. I had been complaining to my Doc for months that I was feeling very unwell but no one took me seriously. Finally I ended up in emerg after passing out and injuring my ankle. My HGB was at 74. I finally got a referral to the GI Doc, and had my first scope. I had a nasty area of ulceration in the sigmoid colon. I had biopsies done. I was put on salofak enemas nightly for a year. I kept telling the Doc it was not helping and that my symptoms were getting worse. I was advised, "you do what I tell you to do,Do the enemas and you will be ok. " I saw the specialist many more times but no one seemed to think my symptoms were very serious. I was beginning to think it was all in my head, although I knew that it wasn't. Ten months later I ended up in emerg again after fainting HGB 69. Another scope with numerous biopsies, indicated crohn's colitis and diverticulitis. However the docs were not happy with that diagnosis as I was not following the usual progression of the disease. The only active area was the sigmoid colon nothing above and the rectum was clear. I was put on weekly iron infusions. I tried salofak enemas, salofak oral ,budinoside, prednisone, fatty chain acid enemas and finally Humira injections. None of which worked. The camera pill swallow, didn't show any ulcerations in the small bowel but indicated that I had an extremely rapid transit time. Microbiology noted crohn's in both right and left bowel biopsy tissue. The doctors feel that now my only option is surgery. I have agreed to the surgery and am scheduled for next week. How do I know if this is a good decision??? :confused2: I have read many posts about horror stories from surgery. I am trying to be positive but I already have a rapid transit time will it be worse once they remove the sigmoid? What about # of BM's per day. I was reading that some people have 20 to 30BM's after the surgery. If that is the case I would be no better off than I am now except that it may stop the bleeding. I am quite anxious about this surgery and hope that I have made the right decision. Has anyone got any advice, suggestions or comments that might make me feel better about the surgery...... For or against, any input would be much appreciated.
Thanks!!
My first visit here. I am just newly diagnosed (It took them 2 years to diagnose me) I am a 56 year old woman. I have been struggling with cramping, gas, ++bleeding pain and diarrhea and severe fatigue since Dec 2010. I had been complaining to my Doc for months that I was feeling very unwell but no one took me seriously. Finally I ended up in emerg after passing out and injuring my ankle. My HGB was at 74. I finally got a referral to the GI Doc, and had my first scope. I had a nasty area of ulceration in the sigmoid colon. I had biopsies done. I was put on salofak enemas nightly for a year. I kept telling the Doc it was not helping and that my symptoms were getting worse. I was advised, "you do what I tell you to do,Do the enemas and you will be ok. " I saw the specialist many more times but no one seemed to think my symptoms were very serious. I was beginning to think it was all in my head, although I knew that it wasn't. Ten months later I ended up in emerg again after fainting HGB 69. Another scope with numerous biopsies, indicated crohn's colitis and diverticulitis. However the docs were not happy with that diagnosis as I was not following the usual progression of the disease. The only active area was the sigmoid colon nothing above and the rectum was clear. I was put on weekly iron infusions. I tried salofak enemas, salofak oral ,budinoside, prednisone, fatty chain acid enemas and finally Humira injections. None of which worked. The camera pill swallow, didn't show any ulcerations in the small bowel but indicated that I had an extremely rapid transit time. Microbiology noted crohn's in both right and left bowel biopsy tissue. The doctors feel that now my only option is surgery. I have agreed to the surgery and am scheduled for next week. How do I know if this is a good decision??? :confused2: I have read many posts about horror stories from surgery. I am trying to be positive but I already have a rapid transit time will it be worse once they remove the sigmoid? What about # of BM's per day. I was reading that some people have 20 to 30BM's after the surgery. If that is the case I would be no better off than I am now except that it may stop the bleeding. I am quite anxious about this surgery and hope that I have made the right decision. Has anyone got any advice, suggestions or comments that might make me feel better about the surgery...... For or against, any input would be much appreciated.
Thanks!!
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