Hey there, I've just joined the forum after reading about how helpful it is this past year. Im 14 yrs old and i was diagnosed with Crohns last year in october when i had my first colonoscopy and endoscopy after experiencing many symptoms over the past few months before that, the main ones being intense stomach cramps , extreme weight loss and hair thinning. I was terribly underweight. I was 44kg yet i was 5'8 . i had to go on a liquid diet for two months consisting of 8 fortisip shakes a day (no food at all ). This had helped my weight a bit as i was then 47kg. I was soon put on Azathioprine (100mg) in November which had started to calm most my symptoms down and i later developed a painful abscess in my anus in December. This soon began to discharge via a fistula but it was extremely painful so i was unable to walk and was in a wheelchair. The gastro team decided that it would be best to go on Infliximab, and told us that it worked well with Azathioprine. Although my parents hesitated because of its dangerous side effects, we agreed to go ahead with it and it worked perfectly. Over this time, i had an ng tube for the extra nutrition and calories and i was still able to eat. My weight had gone up to 54 kg, which was still underweight but i was feeling a lot better. By April time i was in full remission and my ng tube had been taken out. I was continuing the liquid diet, but only having 3 shakes a day, with 3 meals a day. However, my symptoms came back , but were not as terrible as they were before so i coped as best as i could. Now, i weigh 57 kg and i need to be 64kg at least so ive decided to go back on the ng tube to help me reach that goal. My main problem is though, my hair thinning, which hasn't improved from day one. Ive researched about it , and I'm not sure if its due to malnutrition or the azathioprine. Im really self conscious about it, because my school friends say that they can see through my hair . My dad keeps telling me that its because i don't have enough nutrients in my body, but that doesn't make sense to me because of all the nutrition I've been receiving via the ng tube and the fortisip shakes. My hairline has receded in some areas, and my hair has thinned quite a lot . It worries me a lot considering how people always mention it to me. The doctors have told me that it should go after a few months, but they told me that in february, and it seems to be getting worse. I used to have such thick hair before crohns disease and now, its so frustrating looking in the mirror. Do u have any idea what the cause is, and what the solution might be?
I have posted a pic of me earlier this year, and one of me now. My skin colour has darkened for some reason, probably due to poor nutrition somehow, yet im eating healthy and having extra nutrition via ng tube. this may be taken into consideration as well.
Thanks
I have posted a pic of me earlier this year, and one of me now. My skin colour has darkened for some reason, probably due to poor nutrition somehow, yet im eating healthy and having extra nutrition via ng tube. this may be taken into consideration as well.
Thanks
