Hi folks

[Rick_1138]

Hey all,

My name is Rick, and i live in Aberdeen Scotland.

I am 28 and have had Crohn's for about 16 years, but only been offical for about 10.

I am not so bad with the crohn's but there are bad times, as i am sure you all know, just now its particularly annoying, as i was recently dumped by my GF of 4 years, although i am a lot happier now that has happened, going on dates is a nightmare, although the women i have\am seeing are very understanding, just travelling into town, when i am already nervous, and my stomach is having a flare up doesn't help.

I suppose the old addage "these things are here to test us" ha ha.

I hope to be a useful member, and to find out advice\give\receive support and generally not make a nuisance of myself.

Nice to meet you all

Rick

 

[Bloom]

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the forum : )

You will get great advise here everybody is so nice and understanding.

Sorry to hear about your ex GF but your better off without her!

Stick around maybe post your story as to when and how your found out that you have Crohn's that way we have a better understanding.

x

 

[Rick_1138]

Well when i was about 16 i used to get the need to go to the loo urgently on the way to school (a bus with no toilet, about 30 min journey!!), but once i had gone i was fine all day.

I got blood coming froom a cut in the area and i was worried so went to the docs, and they said i had a fissure. This was when i was 20-21, had that seen to, but while i was out they did a biopsy.

This found i had crohn's, though it was in my rectum and apparently wasn't too bad, i was happy as it wasn't cancer, which i thought it was.

Basically had much the sdame symptoms since then, however over the last 5 years or so i have found travelling worse, worried when in traffic jams etc, and started getting stomach cramps about 4 years ago, the first being so bad the GP thought i had a twisted colon, so was sent to hospital tout sweet!

Turned out to simply be gas\constipation, but until we found this, was a scary few days, especialy as i was in a ward with 3 terminal colon cancer patients!!

Having a bad time just now, been water basically for the last 3 weeks, but today feel awful, nauseous all day (which i am not usually) and cold.

 

[Nica]

Hi Rick,
Welcome to the forum! Sorry you are dealing with a flare right now, it sucks I know.

 

[Rick_1138]

I wouldn't mind if i wasn't supposed to be meeting a girl for a bowling date....(of all the times to be having it bad, its when i meet women!!! lol

 

[Nica]

ahh the beauty of crohn's when we least need it to act up it does!.. I am not sure if I would be brave enough to go bowling on a first date with an active flare, hats off to you!

 

[Rick_1138]

Well this is a second date, but still.

The most aggrecating thing is a girl i knew from 18 years ago has got back into contact, she is perfect, the only problem is she lives in London and i in Aberdeen, i would be on a plane like a shot but i hate travelling...my life seems to be going through a period of testing!

 

[Nica]

I love to travel, but crohn's gets in the way!

 

[Rick_1138]

I should have said that, i wish i could travel without having to plan every possible stop required, nothing wrong with the travel itself.

 

[lseibert]

Welcome Rick :bigwave:

Great to have you in the forum, there is a lot of great information and people here. I know dating is hard, but I've always been able to find someone that is very understanding, you will to. Good luck with everything, nice to meet you.

:hang: :hug:

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Rick and :welcome:

Good to see you here. Just a couple of questions:

What medications have you been on and what are taking now?

Where is your Crohns located?

Sorry to hear that you are going through a rough patch. You have found a great place for support and info so stick around and browse the forums and if you have any questions just fire away, nothing is TMI! Good luck and welcome aboard!

Take care,
Dusty

 

[Astra]

Hi Rick
and welcome fellow Brit

I wanted to ask that too! What meds etc?
Deep breath Rick, stress and anxiety will trigger all sorts of symptoms! I'm a great believer in CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) this works by changing the way you think (cognitive) will change the way you act (behaviour) and you can control anxieties by concentrating on the here and now, not past issues! Research it, then ask your GP for a referral.
You won't make a nuisance of yourself, we're glad to have you aboard!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Rick_1138]

Hi all, thanks for your kind words.

Well the date went fine, stomach wise, i took an immodium, which i dont like doing as i pay later, but it sorts me out for a day or 2, hopefully settling for a while.

A strange evening, the girl was very nice and bubbly, however my first ever GF from 18 years ago, got back in touch with each other about a week ago, and we can't stop talking, we have so much in common and have talked about nothing for hours and hours.

She has lived in South Africa for the last 16 years ha ha. She is beautifull, single, and is interested in me. This is crazy, she lives in london...but its really clicking!! my life has just gone mad since my ex broke up with me, i may even have found my perfect woman!!

Crazy times!

meds wise, i am on nothing at all atm, docs seem to have forgotten about me lol.

But i was on Metronidazol (sp) when diagnosed, then nothing for ages, then 2 years ago was on prednisalone, which helped enormously, then stopped them, chrons flared up badly, so they gave me them again, they had stopped working. I then got bad ecsema, itchy eyes, the works.

But started a healthy lifestyle 3 months ago, cook all my own meals, no crisps, some choc now and then, but do fitness training, jogging rowing etc, have lost 1.4 stone (10kg (circa 20 pnds) and stomach was brilliant almost like no cronh's, but its flared up again, but i am cracking on, hope to have a frame with some cracking muscles by June next year.

So my crohn's may be back, but my life is good.

 

[BigUglyCat]

Welcome Rick, glad you're here! I have the same problem with Imodium and now follow the advice of a homeopath I met in London (many years ago). Peppermint Tea or anything with true essence of peppermint. It is very soothing and really helps with the diarrhea. Good luck with the new gal.

 

[Rick_1138]

Welcome Rick, glad you're here! I have the same problem with Imodium and now follow the advice of a homeopath I met in London (many years ago). Peppermint Tea or anything with true essence of peppermint. It is very soothing and really helps with the diarrhea. Good luck with the new gal.

I will try that, have been having green tea instead of coffee, but shall grab some peppermint on way to work.

i will give it all a go.

 

[BigUglyCat]

of course my favorite way to consume peppermint is wrapped in dark chocolate, but that's just me.

 

[Rick_1138]

ha ha ha, but as i am fitness training, shall stick to tea, and have just one peppermint sweet a day

 

[MADiMarc]

Hi,Rick! I have friends that are from Aberdeen who are currently residing in the states. I hear it is beautiful but cold. They tell me I would not make it there as if it dips to 60 degrees here, I run for my winter gear!

I must fly frequently to see my family in the northern US. I take the darned immodium and deal with it later as it is the only way I can be on a plane. If things are heating up with you and your lady friend, pop the pill. Life is too short and love (or lust) too wonderful to waste!

Just my two cents!
Michele

 

[jboi85]

I agree with the peppermint essence, I use peppermint H2O, which I get from the chemist, when I feel bloated and/or windy, I don't find it helpful with the diarrhoea, but it does soothe the aches caused by wind, and helps me get comfortable when I feel bloated. I just take 15-20ml, and I have it warm too, and find it quite pleasant. You'd be surprised at how nice a feeling it gives you in your poorly tum!

 

[Rick_1138]

Hi again folks, on the peppermint tea, no idea if it helps, but gas\cramps are the main issue just now, tender all the time and annoying.

However we do have 1.5 foot of snow here and its still coming !!!!! Madness

 

[Rick_1138]

Hi folks, one thing i am having an issue with just now is pain and "bulging" in my lower right side, just bellow my belly button, just under ab muscles.

my tummy is basically tender and comes in waves of cramps and then you get the feeling of gas obviously moving on. I have had these symptoms for about a year, but it comes and goes, i just wondered if anyone knew what caused this, as the runs i can live with, but pain and slight swelling under the skin is disconcerting, though i know its probably a gas pocket. Just wondered if anyone had ideas

 

[Kazters]

hello nice to see a fellow scott hopw you are starting to feel better flaires are EVIL

 

[BigUglyCat]

Rick:

I'm wondering if the slight swelling could possibly be a hernia? Maybe ask the doc to take a look?