Hi, my name is Sylvie, a 39yr old mother of a 7yr old boy and 4yr old girl, also married with a very supportive husband.
I was diagnosed with crohn's in 2002. All started with a small painful mass on my inner butt cheek. Dr though it was a cyst, but during the procedure to remove it noticed there was more and figured it was a fistula. I had no other symptoms of crohn`s. No pain, no cramping, no irregularities. Was sent for a few tests, then a colonoscopy which diagnosed me with CD. Started on Pentesa, but mad me feel sick and crampy, so I stopped taking it. Went all fine for a little over 10years without meds, started my little family and all was great. I even thought I was misdiagnosed and didn't go see my gastro Dr again. I would advise anyone not to to that
Fastforward to a about 6 months ago. I've had noticed some changes. Felt some mild pain that wasn't familiar to me so got my family doctor to send a request to a new gastro doctor, where I waited nearly 6 months to get and appointment with. By coincidence, I had a first appointment Feb 6th, 2013, but on the night of Feb 1st, first date night with hubby without kids in months, if I may add, I went to bed early because I wasn't feeling right, then just woke up to the most horrible pain I've ever had to go through, and yes worse than going through labour. So, as hardheaded as I am, I just wanted to wait and see if it go away. 2 hours later, we ended up in ER. By 4am I was back home, and had a scheduled appointment for a CT scan. CT scan confirmed, by my new Gastro that was on duty that day, I have a small abscess on the ileum(sp?) So I was sent home with antibiotics, cipro and flagyl, and to go to my regular appointment on Feb 6th. Was still in pain, but had gotten better, so was just given a few weeks off work, and a recommendation to go on Remicade and a few more tests as I have a fistulating crohn's and old scar tissue on intestines from fistulas that healed themselves. The following week, I ended at ER again due to the same severe pain that started again. White blood cells were up, dehydrated from not having an appetite and no energy to get up an do much for myself and another CT scan showed that the abscess and inflammation worsened. Had a 2 week stay at hospital, on stronger antibiotics, prednisone and my first remicade treatment. I felt better a week into hospital, but the abscess wasn't going away, so they decided to put a drain to get rid of fluids from the abscess. So after a few days of telling them, nothing was draining, and I was in discomfort and pain from having a drain not doing anything, and being of pain meds that wasn't really helping much and not sleeping. So Finally Friday, exactly 2 weeks later, they took out the drain, put a dressing on, and instructed me to change it in a few days, sent me home with more antibiotics and pain meds and hoping they fixed the problem. Surgery had been discussed while I was at hospital, but played the wait and see game. So I was finally home with my family. Still in pain and discomfort, due to the drain, but they did all they could for the time being. So dilaudid was my only relief. On Sunday, I figured I'd change the dressing, and as I did, pus just oozed out of the area, but gave me some relief, didn't hurt as much. I figured it was just leftover pus they didn't take out. So it kept doing the same thing over again and wasn't getting better, and getting more painful. Ended up with 3 other trips at the ER that week, but so one seemed to concerned, just sent me home with more Dilaudid and another antibiotics. By this time, it was Easter weekend, so I did the best I could for the weekend, on pain meds not really enjoying family time and had an appointment scheduled on Tuesday with the surgeon, which was the only Dr that followed me available that week for the ER Dr to make an appointment. During the weekend, I noticed food particles coming out in the pus in the drainage area. As soon as she saw that, she had me to come in the morning for admission, more scans and surgery. So Here I am now, 2 days post op, a small section surrounding the abscess was taken out, so a small part of small and large intestine was taken out. Surgeon said it was done just in time before anything could of gone worse. She described my insides getting toxic and had to do a lot of cleaning, plus I had a high fever during surgery. I'm still in a lot of pain, but should get better as the days go by. I still have 5-7 days in Hospital, still not eating, and not even ready or feel the urge to eat. But sure all will come in time.
Sorry for the book, I even left some details out
So that's my story, and please, disregard my spelling, I just don't have the energy to review.
PS: I didn't believe in meds, and wanted to stay natural as much as possible. I guess my healthy organic eating habits didn't keep the Doctors away in the long run. So don't refuse meds is you need them
I was diagnosed with crohn's in 2002. All started with a small painful mass on my inner butt cheek. Dr though it was a cyst, but during the procedure to remove it noticed there was more and figured it was a fistula. I had no other symptoms of crohn`s. No pain, no cramping, no irregularities. Was sent for a few tests, then a colonoscopy which diagnosed me with CD. Started on Pentesa, but mad me feel sick and crampy, so I stopped taking it. Went all fine for a little over 10years without meds, started my little family and all was great. I even thought I was misdiagnosed and didn't go see my gastro Dr again. I would advise anyone not to to that
Fastforward to a about 6 months ago. I've had noticed some changes. Felt some mild pain that wasn't familiar to me so got my family doctor to send a request to a new gastro doctor, where I waited nearly 6 months to get and appointment with. By coincidence, I had a first appointment Feb 6th, 2013, but on the night of Feb 1st, first date night with hubby without kids in months, if I may add, I went to bed early because I wasn't feeling right, then just woke up to the most horrible pain I've ever had to go through, and yes worse than going through labour. So, as hardheaded as I am, I just wanted to wait and see if it go away. 2 hours later, we ended up in ER. By 4am I was back home, and had a scheduled appointment for a CT scan. CT scan confirmed, by my new Gastro that was on duty that day, I have a small abscess on the ileum(sp?) So I was sent home with antibiotics, cipro and flagyl, and to go to my regular appointment on Feb 6th. Was still in pain, but had gotten better, so was just given a few weeks off work, and a recommendation to go on Remicade and a few more tests as I have a fistulating crohn's and old scar tissue on intestines from fistulas that healed themselves. The following week, I ended at ER again due to the same severe pain that started again. White blood cells were up, dehydrated from not having an appetite and no energy to get up an do much for myself and another CT scan showed that the abscess and inflammation worsened. Had a 2 week stay at hospital, on stronger antibiotics, prednisone and my first remicade treatment. I felt better a week into hospital, but the abscess wasn't going away, so they decided to put a drain to get rid of fluids from the abscess. So after a few days of telling them, nothing was draining, and I was in discomfort and pain from having a drain not doing anything, and being of pain meds that wasn't really helping much and not sleeping. So Finally Friday, exactly 2 weeks later, they took out the drain, put a dressing on, and instructed me to change it in a few days, sent me home with more antibiotics and pain meds and hoping they fixed the problem. Surgery had been discussed while I was at hospital, but played the wait and see game. So I was finally home with my family. Still in pain and discomfort, due to the drain, but they did all they could for the time being. So dilaudid was my only relief. On Sunday, I figured I'd change the dressing, and as I did, pus just oozed out of the area, but gave me some relief, didn't hurt as much. I figured it was just leftover pus they didn't take out. So it kept doing the same thing over again and wasn't getting better, and getting more painful. Ended up with 3 other trips at the ER that week, but so one seemed to concerned, just sent me home with more Dilaudid and another antibiotics. By this time, it was Easter weekend, so I did the best I could for the weekend, on pain meds not really enjoying family time and had an appointment scheduled on Tuesday with the surgeon, which was the only Dr that followed me available that week for the ER Dr to make an appointment. During the weekend, I noticed food particles coming out in the pus in the drainage area. As soon as she saw that, she had me to come in the morning for admission, more scans and surgery. So Here I am now, 2 days post op, a small section surrounding the abscess was taken out, so a small part of small and large intestine was taken out. Surgeon said it was done just in time before anything could of gone worse. She described my insides getting toxic and had to do a lot of cleaning, plus I had a high fever during surgery. I'm still in a lot of pain, but should get better as the days go by. I still have 5-7 days in Hospital, still not eating, and not even ready or feel the urge to eat. But sure all will come in time.
Sorry for the book, I even left some details out
So that's my story, and please, disregard my spelling, I just don't have the energy to review.
PS: I didn't believe in meds, and wanted to stay natural as much as possible. I guess my healthy organic eating habits didn't keep the Doctors away in the long run. So don't refuse meds is you need them
