But this roller coaster ride that is Crohns has been, well, at best, interesting.
I was diagnosed six years ago, less than one year after getting married. I had a new home, a new job, a new husband, and a new disease that would affect my life more than anything I ever thought possible. I had been working very successfully for the U.S. government as an attorney in Texas, but I transferred to the Atlanta office to be closer to my parents. My diagnosis came after accepting the transfer, but two months prior to moving.
When I arrived in Atlanta, my Crohns was in full flare. I was miserable. I went to work every day, but I hobbled down the halls and suffered through much of it. I had to lay down in my office frequently due to the severe pain. I have a strong work ethic, but had to ask my supervisor if I could work part time. I just couldn't do it any more. He said no. I continued to work every day in agony. I was seeing a doc at the time who had me on Pentassa and Asacol, which were doing no good. My coworkers began thinking of me as lazy. I tried to explain about the Crohns, but they just could not understand. They did not know me before the Crohns. I went through that for over two years. In terrible pain and being disrespected by my coworkers, even though I missed less than 4 days of work due to the disease in two years. I hated hated hated it, but I had to have insurance, and my husband's company did not provide insurance at the time. I was a slave to the job.
I got pregnant in May of 2005. I was feeling okay, but not in remission. Still working in my miserable job. In August, I miscarried my little girl. It was devastating. Don't know if the miscarriage was Crohns related or not. It is amazing how much docs don't know about our bodies.
Right after the miscarriage I decided to try a new probiotic called Digestive Advantage for Crohns and Colitis, made my Ganeden Biotech. I had to do something. My life was falling apart. Within a week, I felt amazing. Within three weeks, all Crohn's symptoms were gone. This little probiotic put me into remission for three years. I got pregnant in May of 2006, had a fabulous pregnancy where I felt great the whole time, and gave birth to a gorgeous little girl in January of 2007. My husband's company began providing family insurance, and I quit my job. I had too many bad memories, and yes, by that time, a terrible attitude toward it.
Over a year ago, my symptoms started coming back. At first, they would just occur once a month or so, then they started getting more frequent. Severe pain. That has always been my problem. Pain like being in labor. Makes it hard to walk. In the last few weeks I have had some added stress, and the Crohns has flared horribly. I was not sleeping at night due to the pain. Every 3-4 minutes the cramps would seize me.
I would get up in the morning, put something on tv for my little girl, then try to rest on the couch. All day. It was painful to get up. I could barely get up to make her lunch. I felt like a horrible mother, but I was in too much pain to do much else.
My tummy has been so distended that I have not been able to wear anything without a soft waist. I wear empire dresses all the time because they put no pressure on my abdomen. I look like I am at least five months pregnant. I have been asked at least six times in the last several weeks if I were pregnant. In fact, a lady at the doctor's office this week congratulated me. That is tough for someone who works so hard to maintain a nice figure.
I have recently had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and MRI. The doc just put me on prednisone and wants me to start Remicade next week. I hate this because I feel so strongly about natural medicines. The probiotics worked so well for so long, then just seemed to stop working. I tried turmeric, fish oil, and ginger. I went on a low carb diet and ate lots of blueberries, raspberries, and other anti-inflammatory foods. Nothing seemed to help. I was forced back to the doctors. I feel there must be a natural concoction that will work for me, but I haven't found it yet.
I am absolutely furious that I cannot legally take medical marijuana. I live in Georgia and this state is backward in so many ways. I have never tried it, but I have read wonderful things about it. I can't risk doing something illegal, but it is hard to believe that our laws withhold something so natural that has such strong healing powers while they allow these horrible man-made drugs that lead to higher risks of cancer and death.
I took the prednisone last night and I feel great this morning. For the first time in months, I don't look like I am pregnant. My belly is back to being nice and flat. I feel like I have lost 15 pounds.
So that is my story. It has been an emotional and physical rollercoaster. But I am taking my daughter to Disney World this Christmas. And I plan to be in excellent physical condition to enjoy the rollercoasters with her.
I was diagnosed six years ago, less than one year after getting married. I had a new home, a new job, a new husband, and a new disease that would affect my life more than anything I ever thought possible. I had been working very successfully for the U.S. government as an attorney in Texas, but I transferred to the Atlanta office to be closer to my parents. My diagnosis came after accepting the transfer, but two months prior to moving.
When I arrived in Atlanta, my Crohns was in full flare. I was miserable. I went to work every day, but I hobbled down the halls and suffered through much of it. I had to lay down in my office frequently due to the severe pain. I have a strong work ethic, but had to ask my supervisor if I could work part time. I just couldn't do it any more. He said no. I continued to work every day in agony. I was seeing a doc at the time who had me on Pentassa and Asacol, which were doing no good. My coworkers began thinking of me as lazy. I tried to explain about the Crohns, but they just could not understand. They did not know me before the Crohns. I went through that for over two years. In terrible pain and being disrespected by my coworkers, even though I missed less than 4 days of work due to the disease in two years. I hated hated hated it, but I had to have insurance, and my husband's company did not provide insurance at the time. I was a slave to the job.
I got pregnant in May of 2005. I was feeling okay, but not in remission. Still working in my miserable job. In August, I miscarried my little girl. It was devastating. Don't know if the miscarriage was Crohns related or not. It is amazing how much docs don't know about our bodies.
Right after the miscarriage I decided to try a new probiotic called Digestive Advantage for Crohns and Colitis, made my Ganeden Biotech. I had to do something. My life was falling apart. Within a week, I felt amazing. Within three weeks, all Crohn's symptoms were gone. This little probiotic put me into remission for three years. I got pregnant in May of 2006, had a fabulous pregnancy where I felt great the whole time, and gave birth to a gorgeous little girl in January of 2007. My husband's company began providing family insurance, and I quit my job. I had too many bad memories, and yes, by that time, a terrible attitude toward it.
Over a year ago, my symptoms started coming back. At first, they would just occur once a month or so, then they started getting more frequent. Severe pain. That has always been my problem. Pain like being in labor. Makes it hard to walk. In the last few weeks I have had some added stress, and the Crohns has flared horribly. I was not sleeping at night due to the pain. Every 3-4 minutes the cramps would seize me.
I would get up in the morning, put something on tv for my little girl, then try to rest on the couch. All day. It was painful to get up. I could barely get up to make her lunch. I felt like a horrible mother, but I was in too much pain to do much else.
My tummy has been so distended that I have not been able to wear anything without a soft waist. I wear empire dresses all the time because they put no pressure on my abdomen. I look like I am at least five months pregnant. I have been asked at least six times in the last several weeks if I were pregnant. In fact, a lady at the doctor's office this week congratulated me. That is tough for someone who works so hard to maintain a nice figure.
I have recently had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and MRI. The doc just put me on prednisone and wants me to start Remicade next week. I hate this because I feel so strongly about natural medicines. The probiotics worked so well for so long, then just seemed to stop working. I tried turmeric, fish oil, and ginger. I went on a low carb diet and ate lots of blueberries, raspberries, and other anti-inflammatory foods. Nothing seemed to help. I was forced back to the doctors. I feel there must be a natural concoction that will work for me, but I haven't found it yet.
I am absolutely furious that I cannot legally take medical marijuana. I live in Georgia and this state is backward in so many ways. I have never tried it, but I have read wonderful things about it. I can't risk doing something illegal, but it is hard to believe that our laws withhold something so natural that has such strong healing powers while they allow these horrible man-made drugs that lead to higher risks of cancer and death.
I took the prednisone last night and I feel great this morning. For the first time in months, I don't look like I am pregnant. My belly is back to being nice and flat. I feel like I have lost 15 pounds.
So that is my story. It has been an emotional and physical rollercoaster. But I am taking my daughter to Disney World this Christmas. And I plan to be in excellent physical condition to enjoy the rollercoasters with her.
