Imuran and Nausea

[crazycanuck]

Sorry guys but I need to vent a little bit. I just joined yesterday and I've had some great suggestions and found out some great stuff and it bothers me a lot to sit here complaining about me when I know what I go through and am going through is nothing in comparison to yours however I am having one hell of a time right now. For two days now I've had some really bad pains taking over my whole tummy area. Last night I barely slept again and was sitting on the toliet most of the night with a quite large amount of blood coming out which is not good when I just passed out yesterday. I can't shake these pains and all my usual methods have failed me. I've been up since 5 this morning and find that it hurts more when I lay down. So im studying.... and while im studying I am worrying what if I don't make it to my finals and worrying about doing poorly on them because I've missed soooo much class lately. I know this is making my problem worse but when I get tired I worry......so im worrying. I don't really know what to do with myself and I'm in pain, have a lot of blood right now and just overall aches and pains and its getting to me. I was really upbeat about my newly prescriped Imuran because I saw immediate improvement nearly right away after taking it which was amazing. So now I'm sitting here very dissapointed this is not working out and I have nausea coming and going now and then. I hate telling my family what I'm writing here because they try very hard but don't understand and it ends up making me more frusterated re-explaining and trying to make this all make sense and they usually just tell me not to worry which for any worrysome people out there we know this does not work.

Now if you did make it through all that thanks and if you didn't thats fine too because I'm just looking to get it out in a place that is appropriate. Thanks for listening and I hope all of you are doing well.

 

[pewpewlasers]

Don't worry about complaining! I think we all do it. It feels better to get it all out to people who understand.
Do your instructors know that you have Crohn's? Will they allow you to take finals at home or make other accomodations?
Sorry that you are feeling so bad.

I recently got put on a new medication and I was excited that it seemed like it was working. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be doing so much anymore.

 

[crazycanuck]

Yeah it sucks I was really excited I found something for Christmas and finals but it may be thats not so. They do all know and I'm emailing them now as well to tell them my situation and hopefully they will let me make it up if I end up having to miss one. I hate worrying because it makes things worse but I can't help it Also all this probably seems much much worse because I don't think I've had an 8 hour sleep in the last 4 or 5 nights now.

 

[crazycanuck]

oh and by the way like the name didnt get it first time I saw it but it is funny and makes me laugh.

 

[Peaches]

CC - you need to take a nap buddy!! I can't remember - do they have you on pred or entecort while the imuran is kicking in? It sounds like you need something to bridge you over until the Imuran is fully working which can take a few months. If your symptoms are newish since the doc put you on Imuran - I might give them a ring and see if they want to add one of those two just to get you through the beginning. Sorry you are having it rough - rant ANYtime! Hope you get through your finals ok.

 

[Pirate]

Crazy, is the blood your passing bright red or is it dark, tarry stool. either way if you are passing out you really should go to the ER and get checked. If your hemoglobin counts get super low you can make your heart work too hard and that could be a big problem. Think of it as a car and it is about 2 1/2 quarts low on oil and nobody is putting any back in. Sooner or later something major happens.

 

[imisspopcorn]

Get down to the doctor there....What, are you crazy???...Just kidding. You need to get it checked. Never feel bad for venting, that's what this place is for!

 

[crazycanuck]

Yes I went to the doctor yesterday right after it happened. I was sent for bloodwork and ECG and all was good apparently. They don't really know why but I have a long history of concussions and this could have played a part along with maybe low blood sugar. I called my GI doc today and she was in surgery I think so haven't recieved a call back as of yet. Hopefully tomorrow and I'll find out if I should be on Imuran still or not. Just a little frusterated still.

As for the blood the blood has been since passing out and I haven't even felt like passsing out since and its a lighter red but I'm putting so much in the toliet that its turning to a darker red just because of volume. But it is a lighter red blood. Not sure if that means anything or not.

 

[imisspopcorn]

It's really hard to tell how much blood you are actually losing...A few teaspoons mixed with mucus and water can be very deceiving. It's still always good to get you hemoglobin checked.

As an after thought, many people pass out at the site of their own blood. I have a friend who got a paper cut in the public library, and passed out cold.

 

[mwb3779]

If its a bright red blood its because of all the ulcers and the bleeding close to the end or its hemorrhoids bleeding. If its darker brown or almost black its coming from much farther up the colon. It will turn darker as it passes through the colon. I would say its better to brighter red than darker. At least you know its because of the active disease and not something worse. At least that's what I have been told and read. Check out this article I read.

http://coloncancer.about.com/od/coloncancerbasics/a/bloodinstools.htm

 

[crazycanuck]

Ok well thanks a lot for that because that makes very very much sense actually. Since I switched doctors and I know my new doc is being very professional about my old doctor just simply saying that here we use a different approach instead of your old one was a nut and I'm not sure what he was telling you kind of thing. So I'm redoing a lot of testing and apparently the region which has gotten worse is very near the end and has been left untreated for 2 years because Asacol wasn't designed to treat this are only farther up. There are other embarassing details I won't go into but thanks thats a big relief because it makes a lot of sense in my current situation.

and to imisspopcorn I know it can be decieving but I've gotten better with realizing whats a lot of blood and whats not but I can actually make the toliet turn a dark dark red almost black with enough blood and you can see at the very top level just around the ring that its actually a light red. Today for example I did this 4 times and there isn't anything solid that came out with it. I guess it could be mixed with some stuff but I'd say its a pretty safe bet unfortunately but the intersting thing I guess is that I haven't ever had a lot of blood loss right before or around the time I've passed out any of the times. Only after or following the time I passed out.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Never think TMI here, not much that hasnt been discussed, it helps to calm and assure you that you are just like us, one form or another.

It is not easy to cope at times when you are flaring, all you can do is trial and error with drugs, foods, and see your Gi regularly. You may have to be on a stronger drug, ask your Gi about the biologics and if it would be suitable for you. I hope you get some relief soon, sucks a the holiday time and being ill.

Passing out is not good, get that checked out quick ok?

 

[pewpewlasers]

Yeah it sucks I was really excited I found something for Christmas and finals but it may be thats not so. They do all know and I'm emailing them now as well to tell them my situation and hopefully they will let me make it up if I end up having to miss one. I hate worrying because it makes things worse but I can't help it Also all this probably seems much much worse because I don't think I've had an 8 hour sleep in the last 4 or 5 nights now.

Hopefully it all works out. I don't get a lot of sleep either. I always tend to worry about stuff too.

 

[mwb3779]

I'm telling you this forum has been a God send for me. I know that I'm not alone anymore. Thank you so much to everyone.

 

[crazycanuck]

Well some good news I guess. Just recieved a call from clinic doctor who I saw about the puking and passing out and he said my blood test and ECG came back looking fine. Hemoglobin was just slightly low but nothing to worry about and was to be expected. So I can continue on Imuran based on that but I am still awaiting a call from my GI about everything and making sure taking isn't going to cause anything serious.

 

[crazycanuck]

Furthur Update: GI says not to worry too much I'm only at half dosage right now so we will see if problems continue because it could be something unrelated not the Imuran espeically because I was getting better before. They are also booking an ultrasound soon just to be sure everything is going well. Colonoscopy already booked for January 5th....