Is this what happens at 30?

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Entchen

Entchen

Chief Dandelion Picker
Joined
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So, at age 29 I had a super fun job as a psych professor. Bought a condo. Played tennis, went to parties, had a great time enjoying my first full year out of school. The college closed 10 months later. Found another job. Learned yesterday that I'll almost certainly be laid off in June (because my employer is resigning), so I'm now on the job market for the second time in 12 months. Can't sell condo due to flat-lining market. I'm being tested for Crohn's and have missed tons of work since October due to severe pain (and you all know what the other symptoms are like, too). And then today I went in for an ultrasound, which turned into a mammogram, which turned into a biopsy. What happened when I turned 30? I've got only 2.5 months left in this year to turn things around!

These days, it's hard to remind myself that I'm happy-go-lucky. I'm trying though! I really am.

Appreciate that there's space on this forum for complaining. I'll try to keep it to a minimum. ;)
 
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One of my coworkers used to tell me that once you hit 30 it all goes to ****. I was more than ready to tell her how right she was and to not speak to me near anymore birthdays after my birthday finally came around.

I found a lump, which turned out to be an abcess 9 days after I turned 30 and ended up with surgery and resection and a Crohns diagnosis. So she had NO idea how right she was when she said everything goes to ****. ;)

Keep your chin up. I hope everything goes alright. Feel free to vent whenever you need to. That's what we're here for. :)
 
Awww, that's a whole lotta crap going on. I don't think it's an age thing though, 30 was fine for me. You're just running into a string of bad luck, that will hopefully turn itself around soon.
I hope your biopsy results come back clear. Don't feel bad about venting - we're always here to listen.
 
Hi Kelly.. yeah that 30 mark was a bad time for me. A divorce, then got involved with a "no cash for lifer" and lazy, had a 2 year old from a previous marriage, who is now 22 in University as a Psych minor ( loves the study of the brain).. going through the worst pains of Crohns not yet dx took a full year of agony. Custody battle, I was not a happy camper. :( The economy was at another bad turn but not as bad as todays' economy.
The economy will change, I had a condo and made big bucks on it profit wise, I am in Northern Ont now because the air and country was alot better.

As for the lump on the breast thing, don't worry, I have had friends who all have had them and almost all the time, it was nothing. You have a right to vent, and there is plenty of space here on the forum to do that. It is why we are all here, not all of us have a glorious lifestyle. I have fallen down flat on my face many times, but I just push the dirt off and get up and start again. Change is usually a good thing! Glad you are here!
 
Hey I have a glorious lifestyle!
oh ha ha ha ha

Hi Kelly
So sorry, it does seem you're having a run of bad luck, and I don't think it has anything to do with hitting 30!
And if it's any consolation, hitting 40 is better, 40 is the new 30!
Just call me cougar! lol

good luck with your biopsy results, I'm sure it'll be ok,
lotsa luv
Joan xx
 
I honestly appreciate any good health these days. I've had various serious health problems since I was 8 and they found severe pre cancerous cells on my cervix last year. I'm hoping my general health luck is going to improve though as I'm only 26! I don't know how much more I can take lol.
 
Thanks so much, all. I KNOW things will get better, but right now every day just feels a little overwhelming. And yes, I'll wait for that "40 is better than 30" thing to come true!

I SO want to up and move home to Mom and Dad, so maybe it's a good thing the bad real estate market is keeping me in my city -- having a mortgage is forcing me to be a grown-up about this.
 
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Glad to have you around Kelly. Hope you get some answers, even if it's not the "right" answers.
 
good luck with the biopsy results, Kelly, and i hope everything else comes right for you too.

i also don't think it's an age thing.... one of my many theories (lol!) is that when life throws crap at you, it doesn't just throw one lump... we get tested by getting crap from various directions all at once, and when you're in the middle of all that it feels like everything is going wrong and it's just too damn hard to see the way out.... but it passes, and we live to tell the tale, a little stronger for having coped..
 
Fingers crossed for good biopsy results for you!

Age is a state of mind. 30 is just a number. Don't let all this shiz get you down.

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. Are you going to swing or duck?

Start swinging and knock this bad stuff out of the park!

- Amy
 
oh Kelly hang in there !!!


On the many occassions i ended up in hospital i used to tell myself that things are sooooo bad.
So if they are so bad . . . . .

Then they can only GET BETTER !!!!

Big hugs from me to you
 
ps: Biopsy was clear. What a relief. Thanks again for all the support. After this, the rest seems easier to deal with.
 
That's great news, Kelly. It has to be one big load off your mind and it will only help you to be able to cope with the other issues.

Great Big Hug of relief for ya
 
Smashing news Kelly!
That's what we like to hear!
Hope you feel better soon now that huge weight has left your shoulders

xxx
 
PS??? That deserves more than a PS! Great news! I am sure this lifts your spirits! What a relief!

- Amy
 
I'm sorry that you are going through so much right now Kelly. I'm glad your biopsy was clear, I can only imagine how relieved you must feel. Here's hoping the rest of your thirties are much much more enjoyable! :)
 
Yay for the clear biopsy!!

I had a great time at 30....those were the pre-Crohn's days for me!! I'm hoping 40 goes better for me (I turn 40 in June....ahhhh!!!)

Hope things get better for you soon though :)
 
My worst and trying times were in my 30's. My disease was overtaken in a big way and had a resection then. Everyone has a turning point in their lives. Good and bad. Just makes you stronger in the end!

Congrats on the clear biopsy. Mine was revealed not Colitis, it was a gastro bug.
 
Yes, walking on air and feeling ready to tackle finding a new job + getting Crohn's under control!

I so appreciate all the kind words.

Jettalady, I'm glad you have received answers recently, too!
 
This is strange but my daughter's Psych Prof has Colitis, and takes something for anxiety... her thing to say to her students, what comes first the (chicken or the egg) anxiety from having Colitis or having Colitis because of anxiety. My daughter is close to her prof and she is doing amazing in her class!
 
(1) Interesting re. her comments -- it's an area I've been trying to do more reading about, too.
(2) Hurray for your daughter's stellar performance!
 
Hi, and a quick update: I've been offered an 8.5 month teaching gig at a local Christian college. I know several of the staff and students and am looking forward to a nice couple of semesters! At the moment, I have the summer off, but we'll see if an interesting short-term job comes up. :)
 
Great to hear, Kelly; I hope things keep looking up for you! How is it working out with the snow you guys got? Melted yet?? :) It hasn't snowed here thankfully, but it sure has been cold, cloudy and rainy.
 
I'm 30 as well and my gastro-issues only started recently, so it must be a 30 thing! My health seems to go crazy every decade; at 20 I spontaneously developed seasonal allergies, lactose intolerance, and motion sickness. I never had any of those things before age 20. Now that I'm 30, I get hit with THIS - what on earth is 40, 50, 60 going to throw at me?? :(
 
Hi Cat: I like to think that 40, 50, and 60 are going to be AMAZING, to make up for 30!
 
I really hope you're right, but it's so hard to be optimistic. My grandfather has more health problems than anyone I know, and he told me not to bother living past age 70, as that's when all the incredibly awful health problems start happening (in his experience anyway) - so maybe 40, 50, and 60 will indeed be great, but 70 might not.
 
Thank you!!!! I'm excited to be employed for another year, especially at what people say is a friendly place. The flexible schedule (it's not quite full-time), and good class schedule (nothing early in the morning) will be a big help if Crohn's symptoms act up during the semester.
 
aw sorry to hear about all the crap youve got going on kelly.
though hella relieved that the biopsy was ok.

and like mbh said, i dont think its an age thing.
at all.

it all went to **** for me at 7 LOL!

i have decided that NO age exempts you from the bitch slap of reality!
 
Hi all: Thought I'd follow up on this topic and add that my new job contract starts on MONDAY! I've been excited for it all summer (well, I was enjoying the time off to try to get my health in order more than anything -- wow, what a blessing -- but I was also excited about the job). My savings are nearly depleted, so it's a good time to head back to the salt mines. I'll have two weeks to start to learn the classroom technology and library procedures and things before classes start on September 1. Then a week later, my second contract kicks in (a night class at at different university). For 8.5 months, I'll have steady work again doing my favourite job. So thankful.

I was freaking out this evening because for several hours I was SO SICK. I did not expect to experience anything after only 7 days on just 30 mg of prednisone, and then moving down to 25 mg (which I did yesterday). All I could think of while I was huddled up feeling awful was how hard it would be to get through a lecture feeling like that. Thankfully, my GI is supporting me in hitting the symptoms head-on to try to prevent any major problems. We discussed whether or not to try prednisone for a long time before deciding to give it a go. And, aside from this evening, I have certainly noticed a level of improvement in my fatigue levels, and somewhat in other ways, too. This gives me confidence that we'll get the semester started off on a good footing and will be ready and prepared to handle any speed bumps that come up.

Now I just need to remember how teach after more than a year away, lol. I don't even know where my portable notes stand is, come to think of it. Time to ransack the boxes holding my old teaching gear!

*skips off to dream about a happy semester*
 
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Oh wow Kelly this is great to hear! I hope, hope, hope that your symptoms stay at bay and you truly do have a healthy and happy semester. Sending you heaps of good luck that all will be well..........................................


:goodluck::goodluck::goodluck::goodluck::goodluck:


So happy for you, :)
Dusty
 
That better not be what happens at 30 cause I'm 28 now and having symptoms that need to just go away. :p
 
Hey Kelly

that's great news, you'll be smashin, you won't forget anything, like riding a bike, yeah?
good luck with the Pred, you'll soon be off it
and good luck for September too!
xxxx
 
Good luck, Kelly! I am sure it feels good to get back into the swing of things. :) I start work again next week, too. The summer off was good for getting rest and energy back. Here's to a great start on a new year!
 
Thanks, all. :) Crabby, if that's what happens at 30 (and others assure me it doesn't!), I can let you know that 31 is much improved, anyway.
 
So, funny story! I've mentioned here and there having some side effects and not feeling well the past few days, etc. Well. My arms and legs and jaw were tingling on and off and then toward suppertime parts also became numb (although I guess a somewhat numb jaw is better than one that hurts, as in earlier this week?). Now, most of the surface area of my arms and legs (and jaw) is numb, to varying degrees.

My little prednisone information sheet from the pharmacy says to contact someone immediately if there is any tingling in arms and legs. I called the local health advice line and spoke with a nurse who, in no uncertain terms, told me to call an ambulance. I cheated and called a cab. I haven't visited an Emerg in more than 12 years (the last time was for anaphylaxis), so that I went at all is testament to her persuasiveness. I walked into the Emerg several months ago when my initial Crohn's symptoms were at their worst (unbelievable pain, vomiting, etc.), but it was SO BUSY that I chickened out and left.

Anyway, the Emerg doc isn't positive that it's the prednisone causing the numbness, but it's the most likely conclusion given that I'm otherwise fine, including potassium levels (low potassium can cause numbness and tingling). No concerns unless it gets worse (or remains post-prednisone), in which case I'm to get it checked again. I'm curious to see whether the numbness remains until I go off the pred next month or whether it clears up in the next day or so. It's now 4 a.m. and I'm still as numb as ever. ;)
 
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So you contact someone, then go see a doc and he tells you he thinks it might be the Pred............... hope that cleared it up for you Kel. :lol2:

Maybe check with your own doc first thing Monday???

Dusty. :)
 
Hahaha, I hadn't thought about it that way! A call on Monday seems in order. Good advice.

Humbly (make that numbly) yours,
Kelly
 
Okay, so the plan to call on Monday turned into a visit to the walk-in clinic. I'm still numb in the arms and legs, but even worse has been the excruciating abdominal pain that started on Sunday. I was awake all night because of the pain. I'm back on 30 mg prednisone and now have an antispasmodal, too. Hoping to feel better by tomorrow!!!!
 
Hey Kelly,

So they obviously aren't too concerned about the Pred then so I guess that's good. I hope you are feeling better soon Kelly, sending healing thoughts and hugs your way...........

:hug::ghug::hug::ghug::hug::ghug::hug::ghug::hug:

Thinking about you, :)
Dusty
 
Hey Dusty: Thank you so much for the well wishes!

Pain got progressively worse this week, and nausea (etc.!) have kicked in, too. I've never imagined I would be lying on the floor in agony like this, let alone having it come on so suddenly. I've been sleeping on the couch (in bits and pieces, certainly not sleeping through the night) as the pain and nausea both skyrocket when I try to use my bed. Need to be on an angle, I guess.

I went to see my family doctor yesterday since my GI is out of town. She upped the Pred to 50 mg and gave me more Buscopan to help with cramping.

I did have some periods with low pain today, which was fabulous, a really good start, especially after an unbelievably difficult 4 hours last night. Nausea and shakiness have stuck around today, but that's no worse than having the flu. Now that it's evening I feel some pain coming on but am praying and deep breathing and keeping Buscopan within reach.

Any tips and tricks for doing well on Prednisone are welcome! I'll be on it until at least mid-November now, instead of being off by mid-Sept. as initially planned. (I'll comb through the forum to find info, too.)
 
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Sorry to hear you aren't feeling great, Kelly... Hope the pred works out for you; the extra energy is nice, and the other side effects will go away once you're off of it. You've got such a great attitude I'm sure you will get through this. :) Until then, you have all my best.
 
I appreciate that, Sharon. :)

The energy has been great, you're right! I'm struggling with the attitude thing this week but making the decision to keep on enjoying each day to the best of my ability.
 
Oh Kelly so sorry I missed this!! 50mg of Pred!! I havent been on the high of Pred since 18 years ago. I am on 15mg now and tapering (gp's orders for a quick taper) and I have muscle spasms, to help eleviate that, I take Magnesium Citrate 300mg a day. The other is Tonic water because it has Quinine in it and stops cramping and spasms in the nerves and muscles. I hope that Buscopan works for you I have them but they dont work for me. I use the Dicyclomine, seems a bit stronger.

I take my pred around 10am because I drink coffee in the AM to wake up, otherwise I get too shakey. Feel like I can doing things at 100mph speed lol. Just make sure you eat whilst taking them, it helps. At night if I cant sleep I take half a gravol, it does the trick.

Hope you feel better soon and you should with 50mg! Big hugs!

Forgot to add, which I am sure you know make sure you are on absorbable Calcium and Vitamin d3 , the magnesium Citrate helps absorb it better. Predisone is known to rob calcium! Do you get heartburn?
 
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Hey Penny:

Thanks so much for your note. I know about the vitamins thanks to YOU and have been vigilant about getting my calcium and D3. :) Will look into adding mag citrate as well, and have just added tonic water to my grocery list.

I don't experience heartburn. Thank goodness.

The Buscopan doesn't cure everything but now that I'm allowed to take the maximum dose (6/day), it definitely takes the edge off and has decreased the number of episodes of severe pain. Now if only it took away nausea...oh yes, this girl wants it all! I spent half the night last night throwing up. Ugh.

The 30 mg Pred was great for energy. That's part of what was so surprising about all this happening -- I was feeling so good and then it all changed over the course of a few hours. I'm not sure about the energy-related effects of 50 mg yet because I have had so little sleep this week. Because I've been repeatedly waking with pain (and sleeping on the couch when I sleep at all), I can't judge what's from lack of sleep and what's from the Crohn's or the medication. Either way, it's 2 weeks at 50 mg and then we'll discuss whether or not to move down to 45 mg.

Thanks so much for the info, advice, and support.
 
Well I have a trick for the nausea. Gravol has new ginger natural antinausea , no side effects but it does work, for me anyways. But the real Gravol at night will help you to sleep and get rid of the nausea. Add that to your list too lol. Let me know how you make out. Sleep is so important!!
 
Hey Kelly,

So sorry I can't help out with the Pred Kelly but want to know that you are in my thoughts..................................


:getwell::getwell::getwell:


Take care, :hug:
Dusty
 
Woo hoo, I'll be trying the new Gravol! Might dash over to Safeway right now. :)
Some people experience increased nausea with regular Gravol, and I've fallen into that group recently so don't want take the risk of trying it again.

So looking forward to getting back to my 8 hours of sleep (it was 7.5 pre-Crohn's, and now I find the extra 30 mins is a lifesaver).

Hope you have a great night, too, Penny.

And, Dusty, so good of you to write. :)
 
...Mission complete: new Gravol product is safe in my clutches and I'm about to test 'er out.

Yay, Penny!!!!
 
Hi Kelly, yep, my crohns kicked into high gear in my 30s. Things got beter when I turned 40. Some days are beter than others. I know that things are improving when the kids at school tell me to stop grinning. No chance of that!
 
Hope the new gravol helps! Make take a few to start working after all it is a natural product! They have the losenges too had them once, but the pill form is easier and less sugar. Let me know how it turns out! Good luck!
 
Kelly, sorry I've missed this!! You haven't been suffering in silence after all. I hope you are improving!! Have you been able to work through this??
 
Hey Penny: I think I mentioned this in my pm, but the ginger Gravol appears to be helping. I'm so pleased! I'll wait a few more "trials" before making a firm decision, but I do know that I almost had to miss my fitness class tonight, popped a couple of the ginger tabs, and felt well enough to go just in the knick of time. I've dug out my anti-nausea wristbands, too.

Thanks, Mark! I am a bit better from late last week. As numb as ever, but nobody seems overly concerned about this, which I think is kind of hilarious. I was able to sleep in my bed last night instead of on the couch, which is a positive move forward. And I got to work for 4 hours today (hurray for a job that allows this flexibility!). Because the Pred dose is now so high, we are hoping that things truly start to turn around in the next few days. I can't very well lie down on the floor and cry in the middle of a lecture, after all. Then again, it IS psychology, so maybe I could call it role playing and get off scot free. :)
 

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