Jo in Perth, West Australia

[JoGladwin]

Hello!
I'm Jo, 32.
I've been diagnosed with Crohns Disease since 1998 :ywow:
Have had lots of operations...
Now happiliy living with an ileo-rectal anastomsis :ysmile:
I take 40mg Humira Pen Injection 2 weekly with very good results!
I have been married for 8 years & have two children, 2 & 6 years.
I am from England, but moved to Perth, WA in 2007.
I work for SHELL as a Customer Service Representative.
Bye x

 

[Dr.Who]

G'day Jo from Perth

congrats on your marriage and kids!

one day i hope to have the same

cheers.

 

[Angrybird]

Hi Jo and welcome to the forum :bigwave: I am pleased that you are doing well on the Humira, if you like do have a nosy at the Humira sub forum so you can chat with others about being on this med: http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=59.

Glad you have decided to join and I hope to see you around the forum.

AB
xx

 

[scottsma]

hi Jo,and welcome.you will get lots of help and advice on the forum and make friends who know what you're talking about and suffering with. My son and his family live in Perth and my daughter in law is called Jo. I hope you will feel at home and keep us up to date with your good and bad days.

 

[KWalker]

Welcome Jo! I've got some family in that field of work too. They are chemical engineers for Esso and love it!

Glad you've found us

 

[David]

Hi Jo and welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found your way here and joined

I assume with your anastomosis that part of your terminal ileum was removed. Is that the case, and if so, do you have your vitamin B12 checked on occasion? I ask because that is where B12 is absorbed and becoming deficient (many with Crohn's Disease are) is bad news.

Again, welcome!

 

[JoGladwin]

B12

Hi David...
I had a total colectomy in 1998 with an ileostomy formation and about 15cm of rectal stump left.
I then had a reversal in 2000, they joined, basically, the ileum onto the rectal stump...
This only lasted about 18 months though, my CD flared up quite severely and the whole thing collapsed down into my pelvis...
So I then had an ileostomy on my left side and a mucus fistula on my right (two stomas and bags)
I lived like this until 2006 when I had another reversal, ileum onto about 10cm of rectal stump by now, complete removal of about 20cm of small bowel (including the mucus fistula formation)
Touch wood, I’ve been bag free since then...
Have had issues with rectal-vagina fistulas though and 2 rectal abscess and have had to have a seton for about 4 monhts whilst the abscess drained and healed...
Humira has been great for me, I respond very well to it and it healed my fistulas!
I have bloods taken 3 monthly and MRI’s about 2 yearly, so they keep a very good eye on me out here My B12 is ok ATM

 

[David]

Wow Jo, that's incredible. I can't imagine how tough all of that must have been. Much respect to you