Joining this online group

[LonghornGirl]

Hello, hope you don't mind if I pull up a seat to this table!
I'm 32 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn's early this year after I was experiencing the main symptoms stemming from a bacterial infection (C-Dif). I never knew before this year that I had Crohn's, but my GI thinks I possibly had it for years but didn't have a severe flare-up until that bacteria did it's damage.

I was able to fight off the bacteria with 2 rounds of antibiotics, but even since April when we received confirmation the bacteria was wiped out I have still shown inflammation in my bloodwork. I truly don't even feel "sick" anymore, the bathroom issues have resolved themselves, and I gained back all the weight I had previously lost (was disappointed in that part, though :wink: ). However we did another colonoscopy and it showed that I do have fistula growing in several places in the intestines and they want me to start on Remicade treatment. I still have a CT Enterography first so they can see if the fistula are extending on the outside and then have the first infusion the week after that.

Anyhow, I guess I made this long enough, but if anyone has any tips, advice, questions, or concerns, please respond! I have already been learning quite a bit from reading various threads on here and hope that maybe I can contribute more about my experience as it unfolds. Thanks for reading, and if you made it all the way to the end, here's a hug. :ghug:

 

[Farmwife]

So sorry to hear all that your going through
First I had to respond because I like your screen name, then I had to respond because I like your avatar.:biggrin: Then I responded because it's so clear to see your a country girl:wink: (I think). :shifty:
I and my little girl like that.:soledance:
My girl had c diff also and sure enough we also noticed a change. She is only three so getting her help has been a LLLLLLOOOOOONNNNGGGGG process but finally she's getting some scope done. YA!

I hope you find this place welcoming and please feel free to contribute any thread.:heart:

 

[SarahBear]

Please do pull up a seat!

I'm glad to hear you're still feeling well in spite of your fistula! We have a Remicade section of the forum, if you want to look more into that before you get started, and a Fistulas, Fissures and Abscesses section as well. I've linked to them for you.

I hope everything goes well for you!

 

[LonghornGirl]

Thank you so much, Farmwife! As you might tell, I'm a college football junkie, and I'm half country/ half city. I do have family with horses.

Thanks, Sarah, I actually found these forums by doing a Remicade search. Then kept clicking around and figured I should introduce somewhere. I like the separate groups, it seems so helpful and organized. Appreciate the links!

 

[LonghornGirl]

Oh, and Farmwife, so sorry to hear about your baby girl but hopefully she can get fixed up and overcome all of this! Terrible to think of a child dealing with this, it's hard enough to understand as an adult! Best wishes to your family and good luck with the next steps.

 

[David]

Hi LonghornGirl and welcome to the community I'm glad you happened across us!

Out of curiosity, how did they eventually diagnose you with Crohn's disease? Did they perform a colonoscopy and the biopsy results confirmed Crohn's? Or some other means?

 

[LonghornGirl]

David, yes I had the colonoscopy done and based on the biopsy results that's what she said was the official diagnosis. I didn't really want to believe that I actually have an IBD, especially since I had never had issues before the infection started up, but she was saying the disease can lay dormant for a long time.

I asked the doctor several times if she was positive I wasn't just having Crohn's'-like reactions only as a result of having C-Dif, but I guess because it's been this long since the bacteria was flushed out and I'm still having chronic inflammation that I fall into the Crohn's category. It's strange to me, since she also doesn't think diet is a part of it, and I never had food reactions previous to this year... I always had thought Crohn's was mostly centered around food issues. I still have so much to learn, as I was so scared to dive into the Crohn's research before knowing if that is truly what was bothering me.

I'm seriously not having near the reactions and issues that a lot of people seem to have, so I guess I should be thankful I have a mild case.