Hallo,
Here's my story....following 18 years of hospital visits for an unrelated brain disease My doctor admitted me to hospital on 31st dec 2010 (we call that day Hogmanay here in Scotland) with stomach problems, pain, bloody stool, fatigue, and generally being an unwell puppy. Originally I was diagnosed with UC, started on triple therapy antibiotics, iv steroids and a blood transfusion. 4 days later I got home. 4 days after that back in with a massive pelvic abscess. Back on antibiotics, steroids, fluids but with no major effect. 7 days later i was just about to be started on remicade when my colon ruptured. I had about 30 min to say yes/no to a permanent ileostomy or die. I said yes (well you do don't you).
10 days later they took the staples from the surgery out but when I next stood up my abdominal wound 'unzipped' (dehisced) and I literally held my small intestines in my hands. Back to surgery.....
13 months on my abdominal wound is 6x4 inches with no skin on, I spent the whole of 2011 in a hospital bed at home, I developed 5 fistulae, 4 of which have broken through to skin level and in the last week I've been told it's Crohns not UC.
OK, so now to the positive......I have an amazing husband who has been incredible throughout all of my ailments. My family also need a special mention. I definitely know who my friends are now and I'm very grateful for them. My employer didn't sack me for being off for a year so I'm a working woman again. I'm finally close to being able to get remicade (couldnt due to infections) which, fingers crossed, should help the wounds/fistulae. I'm learning to live with poop in a bag. (My stoma's called Stan) and I'm alive.
I know little about living with Crohns as I never knew I had it. My symptoms were all masked by other serious illness so I thought I'd join a specific Crohns forum to keep on learning. I've joined a uk ileostomy forum which has been invaluable.
So that's me
Cheers xx
Here's my story....following 18 years of hospital visits for an unrelated brain disease My doctor admitted me to hospital on 31st dec 2010 (we call that day Hogmanay here in Scotland) with stomach problems, pain, bloody stool, fatigue, and generally being an unwell puppy. Originally I was diagnosed with UC, started on triple therapy antibiotics, iv steroids and a blood transfusion. 4 days later I got home. 4 days after that back in with a massive pelvic abscess. Back on antibiotics, steroids, fluids but with no major effect. 7 days later i was just about to be started on remicade when my colon ruptured. I had about 30 min to say yes/no to a permanent ileostomy or die. I said yes (well you do don't you).
10 days later they took the staples from the surgery out but when I next stood up my abdominal wound 'unzipped' (dehisced) and I literally held my small intestines in my hands. Back to surgery.....
13 months on my abdominal wound is 6x4 inches with no skin on, I spent the whole of 2011 in a hospital bed at home, I developed 5 fistulae, 4 of which have broken through to skin level and in the last week I've been told it's Crohns not UC.
OK, so now to the positive......I have an amazing husband who has been incredible throughout all of my ailments. My family also need a special mention. I definitely know who my friends are now and I'm very grateful for them. My employer didn't sack me for being off for a year so I'm a working woman again. I'm finally close to being able to get remicade (couldnt due to infections) which, fingers crossed, should help the wounds/fistulae. I'm learning to live with poop in a bag. (My stoma's called Stan) and I'm alive.
I know little about living with Crohns as I never knew I had it. My symptoms were all masked by other serious illness so I thought I'd join a specific Crohns forum to keep on learning. I've joined a uk ileostomy forum which has been invaluable.
So that's me
Cheers xx
