Like everyone else here I am a newbie....

[Billie Selene]

60 year old - sort of male - Just Dx'd with Crohns.... and sometimes I think I should always spell that with all caps! .... I had my colonoscopy 2 months ago..... heard nothing from the Doc... until I called and made an appointment with him again... he expressed mild surprise that his "Office hadn't got in touch with me.. oh well" .... he explained the cs had revealed some 'irritation in the colon' and he wanted to do a blood test.... one month later.. yes - 3 MONTHS total!.... I got a call from one of his nurses to inform that I DID have Crohns, that the Doc had called in a Rx for me and to see him in another month! I don't know... seemed kind of cold and callous to inform me I had an incurable chronic disease by phone call..... FROM HIS NURSE!!!!!!! So I am now on asacol (Spelling?) 3x daily.... like some of the people I seem plagued by constipation instead of Dh... I go 2 or 3 days then resort to ducolax then spend the next day dumping approximately 1/2 to a cup of blood along with the stool into the sewers. As some one quoted in the support forums... a bit disconcerting! I use a cortisone suppository (25 mg cortison) to stop the bleeding once the colon is cleaned out. So I guess from what I read I am just starting out on an "interesting" - as in chinese curse - journey. Oh and may I add I was also JUST diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes - I had a 3 bypass/2 arteries rebuild CABG done exactly one year ago where they left 4 blocakges in place and oh yeah-----TA DA! COPD - Can't spell the empha-what ever word! LOL! So there's my intro... I hope I can get some advice, encouragement and maybe - once in while add some encouragement ....

 

[Dexky]

Hey Billie, welcome to the forum. It sounds like maybe you should go doctor shopping. I would imagine you'll be put on something stronger than asacol when you have your next appt.. I don't know what effect your other illnesses will have on your crohn's treatment, I would imagine it would be altered though. I think I have seen others on here who also have diabetes. Good luck!! BTW, I've visited and really like your hometown. The historic district is like walking through history. Cool town!!

 

[donna martinez]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hi Bille, wow, I agree with dexky, you really need to see a good Gi and someone a little more compassionate with his job and his patients. That is pretty cold and long time waiting, seems very unprofessional to say the least.

Not sure if it is a typo or a funny "sorta male".

This disease is hard to control for some but most can get relief of their pain and symptoms by medications that suits them and diet. I take one day at a time and never expect anything. I have spur of the moment type of lifestyle and my hubby is very supportive. COPD is very hard to deal with, it is one of the reasons I quit smoking, 9 years in Aug, because I know some one who has it and I cant imagine struggling to breathe.

Hope you join the community, lots of great people to share their experiences...welcome aboard!

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Billie and :welcome:

I agree with others regarding your GI. It would be nice to think you have someone that's on the ball particularly when you have quite a few additional medical issues.

Glad you found us and I hope you hang around.

Take care,
Dusty

 

[Astra]

Hi Billie
and welcome

What do you mean sort of male?
You have a lot going on there, and from what I know Asacol is the only sulfa free 5 AZA, part of the amnio salicylate family, specially formulated for UC, so it should help with rectal bleeding, I hope so, for your sake!
If it was me, I'd seek a second opinion, having this disease and other disorders too, such as diabetes and COPD, shouldn't be ignored, what are they playing at?
lots of support here for you so stick around with us
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Billie Selene]

Dr Shopping ain't an option...

Hi Bille, wow, I agree with dexky, you really need to see a good Gi and someone a little more compassionate with his job and his patients. That is pretty cold and long time waiting, seems very unprofessional to say the least.

Not sure if it is a typo or a funny "sorta male".

This disease is hard to control for some but most can get relief of their pain and symptoms by medications that suits them and diet. I take one day at a time and never expect anything. I have spur of the moment type of lifestyle and my hubby is very supportive. COPD is very hard to deal with, it is one of the reasons I quit smoking, 9 years in Aug, because I know some one who has it and I cant imagine struggling to breathe.

Since I am retired Air Farce I am with Tricare and there are only so many Doc's that will take Tricare for insurance so I am kind of stuck with this one...

As for "sorta male" I am transgendered.... living openly as a femme person but of course society has a problem with "Different People" and since I have no need to pretend to be a woman just live as a femme person then I am a mixed bag of being a male genetically and a female emotionally... TMI?

I quit smoking the day I had my major heart attack a year ago ... I came out of surgery at 2 pm and haven't wanted a cigarette since! Seriously ... no cravings at all! The COPD does cause some problems with breathing and it seems every germ that gets near me turns into some kind of pneumonia (SP?). fighting one now in fact....

As far as medicine and diet.....I guess I am still in the "let's see if this works" stage of the game... the Doc has added Entocort to my regimin along with the Asocol. He told me that I can never use aspirin or any other typical otc NSAID becasue of the bleeding.... I kind of agree with him.... took 8 aspirins yesterday...super leg cramps...... started bleeding last night and it is just now slowing down.... man! Scarey!

Like the old bumper sticker says.. If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself! LOL!

 

[Billie Selene]

And to everyone - THANK YOU for such an open arm welcome! I read your notes and start to cry! Since I have no friends or support group around me your welcoming me like this is almost overwhelming! <Big Trembling Grin> As I said in my other post though - shopping for another doc or getting a second opinion is not going to happen.. this is the guy Tricare assigned me to and they say I can't go to another one until a year has elapsed. I just love public health care.. wait until the 'Govment' is thru with their plan and we'll all get so see how great :-( it is!