It seems such a long time ago that I wrote my brief Crohn's story, actually just March this year. Since then and before, I have more or less had continual bleeding, on and off mouth ulcers (mostly on), tummy discomfort & strange poo habits. 5 weeks ago, after a couple of weeks of no symptoms, I had a routine consultation with the news that it looked liked things were all good and I would be seen again in 6 months.
3 weeks ago, mouth ulcers started appearing again and last week, during a dentist appointment, the dentist couldn't even do the normal polish because of the number of tiny pin head ulcers that I had thought were just sore gums (they were in addition to the 5 ulcers on my tongue, 3 visible ulcers on the back of my throat, two on the inside of my lips and 1 each on either side of my mouth that looked more like miniature canyons). For the last couple of weeks I have lived on a diet of soup, custard and readybrek - great for weight loss though, currently running at 10lb down. The consultant was less enthusiastic.
The dentist actually phoned the hospital and within a couple of days I was back in front the consultant, this time being given the "I think now is the time to start Azathioprine" talk (also going on to steroids and something else that I can't remember). I have always been worried about this drug because of the increased risk of skin cancer - I am also being monitored for that separately, but I guess at the end of the day it comes down to balance of risks.
For me, even worse than the risks and side-effects of Aza, is the weekly blood tests. I am so bad when it comes to needles having ended up fainting, fitting or on oxygen more than once (actually, about 50% of the time). At my blood test last week, the nurse actually went to get a another nurse to help. Not my most macho moment to be honest
3 weeks ago, mouth ulcers started appearing again and last week, during a dentist appointment, the dentist couldn't even do the normal polish because of the number of tiny pin head ulcers that I had thought were just sore gums (they were in addition to the 5 ulcers on my tongue, 3 visible ulcers on the back of my throat, two on the inside of my lips and 1 each on either side of my mouth that looked more like miniature canyons). For the last couple of weeks I have lived on a diet of soup, custard and readybrek - great for weight loss though, currently running at 10lb down. The consultant was less enthusiastic.
The dentist actually phoned the hospital and within a couple of days I was back in front the consultant, this time being given the "I think now is the time to start Azathioprine" talk (also going on to steroids and something else that I can't remember). I have always been worried about this drug because of the increased risk of skin cancer - I am also being monitored for that separately, but I guess at the end of the day it comes down to balance of risks.
For me, even worse than the risks and side-effects of Aza, is the weekly blood tests. I am so bad when it comes to needles having ended up fainting, fitting or on oxygen more than once (actually, about 50% of the time). At my blood test last week, the nurse actually went to get a another nurse to help. Not my most macho moment to be honest
