My Crohn's is really scaring me this week

[muppet]

which is something it hasn't managed to do for almost 10 years.

A week ago today I came down with some sort of stomach bug. My boss had come in the week prior with something even though he knew he was sick. For him, it lasted 24 hours. For me...

I started feeling better after around 48 hours. That is, I could eat and pay at least minor attention to my work. I couldn't take any sick time because I've exhausted all of my PTO hours this year already caring for Sarah and to a lesser extent, Izzy.

Then, on Thursday evening, I suddenly felt REALLY ill out of the blue. I was going around doing my usual and then suddenly I felt nauseous, "heavy", and just out of sorts. I felt lethargic and I could have sworn I was impacted. I went the pharmacy and got some Fleet enemas (never got to use them) and when I got home I took a hyosciamine because I could feel that my gut was spastic.

As soon as, and I mean AS SOON AS the hyosciamine kicked in, I ran to the bathroom and passed what I swear must have been close to 4 gallons of water. The toilet flushed by itself twice from all the water I passed.

My fistula has also been really active with lots of pus. I decided to start taking a 30-day Flagyl course that I had handy in the med cabinet (yeah yeah no lectures please.) I started feeling better by Friday morning. I went to work (no choice really) and did all of my normal things, but when I got home I was EXHAUSTED. I went straight upstairs and went to sleep until well after bedtime. Then woke up, puttered around, then back to bed.

Saturday I felt fine. I mean really fine. I went grocery shopping with my wife and Izzy (youngest), made lunch, got stuff done around the house, everything. Sarah's friend slept over and I stayed up until midnight chaperoning them (maybe a mistake here) before sending them to bed.

Sunday I was still feeling OK. We went to an outdoor mall later in the afternoon and went shopping at LL Bean. I was fine for the hour we were in LL Bean. Then we decided to walk outside in the sun. About 30 feet from LL Bean I started feeling TERRIBLE. My gut was on FIRE, but I didn't want to be the wet blanket in the group so I kept going. I was pushing Izzy in her little plastic coupe and she was having a ball pointing out all the fancy dogs that the affluent people who shop in this place tend to walk around with (save that rant for another day, muppet.)

By the time we got back to the van I was feeling TERRIBLE, but I drove home because my wife is afraid to drive the van, it's too big for her. I just played down how I was feeling.

When we got home I was supposed to make dinner for everyone, but I just couldn't do it. I had no strength left. I took a hyosciamine and 60mg of prednisone (I know, I know) and fell dead asleep for 5 hours (had all sorts of crazy dreams.)

I woke up this morning feeling OK, but I took 60mg of pred before coming to work (I don't plan to take 60 again, probably 40 tomorrow). I also sat down on the toilet this morning and couldn't pass ANYTHING but blood. A steady stream of blood dripped out of my fistula while I sat there for almost an hour.

I know you're going to say I'm an idiot for not going to the doctor yet, but we literally CANNOT AFFORD for me to be admitted and I'm afraid that's where this will go. I have no sick time left and the short term disability insurance at work is, to put it mildly, inadequate.

I'm feeling relatively OK on the prednisone so far, but I'm really nervous I might have a stricture or obstruction. I've never had either before so I don't know how to recognize them.

I know, I know. Call the doctor.

 

[Jeffer]

O know this won't help but thank goodness for the NHS, at least we don't have the problem costs. I hope you et treatment of better soon.

 

[muppet]

It angers me on a daily basis that there is so much ignorance and deliberately false propaganda spread about single payer healthcare in the United States. We'll never have it. The corporations run the show.

 

[muppet]

I hate to sound cavalier but at this point in my life I'm so used to seeing blood and bleeding that it just doesn't faze me much anymore. If I was feeling anemic or weak I'd be much more worried, but I feel fine at the moment aside from a general, mild sensation of unease.

 

[handle]

Those 'stomach bugs' are notorious for setting off flare-ups.... hopefully things will settle with the treatment you have taken. You can only do your best, and it sounds as though you are doing that.
It would be nice if you could rest your weary body for a time - not easy given the circumstances, but take any chance you can to relax.
all the best.

 

[SarahAnne]

In your situation I probably would have done the same, I know it's not good to self-medicate, but this disease is a b*tch. Sometimes it puts you between a rock and a hard place, especially when it comes to money. People who are healthy and have access to great medical care and don't appreciate it anger me. There are so many very sick people out there who have to make ridiculously impossible decisions like going to the hospital or buying groceries for their kids.

I'm so sorry for everything your going through, Muppet. You have my warm thoughts and prayers, for you, Sarah and the rest of your family. Good luck and feel better.

 

[tiloah]

You can't afford to get worse. They can't admit you without your consent. But if it's what you really need, you really "cannot afford" to avoid that either.

 

[muppet]

I understand exactly what you're saying, but our finances are such a house of cards right now that if I miss a week's pay it will cause a cascading budget emergency that will probably end in our house getting foreclosed. That may sound melodramatic, but it's the truth.

 

[tiloah]

I understand exactly what you're saying, but our finances are such a house of cards right now that if I miss a week's pay it will cause a cascading budget emergency that will probably end in our house getting foreclosed. That may sound melodramatic, but it's the truth.

Well, assuming your OP is not exaggerated, you were bleeding a "steady stream" of blood for an "hour." If that's true, you're on the verge of death. Which your family "literally cannot afford" unless you have life insurance.

My point being, yea it's a huge bummer to lose your house and have debt and all that stuff, but it's presumably preferable to dying?

In any case, I'm sorry you're dealing with this and I hope you get some treatment that helps.

 

[muppet]

It was more of a drip than a stream. I do get a little overwrought on steroids. Obviously if I was in mortal fear of my life my priorities would become crystal clear. The steroids are helping right now. If I get in over my head I'll page the doc.

 

[tiloah]

It was more of a drip than a stream. I do get a little overwrought on steroids. Obviously if I was in mortal fear of my life my priorities would become crystal clear. The steroids are helping right now. If I get in over my head I'll page the doc.

Haha. Ok. I understand! When I was in the hospital the Dilaudid sent my anxiety off the charts! I just want to know you will take care of yourself when you're at death's door. I think there are too many people who don't understand/are in denial about how serious this disease can be and how quickly it can become dire.

Have you been in contact with your GI? I do still think you should see someone and find a course of treatment. Again, they cannot admit you without your consent. If they try, just tell them you won't pay them. I don't think this is something you can/should treat on your own. At the very least if you can't afford to end up in the hospital or the ER, you should try to nip this in the bud because could get much worse.

 

[muppet]

Just a quick update to say that I'm really feeling quite a lot better since yesterday afternoon on all the steroids and antibiotics. I do still have to call my doctor and I will, but I'm dreading the call because I will probably have to admit to self treatment I think.

I have quite a bit of anal pain today and I'm worried that my body may be reacting to the formation of a new peri-rectal/peri-anal fistula, but I'm not quite ready to go there yet.