- Joined
- Nov 9, 2010
- Messages
- 12
Tried to keep it short. Failed dismally!
My onset of Crohn’s was sudden and frightening. At the beginning of June I was happy and healthy, busy training for a 3-week trek in India (part of my job) and looking forward to a summer of attending music festivals with my boyfriend.
3 weeks later I was in constant pain, with no energy, single, and living on my mother’s surprisingly comfortable sofa – I barely left it for 2 months.
My symptoms appeared overnight, beginning with a day of unceasing pain and chronic Diarrhoea (which is strange as since the first week my main symptom is constipation). This started the day after a fabulously drunken dinner party with friends, at first I blamed over indulgence – but the pain just would not go away, I dragged myself to work for the first couple of weeks, trying to convince myself there was nothing wrong, I finally cracked when I had to tell work that I could not go to India – I was out of breath just walking up the stairs.
My 2 year relationship ended at this time, it seems my boyfriend was not ready for an ‘in sickness and in health’ commitment. I was told that I was self-pitying and depressed. I don’t think anyone realised quite how terrible I was feeling, or just how hard it was just to drag myself out of bed in the morning. I’d like to have seen him try!
Not knowing what were physical symptoms and what was heartache, it took me longer to go to the doctors than it should have. When I did I was sent straight to casualty suffering from severe anaemia, by this point I had lost about 2 stone (28lb) in weight.
After weeks of endless blood tests, tears, endoscopies, more blood tests, colonoscopies (they’re a treat aren’t they), hospital visits, more tears, overdraft limits, X-rays, MRI scans and (yes, you guessed it) more blood tests, I finally have a diagnosis. Crohn’s disease.
Having a diagnosis felt like a weight being lifted of my shoulders, I didn’t feel sad about it at all. The change to my life is inexpressible, but at least I know what I am dealing with, and I know who to call when the proverbial hits the fan. I am trying to look on the sunny side!
I am currently taking Prednisolone, along with Mesalazine, Azathioprine, and various supplements and, though I rattle like when I walk, for the first time since June I feel like myself again. Don’t get me wrong, Prednisolone messes with your brain in no small way, and I’ve hardly had a wink of sleep, but I have my energy back for the while, I’m back at work, I have hope again and this weekend I was able to go for a 5 hour hike up and out in the hills where I live. I confess I cried like a baby.
I found this forum looking for others who were going through similar times, It’s already been tremendously helpful to read other people’s stories - so thanks everyone for sharing. XX
My onset of Crohn’s was sudden and frightening. At the beginning of June I was happy and healthy, busy training for a 3-week trek in India (part of my job) and looking forward to a summer of attending music festivals with my boyfriend.
3 weeks later I was in constant pain, with no energy, single, and living on my mother’s surprisingly comfortable sofa – I barely left it for 2 months.
My symptoms appeared overnight, beginning with a day of unceasing pain and chronic Diarrhoea (which is strange as since the first week my main symptom is constipation). This started the day after a fabulously drunken dinner party with friends, at first I blamed over indulgence – but the pain just would not go away, I dragged myself to work for the first couple of weeks, trying to convince myself there was nothing wrong, I finally cracked when I had to tell work that I could not go to India – I was out of breath just walking up the stairs.
My 2 year relationship ended at this time, it seems my boyfriend was not ready for an ‘in sickness and in health’ commitment. I was told that I was self-pitying and depressed. I don’t think anyone realised quite how terrible I was feeling, or just how hard it was just to drag myself out of bed in the morning. I’d like to have seen him try!
Not knowing what were physical symptoms and what was heartache, it took me longer to go to the doctors than it should have. When I did I was sent straight to casualty suffering from severe anaemia, by this point I had lost about 2 stone (28lb) in weight.
After weeks of endless blood tests, tears, endoscopies, more blood tests, colonoscopies (they’re a treat aren’t they), hospital visits, more tears, overdraft limits, X-rays, MRI scans and (yes, you guessed it) more blood tests, I finally have a diagnosis. Crohn’s disease.
Having a diagnosis felt like a weight being lifted of my shoulders, I didn’t feel sad about it at all. The change to my life is inexpressible, but at least I know what I am dealing with, and I know who to call when the proverbial hits the fan. I am trying to look on the sunny side!
I am currently taking Prednisolone, along with Mesalazine, Azathioprine, and various supplements and, though I rattle like when I walk, for the first time since June I feel like myself again. Don’t get me wrong, Prednisolone messes with your brain in no small way, and I’ve hardly had a wink of sleep, but I have my energy back for the while, I’m back at work, I have hope again and this weekend I was able to go for a 5 hour hike up and out in the hills where I live. I confess I cried like a baby.
I found this forum looking for others who were going through similar times, It’s already been tremendously helpful to read other people’s stories - so thanks everyone for sharing. XX
