Hi everyone,
After being diagnosed 16 years ago with CD at age 12, I've finally joined the forum!
Why? I'm really looking for answers to constant muscle pain and general all over irritation in the joints and muscles for over 5 years now, but has really been hanging around for as long as the Crohns.
This is my story, I'll try be brief and to the point...
11 years old, started getting stomach pains and vomiting weekly and wasn't able to hold down much food at any meal. 6-8 months went by, skinny as a rake, tests were inconclusive.
One day, after eating some popcorn the night before, I woke I with excruciating abdominal pain, went straight to my GP and on to hospital for emergency surgery same day. They removed my appendix, 8 inches of intestine and an abscess the size of a grapefruit. Was diagnosed with CD some weeks later, all up 2 months in hospital. Was a scary time for a 12 year old and their fam.
Middle teenage years were pretty good on the Crohns front. No meds and only slight evidence of crohns once or twice a year, until I left high school and started having the abdominal pain again and to keep it brief, had similar surgery again aged 18, with an even larger abscess removed and now a nice foot-long vertical scar on the belly to boast.
Was on pred and the usual others for a time after that until I decided I didn't want to live with drugs anymore and started down the alternative health/treatment path. Left my GI as his only advise on diet was if your too skinny you should eat more Mac Donalds. Good one!
I'm now 28 and 5 years married to an incredibly caring and supportive wife. Haven't seen the hospital since 18 but it hasn't been an easy road. I've tried many sorts of diets and holistic type approaches and experienced the most success by following "the guts and glory program" from "Restoring your digestive health" by Jordan Rubin and Joseph Brasco, and following the direction of a great holistic GP I found, and keeping up to speed with people like Dr Mercola.
My real struggle in later years has been the muscle/joint pain and body fatigue. I feel like my body is just hyper irritable. If I'm in one position for five minutes I get aches in whatever place is most under pressure. I cannot lie on either side without my hips reacting and radiating pain. I can't lie on my back or sit down without getting great pain in my butt and legs (parts that are touching the chair). So I have developed a problem in my lower back (pain and stiffness) I think because of sleeping on my stomach so much as I have no other choice. I am in pain all over now trying to get this typed out. I also feel like I have brain fog 99% of the time. I also get a swelling and throbbing in a random finger every week or so that wakes me up at night.
I currently take krill oil, probiotics, digestive enzymes and sometimes B12 and Vit D spray supplements. I am now awaiting my first trial of low dose naltrexone (LDN) and going to start on resveratrol supps. Am really hoping and praying this will allow me to be able to get back to my profession of copywriting and also allow me to sit down and write songs as is my passion.
Thanks so much for reading! Any recommendations on natural remedies or insight are welcome!
After being diagnosed 16 years ago with CD at age 12, I've finally joined the forum!
Why? I'm really looking for answers to constant muscle pain and general all over irritation in the joints and muscles for over 5 years now, but has really been hanging around for as long as the Crohns.
This is my story, I'll try be brief and to the point...
11 years old, started getting stomach pains and vomiting weekly and wasn't able to hold down much food at any meal. 6-8 months went by, skinny as a rake, tests were inconclusive.
One day, after eating some popcorn the night before, I woke I with excruciating abdominal pain, went straight to my GP and on to hospital for emergency surgery same day. They removed my appendix, 8 inches of intestine and an abscess the size of a grapefruit. Was diagnosed with CD some weeks later, all up 2 months in hospital. Was a scary time for a 12 year old and their fam.
Middle teenage years were pretty good on the Crohns front. No meds and only slight evidence of crohns once or twice a year, until I left high school and started having the abdominal pain again and to keep it brief, had similar surgery again aged 18, with an even larger abscess removed and now a nice foot-long vertical scar on the belly to boast.
Was on pred and the usual others for a time after that until I decided I didn't want to live with drugs anymore and started down the alternative health/treatment path. Left my GI as his only advise on diet was if your too skinny you should eat more Mac Donalds. Good one!
I'm now 28 and 5 years married to an incredibly caring and supportive wife. Haven't seen the hospital since 18 but it hasn't been an easy road. I've tried many sorts of diets and holistic type approaches and experienced the most success by following "the guts and glory program" from "Restoring your digestive health" by Jordan Rubin and Joseph Brasco, and following the direction of a great holistic GP I found, and keeping up to speed with people like Dr Mercola.
My real struggle in later years has been the muscle/joint pain and body fatigue. I feel like my body is just hyper irritable. If I'm in one position for five minutes I get aches in whatever place is most under pressure. I cannot lie on either side without my hips reacting and radiating pain. I can't lie on my back or sit down without getting great pain in my butt and legs (parts that are touching the chair). So I have developed a problem in my lower back (pain and stiffness) I think because of sleeping on my stomach so much as I have no other choice. I am in pain all over now trying to get this typed out. I also feel like I have brain fog 99% of the time. I also get a swelling and throbbing in a random finger every week or so that wakes me up at night.
I currently take krill oil, probiotics, digestive enzymes and sometimes B12 and Vit D spray supplements. I am now awaiting my first trial of low dose naltrexone (LDN) and going to start on resveratrol supps. Am really hoping and praying this will allow me to be able to get back to my profession of copywriting and also allow me to sit down and write songs as is my passion.
Thanks so much for reading! Any recommendations on natural remedies or insight are welcome!
