New here, 20, started in march(ish)

[Alzoid]

Lets see... My name is Matt, I live in Houston and go to college 2 hours away... I have a horrible habit of not tasting foods, which has led me to a somewhat limited amount of foods I eat. I suppose it makes it easier to figure out what causes crohn's to act up, but it also limits me even more...

To be honest, I'm not sure if I that first paragraph is even needed, but I figure I might as well leave it since I typed it out...

Back in late march I started having chronic bathroom problems, I thought nothing of it, and figured it would go away after a while... I then went home for spring break, and both my mother and my girlfriend got me to go to the doctor, who figured it was some bug, put me on cipro and sent me on my way. This didn't help, but I continued to think nothing of it. After a week I was back at school, and went to see the school doctor. Unfortunately, he wasn't very helpful and told me to take immodium (sp?). I did this, the problems seemed to disappear for a while... and then abdominal pains started up. I started going to a doctor on my insurance, he was more helpful than the school doctor, doing blood tests (my mom wanted me to be checked for celiac disease since my aunt has it, and possibly my grandmother). That ended up coming back negative, after a few more visits he suggested I go see a specialist...

I ended up heading home and seeing a GI specialist in Houston, ran some blood tests that came up with nothing, and then decided to do an upper (I forgot the proper term for it) and a colonoscopy. The first procedure was the colonoscopy, which yielded a diagnosis of Ulcerative colitis. I was put in Apriso to help with it. The pain disappeared, the bathroom issues didn't... a week or 2 later, I went in for an upper GI. That is where they found the crohn's... I've been put on a few antibiotics and some other stuff... I don't exactly know which of these is which, but heres the list

Pantroprazole: Still taking 1 per day
Azathioprine: Still taking 1 per day
Prednisone: Started 4 weeks ago at 60mg a day, after a week, drop down 10mg... currently I'm at 20mg a day.
Metronidazole: Finished (was 1 tablet every 8 hours for 2 weeks)
Levaquin: Finished (I was not very good about taking this pill)

Since starting the meds, I've changed my diet. I removed any forms of gluten and dairy. The bathroom problems disappeared... since then, I've slowly been adding foods back in, and fortunately, I have been able to add dairy back in without incident. So I'm pretty sure it is the gluten that causes problems... though I recently had a steak, it didn't work out all that well, so I suppose I'll be testing foods for quite a while...

Before this happened, I was about 190 pounds back in march... since the pain was because of food, my appetite disappeared... since then, I have dropped down to 150... probably not healthy, but I'm not sure if/when I should be trying to get myself into shape.

I don't really know what to anticipate or what to expect... Hopefully reading through some of the things on this forum will ease my mind.

Thank you.

 

[Crohns08]

Welcome to the forum, Matt!

Sorry to hear about all the meds but it seems as though you had a relatively quick diagnosis compared to some of us. Glad to hear that you're doing better with adjusting your diet. I've also been experimenting with the diet with gluten and the like. Usually I don't have a problem with any meats except for red meat. Unfortunately so far I haven't been able to tolerate a hamburger or a steak. I'm starting to think maybe it's the grill, I've heard some people talking and suggesting that the char on the meat and the smoke may cause upset. It's something to think about and I have yet to experiment with.

 

[Astra]

Hi Matt
and welcome

Yes well done for quick dx!
just wanted to add, that's a quick taper for Pred! IMO
from 60mg to 20mg in one month, wow you've been lucky you've not got adrenal problems!
I started on 40mg and it took me over 4 months to get to zero!
have a scoot round the forum for Pred info, diet and treatment, I know you'll be confused and blinded by so much info, but it will help to ease some anxieties too!
enjoy the forum
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[ameslouise]

Hi Matt and welcome!

Is your final DX Crohn's or UC? Or is it Crohn's Colitis?

I hope your current cocktail of meds helps and you get some relief from the pain and can put some weight back on. There seems to be a lot of college students cropping up on here lately so you should find lots of people young like you with similar experience. And us old Crohnie's for tried and true advice!

Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon!! - Amy

 

[Nancy Lee]

Hello Matt and welcome to the Crohn's Forum.
You have come to the right place for answers and information.

I suggest you browse the forums..
maybe look up some of the meds you're on
to give you more insight.

Weight loss is very common with Crohn's...but the weight does come back.

Once again welcome,
Nancy~

 

[Dexky]

Hi Matt and welcome! I'm not sure I know what your first paragraph means . It's a great conversation starter I guess. You've come to the right place for support and advice. Good luck!!

 

[kello82]

hey matt! im 20 as well wahoooo

do you keep a food diary? that might help, though it sounds like you do a really good job at keeping track.
keep in mind though that in some cases, diet makes no difference in the activity of the crohns. it seems to be a highly individualistic thing, some people have great success in cutting out certain foods and some people spot no difference at all.
so just keep it in mind! it seems like it is helping you though so thats great!

have you ever heard of the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle? you may be interested in it, there are some awesome success stories with that diet. i tried it myself but ended up just losing weight rapidly so i had to jump off that ship lol.

best of luck, any more questions ask away! =]

 

[Crohn's 35]

HI Matt! Love the avatar lol. Crohns is hard to detect and diagnose. When we are in a flare, you have to watch what you eat. When you are better it is still best to eat healthfully too. Looks like you have had some great support on here, hope you enjoy the forum.

 

[Alzoid]

Thanks everyone

@ameslouise - I think they diagnosed me with both, I know I've read some storys where they misdiagnose one for the other, but my doc has kept me on the meds for UC while giving me others for CD.

@kello82 - I actually started doing that a week or so ago... problem is I keep it on the computer, and if I don't write it down in some form I forget to put it in. And I'll look into that book, thanks.

Thanks again for the warm welcome, glad to finally find a forum to read about this

 

[bobby.parker]

Doctors always seem useless at getting a diagnosis with Crohn's.
My doctor said I had gas/indegestion, turned out to be a very dangerous form of pancreatitis a serious, but rare side effect from aza!!!

 

[xoxava]

Welcome! I'm 19 and was diagnosed with CD. I just started treatment and a food diary. Hope you find all the support and advice you need!

 

[whysoserious]

Hello Matt! I'm from Houston as well! I don't live there now but I live close by. Sorry that you are going through all of this! I'm glad you have been able to add dairy back to your diet. As far as the steak goes, many people with IBD have problems eating red meat. I'm in college as well, well, I was in college, but I got so sick I had to drop out. This is a great place, I've had many questions answered here and everyone is very understanding and nice!

 

[Procyon]

Lets see... My name is Matt, I live in Houston and go to college 2 hours away... I have a horrible habit of not tasting foods, which has led me to a somewhat limited amount of foods I eat. I suppose it makes it easier to figure out what causes crohn's to act up, but it also limits me even more...

Hey, Matt. My name is also Matt. I've had that same problem. Ever since I was young, I just avoided lots of different kinds of foods, and now with the Crohn's I'm even more limited. It's kind of frustrating. But I'm sure you'll figure out what kinds of foods you can handle and stuff. In any case, I hope you enjoy this place. Hang in there.

 

[troydanielbecker]

Calling Houstonians!

Matt and other Houstonians, I am wondering about those of you who go to the monthly CCFA meetings in Houston (or Sugarland).... Can you private message me if you catch wind of this message and you go? I am trying to get a picture of the meeting before we go, and really, to see about bringing the kiddos or not....

 

[Sue-2009]

Hey Matt! Glad to see you here?! Keep looking around there is alot to learn here! SUe