New here- Pain

[Shenk]

Hi-

I just discovered I have Crohn's. A Dr told me a while back that I might but I went gluten free and it helped, so I just stuck with it.

Almost the only thing I could eat was brown rice cakes and I was OK with that. Then, in the recession they got to cost too much so I switched to organic brown rice with lentils thinking it would be the same.

In about a month, I was doubled over in pain. My whole entire digestive track from throat the end parts in pain. Stomach- pit in belly and buring all up esophagus. Not a part of the system unaffected.

Well, I quit all grains and for two days have eaten nothing but organic sweet potatoes, cabbage juice, and bananas with olive oil. I feel like crap.

I have tried to eat right, but that is not enough for Crohn's I see.

Any tips to stop a severe flare would be very much appreciated. My lower intestines are causing me much pain, not in terms of having to go too much. I tend toward the other. It is just a lot of pain. I tend to stay away from drugs because I also have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and react very badly to meds, even MRI dye and benign stuff.

Well, here's to another glass of cabaage juice. :-(

 

[Shenk]

Thank you for your fast reply!

I was due for a colonoscopy but one of my insurances recently went HMO and will not let me see the original Dr who sent the order. So now I have to go to a different Dr. I am living in the Health Care Damanation known as USA.

She was concerned and wanted me in, scheduled, and the NEXT DAY I got the letter from insurance.

In USA you have to use food as your medications if you are poor because you simply cannot get health care. Insurance (to include "free" Medicaid) is a myth.

Therotically you can get care, but in reality all the hoops you must jump, you cannot. I have, by the way, THREE insurances, but they all must work together or none of them work.

I am trying to get in with Dr #2, but I also have low platelets......which could be related, that he is monitoring and I don't want him to think I am a hypochondriac. Yes, my health is worth it, but humilation is hard to get through.

Gad I feel I am going insane. Time to move back to Canada where I can at least live in some sort of peace.

Sorry to rant. I am losing it. But you have inspired me to make an appt with Doc #2 tomorrow and suck it up...... or to go to ER.

 

[Astra]

Hi Shenk
and welcome!
glad you have found us, you are no longer alone, have a look thro the forum, lots of advice on diets and food, I'm sure I wouldn't be drinking cabbage juice if I was in pain, to be honest! It cripples me
Here in the UK we have the good old NHS, which we slag off, but thank god we don't rely on med insurance like you guys, If it was me, I'd go to A&E and scream my bloody head off too! I've been in hospital recently with an obstruction, believe me, you don't wanna get one of those, I nearly died!
BC is right, food or no food, is not the answer, or cure, and could be/may be exacerbating your symptoms
good luck , and remember, scream and shout!
Joan xx

 

[Nancy Lee]

Hi Shenk and welcome to the forum!

I would never be drinking cabbage juice with Crohn's.
Most Crohnies stay away from any food and drink which produces gas,
such as cabbage, sprouts etc.

Please get back to a doctor and get on some form of medication.
No one need suffer so badly when there is help out there.

Once again...
Welcome
Nancy~

 

[ameslouise]

Welcome to the forum! No, you are not going insane, you are just suffering unnecessarily. The level of pain you are in - you need to get to the ER if you cannot get to the doc fast enough. There is not need for you to be suffering so!

Ditto above - lay off the cabbage juice! Stick to a low res diet - baked chicken, mashed potatoes, rice, or even just broth, jello and Ensure - to give your system a rest until you can get it sorted out with the doc and onto some meds.

If the doc that dx you with CD did not suggest any meds.... time to find a new doc!

Good luck to you - please post again and let us know what's going on.

Hang in there! - Amy

 

[Nicole]

Welcome Shenk,
I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. Now that you've met this great bunch you'll get a lot of advice and support here. And once you start the right meds you'll get some relief.
Hang in there.

Joan,

You have such a warm way of making someone feel better. I read what you say and it's like I can hear you loud and clear! I felt like was slipping off the wagon when I had my obstruction. I told everyone that I felt as if I was going to die.
Finding the right diet feels like I'm running around like a chicken without a head. I've realized that I can't have cabbage at all since it is very gassy and partially acidic. I can't have rice of any kind. Pastas and mushrooms are good to me.

By the way, how's Mark? Congrats!

 

[Astra]

Hi Nicole
thank you for those kind words! lucky you, eating mushrooms, my favourite, cant touch them now, sob
yet, I eat loads of rice! just goes to show you, how we are all individuals, with individual needs, and different strains and styles of Crohns, we're all unique!


and thank you babe for asking about Mark, that is so sweet, he's my angel sent from heaven! wish I'd have met him 20 years ago! He is doing so well, very proud of him and all he has achieved, onwards and upwards!
love to Marlon too!
Joan xx

 

[Nicole]

Joan, I just have to say, sometimes I start reading your stuff and burst out laughing. I see your smile and read with your accent and there we have it. You have a ring like a Trini (Trinidadian) sometimes, girl. I feel like we've known each other for ages.
I love the British accent. You know, we were once a colony of Britain. I love the rich history of it all. I own quite a bit of Catherine Cookson's novels because she goes deep into rural England with description... I love it. Never been to England but hope to some day.

Anyway, love, I'm so happy for you and Mark. It is really wonderful that you've found your angel. Say hello for me, will you. Maybe I'll sing at your wedding???

I'll try to get another prescription before my stock is through.

All our love,

 

[Astra]

Ha Ha Nicole

Yes, I think you'd better buy a hat!
Oh god, If only you could hear my accent! It's very broad and thick, like my head!
lol You'd say ' ya what?'
I talk like I should have a flat cap and a greyhound in tow, * yes very much like a Catherine Cookson novel! ha ha
Where I live is steeped in history too, it's where Pilkingtons glass is made, and Beechams Powders (a long time ago) and of course Saints Rugby League!
If you come to England, bring ya umberolly! It's persisting it down! Hey, so what's new?
great hunny, get some Pred, hate to see you get ills ville
Love
Joan xxx

* no offence to people with flat caps and greyhounds!

Sorry Shenk, we've hi-jacked your post,

 

[Nicole]

Oops! Shenk, I'm real sorry. Didn't mean to abduct your thread.

Joan, you're a riot! Keep delivering the sunshine, girl. :thumleft:
Love

 

[Jer's Girl]

Shenk, Welcome to the forum! I agree with so many here, especially Ameslouise that you might want to try a low residue diet. There is information about it on here, but it is also posted all over the internet. You will be getting more nutrition that way, and also hopefully less pain. It's pretty restrictive, but not nearly as restrictive as the diet you are trying now. I am currently on a low residue diet myself and it's not so bad. I'm sorry that you are having a hard time right now. You are in mu thoughts.

 

[Shenk]

Hello kind people!

Well, I do not have an obstruction, thank god. I am still waiting on insurance for a colonscopy. I can't do anything before April because of insurance.

I can honestly say-

I have had instense problems with intestines since birth. They have been called many things as science knew more. I was hospitialized as a teen which was no darn fun and have suffered a lot like you all have.

BUT I CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THE HELL AND MISERY OF INSURANCE HAS BEEN WORSE THAN ALL OF IT.

It is a huge pain to know there is help that I cannot get, yet I am paying large sums for "insurance." If I had saved all that money I have spent on premiums- $35,000 at least- I would have enough to pay out of pocket!!

I know what a segregated population feels like. Here is help. Not for you.

I would almost rather go without any of it than go through this hell much longer.

Sorry for being so negative! I have hope. I am Canadian and if I can get things together I can relocate which may help a lot.

 

[Nancy Lee]

Hello Shenk...

I wanted you to know I am in Canada also...and being self employed had no health
benefits for my meds etc.

At one point my drugs were way over $600 a month...
then a friend in the same boat put me on to Trillium.

Sure it is a government run drug plan, geared to what you earn, or can afford
to pay, but it sure did help for many years.

I never was billed for a colonoscopy as it is done in the hospital and OHIP
covered that.

I don't know where you are in Canada but please ask your doctor
or better yet your local MP or MPP.

Let me know how you make out....
there is no need for anyone to have treatment put off
because of insurance or lack thereof.

 

[Shenk]

Nancy- thank you for that tip. I am not in Canada at all right now which is why I am in this situation. :-(

However I will be going up to Ontario later. Perhaps I may just stay.