New here saying hi

[Ganji]

Hi folks
i've only just found this forum by accident but glad i did. I'm not too good at getting thoughts wrote down so i'll keep it simple
My name is Ryan and i'm 37 years old and live in the uk, i was diagnosed with crohn's when i was 12 years old when i got pretty ill and lost half my body weight. i had an eleostomy fitted when i was 15 and have had a fair few other ops too.
Although i've had crohn's for some time i still don't know as much as i should as i've never looked into it and just took it as it comes. My doctors were never very good either and never really sat down and spoke about things, just whats happening at the time.
so i'm glad i found this forum as i did'nt know there were any sites such as this. my own fault i know lol as i should have looked. i've always dealt with it on my own and not spoke to familly or friends about it as people have plenty of thier own problems don't they. so i get a bit stresed at times as a lot of you probably do too
Atleast finding this forum can teach me a thing or too aswell as maybe help others who are in similar situations to us.
If anyone has any questions/ worries or anything i'm more than happy to answer.

look forward to meeting people in a similar boat
i've not had a proppa look around the forums yet but will spend some time reading.
thanks for having me :thumleft:

 

[SarahBear]

Welcome to the forum, Ryan!

Doctors usually don't go extremely in-depth with their explanations; it's kind of sad. We're expected to do a lot of research on our own. This forum can definitely help you with that - I've learned a great deal since I've been a member.

How are you feeling now? Are you taking any medications?

 

[Angrybird]

Hello Ryan and welcome to the forum

I was also wondering how you are doing now and whether you are on any meds? Unfortunately I read here far too often about docs who do not take time to discuss things and shuffle you out after a five minute consultation. There is a lot of helpful info and support here though so when you can do have a good look around and don't hesitate to ask or check our Wiki Forum on anything you are not sure on.

AB
xx

 

[KayleighMeek]

Welcome to the forum I found the dr's didn't tell me to much to start with and I was really confused when diagnosed, now I always look on this forum and I can be prepared for the dr's appointment and have lots of questions for them.

 

[Ganji]

ello folks and thanks for the welcomes
Yeah doctors are'nt too good in that area lol.
I'm good thanks. As for meds i stopped taking any in about the year 2000 as i lost faith in the doctors and was a pretty depressed so just did'nt bother. All seemed fine for years except the constant perianal abscess's which i had operated on but i never got anything else checked. I smoked a lot though
About 3 years ago i started getting a lot more of the abscess's and abdominal pain. Plus a lot of leakage from my fistula's but i ignoreed it for some time again which was'nt a good idea i know.
So i got back intouch with the hospital about a year ago to have a bit of a check up. It turns out that due to the amount of perianal abscess's i've had i've got a lot of fistula's which is whats causing the problems i now have. The only way i can explain it is its like i fill up over the course of a few weeks and get a lot of stomache ache. Then the fistula's seem to drain for a week. That does'nt really bother me too much as you get used to it enit. The thing that gets me the most is that since i had my eleostomy done i just can't sleep so am tired a lot.
I don't really let any of it get me down as i know there are always people worse off than myself and being a missurable git is no good for anyone lol.
My doctor has recently started me on Azathioprine which seems to help a bit. He also offered me another operation which is to remove the small part of my recal stump thats left but because of the other damage it will cause i chose not to have it.
I also smoke a lot which helps with my arthritis and lets me get some sleep.

I am ok though and try to keep my mind active lol. i spend most of my time infront of my pc and over the past 2 years i've learned a hell of a lot about building pc's and that kind of thing. I also help run an online gaming comunity with about 60 other people which is a good laugh

i've not had chance to look around these forums much yet but will do so.

again thanks for the welcomes and hope things are not too bad for you

 

[Beatit]

Yeah welcome man I dont seem to have alot of faith in the doctors either. I have taken Azathioprine it does raise the liver levels but in some people not that much. Seems the UK is the birth place for Crohns. I hope you get this worked out and touch back with us soon.

 

[Ganji]

cheers chap.
untill recently i had'nt heard of many people in the uk with crohns. it seems to have escelated over the last 10 years or so as you hear of loads of peeps now.
the azathioprine has'nt affected my liver as yet so alls good
yup i'll stick about n have a mooch in the forums.

 

[David]

Hey there Ryan and welcome to the community!

When you say you smoke a lot, I'm sorry to ask, but nicotine or marijuana? Nicotine smoking is invariably really bad for Crohn's whereas marijuana seems to help a lot of people.

Again, welcome. I'm really glad you found your way here.

 

[Ganji]

Ello David and thanks for the welcome.
I do mean marijuana but i do smoke tabbacco too not much but i do

 

[Jennjenn]

Hi welcome