New Here...

[thebeadinglady]

Hi all, I am new to the forum, but not Crohn's disease. I was diagnosed four years ago after three months of being bounced in and out of the hospital, tested, and not being able to figure out what was wrong with me. After my third hospital stay and having my gallbladder removed I got diagnosed with Crohn's thanks to a colonoscopy. I started off on prednisone and Asacol, but that didn't work so I have been on Remicade infusions for the past three and a half years.

I have been in remission since starting remicade. Unfortunately I had my first major flare and hospitalization since starting the infusions last week and I am a little uncertain what the plan will be from here on out since I flared one week after my infusion. I am working the low residue diet and prednisone right now and waiting to meet with my GI to discuss options, and most likely getting another colonoscopy done soon.

In addition to Crohn's I am also dealing with infertility. the two don't really have anything to do with each other, except that it limits some of my treatment options while I am actively trying to get pregnant. I am also one of the rare Crohn's patients that is severely over weight, so I have been trying to work on that too.

I am glad to be here and hope I can give some support to those who need it!

 

[Crohn's 35]

:welcome: Beadinglady! Glad you found us, and we are not all skinny and I am one that isnt but not obese, but I am watching it. I am on the residue diet also, makes sense and pretty easy to follow. I have had my gallbladder removed and thanks to Prednisone I know have a Hiatus hernia. Prednisone is the cheapest but worse drugs.

Your infertility can be from your Crohns and or your weight, so working on that would be good. You really want to be careful being on Pred, it does cause weight gain and diabetes. Like we need another disease eh? :lol:.

Maybe he Remicade needs to be tweaked, or it is petering out. Hope you get some answers with your Gi soon. Let us know ok? Glad you have joined us, hope to see you around the boards!!!

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Beadinglady and :welcome:

Good to see you here! Sorry to hear about the flare, I hope you can get things sorted with the GI and get it back under control again.............please keep us posted!

I know there have been other threads about being overweight so as Pen has said, you are not alone. Here is one...............................

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=12606

This is a great place with loads of info and support so please stay around and any questions just fire away. Good luck and welcome aboard!

All the best,
Dusty

 

[thebeadinglady]

I have heard that Crohn's has no effect (affect? I always forget) on fertility, but I kinda have my own suspesions that there may be a link. I know my infertility has mostly to do with my weight and my whacked out fallopian tubes and hormone levels. I have lost 30 pounds so far and I have 30 more to go before my hubby and I can do IVF next summer.

You are right, prednisone is the worst! thankfully I will start tapering it next week (fingers crossed). I am being insanely OCD about my sodium intake and calorie intake while I am on it this time around. Do you do the low-residue diet on a permanent basis, or only when needed for flares? I haven't decided yet if I should stick to it past this flare.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Smaller meals more often is easier on the intestines and gas or pain. I lost 26 lbs, and plateaued and starting to gain some back. I always lose a lb or two whilst on Pred cause I know... how munching can continue over time. Good for you that you lost 30 lbs!!! Great start!.

Btw, most people worry about being ideal weight and I was told by my first gi, most Crohnies should have at least 10-15 lbs over the ideal weight, because being underweight and you have a flare, you can kiss surgery good bye too risky on the heart. Other risks too. 10 lbs over wont hurt anyone ..

 

[thebeadinglady]

Smaller meals more often is easier on the intestines and gas or pain. I lost 26 lbs, and plateaued and starting to gain some back. I always lose a lb or two whilst on Pred cause I know... how munching can continue over time. Good for you that you lost 30 lbs!!! Great start!.

Btw, most people worry about being ideal weight and I was told by my first gi, most Crohnies should have at least 10-15 lbs over the ideal weight, because being underweight and you have a flare, you can kiss surgery good bye too risky on the heart. Other risks too. 10 lbs over wont hurt anyone ..

Ahh if only an extra 80 pounds was ok too. :biggrin: Good job on your weight loss too!

 

[Nancy Lee]

Hello beadinglady!

Just stopping by to say welcome to the forum!
I know you will like it here!!

Hugs~Nancy

 

[Dexky]

Hi Beadinglady, welcome!! Do you make jewelry? I hope they get your meds sorted so you can get back in remission. Good luck with the weight loss and the ivf!!