- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Messages
- 8
Hello, my name is Amanda and I browsed this forum before, but never made an account until now and I'd like to share my story with you and perhaps gain some insight.
It started in my senior year of high school, and honestly most of it is a blur to me now. I had symptoms and had started rapidly losing weight. My parents decided to bring me to our local doctor.. and she told me that it was depression and mostly psychological, and so she sent me to therapy. I went to one session and was against it.
I'm glad I was against it. I can't remember how I ended up with a GI doctor, but I had swapped my regular doctor. They decided to put me on various antibiotics which ended up making me throw up more than I already had been. I was very ill, and I missed a lot of school to go to a GI doctor that was hours away from where I lived. This is the GI that diagnosed me with Crohn's Disease. However.. he ended up being too far and too busy when I became a college student in the city of Syracuse, NY. I switched to a GI in Syracuse. That GI was busy too, and I don't remember much of him. I finally switched to my current GI, Dr. Raymond of Cooperstown/Oneonta, and she is fabulous.
Like everyone else here, I have had my ups, and my way downs. Some of those that I would like to mention is when the past two years I had Lymphedema due to lack of albumin. My doctor's nickname for me is "trouble", because I waited so long to have it checked out. I had seen a PA who told me it was salt. That was ridiculous, and my doctor told her so. I didn't know at the time, so I simply had less salt in my diet. Anyway, he told me that it could be sclerosis, blood clots, or heart problems. He sure gave me a scare! I had an ultrasound of my legs later that day. I am just thankful that he is a fantastic doctor and realized it was my albumin ("Lowest I have ever seen in anyone old or young!"). More recently, in December I had an episode that my parents thought was a stroke. My face had gone numb, I had gotten a blind spot, my arms tingled and then became numb and I was dizzy. I couldn't speak properly, either. I was taken to the ER and somehow ended up having a colonoscopy by my regular GI. They scheduled an MRI that showed my brain was clear. However, the people in the hospital could not tell me what happened or why. Later after talking to my doctor, it became obvious. He told me it was consistent of a migraine with aura. I'm not sure, can that be related to Crohn's Disease or vitamin deficiency?
I have been on a variety of medicines, all pills. Currently I have been prescribed Pentasa & Entocort. My doctor also would like me to take Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Iron. My vitamin levels are at anemic levels, and always have been since diagnosis. The dilemma I would like to gain insight on is the following;
I am a college student. I am busy and do not have regular meals that even a healthy person should have. I am in my third year of school, and NEVER have I had medicine that has gotten rid of my symptoms. Even if I am not hurting or throwing up, I always have diarrhea. Since my doctor added the vitamin pills, I have been utterly discouraged. I generally take my meds at breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I can eat them. However, the Vitamin B12 requires that I take them an hour before eating, or 2-3 hours afterwards. It was hard enough taking what I currently did, but tacking these on to take at a different time was.. disheartening. I have never been good at taking my medicine, even in high school/breaks when I could manage. I must mention that I was regular on this new medicine for a couple months. I have quit taking it completely (not smart, I know.. and I am paying for it). In the beginning, my second GI doctor offered me the option of Humira, which I quickly discounted because of the possible side effects, my family's history of heart problems, and because I would have to inject it. Now I am reconsidering because my current medication, even when regular, did not help all of my symptoms. Additionally, an injection every two weeks would be much easier to manage than upwards of 14 pills daily. What would you do in this situation? What is your history with Humira?
I have looked at the forums, but I would like to speak directly to someone who has had experience, you know?
Non-Crohn's-Related facts about me: I am 20 years old. I go to school at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. I am a junior studying Criminology, and I wish to eventually continue on to John Jay's graduate school for Forensic Psychology and a JD in Law. I like all sorts of music, but my favorite is rock. I was born to a Megadeth song. I am a cat person.
I'd also like to thank you for taking the time to read all of this! Whew!
It started in my senior year of high school, and honestly most of it is a blur to me now. I had symptoms and had started rapidly losing weight. My parents decided to bring me to our local doctor.. and she told me that it was depression and mostly psychological, and so she sent me to therapy. I went to one session and was against it.
I'm glad I was against it. I can't remember how I ended up with a GI doctor, but I had swapped my regular doctor. They decided to put me on various antibiotics which ended up making me throw up more than I already had been. I was very ill, and I missed a lot of school to go to a GI doctor that was hours away from where I lived. This is the GI that diagnosed me with Crohn's Disease. However.. he ended up being too far and too busy when I became a college student in the city of Syracuse, NY. I switched to a GI in Syracuse. That GI was busy too, and I don't remember much of him. I finally switched to my current GI, Dr. Raymond of Cooperstown/Oneonta, and she is fabulous.
Like everyone else here, I have had my ups, and my way downs. Some of those that I would like to mention is when the past two years I had Lymphedema due to lack of albumin. My doctor's nickname for me is "trouble", because I waited so long to have it checked out. I had seen a PA who told me it was salt. That was ridiculous, and my doctor told her so. I didn't know at the time, so I simply had less salt in my diet. Anyway, he told me that it could be sclerosis, blood clots, or heart problems. He sure gave me a scare! I had an ultrasound of my legs later that day. I am just thankful that he is a fantastic doctor and realized it was my albumin ("Lowest I have ever seen in anyone old or young!"). More recently, in December I had an episode that my parents thought was a stroke. My face had gone numb, I had gotten a blind spot, my arms tingled and then became numb and I was dizzy. I couldn't speak properly, either. I was taken to the ER and somehow ended up having a colonoscopy by my regular GI. They scheduled an MRI that showed my brain was clear. However, the people in the hospital could not tell me what happened or why. Later after talking to my doctor, it became obvious. He told me it was consistent of a migraine with aura. I'm not sure, can that be related to Crohn's Disease or vitamin deficiency?
I have been on a variety of medicines, all pills. Currently I have been prescribed Pentasa & Entocort. My doctor also would like me to take Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Iron. My vitamin levels are at anemic levels, and always have been since diagnosis. The dilemma I would like to gain insight on is the following;
I am a college student. I am busy and do not have regular meals that even a healthy person should have. I am in my third year of school, and NEVER have I had medicine that has gotten rid of my symptoms. Even if I am not hurting or throwing up, I always have diarrhea. Since my doctor added the vitamin pills, I have been utterly discouraged. I generally take my meds at breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I can eat them. However, the Vitamin B12 requires that I take them an hour before eating, or 2-3 hours afterwards. It was hard enough taking what I currently did, but tacking these on to take at a different time was.. disheartening. I have never been good at taking my medicine, even in high school/breaks when I could manage. I must mention that I was regular on this new medicine for a couple months. I have quit taking it completely (not smart, I know.. and I am paying for it). In the beginning, my second GI doctor offered me the option of Humira, which I quickly discounted because of the possible side effects, my family's history of heart problems, and because I would have to inject it. Now I am reconsidering because my current medication, even when regular, did not help all of my symptoms. Additionally, an injection every two weeks would be much easier to manage than upwards of 14 pills daily. What would you do in this situation? What is your history with Humira?
I have looked at the forums, but I would like to speak directly to someone who has had experience, you know?
Non-Crohn's-Related facts about me: I am 20 years old. I go to school at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. I am a junior studying Criminology, and I wish to eventually continue on to John Jay's graduate school for Forensic Psychology and a JD in Law. I like all sorts of music, but my favorite is rock. I was born to a Megadeth song. I am a cat person.
I'd also like to thank you for taking the time to read all of this! Whew!
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