Newbie from So. Cal

[RIZ]

I'm new here so I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm a 50 year old man and I've had Crohn's since I was 13. Crohn's and Colitis runs in my family. My mother had an ileostomy at 28 and my younger brother has UC. I have 6 cousins who also have UC/CD. Additionally, my wife survived stage 4 ovarian cancer and I and I was her primary caretaker for 10 years. Needless to say I have an overly understanding and supportive family. I'm currently having my first major flare in 3 years. I'm taking Asacol, prednisone, and I just took my first injection of Methotrexate about 1/2 hour ago. Contrary to my fears, Injecting myself was no big deal.

I haven't been on a web forum in several years and I don't do social media. I was a member here at one time but forgot my username and password. Honestly, I don't like to discuss my CD with most people because I don't like being treated as a sick person. I tend to keep my pain and discomfort to myself but it's nice to have a forum where I can be comfortable expressing my needs and concerns.

 

[Robrich]

Welcome and good luck with the MTX. I did the injections for almost a year now I am on the oral.
Don't be dismayed if you get some nausea and fatigue in the next few days. I Did for a month or so but after that no problem. Zofran helps, cannabis is better.
I don't like talking about it either. Nice to have this place to talk about it though.
We are practically neighbors btw, who's your doc?

 

[RIZ]

We are practically neighbors btw, who's your doc?

I've been seeing Dr. Wishingrad at St. Johns in Santa Monica for the past 15 years. He's a fantastic doctor who genuinely cares about his patients. When I'm extremely sick we have daily contact via email and he's always here for me. I highly recommend him if you ever need a great Gastro.

 

[Robrich]

Thanks always good to know.
My doc Ronald Siegel at UCLA retired a few years ago. I went through 3other docs there before ending up with Christina Ha in Westwood UCLA. She is a Crohns specialist and she has been awesome for me.

 

[ronroush7]

Welcome to the group. It is very supportive.

 

[BigBoss]

Nice to hear some more local cd patients. I live in the sfv, just over the hill from you guys, i see dr jaspreet panesar at woodland hills, kaiser. She specializes in crohn's and although i have issues with kaiser at the moment, dont ask, before those issues, i was able to email her through the kp.org site which was awesome. I was on remicade, but we met today, and i am feeling worse than before, so we are going to try the humira. I just hate having to go thru this process of trying this drug, than that one, and how long they seem to need to take effect or notice if it's "working". Before her, I was seeing dr Dermot McGovern at cedars sinai in beverly hills/los angeles.