Newbie, Thank God for this forum!

[Plumeria]

Hi all! My name is Ysanne. I've had Crohns for about 4 years now. Docs have gone back and forth is it was UC or CD, and since I started getting fistulas, its Crohns. My blood work kept coming back fine 4 yrs. ago and the doc's thought I was seeking pain meds becuase my Dad had just died. When I was finally scoped, my colon was so ulcerated that I was put on TPN for a month. I'd also lost 25 pounds. Through the years I've still had pain but I was also and active alcoholic and had become a pain med. addict. I got sober about year and half ago and within a week of being clean, my Crohns got 90% better. I started getting issues with the crohns again this year and found out I had 2 fistulas. The first surgery was a success and had the LIFT procedure done. The second one started flaring so my new surgeon put me on long-term flagyl which I hate taking because all of the side effects? How do you all do on the flagyl? Is there anyone out there that is an alcoholic or pain med. addict in recovery? If so, how have you been coping? THanks a lot for reading this!! :sign0085:

 

[glum chump]

Hi Ysanne, and welcome to the forum!

Congratulations on your sobriety!! Recovery from addiction is a hard road, so yay!

Like you, my doctor had been going back and forth with "is it Crohn's or UC", and like you, I had fistulas, fissures and abscesses which made it Crohn's rather than UC. Are your fistulas internal or do you have perianal fistulas?

Flagyl is a hard drug---I hate the feeling it leaves in my mouth. I suck on various hard candies to try to get a different taste going. At one point I was on Flagyl for about 10 months, and the last two months of it, my GI had also prescribed Cipro. After 10 months, I'd had enough of the side effects, so I discontinued taking it as a long term drug, and only took it when I had fistulas (which I was getting every three to six months). I became more knowledgeable about recognizing when a fistula was coming or was in my body (fever, lack of appetite, etc.) and would call my GI for antibiotics right away. Flagyl has worked well for me and my fistulas clear up within the 14 days of taking Flagyl.

I've not had the experience of recovering from alcohol or pain meds addiction, but I'm sure there is someone on this forum with that experience.

I hope you have a positive experience with Flagyl and that your fistula clears up (and clears out!) in no time!!

Regards,

Kismet

 

[InkyStinky]

Hi Ysanne! :welcome:

I saw a thread recently about pain meds... not sure if it dealt with addiction or not... I'll see if I can find it for you.

 

[InkyStinky]

Ok, it is about pain meds and addiction:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1146

I haven't read it but the thread's got a great rating so hopefully it will be helpful to you!

 

[Spooky1]

Yes, i'm here!!!!!! lol, when i was in my twenties i accidently got addicted to dihydrocodeine, i thought pain was getting worse cos painkiller was losing its effect, so over the years i ended up taking all months supply of painkillers in one week flat, then self medicated, not during day, but with vodka, third week i took all my antidepressants then forth week ws alcohol again. then the month started over, omg!!!!!!! i did that and lived that way, but it was a horrible life.

i lived on my own in a tiny village, no phone, no vehicle cos i couldn't afford one most the time, had to hitch hike to doctors every weather and every season, 8 miles each way to specialist and surgeons appointments and couldn't even afford a washing machine!!!!!!! arrrhhh. i hated that life, i was too weak and poorly to get coal in from coal shed down the lane, but i'm pretty much over that.

must admit to a few blips with vodka this year as is menopause. not wanting addictive medications though and hope i manage to kick the vodka, i don't like it and it keeps me awake.

i'm new to this site too, and i love reading it, i do belong to another but its quiet compared to the hundreds login on each day here. its great so a big welcome from me, and i love the vent forum, think i might live there through my menopausal stage lol
best wishes
Diane

 

[Plumeria]

Thank you ALL SO much for contacting me. Kismet, I think I'm going to go with your suggestion and only take the flagyl when I start to get absesses on my bum (they are perianal). Diane thanks so much for finding me...you kick ass..ha ha! Alcoholics Anonymous is how I got and stay sober as the alcohol especially was awful with my Crohns. If you ever want to talk more in depth, let me know and I'll send my email. You've gone through a lot and you're obviously a survivor!!!

 

[Regular Joe]

Hi Ysanne,

Welcome to the forum. I don't have any problems with pain meds - never did. But I was a died-in-the-wool drunk. Been sober for 12 years - 13 in December. Alcohol and these pills don't go hand in hand. Alcoholism is like Crohn's in that if you want to have a better quality of life by stopping, you have to do the work and ask for help in getting through the rough times.

The outcome is also similar, we learn how to change lifestyle where we don't have a need for whatever we eat or drink that makes living painful. I know it's not easy either, and it's pretty much impossible doing it alone.

Good luck and keep your feet moving forward and looking straight ahead. Healing never comes from looking back or living yesterdays.

 

[CaliChi]

Hi friend! Welcome to the forum. (hugs!)

When I first had my colonoscopy it was the same - so ulcerated that I went on TPN for a month or so also. So glad you're enjoying sobriety and have found the forum to get support and answers for some of your questions. I can't speak to the meds/addiction topic from personal experience, but it's wonderful that you're here and already some folks have chimed in and connected on that level. Have a beautiful day!

 

[Plumeria]

Hello all, I can't thank you enough for ALL the wonderful support! I sometimes find I am judged for the addiction and I have found none of the none sense here! Joe, thanks so much for the support. Congrats on the 13 years. You are all SO wonderful!!