Newly playing the IBD game....

[Alycat]

Evening to you all

I'm 41 yrs old happily married mom of (2) teens and have a preliminary diagnoses of Crohns which began around May of this year. Crazy thing was approximately a year ago from that date both my husband and I quit smoking ( w'/ chanix) and it seems like all hell broke loose in my body. Within the past year, I have had my first ovarian cyst, diagnosed with Hypothyroid after being in remission from Graves disease for about 15 yrs, some serious aches/ pains in joints which has impacted physically some things I am capable of doing and lets not forget depression (first time ever). By December I first experienced abdominal pain w/ a rupturing ovarian cyst... I was backing smoking occasionally just cause I felt like crap- and in a weird way it brought me some comfort.

Well as the story goes... by February... I was still having abdominal pain so back and forth to GP , Gyne, ER - ultra sounds, cat scans, and finally hooked up with a Gastro specialist and had my first colonoscopy. My results were that I have a series of ulcerations in lower intestine as well as one polyp caused by inflamation. Started a entocort w/no change. Just completed 3 months of predisone as that failed as well. I was just put on Family Medical Leave w/ my employer ( which is a whole other story in itself). Next stop is to have a capsule endoscopy which will take place tomorrow. Took awhile for the later to get scheduled as the Insurance was initially denying it. My doctor wants to be as sure as possible that we are indeed dealing w/ CD prior to going on w/ any new medicinal plans such as remacade, Humira , etc.

I am very glad to see such an active forum and look forward to chatting with you all.

~aly

 

[Dexky]

Welcome Aly!! Good luck with the pill cam tomorrow. I think it's pretty rare for pred not to work at all. I hope you get some good answers from the camera and then find a treatment that works for you. Come back and update us!!

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Aly and :welcome:

I'm glad you have found your way here. There's loads of info and support so I hope you stick around!

Smoking is known to have a beneficial effect in some people with Ulcerative Colitis but the reverse with Crohns. If you only have disease in your ?large intestine could it be UC you have and not crohns? Maybe if it is Crohns it might be that smoking decreases your stress and that's why you find it beneficial (((shrug))).

Good luck with your test tomorrow and please keep us posted. Welcome aboard!

Take care,
Dusty

 

[Alycat]

Thanks for the welcome Dex and Dusty

I have again quit smoking again ---15 days and counting. I think, for me, the cigarettes were more psychological in making feel better than anything else. Had been under a large amount of stress due to employer. In a nutshell after 10 yrs employment my employer decided to enact a residency requirement for all employees. Notification was a week before last xmas and was given 6 months. June 1st they extended it another 6 months basically because they had neglected to get any replacements for the affected positions. Just as I put in for family medical leave they are interviewing for my position with the expectation of my training my replacement(s). Since going on leave - my stress level has gone way way down - still not feeling great but at least now I can rest when I need and I don't feel like I'm gonna keel over or worry about any inter-office conflicts.

 

[Astra]

Hi Aly
and welcome

good luck with the pill cam, hope you get on some meds that will work for you
lots of friends here for you, stick around
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Alycat]

Got the results back from pill camera- and looking back also need to clarify. The ulcers are in my ileum which the pill cam also verified. Dr. is concluding diagnosis as Crohn's and she would like to start with Humira (of course we have to make sure insurance will cover it). Right now I am off any meds specific to CD - only have pain meds to help with symptoms of abdominal pain and joint pain. There are days I feel like I'm 100 yrs old ::sigh::
:voodoo:

 

[BigUglyCat]

Welcome Alycat! Glad you found your way here, really great group. The joint pain is not uncommon in CD, that was one of the first signs for me and it serves as a prelude to a flare quite often. Good luck with the Humira and keep us updated on how it goes.