xJillx
Your Story Forum Monitor
One year ago from today I was diagnosed with CD. I had hoped after several months and surely a year, I’d be more accepting of this. And in some ways I am. The forum has helped a great deal for me to better understand my illness and how to manage it. But I, at times, feel even more confused than when I was first diagnosed.
It all happened so fast. Last April, I started passing mucus when going to the bathroom. I thought I was eating too much fiber. But through the weeks, I’d pass it more regularly and sometimes apart from a BM. Then, in mid-July, I had a 48hr period where I was in & out of the bathroom with loose stools and blood & mucus and felt very flu-like. I finally decided to see a GI to investigate. I was diagnosed immediately after a colonoscopy, which had revealed inflammation and ulcerations in my terminal ileum and rectum, though biopsies were inconclusive.
I began Lialda a few weeks later after more symptoms developed (increase in BM’s, more mucus, urgency, abdominal pain). Though I felt a little better, I still wasn’t right. I decided to see an IBD specialist at a large teaching hospital, because I felt I’d get better care. Since being with my new/current GI, I have had many more tests, which haven’t been very telling. Many things come back normal, though my recent biopsies (just on 7/19) from a flex sig did finally show ‘acute colitis’. However, all of these unclear results have put some doubt in my GI’s mind that I have Crohn’s.
I am currently battling a flare with symptoms of more frequent bathroom trips, extremely loose BM’s, blood and mucus. It’s kind of funny how I am flaring again almost exactly a year later. Luckily, I think this current bout has put some of my GI’s doubts to rest. I will be having a full colonoscopy in September to investigate further.
I guess I am a little down today, because I thought things would be better in a year’s time. I thought I’d start treatment, and be like the many who almost forget they have this disease. Yet, I am still going through regular testing with little answers and each day I wake not sure of how I will feel. My husband and I want to start a family, but that has to be put on hold until I am well. I know many have it much worse than me, and I should be grateful that I don’t suffer too much. And often, I try to see the glass half full, but today is not my day.
It all happened so fast. Last April, I started passing mucus when going to the bathroom. I thought I was eating too much fiber. But through the weeks, I’d pass it more regularly and sometimes apart from a BM. Then, in mid-July, I had a 48hr period where I was in & out of the bathroom with loose stools and blood & mucus and felt very flu-like. I finally decided to see a GI to investigate. I was diagnosed immediately after a colonoscopy, which had revealed inflammation and ulcerations in my terminal ileum and rectum, though biopsies were inconclusive.
I began Lialda a few weeks later after more symptoms developed (increase in BM’s, more mucus, urgency, abdominal pain). Though I felt a little better, I still wasn’t right. I decided to see an IBD specialist at a large teaching hospital, because I felt I’d get better care. Since being with my new/current GI, I have had many more tests, which haven’t been very telling. Many things come back normal, though my recent biopsies (just on 7/19) from a flex sig did finally show ‘acute colitis’. However, all of these unclear results have put some doubt in my GI’s mind that I have Crohn’s.
I am currently battling a flare with symptoms of more frequent bathroom trips, extremely loose BM’s, blood and mucus. It’s kind of funny how I am flaring again almost exactly a year later. Luckily, I think this current bout has put some of my GI’s doubts to rest. I will be having a full colonoscopy in September to investigate further.
I guess I am a little down today, because I thought things would be better in a year’s time. I thought I’d start treatment, and be like the many who almost forget they have this disease. Yet, I am still going through regular testing with little answers and each day I wake not sure of how I will feel. My husband and I want to start a family, but that has to be put on hold until I am well. I know many have it much worse than me, and I should be grateful that I don’t suffer too much. And often, I try to see the glass half full, but today is not my day.
)) to you hun.
