Recently diagnosed and struggling

[Desiree]

I was diagnosed with Crohns last year and since have been very confused about the disease.
We noticed a problem when I started working and going to college at the same time, I was becoming sicker and sicker each day. I went to many doctors and all came up with nothing to say but "you'll have to live with it" even a specialist told me it was just IBS and I'll be fine with nausea pills. But I continued to get worse and months passed by, till I had to be finally rushed to the emergency room.
I suffer mostly with constant weight loss (I was a healthy 130 pounds and now unfortunately 98 pounds) daily diarrhea, nausea, and extreme abdominal pains. I've been diagnosed by my Gastroenterologist after a colonoscopy and blood test. I am now on two types of medication but still having troubles getting stable.
My biggest fear is having to get surgery and i would like to avoid ever coming to that conclusion.

Joining this Forum was my hope for answers and support from similar people.
I want to learn as much as i can so if you could give me any advise or tips it would really help me! Thank you!

 

[Orchid]

I'm glad someone finally took you seriously, there are few worse things then doctors rolling their eyes at you when you're in horrible pain. Your doctor probably gave you prednisone or entocort and some form of Melsalazine since you didn't mention injections. The prednisone is there to try to force the inflammation to stop and the mesalazine is to try and keep you from having symptoms again, but for a lot of people with Crohn's mesalazine isn't that helpful.

Expect to fool around with medications until your doctor finds something that works for you. But even before then you can feel better! Try keeping a food journal to figure out what makes your symptoms worse, there's also a great article on common problem foods. Though remember everyone's triggers are different, soda is a common problem for those with CD, but for me it's utterly harmless.

On the bright side, you're finally making progress on your illness! I hope you find this place helpful!

 

[vivaelbirdo]

I was diagnosed with Crohns last year and since have been very confused about the disease.
We noticed a problem when I started working and going to college at the same time, I was becoming sicker and sicker each day. I went to many doctors and all came up with nothing to say but "you'll have to live with it" even a specialist told me it was just IBS and I'll be fine with nausea pills. But I continued to get worse and months passed by, till I had to be finally rushed to the emergency room.
I suffer mostly with constant weight loss (I was a healthy 130 pounds and now unfortunately 98 pounds) daily diarrhea, nausea, and extreme abdominal pains. I've been diagnosed by my Gastroenterologist after a colonoscopy and blood test. I am now on two types of medication but still having troubles getting stable.
My biggest fear is having to get surgery and i would like to avoid ever coming to that conclusion.

Joining this Forum was my hope for answers and support from similar people.
I want to learn as much as i can so if you could give me any advise or tips it would really help me! Thank you!

Sorry to hear about your Doctors. That sort of thing infuriates me to no end. Please make you for your own sake that you are never dismissed by a Doctor again!

Some of the drugs may take a bit to start taking effect. It's important to note if you are *improving*, not necessarily 100% better and if that continues. If it isn't, absolutely question your Doctor and the current drugs. Crohn's sucks and some drugs just don't seem to do much for some people.

As far as surgery: it's scary, hopefully you won't have to have it...but take it from someone who left the hospital yesterday after having 2 feet of his small intestine removed: it actually wasn't that bad and I feel better than I have in months. (Note: I was untreated for 7 years before surgery, so please don't think you are automatically headed here!). Sure, you want to avoid it if possible and treat with medication, but if it comes to surgery it's not some horrible damnation.