Hi Everyone,
I found this forum when my lastest flare up started and have been reading posts for a while so thought it was time to introduce myself.
I was 18 (1994) and just about to start A levels when my crohns started. Lots of dashing to the loo so I avoided eating to get through the exams! Blood tests showed I was very anaemic so they took things further and I was diagnosed with crohns a week before starting uni. Needless to say I only stayed for the fist term and was hospitalised for high dose steroids quite a few times during that time.
Things bumped along for years and I was never really well just put up with it. I also hated my Consultant so avoided him.
Fast forward to 2001 and we moved to Yorkshire and I have the most fantastic consultant who put me on an elemental diet and let me work out what I reacted to food wise - cadburys chocolate, pringles, margarine to name a few. I would never have found this out left to my own devices. Anyway I was well enough in 2002 that he said I could get pregnant. Unfortunately pregnancies, crohns and I do not get on. I immediately went into a flare as soon as I was pregnant and was on elemental liquid food at 8 weeks. At 12 weeks the docs said I was to try food which was when it was discovered I had a stricure at the terminal illeum and it was completely blocked. So 13 weeks pregnant I had a resection. The hospital were great and I didn't have a bag just a large scar quite high up as they had to avoid the baby. Grace is great by the way and arrived a very healthy 6lbs 2oz.
I was fine then until a year later I was pregnant on docs advise with the second one (Adam) and again immediately flared. They put me on steroids this time round from 8 weeks.
Things grumbled on until 2009 when I was put on Humira and I was fab. Could actually eat something in town and not panic about the nearest loo. Since December things haven't gone so well - we think it has relocated to the descending colon and the consultant is talking surgery as an option. I am not convinced. I have a colonoscopy next week and had an MRI last week to work out whats going on.
By the way did anybody else find the MRI horrendous? I felt so sick and the nurse said I was being silly and it was relief the test was over but I honestly didn't feel I could get off the scanner bed. All the way home I thought I was going to have to stop the car and throw up in a hedge. Luckily when I got home my guts didn't fail me and the contrast stuff all exited pretty fast if you get my drift. Must be one of the worst tests I have had. Yuk
Anway that's me and where I am at. Its nice to meet you all.
I found this forum when my lastest flare up started and have been reading posts for a while so thought it was time to introduce myself.
I was 18 (1994) and just about to start A levels when my crohns started. Lots of dashing to the loo so I avoided eating to get through the exams! Blood tests showed I was very anaemic so they took things further and I was diagnosed with crohns a week before starting uni. Needless to say I only stayed for the fist term and was hospitalised for high dose steroids quite a few times during that time.
Things bumped along for years and I was never really well just put up with it. I also hated my Consultant so avoided him.
Fast forward to 2001 and we moved to Yorkshire and I have the most fantastic consultant who put me on an elemental diet and let me work out what I reacted to food wise - cadburys chocolate, pringles, margarine to name a few. I would never have found this out left to my own devices. Anyway I was well enough in 2002 that he said I could get pregnant. Unfortunately pregnancies, crohns and I do not get on. I immediately went into a flare as soon as I was pregnant and was on elemental liquid food at 8 weeks. At 12 weeks the docs said I was to try food which was when it was discovered I had a stricure at the terminal illeum and it was completely blocked. So 13 weeks pregnant I had a resection. The hospital were great and I didn't have a bag just a large scar quite high up as they had to avoid the baby. Grace is great by the way and arrived a very healthy 6lbs 2oz.
I was fine then until a year later I was pregnant on docs advise with the second one (Adam) and again immediately flared. They put me on steroids this time round from 8 weeks.
Things grumbled on until 2009 when I was put on Humira and I was fab. Could actually eat something in town and not panic about the nearest loo. Since December things haven't gone so well - we think it has relocated to the descending colon and the consultant is talking surgery as an option. I am not convinced. I have a colonoscopy next week and had an MRI last week to work out whats going on.
By the way did anybody else find the MRI horrendous? I felt so sick and the nurse said I was being silly and it was relief the test was over but I honestly didn't feel I could get off the scanner bed. All the way home I thought I was going to have to stop the car and throw up in a hedge. Luckily when I got home my guts didn't fail me and the contrast stuff all exited pretty fast if you get my drift. Must be one of the worst tests I have had. Yuk
Anway that's me and where I am at. Its nice to meet you all.
