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Sick of being Sick

I've had stomach issues most of my life..This past year has been the worst yet...I'm 43 and already have had 5 colonoscopy's & endos..They usually find polyps, ulcers, colitis, etc..Test, tests and MORE tests..Well, after having something that seemed like diarrheah for over a month I finally went back to my Dr. and it had gotten so bad. I had infections, ab.pain on a 10+level, vomiting...kept getting worse..MORE MEDS..No better..I ended up being picked up off the bathroom floor by the paramedics and landed in the hospital for a week!!! BUT, at least I finally got the diagnosis of Crohns and hopefully heading in the right direction...I miss work all the time, NO WORK-NO PAY (I'm a barber).

I am on Lialda and steroids but ended right back in the hospital a few days ago with an obstruction and 10+ ab.pain..They did pretty much nothing for me in the hospital but kept me on morphine-which didn't touch the pain.

They have discussed surgery to remove part of the messed up intestines..1 Dr. says yes, do it ASAP, the other says No, that once you start removing things, it never stops and I'll end up on a coloscopy bag!! I have ONE MAIN QUESTION, does medicinal marijuana actually help with this illness??? I haven't smoked since the 80's and don't want to put smoke in my lungs..but I need the nausesness to stop-I need to eat-I NEED to RELAX, and I need pain relief..I do NOT want to be on pain medds forever.

Thanks for having a place for me to vent,
Vicki
 

Jennifer

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Hi vickijo88 and welcome to the forum! :D

We have a section for MM here: http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=63 Yes it can help to reduce inflammation and many members do use it to help with symptoms as well. You can read more about it here: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=18359 and in the wiki entry: http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Medical-Marijuana

If you have a section that's mainly scar tissue and it's causing obstructions then surgery may be your best course of action yet always ask about the possibility of balloon dilation or a strictureplasty first to see if you're a candidate. It is possible for the disease to become active again at the resection site but obstructions can also be life threatening so sometimes they are needed. I had a resection about 15 years ago and still haven't had the disease come back.
 
Thanks for the info...and that's AWESOME that you had success with your surgery...I have an appt. with a new G.I.specialists tomorrow-he actually was on call while I was in the hospital and actually took the time to actually TALK with me and my family..So, fingers crossed this new Dr. and finally on the right medication will help...I don't want to be on pain meds for the rest of my life..I know they can damage my liver.so I need an alternative to relieve this pain...One step at a time and trying to stay positive.

Be well,
Vicki
 
Welcome to the forum. I hope your appointment goes well and you find a medicine that works for you. Sending hugs and support.
 
To answer your question yes mm does help out a lot. If you don't want to smoke might I advise vaping. You get all of the benefits with no carcinogenic repercussions.
 
Hi vickijo88.

I was just dx yesterday with CD. I have a very bad infection in my ileum, and the doctors dont wont to do surgery. We are trying to get this under control with meds, time, and diet. I do think they try not to open you up unless it is absolutely necessary. From what I seen on the test, what the test doctor told me, the pain and symptoms I feel, I thought sure enough I would had went into surgery and had 6 in. Removed.

Stay strong.

Dx with CD 1-9-2015
Just started meds yesterday.
PENTASA 500mg 8-pills a day. Doctor said this may not work, may be going to Humira soon.
Prednisone 20mg 2-pills a day for the next month
Pramoxine cream
Nexium 40mg


Father of 3
Husband of 1
 
What I've observed in myself and others; marijuana helps with appetite, pain and nausea, but it hurts with motivation and organization. I like to do it at night, after my work is all done. :)
 
Hi all. My symptoms are exactly the same as everyone else's funnily enough! I am 42yrs old and was diagnosed with crohns and colitis in 2005. I have been on aziathioprine,methotrexate,humira/adalimummab amongst others...all of which failed miserably 😔 In May of last year I was admitted to hospital and had 85% of my large intestine and my appendix removed..I felt fab for a good few months,went back to work and was bouncing off the walls lol,but this sadly didn't last 😞 Around September time my health started going downhill and last December I was sent in to have a sigmoidoscopy done which showed the crohns has come back in my small intestine causing 2 strictures here,one in my rectum and a vaginal fistula. On Jan 6th I was sent for admission by my dr after having loss of appetite and severe abdominal pains. I was discharged last night after having my first infusion of infliximab which took 2hrs! I am currently on prednisolone,calcium tablets,bus company,numerous painkillers and an infusion of 0,2,4,6 and then...as long as the infusion works 8 weekly treatments. If all else fails then the inevitable Of having a colostomy bag will happen but I'm open minded 😁 I've been through enough but always have the motto...."onwards and upwards " 😁😉 Always keep smiling
 
So I had my follow-up and my new GI doc put me on a double dose of Lialda (4 tabs/daily) and Uceris 1x/daily...It's been over 2 weeks since I've been on the Lialda and I'm still feeling really "crappy"......I had to call the Dr. on call Sat. cause I was having such horrible stomach pain again and I needed to get to work..I have missed so much work these past couple of months, and being a Barber-I don't get paid "sick time"....It's so embarasssing that I constantly need to run to the bathroom or feel like I'm going to throw up on a customer.... I've had maybe 1 good day where i made it through a full days work and could actually come home and cook for my kids AND do all the household chores!! I've always been able to provide for myself-and now I find myself asking for help-it's so frustrating....I can't go anywhere because I have to keep running to the bathroom...I have 2 teenage boys-and they just don't really get it..They think I'm supermom and can keep on going, but i just can't......1 of my Dr.'s is still advising surgery-I want to give in and just say Do It !!!! but on the other hand, I'm afraid that once they start cutting-they won't stop til I'm old !!???

Thanks for having a place for me to "vent"
Vicki
 
So I had my follow-up and my new GI doc put me on a double dose of Lialda (4 tabs/daily) and Uceris 1x/daily...It's been over 2 weeks since I've been on the Lialda and I'm still feeling really "crappy"......I had to call the Dr. on call Sat. cause I was having such horrible stomach pain again and I needed to get to work..I have missed so much work these past couple of months, and being a Barber-I don't get paid "sick time"....It's so embarasssing that I constantly need to run to the bathroom or feel like I'm going to throw up on a customer.... I've had maybe 1 good day where i made it through a full days work and could actually come home and cook for my kids AND do all the household chores!! I've always been able to provide for myself-and now I find myself asking for help-it's so frustrating....I can't go anywhere because I have to keep running to the bathroom...I have 2 teenage boys-and they just don't really get it..They think I'm supermom and can keep on going, but i just can't......1 of my Dr.'s is still advising surgery-I want to give in and just say Do It !!!! but on the other hand, I'm afraid that once they start cutting-they won't stop til I'm old !!???

Thanks for having a place for me to "vent"
Vicki
Vicki,

Deciding when to have surgery is tough, unless you get to the point it is a true emergency. I had a bowel resection about 13 years ago, I finally decided to do it voluntarily because my quality of life was so poor. I was missing work, couldn't participate in activities i enjoyed much, was a miserable wife to my husband and was just tired of feeling like crap. It was the best decision, it gave me my life back. I still take more meds than I want, but 13 years isn't bad! I will probably have to have surgery again, but quality of life is worth it.
 
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