- Joined
- May 27, 2009
- Messages
- 1,035
Hello Crohnies,
I am feeling wicked overwhelmed right now. I have a lot of stuff on my plate right now and for each item on the plate I seem to have attached a good deal of worries.
I am still experiencing a fair amount of symptoms and do not yet have a diagnosis. My wife and I are going to to meet with the Doc and Physicians assistant this Thursday. I have the chance to email them ahead of time with symptoms, concerns today before our meeting. As some of you already know, I have had a multitude of tests up to this point, with almost nothing showing up. The only issues that were shared up to this point are a somewhat high white blood cell count, borderline cholesterol, and a somewhat fatty liver (ah yes the 80's- I am told I enjoyed them-:tongue: ).
I have had the following tests/procedures since March of this Year: Cat Scan(w/contrast), 3 Colonoscopies, Angiogram, Endocscopy, Lead screening, multiple blood tests, 24 hour urine collection, and been tested for Poryphias (?SP).
I was told by the P.A. that last weeks Poryphias tests are the last of the diagnostics available. What the hell do i do with that? If they do not know what i have by now is this as good as it gets?
I have had 5 trips to the ER since March, including one in the ambulance. My biggest issue was a debilitating pain in my right side below the ribs (Ileum area) that was the worst pain i have ever felt. I have had bouts with the explosive D, constipation, rarely vomitting (maybe 5x since Mar), body aches and pains (especially knees, hips, shoulders, hands). Oh yes, I nearly forgot the fatigue, I feel like I have the energy level of a 90 year old.
Since my pain was so intense, I went through a fair amount of pain killers - they didn't stop the pain, only took off the edge. I took as many as 10 vicodins in a day, just to be able to function a little! Going through this many pain pills and still in relentless pain. Thankfully, the Doc switched me to Nortryptaline and Bentyl to manage the stomach pain and spasms. The spasms are really odd because you can actually see the outside of my abdomen pulsate. WTF??? These meds have not come without a price, I have an occasional tremor in my hands and now have blurred vision when reading!
The med change has thankfully cut my pain level in half for the most part. I still have some wicked Friggin pain, but at least it is not 24/7 now. It is noteworthy that until the most recent colonoscopy and endoscopy the docs could never get near the ileum area. When they were scoping and were near the ileum, I felt a tremendous stabbing pain and instinctively grabbed the hand of the nearest clinician- not realizing it and did not let go until the third time I was asked to.
They took about 8 samples of tissue in and out of the Ileum and all came back clean. The docs have told me that they can 95% guarantee that i do not have Crohn's or Colitis.
Additional symptoms--- random pain shooting from mid abdomen to pelvic area. Skin sores that look like an ingrown hair/pimple seem to appear on my arms after I have had a few stressful/flareup days.
Mental Fog- There are many times during the course of a day when I am challenged with memory or processing issues. For example, "did I take my pills?" "what did I come in this room for?"
I seem to be easily overwhelmed with issues and am challenged with thinking my way through an issue. (this was previously a strength espec. professionally)
I seem to bruise easily I always seem to have bumps bruises on toes/shins.
Mint toothpaste burns my mouth and tongue.
I do not have the patience these days that I used to.
:::::In his best southern preacher voice Jerman shouts:::: "Can I get a WTF from the congregation?"
In addition, due to my being unemployed for the past year, I have fallen behind on bills. I am working with mortgage company to try to rework payments and keep our home.
I am going back to work on Monday of next week. I may not be well enough but it is a huge opportunity and is with a director I admire. I am nervous as hell about the job thing as I still feel like crap most days!! However, the director has kind of held out waiting for me to feel better and join his team of staff. I hope to hell that I can will my way through the first weeks. Knowing as I do that stress has a huge impact on the frequency and intensity of my pain and bathroom activity,I need to get a few ideas of how to stay mellow. I simply can not blow this opportunity.
Any and all advice are welcome. Feel free to PM or email me if you wish. I am normally very confident professionally, not feeling it right now.
Thank you Cyberpeeps,
Jerman
AKA- Duke Clarkson
I am feeling wicked overwhelmed right now. I have a lot of stuff on my plate right now and for each item on the plate I seem to have attached a good deal of worries.
I am still experiencing a fair amount of symptoms and do not yet have a diagnosis. My wife and I are going to to meet with the Doc and Physicians assistant this Thursday. I have the chance to email them ahead of time with symptoms, concerns today before our meeting. As some of you already know, I have had a multitude of tests up to this point, with almost nothing showing up. The only issues that were shared up to this point are a somewhat high white blood cell count, borderline cholesterol, and a somewhat fatty liver (ah yes the 80's- I am told I enjoyed them-:tongue: ).
I have had the following tests/procedures since March of this Year: Cat Scan(w/contrast), 3 Colonoscopies, Angiogram, Endocscopy, Lead screening, multiple blood tests, 24 hour urine collection, and been tested for Poryphias (?SP).
I was told by the P.A. that last weeks Poryphias tests are the last of the diagnostics available. What the hell do i do with that? If they do not know what i have by now is this as good as it gets?
I have had 5 trips to the ER since March, including one in the ambulance. My biggest issue was a debilitating pain in my right side below the ribs (Ileum area) that was the worst pain i have ever felt. I have had bouts with the explosive D, constipation, rarely vomitting (maybe 5x since Mar), body aches and pains (especially knees, hips, shoulders, hands). Oh yes, I nearly forgot the fatigue, I feel like I have the energy level of a 90 year old.
Since my pain was so intense, I went through a fair amount of pain killers - they didn't stop the pain, only took off the edge. I took as many as 10 vicodins in a day, just to be able to function a little! Going through this many pain pills and still in relentless pain. Thankfully, the Doc switched me to Nortryptaline and Bentyl to manage the stomach pain and spasms. The spasms are really odd because you can actually see the outside of my abdomen pulsate. WTF??? These meds have not come without a price, I have an occasional tremor in my hands and now have blurred vision when reading!
The med change has thankfully cut my pain level in half for the most part. I still have some wicked Friggin pain, but at least it is not 24/7 now. It is noteworthy that until the most recent colonoscopy and endoscopy the docs could never get near the ileum area. When they were scoping and were near the ileum, I felt a tremendous stabbing pain and instinctively grabbed the hand of the nearest clinician- not realizing it and did not let go until the third time I was asked to.
They took about 8 samples of tissue in and out of the Ileum and all came back clean. The docs have told me that they can 95% guarantee that i do not have Crohn's or Colitis.
Additional symptoms--- random pain shooting from mid abdomen to pelvic area. Skin sores that look like an ingrown hair/pimple seem to appear on my arms after I have had a few stressful/flareup days.
Mental Fog- There are many times during the course of a day when I am challenged with memory or processing issues. For example, "did I take my pills?" "what did I come in this room for?"
I seem to be easily overwhelmed with issues and am challenged with thinking my way through an issue. (this was previously a strength espec. professionally)
I seem to bruise easily I always seem to have bumps bruises on toes/shins.
Mint toothpaste burns my mouth and tongue.
I do not have the patience these days that I used to.
:::::In his best southern preacher voice Jerman shouts:::: "Can I get a WTF from the congregation?"
In addition, due to my being unemployed for the past year, I have fallen behind on bills. I am working with mortgage company to try to rework payments and keep our home.
I am going back to work on Monday of next week. I may not be well enough but it is a huge opportunity and is with a director I admire. I am nervous as hell about the job thing as I still feel like crap most days!! However, the director has kind of held out waiting for me to feel better and join his team of staff. I hope to hell that I can will my way through the first weeks. Knowing as I do that stress has a huge impact on the frequency and intensity of my pain and bathroom activity,I need to get a few ideas of how to stay mellow. I simply can not blow this opportunity.
Any and all advice are welcome. Feel free to PM or email me if you wish. I am normally very confident professionally, not feeling it right now.
Thank you Cyberpeeps,
Jerman
AKA- Duke Clarkson
