- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Hi Fellow Crohnies!
First time post! Am looking for a bit of support - hopefully by telling my story, someone else out there will be able to relate with me and help me feel not so alone!
I am 22 and I have recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease (just last month). Just over two months ago - I had never had any problems before. I have always thought of myself as a healthy person - I've never touched a cigarette in my life, have never touched drugs, me and my partner hardly ever drink (have a glass of wine at a birthday or something like that). We also try and eat well and get to the gym at least 3-4 times a week.
Then all of a sudden about 2 months ago I started getting really bad stomach cramps - which I thought I had just picked up a stomach bug. After a week of this (plus the blood and mucus appearing in the stool) I went to see the GP who started the process of many many blood tests and stool samples and a CT scan.
The scan showed swelling at the ileum and I was referred onto the wonderful GI specialist that I am now under the care of. I had my colonoscopy soon after which showed the 'cobblestone' appearance of Crohn's - and they took biopsies throughout my bowel and all throughout came back positive (i.e. its not just restricted to one area).
For me, Crohn's doesn't give me any diarrhea - if anything it is the other way. For the last two months I have had constant stomach pains - my only relief is sleep. Every movement contains a lot of blood. I have headaches / migraines everyday and I feel really tired by the end of the day (I haven't been going to the gym at all anymore ).
The doc has me booked in for an iron transfusion (6 and a half hours of fun!) next week - hopefully this will help with the headaches and energy levels. Because it really has felt like my life has been on hold the last two months - I don't feel like eating, I don't want to go anywhere or do anything and I haven't been to the gym and feel like I may be putting on weight as a result. Lucky its winter - and I can hide it under some big jumpers and jackets right?
I'm currently on Prednisone (was on 40mg now down to 20mg) and Imuran (125mg) and haven't felt any better from these at all - if anything some days I have felt sicker. Doc assures this is normal and it could take months before I feel any better - her reassurance "we hope to have you feeling better by Xmas". Not what you want to hear in July...
I have a wonderfully supportive partner. But it is hard because he has no idea what I am going through and there isn't really any way for him to help - this is what he always says to me "I feel so helpless" "I wish I could help".
Sometimes it makes me feel bad that I am making him feel that way - so when he asks how I am I just say "yeah OK" - even if I'm really struggling. So fellow Crohnies - today you are my vent!! I feel like crap! I feel nauseous and have pain and headache and feel like leaving work and crawling into a ball on the couch!!
I have had my down days - which I'm sure we all have (especially thanks to Prednisone). It's terrible but you think - 'why me?'. I was trying to do everything right and live a healthy lifestyle - for me, I don't know what I was doing to my body to make this happen! And I don't know what to change to make it better! I'm not sure if I should start experimenting with diets (the doc says diet isn't likely to have much impact)? I don't know if I should push myself and get back into some form of exercise (particularly if this will make me feel less down)?
Pretty much just 'existing' and waiting for the meds to kick in and actually do something... So hard when it feels so out of my control!
Anyway, I write this with the hope to find someone else like me out there! And to find a bit of support from people who know what I'm going through.
Appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Madeline
First time post! Am looking for a bit of support - hopefully by telling my story, someone else out there will be able to relate with me and help me feel not so alone!
I am 22 and I have recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease (just last month). Just over two months ago - I had never had any problems before. I have always thought of myself as a healthy person - I've never touched a cigarette in my life, have never touched drugs, me and my partner hardly ever drink (have a glass of wine at a birthday or something like that). We also try and eat well and get to the gym at least 3-4 times a week.
Then all of a sudden about 2 months ago I started getting really bad stomach cramps - which I thought I had just picked up a stomach bug. After a week of this (plus the blood and mucus appearing in the stool) I went to see the GP who started the process of many many blood tests and stool samples and a CT scan.
The scan showed swelling at the ileum and I was referred onto the wonderful GI specialist that I am now under the care of. I had my colonoscopy soon after which showed the 'cobblestone' appearance of Crohn's - and they took biopsies throughout my bowel and all throughout came back positive (i.e. its not just restricted to one area).
For me, Crohn's doesn't give me any diarrhea - if anything it is the other way. For the last two months I have had constant stomach pains - my only relief is sleep. Every movement contains a lot of blood. I have headaches / migraines everyday and I feel really tired by the end of the day (I haven't been going to the gym at all anymore ).
The doc has me booked in for an iron transfusion (6 and a half hours of fun!) next week - hopefully this will help with the headaches and energy levels. Because it really has felt like my life has been on hold the last two months - I don't feel like eating, I don't want to go anywhere or do anything and I haven't been to the gym and feel like I may be putting on weight as a result. Lucky its winter - and I can hide it under some big jumpers and jackets right?
I'm currently on Prednisone (was on 40mg now down to 20mg) and Imuran (125mg) and haven't felt any better from these at all - if anything some days I have felt sicker. Doc assures this is normal and it could take months before I feel any better - her reassurance "we hope to have you feeling better by Xmas". Not what you want to hear in July...
I have a wonderfully supportive partner. But it is hard because he has no idea what I am going through and there isn't really any way for him to help - this is what he always says to me "I feel so helpless" "I wish I could help".
Sometimes it makes me feel bad that I am making him feel that way - so when he asks how I am I just say "yeah OK" - even if I'm really struggling. So fellow Crohnies - today you are my vent!! I feel like crap! I feel nauseous and have pain and headache and feel like leaving work and crawling into a ball on the couch!!
I have had my down days - which I'm sure we all have (especially thanks to Prednisone). It's terrible but you think - 'why me?'. I was trying to do everything right and live a healthy lifestyle - for me, I don't know what I was doing to my body to make this happen! And I don't know what to change to make it better! I'm not sure if I should start experimenting with diets (the doc says diet isn't likely to have much impact)? I don't know if I should push myself and get back into some form of exercise (particularly if this will make me feel less down)?
Pretty much just 'existing' and waiting for the meds to kick in and actually do something... So hard when it feels so out of my control!
Anyway, I write this with the hope to find someone else like me out there! And to find a bit of support from people who know what I'm going through.
Appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Madeline