- Joined
- Mar 14, 2012
- Messages
- 11
I just had to come into this forum to address a thread that I just read. Someone in the forum just stated that intestinal health and opiates don't mix well. My belief is that they were MADE FOR EACH OTHER in my case. Let me explain it.
I am a 63 year old male of western European decent (mostly Irish and German) born in America (Texas). I guess that's in America! I am sure I have one of the 3 most prevalent gene defects associated with Crohn's as I have been tested for Amoloidosis and some protein defects have been verified that relate to Crohn's and these defects. I have had 2 resection surgeries with some large amounts of colon and all of my ileum removed. But, thank goodness, I still don't have a bag. What I do have are all the symptoms of Short Bowel Syndrome, in spades. I have dealt with these symptoms for at least 40 years!! I have a 12cm ribbon stricture and an anal fissure that cause much pain and bowel discharge, if not controlled. I have also been blessed with small nerve ending neuropathy in my feet and hands, which causes sharp pain from time to time. I have worked full time, or tried to, for the last 45 years in 2 primary environments. The first was ~41 years in the IT environment as a Technical Architect/Director. My last 2 years have been spent as a corrections officer in Texas. As such, I work in an environment that is 10 to 20 times the national rate for diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. I cannot afford to take things like Steroids or immune system suppressors; Nothing that affects the inflammatory process or my immune system will be used.
Now let's talk about what Crohn's disease does. I'm sure most of you know this, but for some of you, you are about to learn something. Basically, my immune system attacks my bowels at the blood barrier where my digested food nutrients move into my blood stream for assimilation at the cell level. When my immune system attacks my small bowel mucosa, it creates inflamed and dead mucosa, little open bloody wombs. These wombs are essentially dead special function flesh, which ends up as bloody waste in my stool, which has been nothing but watery for 40 years. I have alternating bouts with red blood cell anemia and B vitamin deficiences, for which I take B12 injections. When these areas of inflammation heal, they deposit scar tissue inward into the bowel. Eventually, these bouts will build up enough scar tissue to produce a full bowel obstruction. That results in emergency surgery. I have had 2 of these.
I have used several medications over the years, with less than satisfactory results. These are Sulfasalazine, Donnatal, Asacol, Pentasa, and Prednisone. Once I started taking opiates for pain and cronic diarrhea, all of that changed. Opiates break down the parastaltic process in the bowels and produces somewhat of a fribulatory process in the bowels which lets food stay in the bowel much longer and absolutely ends up delivering the only assemblance of a firm bowel movement I HAVE EVER KNOWN. Obviously, it also alleviates the pain caused by my ribbon stricture and my anal fissure. It also alleviated most of the pain from the small nerve damage. Most importantly, it breaks the cycle of cronic inflammation which eventually ends up in emergency surgery. For me, it is a miracle drug. I am convinced I would be dead by now without it. Remember, I work in an environment where disease is rampant. Therefore, I won't use anything stronger in the Crohn's medicine chain than the 5ASA medications, which don't work well enough for me.
I am willing, at age 63, to fully accept ANY long term effect that using opiates puts on me, including addition and any wasting process or organ risk negatives that might develop as a result of using opiates for the rest of my life. Luckily, my liver enzymes have always tested good up to this point!
I would love it if a genius concerning Crohn's would come onto this forum and debate me on my position in life and my position with relation to how I am managing this disease and use his/her knowledge to show me how it is more intelligent to take another approach.
Love and kisses - Live long and prosper!!
Goldbrick911
I am a 63 year old male of western European decent (mostly Irish and German) born in America (Texas). I guess that's in America! I am sure I have one of the 3 most prevalent gene defects associated with Crohn's as I have been tested for Amoloidosis and some protein defects have been verified that relate to Crohn's and these defects. I have had 2 resection surgeries with some large amounts of colon and all of my ileum removed. But, thank goodness, I still don't have a bag. What I do have are all the symptoms of Short Bowel Syndrome, in spades. I have dealt with these symptoms for at least 40 years!! I have a 12cm ribbon stricture and an anal fissure that cause much pain and bowel discharge, if not controlled. I have also been blessed with small nerve ending neuropathy in my feet and hands, which causes sharp pain from time to time. I have worked full time, or tried to, for the last 45 years in 2 primary environments. The first was ~41 years in the IT environment as a Technical Architect/Director. My last 2 years have been spent as a corrections officer in Texas. As such, I work in an environment that is 10 to 20 times the national rate for diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. I cannot afford to take things like Steroids or immune system suppressors; Nothing that affects the inflammatory process or my immune system will be used.
Now let's talk about what Crohn's disease does. I'm sure most of you know this, but for some of you, you are about to learn something. Basically, my immune system attacks my bowels at the blood barrier where my digested food nutrients move into my blood stream for assimilation at the cell level. When my immune system attacks my small bowel mucosa, it creates inflamed and dead mucosa, little open bloody wombs. These wombs are essentially dead special function flesh, which ends up as bloody waste in my stool, which has been nothing but watery for 40 years. I have alternating bouts with red blood cell anemia and B vitamin deficiences, for which I take B12 injections. When these areas of inflammation heal, they deposit scar tissue inward into the bowel. Eventually, these bouts will build up enough scar tissue to produce a full bowel obstruction. That results in emergency surgery. I have had 2 of these.
I have used several medications over the years, with less than satisfactory results. These are Sulfasalazine, Donnatal, Asacol, Pentasa, and Prednisone. Once I started taking opiates for pain and cronic diarrhea, all of that changed. Opiates break down the parastaltic process in the bowels and produces somewhat of a fribulatory process in the bowels which lets food stay in the bowel much longer and absolutely ends up delivering the only assemblance of a firm bowel movement I HAVE EVER KNOWN. Obviously, it also alleviates the pain caused by my ribbon stricture and my anal fissure. It also alleviated most of the pain from the small nerve damage. Most importantly, it breaks the cycle of cronic inflammation which eventually ends up in emergency surgery. For me, it is a miracle drug. I am convinced I would be dead by now without it. Remember, I work in an environment where disease is rampant. Therefore, I won't use anything stronger in the Crohn's medicine chain than the 5ASA medications, which don't work well enough for me.
I am willing, at age 63, to fully accept ANY long term effect that using opiates puts on me, including addition and any wasting process or organ risk negatives that might develop as a result of using opiates for the rest of my life. Luckily, my liver enzymes have always tested good up to this point!
I would love it if a genius concerning Crohn's would come onto this forum and debate me on my position in life and my position with relation to how I am managing this disease and use his/her knowledge to show me how it is more intelligent to take another approach.
Love and kisses - Live long and prosper!!
Goldbrick911
