Hi Jennifer,
Welcome to the CP board! I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a rough time. I can relate to what you are going through a bit, as I am only a few years older than you, and my most serious CP issues started during the winter of my first year in college.
I don't have Crohn's myself (although several members here on the CP board do), but a member of my extended family does have it, and I know from watching her cope with it for many years, that it is a very rough disease.
I see you mentioned that you are in the Cleveland area. I'm guessing you've already been to the Cleveland Clinic, but if you haven't, I'd think that that would be a good place to start. I'm not too familiar with that area, as I live on the east coast. However, I did fly out to Cleveland this summer to see a doc in that area who is an MD, but practices alternative medicine (his practice is quite unique). It's kind of like acupuncture to the extreme. He actually helped improve the blood flow to my extremities significantly.
As for other docs, I'm not sure I can help there. I don't really know anything about
Philly, as I've only been there once, and I was just there to interview for grad school. I do know more about
NY/NYC, but not for your specific condition, or for pain management, for that matter. Basically you've just got to keep looking until you find the right doc(s) for you. I don't think any of us here found the docs that we are currently with right away. I know that I certainly didn't. I had to go through many bad docs to find my current team of specialists.
I don't think that any of us like or want to take meds -- I know I don't -- but you have to weigh the pros and cons. If they are able to improve your quality of life, then it's worth it. It is unfortunate that there is such a stigma regarding pain medication.
As for having to take more/stronger meds because of your absorption problem, don't worry, you're not alone. Everyone metabolizes meds differently. Some people are able to get by on very little medication, but others are not, or one medication may help one person, but not another person with the same exact condition. I too do not metabolize pain meds well. Only in my case, there are several genetic mutations in my liver enzyme pathways that leave me unable to properly metabolize many medications, including all OTC pain relievers, most prescript
ion pain medication, and all but 2 antidepressants. 10 mg of percocet really isn't that much in the long run. I definitely wouldn't feel bad about
taking it if you need to!
Have you ever thought of taking any time off from school to try and get things a bit more under control? I for one was stubborn and pushed through college, despite all my doctors and my parents (my dad is also a MD) strongly encouraging me to take time off. I felt like taking time off would be admitting defeat, and I had big goals, so I pushed and pushed and pushed. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that the additional stress from having to deal with the constant, debilitating CP, and tough school work only made things worse. I did finally agree to take a year off between undergrad and grad school, which was a good decision. However, I should have taken more time off than I did. I knew that I wasn't doing well, but again, I ignored my body and my docs, and went off to grad school anyway. Well, this kind of schooling is incredibly intense, and I just couldn't push through the way I did throughout college. In the middle of my second semester, I broke down both mentally and physically, and was forced to take a year long medical leave. In the beginning, I thought that it was the end of the world. I thought that I was done, defeated, my dreams gone. I thought that I'd never return to school. But over many months of hard work with my docs and the support from my family and friends, I came to realize that taking time off was okay. Indeed, it was the best thing I possibly could have done for myself. I don't mean to make this all about
me, or to push you one way or the other, but from one young hardworking CP patient to another, I do want to encourage you to do what is best for yourself and your health. If that means taking some time off from school, so that you can better address your health problems, so be it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, even if it is your final semester!
I wish I could be of more help. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do, and do keep us updated about
your condition. We all really do care, and will help in any way we can. I hope things improve for you!
Best,
Skeye
Post Edited (skeye) : 12/12/2012 6:59:31 PM (GMT-7)