Just got out of the hospital...

So Sunday I went to a clinic to try to attempt to find some pain management since I'm in between primary cares right now.  She didn't like that I had a 102 fever in addition to the Crohns stuff so told me to go to the ER, since my GI's partner was working in that hospital.  He admits me after being in the ER for hours.  And since I was too tired to argue somehow I got on Prednisone, the one thing I swore I would never go on again unless it was a life or death situation. 

I got to leave yesterday, Thursday.  The hospital sucked.  My iv got infiltrated twice so my hand was all poofy and swollen.  The first time it happened while I was waiting to be transported to my room after a chest x-ray.  My hand kept on getting bigger and bigger and there was no one around to show it to.  It was scary.  (My right hand is still poofy because it was from yesterday but at least it went down enough that I can give a thumb's up sign again.)  I find most people in hospital are usually horrible at taking blood.  I hate the ones who stick you and then woosh it around while the needle's inside of you.  Move on people! You're not going to get it like that!  I was on an all liquid diet for most of my stay and they would give me stuff like milk that I shouldnt be having.  By Wed afternoon I was finally allowed to eat food (low residue, lactose free) and they never brought me dinner!  And then Thursday morning they gave me a bagel with poppyseeds!  Don't they read the chart that says, "Hey this chick has crohns, she can't eat stuff like that!" 

I'm scared of the Prednisone.  I don't want to be all moon faced again.  It's less of a dosage then when I was on it in '02 (I was on 60 now I'm on 40) but I feel like it's still going to mess with me.  I just remember being really fat looking and crazy feeling on it.  I know I was on it this whole time in the hospital but I guess it doesn't seem as real when you're getting it through an iv.  Now that I'm going to have to take it in pill form it's real.  And I don't want to.  I also need to take 2 antibiotics (cipro and flagyl) and I don't even know why. 

It's hard for me to focus on getting better.  The day before I went to the hospital my dad sent me an email about how fat I am.  So I really, really, really don't want to be on the Prenisone. 

I really don't even know what I can eat.  I'm afraid to eat and be in pain.  And my legs are all in pain and feel really weak.  I feel like on the one hand I should work out so they can get stronger but considering I can barely go from one room to another without hurting, I don't know if it's smart to get on the treadmill.

So, I guess to sum up this post...hospitals suck.  Prednisone sucks.  Crohn's sucks.

Thanks. I really do need me some giant hugs, stat! :)

I really want to get in touch with my doctor. I left a message for him at the office but he's on vacation so hopefully his partner will call me back. If i could go down 5 mg every 5 days then it wouldn't seem so scary. I talked to him 2 days ago while I was in the hospital but unfortunately I don't remember much of the conversation because I was crazy, tired, and emotional and too busy crying about how I can't go on Prednisone because my dad thinks I'm fat. In retrospect, I wish I remember what he told me. Then yesterday he partner was the one who came in and said I could go home if I wanted so I didn't think to ask him. And now I'm home with all these meds thinking wait, what am I supposed to do?!?

I guess I can't procrastinate any longer...Time to start the Prednisone... :/

Just a side note about the prednisone...I know your suppose to drink plenty of liquids but I've read and experienced, try to limit your water intake and you won't get moon face as bad. On the prednisone FDA website it says to talk to your dr about how much liquids you intake. But with my experience the less water I drink the smaller my face is. Don't get me wrong you still need to drink water, just don't over do it. I hope you feel better this disease sucks!

Is your name Beverly? 'Cause that's my mom's name. :) And your post sounds like something she would say!

I'm just really scared because of how horrible my life was on Prednisone 8 years ago. But, I need to be positive. Just because it happened 8 years ago doesn't mean its going to happen now. I know I need to take care of my health first. I'm going to try not to be too crazy about the weight stuff of else I might just wind up in there again.

Before the hospital stuff I already lost 10 pounds. I'm hoping the Pred doesn't take that away from me. Today I went to a park and walked (very slowly, like an 80 year old woman) for over an hour. I'm just trying to do my best but not overstrain my body.

Its weird cause I always thought I had problems with my intestine but my catscan a few weeks ago showed my entire colon was inflammed. And I guess I had some sort of infection which was the reason for all the antibiotics. I guess I'll know more once I talk to my doctor and my colonoscopy late next week.

I originally was put on entocort instead of the pred but then I wound up in the hospital.

Since my GI is on vacation his partner called me back the other day and didn't answer any of my questions. I asked him about tapering after 5 days and he said I'll have to talk with my doctor. And then I asked if he could recommend anything food wise with being on the prednisone and he said no. So helpful! Geez! So far I've just been eating the low residue stuff, trying to eat bland and try to watch the portions.

Thank you for the well wishes. Its weird, does anyone notice getting pain more in the late night and mornings? I felt so pain free all day yesterday I actually felt thankful for being on the Pred, but then at night I was just in major major pain followed through into this morning. And I'm still so tired and run down...I remember Pred last time giving me all this crazy energy. Not that I want to be all crazy like that but that energy would be nice!