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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/15/2013 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
So last year was my second year with Crohn's disease. I was hospitalized 14 times from the Crohn's, imuran-induced pantreatitis (had a feeding tube for three weeks), c. diff. (three times), abscesses, and fistulas. That doesn't include just ER visits.

I found out in December that I am pregnant, I'm currently 15 weeks. I had really bad hyperemesis (extreme morning sickness) that required me to get daily IV fluids. I am now down to IV fluids just a couple of times a week, although I'm still dehydrated.

I am a high school math teacher, part-time so I only work every other day (3 classes for 85 minutes each class). smhair I've missed several months this year already, and only have 45 calendar days left of short-term leave. I am currently working, but got a cold that has now turned into an ear infection in addition to vaginal infection.

I recognize that I feel rotten right now, but I am just ready to throw in the towel. This was going to be my last year of teaching anyway since the baby was coming. My husband just got a job in Houston, so we'll be going there in April or May after he graduated (when I'll be about 6 months pregnant).

The thing is, I am just burned out. I really just don't know if I can do this anymore, but I am not sure if I am just being a baby (no pun intended). I am dizzy if I stand up for long periods of time, even before the cold. I am just exhausted, and I take vitamins plus they're in the IV. My B and D levels are normal, so I think it's the combination of the pregnancy with still not having fully recovered from everything last year.

If I stop working now (which I am pretty sure my OB would sign off on in a heartbeat), then I get paid for the remaining 45 days but then my contract gets terminated (so this would happen beginning of April). I would need to work at least for two more months to make it to the end of the school year and not be terminated. I could pay for COBRA for the month of April, then we would go right down right after graduation and his benefits would start for May. I hope that made sense. But I would be giving up 4 months' worth of paychecks, which is a good chunk of change that we were planning in using to buy furniture, etc.

I just want someone to tell me what to do. shakehead
Posted 2/15/2013 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, Scifigal, here is an advance welcome to Houston! This is where I live. Hopefully you will not be freaked out by moving here in the summer. It is an absolute steam bath here from June through September. But it's a very nice place to live, everyone's nice and friendly, the city is easy to get around and the cost of living is low.

Honestly, no one can tell you what to do. But right this moment is not the time to make a decision. You aren't feeling well. Wait another couple of weeks until you are fully into the 2nd trimester. I had terrible morning sickness with my 2nd pregnancy (not as bad as you though) and I didn't feel good until I was 19 weeks. Hang in there.
Posted 2/15/2013 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Whenever I feel like throwing in the towel because I feel rotten... I tell myself "just one more day" and then the day after that and the day after that...usually it gets me through the rotten patches.

I think, unless working is going to be a detriment to the baby...that you should try to stick it out at least for a little bit longer.

Because if you're anything like me, as soon as you thrown in the towel...you'll want it right back. And the first day you're not working that you were supposed to go to work...you'll wish you were working and you'll feel like "I could have done it today".

Also, talk to your drs and see what they think/recommend!
Posted 2/15/2013 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
It's obvious that other ladies have been in your shoes...

BUT...

I just want to say that I am SO sorry. I can only imagine being pregnant on tops of crohn's. Whoa. I hope that your 2nd trimester brings bliss and less chaos!
Posted 2/15/2013 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I completely understand. It just gets so overwhelming! The best advice I can give you is to try and rest. Your body needs to heal, especially now that you are pregnant. You will definately need extra rest. Maybe if you took 30 days and then re-evaluate? If you can take the 30 days and if you are feeling better at that point, then return, if not, then you will know what to do.

Take care and keep us posted on what you decide!

Debb
Posted 2/16/2013 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
@kazbern, thanks for the welcome! I spent 18 months in Puerto Rico, so I think the Houston weather won't be too overwhelming for me. :) I have appointments with an OB and a GI through Baylor and Texas Children's. I hear that's really good? We're excited to come! I've heard good things about Houston from everyone who has lived there.

Thanks everyone for your input. I know it's a bad idea to decide when you're in the middle of being sick. I just don't think I've had a time this school year when I haven't been in the middle of it, you know? I missed the first three months due to the pancreatitis and c. diff., finally got to work the few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then over Christmas break all the hyperemesis started. Even with the fluids I'm still dehydrated all of the time.

My concern is that I will keep catching everything my students bring and that I'll keep pushing myself and be exhausted when the baby comes, you know? Or that I will keep catching things and get infections and take more antibiotics and get c. diff. which will cause my Crohn's to flare. I know this is all "what if" things right now, but it's been the pattern for the last two years.

I will see how I am doing at the end of the weekend. My husband is being very sweet and supportive, and said that he would actually feel more comfortable if I wasn't working so that I'm not exposed to so much. Since I started Remicade, I catch everything. He doesn't even barely have the sniffles and mine turned into an ear infection and feels like it's headed towards a sinus infection.

Don't mean to complain so much, I'm sorry. :/
Posted 2/16/2013 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
You are tired and overwhelmed! Listen to your body, rest whenever possible and do everything in your power to try and quiet the voices in your head. I am watching my 4 year old play with the cat. It is well worth it. Do what you have to do woman, just one step at a time!
Posted 2/17/2013 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Scifigal - I think you mean that you are seeing a GI associated with Baylors and an OB associated with Texas Children's - I'm sure they are fine, although I have found it hard to get a good GI here in Houston. The very large medical center is focused on heart disease and cancer and it seems that IBD is not on the list of most researchers here. I'm happy with my GI and I know of one other GI practice that gets consistent high marks, so if you feel comfortable with sharing this you can e-mail me through my profile.

Texas Children's bought my OB/Gyn's practice last year. I think they probably have many on staff now. I don't know much about that side of things since my kids are 13 and 11 now. But I'm sure it will be fine.

I was a little confused about your timing concerns above. You'll be finished with the school year well before you're due to give birth, right? My biggest hope for you is that your 2nd trimester + remi will give you a good remission. The only thing I can say about avoiding viruses is to wash your hands religiously. If it isn't too weird, maybe you should wear a mask over your mouth until winter is over, when you're in the classroom.
Posted 2/18/2013 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I'll be finished with the school year two months before I have a c-section, and we will be moving twice in that time. Once to Houston into corporate housing for about a month, then again into wherever we find to live after that. I've been having good remission so far - getting fluids helps with that. I got really dehydrated at the beginning even with daily IV fluids and started flaring. They were going to give me a feeding tube, but I didn't want that - last time I didn't tolerate it and could only get 700 calories/day before I threw up.

I don't think the school would go for the face mask...I got in trouble last year when I was out and some students asked what was wrong. I told them I had a condition called Crohn's disease, and a parent called and complained about that. Not sure what was wrong, since other teachers have had cancer and talk about it with the students. I asked a couple of them, and they'd never been in trouble with it before. Maybe because Crohn's isn't a "sexy" disease.
Posted 2/20/2013 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
I spent Sunday night in the ER because diarrhea from the antibiotics got me really dehydrated. On Tuesday I asked my OB about if I should keep working, and he said he's just been waiting for me to tell him that I was ready to stop pushing it. A high-risk pregnancy nurse that's from a third party organization hired by my insurance company called before my OB appointment and said she was going to check up on me every few weeks. She was really nice, and she was said she agreed with the decision I was thinking about not finishing the school year. So I feel better overall about it; once I decided, I felt like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Oh, and I found out that I'll get most of the summer paychecks - it's considered money already earned just delayed in paying so they'll give the pro-rated of the percent of the school year that I taught. So that was a nice relief.
Posted 2/20/2013 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you have such good support and great news about the paycheck. Now feel better!
Posted 2/20/2013 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Really glad you got to a decision that feels right for you.  I hope you can spend this time enjoying the anticipation of the coming baby!  This sounds like the best option for you.

Posted 2/20/2013 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
You are moving and your job will eventually be a distant memory. Your health and your baby's health come first. I think you are making the right decision. I hope you get to feeling better soon and all goes well with your pregnancy and your move.
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