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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/24/2010 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all
I have been browsing some of the threads and am finding them very helpful, I am 30 with 2 children and about 3 months ago I started getting bad pains in my stomach and mild Diarrhea. I have just moved to new city so I found a new Doctor and she thought it was the onset of a stomach ulcer and prescribed antacids and a mild diet my stomach pain went but I started having very frequent bowel movements that became liquid and bloody with lumps of mucus in them, I returned to my Doctor was checked for Hemorrhoids and nothing was found she referred my to the hospital endoscpy unit it took them 4 weeks to see me.
I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. The experience has been a bit confusing for me I have to say apart from the Kleen prep(sweet jesus) the scopes were not that bad, but just coming out of sedation the Doctor spoke to me mentioning Colitis and Crohns and said my bowel was inflamed but no ulcers( they have taken biopsy's and will get results in 4 weeks) and then gave me a prescrition and sent me on my merry way.
It was when I reached the Pharmacy I first got a shock at the price and her surprise at what I was prescribed ..I am on 4mg Pentasa sachets and 1 liquid enema per night I don't seem to have any adverse reactions but feel a bit dodgy..but an the plus side the blood Diarrhea and mucus disappeared.
I just feel a bit lost I have never been on any medication and I don't really know whats wrong with me. The more I look up the medication the more worried I get it seems to in general be a long term Medication and for Uc or Crohns. Is anyone aware of anyone being put on something like this being fixed and just getting back to normal for good(enter fairy godmother now please tongue )
Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated
Thanks
Posted 1/24/2010 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Oh sorry I forgot to mention my Grandmother had Crohns which was not caught in time and had an illestomy I think this is adding to my fear my cousin on the other side of family also hads crohns but seems to be managing it ok
Posted 1/25/2010 2:01 AM (GMT 0)

 Kittys Kat. First slow down and take a few deep breaths.smilewinkgrin Welcome to healing well! Sorry to hear about your recent difficulties. Pentasa is one of a group of drugs called 5-asa anti-inflamitories and is very similar to aspirin. It is one of the drugs used for Crohn's patients the has the least side effects on the patient(in general). I'm glad to hear your tollerating it well and it is relieving your symptoms. Your Dr. chose this for you because of the limitted damage to your intestines found during your scopes, in other words he's trying the least risky drug and it seems to be working! I'd recommend you read these forums with the intent on finding how we use diet to help control symptoms. To start you may find any heavy or hot spice will cause difficulty , fried foods, nuts, seeds, and whole corn and possible dairy may cause you problems. Keep your head up and smile and continue to inform us of your progress. smileThe people here you'll find are experienced, caring and informed. Rob

Posted 1/25/2010 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
In addition I'd bet 80% or more of us have been on or are on 5-asa.
Posted 1/25/2010 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Thank you for your reply I am breathing a bit easier today smilewinkgrin I suppose I just felt a bit scared so I spoke to my G.P. taday she got the results from my biopsy's and it is apparently ulcerative colitis . I am not sure how I feel really and I wont have an appointment with the hospital to go through it all for another 3 weeks but am staying on the meds and will wait and see. Apparently the histography shows I have had it for a while but hadn't noticed mind you the more I think about it the more it explains a few things. I am looking forward to chatting to a dietician and getting myself heathy. Yoga here I come !!
I suppose I am lucky it is a bit of a wake up call.
Posted 1/25/2010 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Kat.  Welcome here!  I am a newly diagnosed Crohnie who didn't seem to have any symptoms, and so it caught me by surprise.  36 years old with two kids and no history....go figure!  There are lots of resources here to help you.  If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!  Don't forget to take care of YOU.   
Posted 1/26/2010 7:59 AM (GMT 0)
Your aware there's a UC forum here as well? Not that we want to lose you!
Posted 1/26/2010 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Ah I didn't know there was a UC forum here I think I will keep tabs on both, I am looking forward to chatting with the consultant in a couple of weeks and get a confirmed diagnosis my GP said she ws only giving me the pathology report adn that the hospital will give me more infrmation by combining the pathology report and what they saw on hte scope.. Have to say this is a great forum though ..Very helpful turn
Posted 1/26/2010 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
With Crohns Disease if thats what you have, you need to ALWAYS remember that this is a chronic and incurable disease. If you want to start feeling better and try to stay like that, you are going to have to take medications for the rest of your life. I am currently in remission and maintained solely on Asacol (another med in the Pentasa family). You will also need to find a diet that works well for you. I currently live on a low residue diet and it works well for "ME". You can google it and get some diet ideas. Welcome to Healingwell by the way!
Posted 1/27/2010 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Nanners Thank you, Yeah I am coming to terms with the lifestyle change at the minute, It gets me down every now and then but I just think it could be so much worse so I am trying to stay positive and feel lucky that the medication is working without any bad side effects. I am trying to look at my diet I always ate brown bread, brown rice, loved snacking on fruit and nuts cereals etc but I have been advised to eat low fibre low roughage for the moment until the flare up is over and between that and the drugs I seem to be ok but I am exhausted is being really tired normal? I also have since my teens suffered from anemia I am not reading up and see that it may be linked and I thought I had hemorrhoids because of rectal bleeding after having my few children and never had it checked so now I am thinking that it may have been flare ups then too, I suppose I am over thinking everything at the moment but still need to wait until the consultant sees me in a couple of weeks for a complete diagnosis and plan
Posted 1/27/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Kat. Welcome here! I am a newly diagnosed Crohnie who didn't seem to have any symptoms, and so it caught me by surprise. 36 years old with two kids and no history....go figure! There are lots of resources here to help you. If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask! Don't forget to take care of YOU.


Sorry missed this one Thank you so much I am trying to take care of me I suppose its about slowing down and reevaluating whats important I don't want to be sick for my children's sake so am going to work really hard at being well... Have they put you on medication?
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