Hello, I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself finally. My name is Melissa, I just recently turned 28 and I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease May 2, 2010. My story is kind of strange as it does not fit the typical Crohn's symptoms.
My story began during my last semester of the family nurse practitioner program at UTMB Galveston and working as a RN in labor & delivery at a local hospital. On April 7, 2010 I did not bring a lunch to work, so went to the cafeteria to purchase some kind of chicken tortilla nastiness (the cafeteria is not known for its wonderful cuisine). A few hours after consuming my interesting meal I began to experience abdominal pain. I managed to finish up my shift and head home for the evening. I thought that maybe if I ate a little something my stomach would stop hurting, but after dinner, the pain did not subside and actually worsened. I spent the entire night in pure agony (and I am a pretty tough cookie when it comes to pain).
After a week of having nothing but gatorade and saltine crackers to eat I decided it was time to see my doctor (it is true what they say, those in the medical profession make the worst patients). I was set up for labs and ultrasounds of the abdomen and pelvis exactly one week before I was supposed to walk across a stage to receive my master's degree. The ultrasound tech stated that she believe my appendix was inflamed and she would report her findings to the radiologist. The radiologist concurred and plans to perform an appendectomy progressed rapidly from there. After the appendectomy. my surgeon came to speak with me and gave me some interesting news. It turns out my appendix was totally normal, but I did have 12-18 inches of inflammation in my small intestine.
He consulted a GI who ordered an IBD serology 7 panel to test for Crohn's and UC. He said "I doubt anything will come back conclusive for crohn's, it is probably just an isolated case of ileitis." I stayed overnight in the hospital and was sent home the next day on flagyl and cipro x 10 days.
A week later I was able to walk across that stage I had been working towards for so long!! I was feeling much better while taking the flagyl and cipro, but was anxious to come off of them. A week after graduation I attended a review course for my national certification exam in Houston. I had completed the course of antibiotics and was beginning to experience slight abdominal pain again.
Over the review course weekend, the pain intensified and I had to miss the last day of the conference to go to the ER. I have never been a patient in an ER before and felt completely out of place. After blood work and a CT scan of the abdomen it was confirmed that I had Crohn's disease. I have no family history of Crohn's, and the only positive family history of autoimmune disease is my uncle (dad's brother) who was said to have Fibromyalgia (he has since taken his own life).
I was originally placed on entocort, 6-MP, and prednisone, after which I had to take Klonipin and bystolic to combat the prednisone side effects. In July 2010 I had my first colonoscopy and at my follow-up appointment was told I was in remission.
A few days after receiving this great news I took my national certification exam and officially became a family nurse practitioner. I accepted a second job as a nurse practitioner while still working as an RN. My weekly hours totaled to about 65 hours/week. Apparently this was too much for my body to handle and in early August I started having a low-grade fever and abdominal pain again. I waited a couple weeks before informing my doctor (hindsight is 20/20) and he ordered labs and a CT scan. The CT scan revealed a tennis ball size abscess in my abdomen and severe narrowing of my terminal ileum to a passageway the size of a number 2 pencil.
I was instructed by my GI to report to the hosptial the following day. I was taken off of the prednisone, entocort, and 6-MP, and started on remicade. I remained in the hospital for 10 days and had an abdominal drain inserted to drain the abscess. The drain remained in for 1 1/2 months until my bowel resection in October 2010. Since my bowel resection I have been feeling wonderful!! The remicade is working fabulously and I couldn't be happier. My doctor did restart the 6-MP recently in fear that I was developing antibodies to the remicade (I was having severe migrating joint pain but was also on Lamisil for what we thought was ringworms, but actually turned out to be Nummular Eczema. I am currently not having any joint pains and my "ringworm rash" has since cleared).
I am getting married November 5, 2011 and I can't wait. I have the most amazing fiance' imaginable. We have been together for over 8 years and engaged for over 3. He stood by my side through every surgery and hospital stay providing me with encouraging positive comments!!! I am so ready to start the next chapter of my life!!!
Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 6/17/2011 7:32:12 AM (GMT-6)