Mom informed me I look horrible lol

When I see family or friends that I haven't seen in a while, they usually will comment that "I look like I've lost weight" or that "I look good or healthy". At first it used to bother me, especially with the I lost weight comments and usually because I knew I wasn't feeling well but was in denial!

Anyways, I realize these people are making statements rooted in concern for me. And sometimes, I wouldn't even realize how bad I had gotten until someone makes a comment about my appearance. This sort of thing has also served as a wake-up call for me in the past.

I would suggest getting a scale. They are usually pretty inexpensive. I pick the same day/time to weigh yourself once per week, wearing about the same amount clothing.

Count your calories (if you don't already for the malabsorption issue.) The math can be helpful to you and your doctor.

There are so many online/smartphone options out there for folks who are trying to eat less. You can use these to make sure that you eat enough. I personally use myfitnesspal.com. This website also has a smartphone app that will sync with the website. There is also an app/website specifically for IBD called GI buddy, but I have no experience with that one.

Do you already drink supplements like Ensure or Boost? I was dropping weight quickly 3 years ago. Partially contributed to malabsorption and partly because of lack of appetite. Supplementing my calories with Ensure/Boost helped me to stop losing weight at first & then I actually gained back about 5-10 pounds over the course of 2-3 months.

I hate doing charts and diaries and logging in stuff in relation to food, weight, stool, etc. That being said I do it. I do it because looks can be deceiving. My kid looks great... in the face (thanks prednisone!). I had a relative great me over the holidays that immediately started telling me how great my kid looked and how its great she has been cured from Crohn's. I honestly didn't know if I should b**ch slap her or cry. Without seeing the logs I do I wouldn't see my daughter is down 15 lbs, her stools average at 8 in the day & 1 at night with blood. I try to log it in every day (GI buddy is great, also I use a calendar too & just have a daily entry called "Bathroom") but if I don't do every day that's ok, having a timeline is important, especially for your GI.

Hi mtgman. When I finally went to the GI my scope showed crohns. I have been in the hospital 3 times. I was severely anemic, my white and red blood cells hardly registered on the blood test, every thing the blood test shows the Dr were bad. My iron was so low I had 5 days of iron infusions. Had a wonderful bone marrow test. My GI put me on 6mp. That's what about did me in. I got so sick from it. Back in the hospital I went. Was so anemic this time because the 6mp gave me a toxic liver. My eyes were so yellow I had nurses, nurse techs and a few Drs came in because they have never seen anyones eyes like mine. I was told when I went in i needed my gall bladder out. 12 days later the surgeon said it was time to remove it. I asked why it had not been done earlier. He looked right at me and said he had been monitering the blood work everyday and he flat refused to remove it sooner because he didn't think I would survive the surgery. During that surgery he did a liver bioposy for my GI. He drained 3 liters of fluid from around the liver. After a lot of test on the liver they found out it wad the 6mp that caused all the problems. Stayed in the hospital for 3 more weeks on iv fluids. Today I feel great. I am on humira and taking a lot of other meds. Hopefully when I see my GI in Feb he will discontinue some. Sorry for writing a book here, but when it comes to talking about my crohns I get on a roll and can't stop

So now I'm down to 101lbs, the inflammation did not show up in my colonoscopy but I'm going to the bathroom over and over again. Went to the walkin clinic and almost passed out so they called an ambulance and sent me to the hospital. Hospital gave me fluids and sent me home not knowing much.

my doctor hasn't done any of those tests. and i'm really sick. I actually quit my job because i can't keep working right now because of how sick i keep getting. So once i'm better i can look for something else. i have to work today and next week for them to be willing to pay out my vacation time but i'm so sick i feel like i can't make it thru the day today. I just dont know what to do anymore. I haven't been this bad ever.