My trip to the hospital

Well, I woke up on Wednesday night with the worst abdominal pain I've ever had in my life (well, a close second to childbirth).  It kept coming in waves, ending in bouts of bloody D.  I lost count when I had gotten up close to 13 times.  My husband found me Thursday morning laying on the kitchen floor in pain.  We both knew it was time for the hospital.

Well, after all the usual tests and IVs and everything, the new GI doctor they sent me decided to review my last Colonoscopy results from a few years ago.  She said that the location of the pain, combined with the nausea and vomiting I have had over the last few weeks was indicative of Crohn's. 

Come to find out that my old GI doctor mis-diagnosed me.  I have Crohn's colitis. 

I now have to wean my son from nursing and start prednisone, the drug I swore I would never take again.  I think it is the devil, but at this point I can't live in the pain and need relief. 

So, I guess I'll be switching to the Crohn's board now.  I can't believe my last GI doc was such an idiot.

I am so sorry you had to go through all of that! I know the devil of pred too. I got a couple stretch marks on the side of my chest (I have put on 15 lbs and it goes to the 'trunk' area) plus most of the other side effects. I have been using jojoba oil and it is helping my skin and it doesn't feel so tight anymore, so I hope I don't get any more marks.

wishing you well!

you don't have to wean while you're on pred!!!!

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I too had my first hospitalization for UC 8 weeks postpartum. I got so weak and my UC flared so quickly. I was just like you, up ALL night going to the bathroom. I was devastated to leave my baby and go into the hospital for a few days. I had to up my prednisone dose to 60 mgs, but I continued to breastfeed and pump while in the hospital and afterwards. I breastfed for 9 months while being on prednisone most of that time (on a taper) and also supplemented with formula. I had also SWORE I would never take prednisone again (it had been 13 years since I had last been on it), but it did help get the flare under control and slowly I started to feel better which meant I could be a better mom to my DD again.

How much prednsione are you one right now? Hang in there. I hope you and your new GI (I also started seeing a new GI after being hospitalized) can get you on the road to recovery.

You had no choice but to go to the hospital...it was a good decision considering how bad your symptoms had gotten.

It's unfortunate your last doc misdiagnosed you...did he have written ulcerative colitis or just colitis?
Sometimes (from what I've read of others on the forum)..the symptoms are difficult to differentiate sometimes until they get more obvious.

I hope the pred works for you and that you'll be able to get back to feeling better soon.

Keep us posted...since we all share the location of IBD.

quincy