Folic Acid worked wonders for me. I take 400 mg a day. My hair had started falling out last year post surgery (and/or post going off Humira :). I have multiple new hairs that are about 3 inches long...
I will chime in here about therapy. When I went through my several years of depression and therapy my therapist told me that sometimes, depending on how severe your disease is (notice all the...
I had a abdominal fistula for about 18 mos. Humira didn't touch it. Surgeons feared it because of all my previous surgeries. I finally went to Johns Hopkins (I live one state away) and found a...
I have to second pmedics ideas. When I had upper abdominal pain (it hurt to take a deep breath), I had an upper endoscopy. Not too much was revealed but I was started on Nexium "just in case". It...
Keepingfaith: I had very minor skin issues before going on Humira. I had mentioned it to the GI a few times, but I had no itching, just the occasional white patch. When I went on the Humira, it was...
I am guessing Psoriasis is a possibility. Notice all the qualifiers... :wink: My experience with Humira was 18 mos on it to try to close an abdominal fistula (no luck). I went off it just prior to...
Agree with Nanners and Jenn. I have had numerous surgeries, and adhesion pain will come around eventually to me anywhere from 2 mos to 2 years post-op. I can tell because it is a sharp pain for no...
Well I started out with Crohns in 1981, which was diagnosed by default, the biopsy never really proved it... Then I moved in 1984 and finally switched to a closer doctor in 1992 who changed me to UC....
I agree with the above 2 responses, altho I would add that is possible to have temporary obstructions. I am a veteran of those :) I think I went to the ER a total of 7 times over the past 3 years,...
So happy to hear you are doing better! I am a coffee addict, and fortunately I can drink it with no ill aftereffects. The only time I quit was during both pregnancies (boy was I dragging!). I am so...
Jon, I agree with some of the others that you may be clinically depressed. Have you ever been treated for depression? I was in 1995 for about 3 years. I did the whole thing - anti-depressants, talk...
It is very common to have irregular periods before menopause actually starts. I avoided the whole thing by being on low dose BC to totally get rid of them (and hot flashes). I only knew I was in full...
Ivy, I hope you are feeling better soon. I am sending virtual pain medicine your way :) Sudsmom...
I took Seasonale for 3 years, which I understand is a low dose HRT. It definitely helped. I was only taking it every other day to reduce risks. But I went off it this year in my efforts to reduce the...
My experience is from when IVF was fairly new - my kids are 19 and 22. I was diagnosed with Crohns in 1981. My tubes were completely blocked with scar tissue (multiple surgeries in 1981). So I was...
My diagnosis came during my first hospital stay from Jan 16, 1981 until 99 days later. I was very sick from blood loss, and they never did find the source of it. Also, diagnosis was trickier back...
Nanners - Just take some of the positive energy you expand on this board and let it bounce back and help you on your first day back!! It's never as bad as you think it will be, and it sounds like...
I have to agree with a number of replies on this thread. I am also tired ALL the time. I recently had surgery to fix number of problems (April), and now that I am 6 months post-op, I was hoping my...
I have had 3 GIs over the years. I stuck with my first one (who was the one who happened to be on call when I went in with a horrible hemorrhage before I was even diagnosed). He was great. I moved 2...
Welcome back! I completely understand being overwhelmed - you have had an overwhelming year! Despite my successful surgery in April, I am still down sometimes, because of my trivial, lingering wound....
I found 2 different support groups thru CCFA, one was about 2 hours away, and the other was local (which didn't last long). The one at the hospital 2 hours away was mostly informative stuff, and the...
In reply to the question of whether strictures can get better on medications... I am not a doctor, but I would think it would depend if the stricture is inflammatory in nature (caused by the Crohns...
As a veteran of 3 resections, and having been on the emergency end and the planned end of things, I agree with Juliet. A second opinion would definitely be a good idea, plus find out why the urgency...
I agree! I was just at Johns Hopkins for a checkup with my surgeon and they have that stupid pain scale, complete with smiley/frowny pictures. Give me a break! Not only does my pain roller coaster,...
I agree with Nanners and others who said it could have been/could still be a partial obstruction. I am a veteran of at least 5 of those episodes. I recently took care of it with surgery, where they...
Well I saw the surgeon this afternoon - she says it is looking good, and it can take 6 months to a year sometimes for these things to heal. She did switch me from MeSalt dressing to plain dressing....
I have been through this also. I was 23 when I was diagnosed, newly married, and it was immediately apparent that my drinking days were behind me. I would have 1 or 2 every now and then, but it just...
Thanks for the support... I guess I will find out some news one way or the other this afternoon. Fingers crossed.... Sudsmom...
OK so this is trivial in the scheme of things. I am coming up on 6 months post-op (10/12). I STILL have a small worm-like tunnel just below my belly button. It is the remnants of a hematoma that my...
OOOOHH! Pediatric NG - what a great idea! I've been using a pediatric colonoscope for years. It makes a huge (or small) difference - lol! I am requesting that next time. I would like to be positive...
Most of my NG experience has been when they are inserted while I am under anesthesia (thank goodness!). But - I had one in for over a week once and it was horrible. I was under treatment by one of...
I was on Humira for 18 mos. which really did nothing for me. I guess we could have tried Remicade, but having to deal with the fistula for 2 years, I was ready to get rid of it. I also had a fair...
This is an interesting theory to me... I never really think about it, but technically I am the 2nd born. I have always thought of myself as 1st born since my older sister drowned when I was 2, and I...
I am dealing with the exact same question. I am 5 months post resection (very successful, fixed a fistula, stricture, knotted small bowel, inflamed section and adhesions!), and I was on low residue...
Sniper - Best news of the week! I hope this helps you with your stress too - what a huge relief! Enjoy your good news and I hope you can relax for a while :smilewinkgrin: Sudsmom...
nfburton - I recently went thru having an abdominal fistula. Was on Humira for 18 mos, but since it didn't work for me (this was the second time I had abdominal fistula), I ended up with surgery to...
Sniper - I love the clothing line idea. I have sort of gravitated towards easy off clothing over the years. Between abdominal pain and running to the can, almost everything I own is elastic waist...
I'm going to have to agree with habshockeyfan here.. see what your doctor says, but you really do have to put yourself first. I have learned the hard way that doing too much too soon just defeats the...
So happy to hear your recovery is going well! I recently had a small bowel resection/fistulaectomy/adhesion removal. Can you tell this was not my first surgery - haha! It was my 6th so no hope of the...
Hahahaha! Perfect description! I love the visual of the penguin walk. I do have a suggestion for clean looking underwear - do they make brown male underwear ? Women's come in all kinds of colors, but...
OK this is a funny story you have for sure - especially if it is an escaped pet, maybe it will come back? But I have to say, when I saw your subject line, I was SURE you were going to talk about...
I had some round itchy scaly spots a few years ago. Went to a dermatologist, no real diagnosis, just got a prescription ointment. No real problems, but I do have light patches on my arms from all my...
I was diagnosed with Crohns at age 23 right after I got married. I worked full time for about 10 years until I had kids, then I worked part-time for the next 15 years. I was lucky enough to work for...
Nanners - As someone who recently had my 3rd resection, I had never heard of bacterial overgrowth before, but the symptoms sure ring a bell! Especially the bloating and putrid gas. And the pooping in...
Txarmywife - What a horrible time you've been having! So sorry to hear about all your troubles. I am hoping they find the source of your high white count soon! {{{Hugs}}}} Sudsmom...
Sassy - I had an ablation probably 10 years ago for fibroids. It worked like a charm for me. I started menopause at age 50 and it has been a normal progression (except for Horrible hot flashes). My...
Irene survivor in Delaware (mid atlantic state in between Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey - local joke is Dela where? lol). I live near the water and all who lived withing 3/4 mile...
I don't know anything about the LIFT procedure, but I do know about vaginal gas. I've had it for years, and when it first started I had all kinds of tests but they never found a fistula. I only had...
I voted no, but I was taking Humira to heal a fistula, which I ended up needing surgery for. It turned out I had Crohns inflammation in part of my bowel, even though I didn't have any horrible...
Steph - I feel your pain. I feel exactly the same way. Last week had a huge blowup with my husband (the day my daughter left for college which is always emotional for me). He was mad I don't get more...