Two years ago in october i started to become ill with sickness upset tummy and blood in my stools and tummy pain. My nan had just gone in hospital for her Crohns. I was scared and i wanted to ask my nan if my sympotns matched her disease but i didn't. A couple of months later my nan got worse and so did i. Me and my family went to stay with my uncle for a couple of weeks. They day of her funeral i saw her coffin and nearly fainted by loosin so much blood. When then went back to my uncles and me my mum and my uncle were sat in the kitchen. They were talking about crohns and my uncle started drawing a picture of crohns. I ran to the toilet and was sick i knew then i had it . We went back home and i started to lose my abertite and weight. My mum got the doctor round 4 times and he still said that there was nothing wrong with me. My mum got fed up with it and she transfered me to the hospital. I had a MRI scan a couple of days after. It was dignosed with IBD i wasnt sure what it was. There was a special feed for crohns on the table and i asked my mum what was the difference and she said the same. I then knew my life was about to change for the rest of my life. I spent 6 weeks in hospital on steriods blood tests ex-rays the lot. There was one night were i was in so much pain i couldnt bare it the surgeon camje round in the middle of the night my bowel nearly exploaded i would of rather died that night than go threw that pain again. A couple of weeks later i got transfered to The Royal Free Hospital in London were i spent 2 weeks the concultants doctors and the rest had a meeting about what they where going to do with me. I was put on Infliximab and thank goodness it worked and i missed the operation so many times. I had a endscope and colonscope before having my first Infliximab and things were really bad. I had one after a couple of Infliximab i had another one and things looked ok. I now have to have a every year and have my medication every 8 weeks. I still do have my bad days though. Thanks to allmy friends and family who have been there and try to understand even though they dont but atleast they try x

vinnie on July 20 2010 21:09:26 · 1 Comments · 65 Reads ·

Please note that I underwent this test with an ileostomy instead of a large bowel. This may therefore mean that my experience will be shorter with less after-effects than someone with a full complement of bowel.

Time taken: up to 4 hours
Bowel prep: No eating or drinking for a set period, drinking Barium liquid

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The barium swallow (other variants include the barium follow-through and barium enema) is an x-ray examination of the upper digestive system. In order to get the images needed, you are required to drink in excess of about 450ml of barium liquid. The barium coats the inside lining of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and then duodenum before working its way down through the jejunum and ileum. A series of x-rays are taken, following the passage of the barium as it works its way through the bowel . It is completely painless.

The barium liquid drink is a thick white solution that tastes slightly minty and aniseed flavoured. Approximately 15 minutes prior to the x-ray, I was asked to start drinking it. I drank 3 150ml cupfuls which produced adequate x-ray images, however you may be asked to drink more than this to aid clarity of the images.

The first x-ray was taken, with me laying horizonal on my tummy for the x-ray. I was encouraged to drink more barium liquid for the next image‘s clarity, and a series of approximately four x-rays was done at 15-20 minute intervals.

For the last image results, I was asked to lay on my back and the ‘live’ x-ray machine was used to take pictures of the bowel. This was viewable on screen where you can clearly see the barium coated bowel move when you breathe and slide about when you move. Screenshots were taken, the doctor looking for signs of narrowing in the x-rays, indicating patches of inflammation of the bowel wall, strictures (narrowing of the bowel caused by scarring), adhesions following my previous surgeries and the ‘string sign’ (pictured, right), a wormlike appearance of bowel on screen that indicates severe inflammation in an extended tract of bowel.

The after-effects were very minimal. The output from the bag was mostly barium (please note that that it will sit at the bottom of the toilet basin where it is a heavy substance and may require an extra flush) and I was able to go straight away. The live x-ray machine enabled me to discuss the condition of my bowel with the consultant radiologist so I came away with a good idea of the physical condition of my upper digestive system.

Kez

Kez on May 24 2010 20:43:43 · 0 Comments · 558 Reads ·

Time taken: 20 minutes
Bowel preparation: No eating for 6 hours prior to the examination

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The ileoscopy is an endoscopic (fibre optic camera) examination of the ileum, the end part of the small bowel. It was done without sedation.

There was no bowel preparation needed (thank goodness! Kleen-prep is no one’s beverage of choice) save that I was not allowed to eat for six hours prior to the test. No sedation or pain relief was needed as you have no conscious feeling in it.

I was wheeled into the endoscopy room where they removed my ileostomy bag and passed the endoscope into the stoma, feeding it in gently. Although I have active Crohn’s ulceration and inflammation in the bowel immediately preceding the stoma, there was no pain at all. All you can feel is a slight tickling sensation in your tummy.

I was able to watch everything on screen and talk to the doctor during the examination. We looked at the condition of the mucosa (inner bowel membrane) , checking for ulceration and inflammation. Small apthous ulceration was clearly seen and explained by the doctor. The only discomfort suffered was a gripey pain caused by the inflation of the small bowel - the endoscope blows air into the bowel to get a clearer picture.

The endoscope was passed into the small bowel for some 50cm with no pain suffered and no conscious feeling of the endoscope being that far in. Biopsies of the bowel wall were taken using a small pincer device on the endoscope. This caused very small patches of bleeding on the bowel wall, seen on screen, but was completely painless when they took a sample.

Recovery was very swift without sedation and comprised of a cup of tea and a sandwich. There were no ill-effects after the test save a little bit of gassiness in the bag. A print-out of the report was given to me then and there to explain what the doctor had found.

In terms of bowel tests, this one was very bearable and offered good insight into the condition of the terminal ileum (very end part of small bowel) where Crohn’s commonly occurs.

Kez

Kez on May 24 2010 20:17:35 · 0 Comments · 522 Reads ·

I just realised that it was a year ago today that my crohns was diagnosed. And I thought my life was as good as over. I've had the odd rough time, and I've not always been feeling my best, but over all I've managed so much better that what I thought.

My family and friends have been great, but this website has helped me out more than I ever thought. I don't come on here that often, but whenever I have there has always been someone able to answer my questions which has really helped me out at tough times. So I just wanted to take this opportunity one year on to say a massive thank you to you all. I wish you all the best of health for the next 12 months, and the next, and the next....

up n down on June 20 2009 11:12:23 · 2 Comments · 1367 Reads ·

C.ould it be - at last, my soul mate is found?
R.omeo never envisaged a passion so strong and wild
O.h Juliet. Or Jezebel. Where art thou gone?
H.old me tight to your bosom with your angry, consuming passion
N. ever allow my tired aching body to fall from your grip
S.urely to see you dead, this sword must pierce my heart first

JoshuazVision on June 18 2009 15:53:26 · 1 Comments · 1364 Reads ·