on February 23 2008 03:02:52 · 1 Comments · 2117 Reads ·

So i will start at the beginning, so be warned, this might be a lengthy article :) im sorry in advance....lol

so it all started in november 2007, i was visiting my then boyfriend in manchester, and we where just getting reeady to go out for dinner with his family, when all of a sudden i started getting a VERY sharp pain in my left side...i thought nothing of it, and thought it might be period pains or something related...although i had, had D a few days before...
so we went out to dinner and i couldnt really eat anything because i kept getting really bad pain...little did i know, this was the start of crohn's...so i thought nothing of it...
the pain came and went, i never saw myself as being sick, so i hated going to the doctors...
January 2008 my boyfriend was very worried about me, and told me to go to the doctors, my weight had droped and i wasn't eating much, i hadn't told my family up until january...my mum just thought i was making a big deal out of nothing.
so i went to the doctors, and they told me it sounded like i had IBS and they would referr me to hospital to see a gastro.

so i was referred to see a gastro at chelsea and westminster hospital...they sent me for an MRI scan...which took MONTHS..i was still in constant pain, they gave me gaviscon...which did nothing but make me throw up more.

so i went into the hospital for my MRI scan, but while drinking the prep, i kept being sick and couldn't handle it, and they told me i couldn't have an MRI without the drink...so they sent me home! and forgot about me completly...

my symptoms then went away...in june 2008 i had the odd tummy ache...but nothing i couldn't handle...

then january 2009...it ALL started again, and it seemed like it had made new symptoms up on the way! i was being sick 3/4 times a day, going to the toilet 8-10 times day, not sleeping, not eating, my legs where so weak i could barely stand, i often had a high tempreture, i was doubled over in pain alot...and AGAIN i went to the doctors, and they gave me gaviscon AGAIN!

my mum had, had enough and spoke to my uncle who offered to pay for me to have privated tests done...that way i wouldnt have to wait on the NHS.....so i went up to harley street in april, and he said straight away he thinks it might be crohn's or colitis...as soon as he told me that was a possibility i started researching what the symptoms where and it all seemed to match mine...

i was then sent to have a colonoscopy, i was really scared, but it wasn't a big deal and felt stupid for being scared afterwards lol.

he told me that i had patchy inflammation in my colon...and that i would need an MRI...

thats when i got VERY scared, because my previous attempt at having an MRI wasnt very successfull...so i explained to him what had happened, and he reassured me and said i could just drink a litre of water instead, which i managed, and he told me my small intestine was VERY badly damaged from crohn's and started me on steriods straight away.

I was the referred back onto the NHS because the private doctor was only giving me the tests, not for a long term treatment. But he was nice enough to referr me to one of his friends on the NHS who deals with teens with crohn's and i was seen within 2 weeks.

then i was giving more medication and started on a liquid feed.
the liquid feed started of really hard, i was only managing to drink 2/3 glasses a day and my stomach pains started to come back, so i was addmitted to hospital. where they discovered that the drink was pooling at the top of a blockage and that i was very dehydrated, so i was hooked up to an IV and then was told i would need an NG tube fitted, so that feed could slowly be put into my stomach....
i was then taught how to use my NG tube at home, and was discharged...
this all happened within a month of being told i had crohn's

i am now hoping that the NG tube will work and i will soon have it out and be in remission hopefully :)

that is my story so far

purpleeyes on July 02 2009 16:31:20 · 0 Comments · 12 Reads ·

I just realised that it was 1 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 · 1 Comments · 85 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 · 0 Comments · 99 Reads ·

I was diagnosed with Crohns 6 years ago, it didn't really come as a shock as my Mum has had Crohns for 27 years, my Uncle has had it for 20 years and they both have had numerous surgeries and permanent ileostomies, so between us we recognised the symptoms!!

27 April went in for "key hole surgery" to remove terminal ileum which was ulcerated - 3 days in hospital and everything would be great? Yeah! Right. Day 5 still on morphine, can't move or eat, CT scan shows build up of fluid around the join,but it is a Bank Holiday weekend and they think I can hang on until Tuesday when the op theatre and ultrasound is open for business again. Wrong - 3 pm Bank Holiday Monday things hit crisis point, a mere 9 1/2 housrs later, at 12.30am registra finally wandered in to see me, called the Consultant as by now critical to operate. Went to surgery at 2am and at 5.30am woke up to find they had given me a "designer bag".

Left hospital weighing a hefty 7 1/2 stone and looking like someone out of Auschwitz - not a good look for my brothers wedding on the Saturday!

Anyhow, I am working at getting better and looking forward to the reversal op in September.

In the meantime me and my family (wife, son age 5 and two daughters age 2 and 5 months) are trying to cope with the "fall out"

Any tips for coping mechanisms???

kimkimuk on June 10 2009 11:12:26 · 2 Comments · 149 Reads ·

i have had chron's for 9 years and only 26 had 8 major operations died on the operating table 2 times have a bag on my stomache permanetly no wife on kids had to move back home with mom but gettun ready to get my on place maybe one day things will get better anyway peace

DAVEfor9years on June 08 2009 11:06:09 · 4 Comments · 151 Reads ·

Rest In Peace Geoff,you were a great friend to many of us on CZ and an inspiration to us all.You always had a kind word to say to everyone,and we will miss your words of wisdom.

Gone but never forgotten.

Anne x

Anne on May 20 2009 21:46:31 · 0 Comments · 291 Reads ·

Don't you know the feeling when things in your body are going on and you have a good idea what's going on and you avoid going to the doctors and eventaully confirm what is going on?You know your body more then could,Here i sit prolong to get poked and proaded.I think as long as its not confirmed it may no be real.And who knows with me tests don't really show up alot of things you can see wi th your eyes ,tests dont see it.Its quiet frustrating' I wonder how many pepole react the same .Do any of you react that way?

Cheryl D on May 11 2009 22:44:38 · 3 Comments · 364 Reads ·

Lord I woke up to another day.Why,why must i feel this way, this Crohns sucks the life away! Lately i seem to do alot of crying,pain runs deep,emotional and pyshical. Now my best and one the the few friends i have I watch dying...my cat my best friend helpless she is,helpless i am,can't afford any more vet bills. She may be getting old and i know we all are born to die but shes getting eaten alive,it's just killing me inside..... She has been there for me for almost 13 years now, i've let her down due to finances that i can't be found. So there she lays slowly painfully dying do you really wonder why i spend alot time crying?I don't have a life myself i'm just existing.Confussed,angry,sad lost for time..I'm an emotional basket case! They say time heals all but i find time is hurting more. Lost my dreams,my ambitions,there hard to have being ill this way.It could be worse,I know there are people that are but I don't live in thier body and I don,t want to live in mine!Time....Time will move on with or without me the world moves on.Time will tell all.......Time..Time to finish this...time - - goes on.

Cheryl D on May 06 2009 10:10:01 · 1 Comments · 340 Reads ·

If you say the toilet is one of your best friends i understand......the endless trips yes i understand.When sleep is hard to come by and your food goes right through painfully making it's way out...i understand..When just getting out of bed or even trying to rest is a chore due to the cramps and weakness,i can understand.When your ability to do things are few to none and energy can't be found'i understand'''''Why i'm like this i don't understand!What can be done?I don't know and don't understand....Can you relate or just understand? Sometimes all we need are answers and a helping hand.I understand,yes i understand!!!!!

Cheryl D on April 28 2009 19:14:25 · 0 Comments · 335 Reads ·

Hi I am Collette. I am 19 and was diagnosed with Crohns 12 months ago. I could not function, was constantly exhausted, short of breath, bleeding, headaches, joint ache & I had to give up my schooling as I could not concentrate.
My mother has suffered with severe IBSd all her life and she knew that foods affected her IBS but could never pinpoint the Triggers. When I was diagnosed she was convinced that foods were affecting me as well but the consultants stated that only Lactose Intolerance affects Crohns & I had been tested for that.
Not accepting what she was being told Mum found an advert for a private food intolerance test. We live in Spain & it was only going to cost 60 euro so she booked us both in. The test pinpointed the individual foods from the different food groups that we were intolerant to. We eliminated these foods from our individual diets and the improvements were dramatic within 4 days.
My mum has not had an IBS attack for 10 months & I have not had to have any medication and my Crohns has been inactive for 10 months. I have resumed a normal life & am studying for a degree with the OU.
From a followup test we have also learned that my body has adjusted itself. Some intolerances have been overcome by allowing my body to rest from the offending product, whilst it has become intolerant to another item. By having the test done every 6 months I feel I can keep my intolerances under control & hopefully my Crohns.
We cannot stress what a difference these tests have had on both our lives.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD FOOD INTOLERANCE TESTS DONE - GET THEM DONE NOW!!!!!
We have been told these tests are expensive in England, get on a plane & come to Spain we will happily tell you where to go. Feel free to contact me by PM for more details.

Collette on April 15 2009 15:50:52 · 2 Comments · 837 Reads ·