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My name is Nicky but I go by Atomicwoman.

My name is Atomicwoman.

Hi everyone,

First let me say what a wonderful forum you have here.

Since I was a young teenager I have had stomach issues. They attempted to do a colonoscopy when I was 17 but the pain was excruciating and they couldn't even make it past "the first bend" or so we were told. I also had an endoscopy during the same week and they diagnosed me with gastritis due to being anorexic. I did lose a lot of weight but I was NOT anorexic. Anyway my parents believed them and they no longer helped me with these issues or believed me... So I gave up pursuing anything.

Had a baby in 1999 and another in 2001. Things again got very ugly for me. I was insulin dependent Diabetic while preggers with our second child. After the baby I went from over 200lbs to 140lbs in a couple of months. I was exhausting, visiting the washroom a minimum of 10 times a day then I started loosing all bowel function in the middle of the night. So embarrassing when we are trying to find out what kid had an accident and it was you at the ripe old age of 22. :(

It took almost two years to figure out that I had graves disease and that was probably the cause of my very overactive bowels. So between then and know I have undetectable B12 even with shots, no iron stores, very high Cholesterol, high blood pressure (my normal is 130/100), Diabetic ( only fasting sugars are very high), eye inflammation and retinal degeneration, and still visit the washroom frequently. It comes in waves. 3 to 4 times a day is normal when I'm feeling well and 6 to 15 times when I'm not well. It always starts in the middle of the night with intense crapping and carries on through out the morning then settles about mid afternoon. Rinse repeat for a week or two then back to my normal thin stools until the waves come again.

So to make a long story short I got over my extreme fear of colonoscopies and had one yesterday. The prep made me extremely ill and in turn got the most extreme migraine I have every had. My app was for 7:30 in the am and I went in way before that begging for relief for the headache that seem to be causing me all the nausea and vomiting.

I go back to see the specialists on September 21st. I'm gonna be some pissed if this could have been caught way back when they blamed the issues on an eating disorder that I did not have.

Thanks for listening
Cheers,
AW
 
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Crohn's 35

Inactive Account
:welcome: Nicky, so glad you found your way here! I live in Northern Ont, but have lived just about everywhere in Ont :lol:.

It is a great place for support, information and a laugh or two or just plain venting, because WE know exactly how you feel, pain, Diareah, Constipation, kids, women issues and all the lovely tests that go with it. Sorry you have other issues to deal with Crohns is enough and diabetes can happen anyone, which is why Prednisone is not good long term, one of the sides effects.

I just had a scope on Monday but besides the prep the pico salax was great, it was the no eating...trust me tho, I can stand to lose a few.. The results can be inconclusive for Crohns but they should of told you right then and there for inflammation but the biopsies take a few weeks.

Even then, it doesn't always show, this disease is very hard to diagnose, but the sooner the better, so you can get treatment. Of course we will wait for the results like you and tells no matter how it goes. My heart goes out to you, welcome aboard!:hang:
 
Thanks Jettalady, It's been a journey to say the least.

They drugged me up when I got the the Hospital my blood pressure was 156/111. The pain was so intense. Before I knew it I was back in recovery and never got to talk to the doctor.

I can't really blame the doctors for the delay in a diagnosis. I was petrified to pursue it even though all of my doctors insisted that I have a colonoscopy. I did have a barium Xray and small bowel follow through back in 2005. I got the all clear then.

I feel like I'm always complaining about something and get embarrassed when I go to the doctors. So I avoid it regularly, I know what a stupid thing to do.....
 
I can't really blame the doctors for the delay in a diagnosis. I was petrified to pursue it even though all of my doctors insisted that I have a colonoscopy. I did have a barium Xray and small bowel follow through back in 2005. I got the all clear then.
Ohhhh I misread about the all clear on the barium x-ray. That complicates things. I think this is a hard condition for young people (or anyone, really) to communicate to their doctors, and I can imagine it would be especially difficult after being written off by your doctor.

I have a friend with Crohn's who had symptoms in her teens, but the poor thing knew her GI personally so she was too embarrassed to speak up about it until later. It's a hard thing for young people!

Anyway, welcome and I hope you feel better and get some treatment that helps you.
 
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Astra

Moderator
Hi Nicky
and welcome

I totally empathise! I was pissed off too after a dx of IBS for 15 years! and in all that time without appropriate meds, I was scarring, narrowing and getting more ill!
glad you found us, lots of friends here for you, and good luck on the 21st, let us know how you get on!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx
 
Hi Nicky
and welcome

I totally empathise! I was pissed off too after a dx of IBS for 15 years! and in all that time without appropriate meds, I was scarring, narrowing and getting more ill!
glad you found us, lots of friends here for you, and good luck on the 21st, let us know how you get on!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx
This is another frustration of mine. I type notes for doctors and it seems like a lot of people get written off as having IBS without even a referral to GI. Pet peeve I guess. :D
 

Astra

Moderator
This is another frustration of mine. I type notes for doctors and it seems like a lot of people get written off as having IBS without even a referral to GI. Pet peeve I guess. :D

Me too, but I've learned over the last year that it is a condition, but not a disease, and an IBD is so hard to diagnose! Does help tho if you have a sympathetic GP who will refer you and not have you down as mental with a lobotomy booked!
I've got a new GP now, he's ace!
I've let it go now, don't dwell on the past anymore, it's sooooooooooo over!
xxx
 
Me too, but I've learned over the last year that it is a condition, but not a disease, and an IBD is so hard to diagnose! Does help tho if you have a sympathetic GP who will refer you and not have you down as mental with a lobotomy booked!
I've got a new GP now, he's ace!
I've let it go now, don't dwell on the past anymore, it's sooooooooooo over!
xxx
That wasn't my experience at all, it just makes me wonder how many people are falling through the cracks being labeled with IBS. I was lucky with my diagnosis, I guess.

When you say not a disease, are you referring to IBS?
 

Astra

Moderator
yeah sorry IBS is a functional disorder or condition, not a disease.

I feel lucky too now I've got my dx!! Just had to wait a long time for it!
 

Dexky

To save time...Ask Dusty!
Location
Kentucky
Hi Nicky, welcome!! Wow, you've got a lot going on!!! What kinds of meds are you on currently?? Good luck on the 21st!!! I hope you get a solid answer!!!
 

DustyKat

Super Moderator
Hi Nicky and :welcome:

Good to see you hear. As others have said this is a difficult disease to diagnosis and we certainly know that with Roo. All that said I think another hurdle that gets thrown into the mix of young teenage girls is exactly what you experienced, anorexia. Although Roo's doctors never mentioned it her friends certainly thought she had it and that just adds to the angst at that age. Nothing worse than some one telling you or talking behind your back about something you know isn't true.

You certainly have been through a lot and continue to do so. I hope that your appointment with the specialist goes well and your questions are answered. Please stick around and keep us updated with how you are going.

Welcome aboard!

Take care, :)
Dusty
 
Wow, thanks so much for the welcome and support.

I'm currently taking Eltroxin, Metroprolol, Metformin, Coversyl, Crestor, Iron, Asprin, and B12 injections. He also prescribed Wellbutrin (sp?) but it didn't agree with me so I stopped that.

Does anybody else have their flares start in the middle of night? Also does being intimate with your partner have any effect on you? Sorry for the tmi but depending on the position I have to run to washroom with D within minutes.
 
I went to the specialist. My colon is clear of Colitis, but they removed an adenoma polyp. Next step is a CT with contrast of my abdomen and pelvis region. No matter the outcome I have to continue to visit her every three years with a colonoscopy to keep a step up on the polyps. :( She apparently was only looking for Colitis, so we are hoping the CT scan will reveal something in the small bowel.

Anyone with experience with this type of polyp? Should I be concerned? Is it more common to get polyps with IBD?

Cheers
 
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