My names is Alexis, I'm 19 year old and just diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in July 2011. I have been through hell and back trying to get diagnosed. During my highschool years I always had severe stomach issues and diarrhea, but no one thought anything of it. During my senior year of high school I was going through hell with my bowel movements...either 10x times a day or not at all for WEEKS. My pediatrician suggested I may be slightly anemic and passed off the bowel problems as constipation and my diet.
After graduation in Massachusetts, I moved to North Carolina with my mom and got a full time job. Before I knew it I was literally a medical emergency. Hospitals and ER's every week to everyday. I had broken out with HUGE sores and bumps all over my legs. I went to the ER and was admitted for severe Iron Deficiency Anemia. The bumps were diagnosed as Erythema Nodosum, both of which can be indicators of Crohn's Disease. Whiy I was never tested...who knows.
After SEVERE flare ups of the VERY painful Erythema Nodosum an ER doctor suggested it could be a gastro issue and referred me to a GI doctor. In the meantime he prescribed Prednisone, which became my best friend for the next few weeks until my Gastro appointment. I finally see the Gastro doctor who immediately suggests it's Crohns Disease after feeling the tenderness in my right side accompanied by the Erythema Nodosum and Amemia. She schedules an emergency CT scan. After the scan, I get a call from my panicked doctor telling my to go admit myself at the nearest hospital. She proceeded to tell me I had a perforated bowel and need emergency surgery. This was the longest hospital stay yet. I did not in fact have a perf, I had Crohn's Disease which was diagnosed after weeks of not eating and many hospital tests.
To make a longer story short, I'm now on Asacol, Prednisone, another type of steroid, pain meds and still have no relief. I'm being switched to Cimzia within the next couple weeks. I'd like to hear your experiences with this medication, I've heard many bad things but am willing to give anything a try for some relief. Thanks for listening and I'd love to hear from you guys!
Alexis
After graduation in Massachusetts, I moved to North Carolina with my mom and got a full time job. Before I knew it I was literally a medical emergency. Hospitals and ER's every week to everyday. I had broken out with HUGE sores and bumps all over my legs. I went to the ER and was admitted for severe Iron Deficiency Anemia. The bumps were diagnosed as Erythema Nodosum, both of which can be indicators of Crohn's Disease. Whiy I was never tested...who knows.
After SEVERE flare ups of the VERY painful Erythema Nodosum an ER doctor suggested it could be a gastro issue and referred me to a GI doctor. In the meantime he prescribed Prednisone, which became my best friend for the next few weeks until my Gastro appointment. I finally see the Gastro doctor who immediately suggests it's Crohns Disease after feeling the tenderness in my right side accompanied by the Erythema Nodosum and Amemia. She schedules an emergency CT scan. After the scan, I get a call from my panicked doctor telling my to go admit myself at the nearest hospital. She proceeded to tell me I had a perforated bowel and need emergency surgery. This was the longest hospital stay yet. I did not in fact have a perf, I had Crohn's Disease which was diagnosed after weeks of not eating and many hospital tests.
To make a longer story short, I'm now on Asacol, Prednisone, another type of steroid, pain meds and still have no relief. I'm being switched to Cimzia within the next couple weeks. I'd like to hear your experiences with this medication, I've heard many bad things but am willing to give anything a try for some relief. Thanks for listening and I'd love to hear from you guys!
Alexis
I'm more than excited to start Cimzia even after reading the side effects, I'll do just about anything to get rid of this pain. Right now Tramadol and Prednisone are my 2 life savers. In the beggining I was being pretty level headed about this diagnosis but the past week has been such a disaster. These Crohn's disease support groups are honestly the only things keeping me going. I can't even go to work or out to dinner without wanting to cry in pain. I'm getting reallly depressed and the mental breakdowns are happening more often.
