Hello..I'm new!

Hi everyone... Just to say I'm so glad I found this forum! Iv done nothing but read through everything the past two days! so...

I started to get pains in my stomach around 2/3 months ago - I just ignored it and tried to carry on as normal, even going abroad with my boyfriend.. when I came back I had no appetite, was constantly throwing up, the pain was unbearable and my bowels were loose but felt blocked :/ - After a few days in bed my mum finally persuaded me to go to hospital (I'm soft! Needles scared the life out of me).

When I got there I was given anti-sickness and my bloods were showing inflammation, I was kept in on a drip, given an X-ray and an ultrasound. When nothing was showing on the tests they took me for an emergency laparoscopy.

When I woke up I was told they had taken parts of both my small and large intestine, as well as my appendix. After a few days I was given a blood transfusion because I was extremely anaemic and then left to recover before being sent home none the wiser with iron tablets and pain killers.
Four days ago (2/3week post op) I was called to my GP for another blood test which is when he told me I had crohns...

I knew NOTHING about crohns so Ive been searching and reading all sorts on the net and really scared myself, I'm only 21 and keep getting worked up/emotional and wondering how my case is going to affect me.. Im due to see my surgeon in three weeks for my 6week check up.. Untill then Im trying to keep positive!
Haley x

Hi Haley and welcome.You poor thing,what a time you've had.You're on the right forum here,there are lots of kind people who will give you advice and support.Don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how embarrasing,we've heard it all before.look after yourself Pet.we're all here for you

Hi Haley and welcome to the community!

Wow, you've been through a lot already, you poor thing

Have they discussed medications with you yet? How are you feeling right now?

Again, welcome!

Hey haley, (def my fav girl name) ha. But anyways sorry to hear about your situation and what you've already been through. I hope things start looking up, I know being young and all really sucks with crohns. You did find a great place however to answer all of your questions disease related or not. So welcome!

The good thing you are doing is reading everything you can, it's a scary time right now but there is no need to get depressed. Just use this time to heal and learn as much as possible about the disease, your options, and your future. Good luck I hope all goes well the next couple of weeks!

Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome, its so good being able to share/vent this with people who understand how I'm feeling!

David, nobody has really told me anything My GP told me that the surgeon will discuss medication with me and will most probably refer me to a dietitian. I didn't ask many questions as I was more shocked than anything, now I have a huge list of questions for my surgeon - I'm feeling pretty much like my old self - More tired and emotional, but other than that... The scaring down my stomach seems to be healing well - scabby! I can't wait to get back to work - I'm fed up at home!

Ethan - I've gotta say Haley is a pretty cool name Haha!

x

Please help, My daughter was complaning about pains or stitiches on left side of stomach since 2010, did blood test, and scan everything normal since then she has been doing blood test in general and all normal except she is anemic even though iron level is at 7or 8, because her *MCH 26.7pg, *MCHC-21.1g/dl, (.3-.5) I always though anemic is usually if iron or ferratin is low, she had hematuria around 2010 too, and a couple of years ago she had bright red blood in toilet the doctor did an internal and said it was a small tear so did not send for any other studies,
She had bad stomach cramps in May, above belly button and below ches she was curled in the toilet 2 weeks prior to this and she did not tell me anything as she had the pain for about 4 hours felt gassy and bloated, her friends gave her panadol rapid, after 4 hour she felt ok and the next morning had the same pains she had stayed at a friends house, I found this out only end of May when she got the gassy bloaty pains again, went to hospital after 4 hour waiting for doctor said IBS and sent us home, next day same pains went to my GP gave buscopan injection about 10 mts later felt relief, and asked to take gavascon 2, she had to do a barium study as I mentioned to docotr about the pain/stich that used to come on and off since 2010, gave oral barium, needed to take it 1 hour a certain anout and the next hour a certain amount prior to been checked out, she took about 45 mts each to drin thre required amount and went for the test results came as patchy calcification on left side of liver however there was nothing noted on the normal ultra sound that she did in 2010 without bariumn, did an MRI 2 weeks after that on 19th June 2012,is better noted on SCans than MRI and everything conlusion ws normal study. (Note she had to do MRI 8 hrs fasting, but as we went aout half hour late they asked her to eat something and 3 hours later was the MRI, could her eating have given a wrong indication on MRI and therefore they stated that calcificaiton is better seen on a scan .

She also did a blood test for,Serium Biochemistry reslults inluding billirubin 5 umol/L, cretine 62 umol/L, sodium 141 potass 4.3mmol/L , chloride 108 mmol/l, bicarbonate 25mmol/l, urea 5.0mmol/l EST.GFR > 90 per 1.73 sqm, ala aminotransferas 15u/l , Asp. aminotransferase 17u/l, alkaline phospates 74 u/l, gemma glutamyl trans GGT 10U?L , total protein 75 G?L Albumin 46 G/L, Globulin 29G/L, Dr said they are in normal range ), did Coeliac Disease serology (serium) – normal 2.53,for 2012 results as per 1/6/12,).
Did Coeliac Disease serology (serium) – normal 2.53,for 2012 results as per 1/6/12,).
She was away for the Weekend and today15/8/12 she tells me that she has been having green stools (POO), I am worried, her vitamin D is low and I started giving her Vitamin D1000IU, as well as Centrum Advance multivitamin and mineral supplement (which is orange). I tried to take her to the docotrs and she wont go as she feels shy to talk about the stools, she also stated that she has had slight stomach pains, I heard about Chrons disease and would the Coelic disease serology have been an indicator if she has crohn's disease,
I am worried sick not knowing what to do? plese any advise would help, she did not take the vitamin D supplement when she went on her ski holidays on the weekend she only took the Centrum Advance which is orange in colour. She hasnt had much greens either she eats mixed lettuce salads as normal, and never had green poos before it is 5 dys fr the green poos and slight stomach pains when she lets out some gas the pain goes stool s are normal consistency.
What test do you have to do to find out if you have crohn's disease, would have it shown on the MRI or scan
God Bless you all
Heather

Hi Haley, i wrote the above post for got to mention that my daughter to is 21 years old and I feel for you and all the othersr blood results were normal you mentioned that your blood test showed inflammation ws it the ESR or ws there another blood test please let me know so I could check it up wth my daughters to see if they did that blood test on her too.
Is there a special blood test to find out if you have CROHNS disease, some said that it could be bile anyone who has done any other blood test to find out about your disease could you plese let me know so I could ask the doctor, She also states that she feels like she wants to go to the toilet for NO2 even though she had been, then she lets iut some flatulaence and says that the pain has gone,
Sorry about the information provided but I am looking for answers as I am helpless
Thanks
heather

Hi Heather, sorry to hear about your daughter..
Due to only just being diagnosed I don't really know what I'm talking about yet, so feel pretty useless.
All I can tell you is my pains were also around my belly button and that my stools also went green and turned completely to liquid the night before I was taken to surgery.

Yes the ESR is what showed my inflammatory levels to be up.. However I did have perforations and abscesses in my bowel so whether that makes a difference to the results I don't know?! I only had blood tests, an X-ray and an ultrasound before they took me for the laparoscopy.

So sorry that I can't be much help but I really do hope you get some answers soon!! xx

Hiya Haley
and welcome
where about are you?

You poor thing, but at least you got a very quick diagnosis!
My daughter Jessica (21 in Oct) was rushed in to A&E last year with your symptoms, she had ruptured appendix and developed peritonitis, but, no IBD, thank God!
My advice? You need to see a specialist in IBD, NOT the surgeon. The surgeon opened you up, discovered something wrong, whipped out the rotten stuff etc, but he won't be able to follow on with treatment, neither can the GP.
The GP needs to refer you to a gastroenterologist, not a dietician.
IMO, food acts as a trigger, inducing certain symptoms such as diarrhea etc, but it won't heal inflammation.
Check out our treatment section and get genned up on the meds, be armed with some ammo when you see the gastro.
good luck
Joan xxx

Welcome to the Forum - you will find some great friends here

Hi Heather, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. I was just diagnosed with Crohn's in June so I am really new to all of this. But I have read through a lot of the posts and found a lot of help and support. Maybe you would get more responses if you started your own thread? I hope the best for your daughter as she is so young (I am 32 and feel so old with this disease!). One thing I may suggest is that your daughter be honest about what is going on with her body to you and her doctors. I know this is difficult but it is so important in order to start finding solutions. And stay positive even though that is very hard too--there are medications and support people for you and her!

Hi Haley,

You are so strong and smart to seek out support from all of these good people! I too was recently diagnosed and have found the forum very helpful. I completely understand the emotional toll this has on you, especially because you are so young!, I am older, 32. But everyday I stay optimistic because there are medications to help me feel better, even if they take a while to kick in. I sometimes get frustrated and when it happens, I let it and I usually cry. But I don't let it overwhelm me for too long. I think good thoughts (do you know the Colbie Calliat song, "Think Good Thoughts?" It is a good reminder I am working on being patient with myself because this is such a change to how I normally live as a high energy person. I walk as much as I can but am learning to recognize my limitations before I get tired and sore. I hope the best for you