Hi,
I am 30 years old, and have been living with diagnosed Crohns for the past 7 years, however it now appears i went undiagnosed for about 5 years. well what i have learnt from this disease is that it appears when you least expect it. My most recent flair up went some what undetected, until such time as i was being rushed to hospital by ambulance, my next recollection is coming to about a week later after having spent a week in ICU, struggling for my life. To learn that i had perforated my bowel, which leaked into all four quadrants of my belly. I had received emergency surgery of a right hemecolectaomy, resulting in a huge wound/scar down my stomach with 23 staples and a illeostomy. I was also to be told by the surgeon that i was extremely lucky to be alive. Things continued to be challenging over the coming weeks, with coming down with pneumonia. My wound wasnt healing and broke down causing it have to be completely opened and left in this manner for about 10 days.
So now the thought of being able to see my insides when the dressing was changed each day was so overwhelming, and totally scary. The wound was subsequently closed via my second surgery. I remained in hosiptal for a total of 6 weeks and now in my forth month of recovery, back at work now but only part time due to my overall weakness and tiredness. I am basically waiting for my third surgery of which they are going to remove another 30cm of my large bowel and finally a 4th and hopefully last surgery to get rid of my illeostomy and put me back together as i call it.
I have had bad flares in the past but nothing like this i had read about lots of people needing surgery and the fact the disease can be deadly however as with many of us never thought that could be me.
Recently i have started taking Humira, after being on pentasa and azathiprine for years, ( which would now appear not have been working too well). Not enjoying the Humira injections but hoping they help put my Crohns back into remission. Would like to gain my normal life back. But have realised you will go through times when you could be forgiven for forgetting you have the disease and other times when it consumes your life.
This forum has really helped since i have recently discovered as such not a known or much talked about disease in New Zealand. Helps you feel like you are not alone in this.
I am 30 years old, and have been living with diagnosed Crohns for the past 7 years, however it now appears i went undiagnosed for about 5 years. well what i have learnt from this disease is that it appears when you least expect it. My most recent flair up went some what undetected, until such time as i was being rushed to hospital by ambulance, my next recollection is coming to about a week later after having spent a week in ICU, struggling for my life. To learn that i had perforated my bowel, which leaked into all four quadrants of my belly. I had received emergency surgery of a right hemecolectaomy, resulting in a huge wound/scar down my stomach with 23 staples and a illeostomy. I was also to be told by the surgeon that i was extremely lucky to be alive. Things continued to be challenging over the coming weeks, with coming down with pneumonia. My wound wasnt healing and broke down causing it have to be completely opened and left in this manner for about 10 days.
So now the thought of being able to see my insides when the dressing was changed each day was so overwhelming, and totally scary. The wound was subsequently closed via my second surgery. I remained in hosiptal for a total of 6 weeks and now in my forth month of recovery, back at work now but only part time due to my overall weakness and tiredness. I am basically waiting for my third surgery of which they are going to remove another 30cm of my large bowel and finally a 4th and hopefully last surgery to get rid of my illeostomy and put me back together as i call it.
I have had bad flares in the past but nothing like this i had read about lots of people needing surgery and the fact the disease can be deadly however as with many of us never thought that could be me.
Recently i have started taking Humira, after being on pentasa and azathiprine for years, ( which would now appear not have been working too well). Not enjoying the Humira injections but hoping they help put my Crohns back into remission. Would like to gain my normal life back. But have realised you will go through times when you could be forgiven for forgetting you have the disease and other times when it consumes your life.
This forum has really helped since i have recently discovered as such not a known or much talked about disease in New Zealand. Helps you feel like you are not alone in this.
