I'm new to this forum and for the last 20+ years I have been in remission from early episodes of Crohn's disease. I am now a 42 year old single mom. Id was first diagnosed with Crohn's around age 20. I had numerous treatments and surgeries to repair fissures, fistulas and abscesses. In the mid 90's I had 31 cm of my ileum, ileocecal junction and colon with appendix removed. The next few decades were Crohn's free.
BUT....39 months ago I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and was treated with several surgeries, chemo and radiation. All was well for the next 3 years.
BUT...3 months ago I experienced severe back pain and after numerous xrays and scans, it was determined that my breast cancer had metastasized to my bones. I was treated with radiation to relieve severe back pain and I began treatment with an oral chemo drug called Xeloda. After two weeks of strong Xeloda treatment, I began having severe diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain and fever.
Apparently the Xeloda coupled with the stress of my cancer recurrence had triggered my long dormant Crohn's disease. I have been in the hospital for almost five out of the last 6 weeks undergoing all the unpleasant GI scopes, tests and blood work to pinpoint and try to control my Crohn's symptoms. The last hospital stay was due to a severe reaction to the Fenatyl pain patch I was given before being sent home for Christmas. I became extremely nauseous and could not keep any of my Crohn's meds or any food down at all.
After being taken off the pain patch, I am slowly recovering from that ordeal but still feel weak and have severe stomach pain after eating meals. I am being treated with Predisone, Pentasa, Bentyl, Omeprazole, Rocaltrol and Dilaudid (for pain).
The bigger problem is that my oclologist won't start a new (and different) course of IV chemo for my bone metastases until the Crohn's is under control and I am weaned off the predisone. I worry that the cancer is continuing to grow while I am forced to wait for my Crohns to subside. I am also worried that I have missed 6 weeks of work and desperately need my job to maintain my insurance benefits.
That's my sad story.
2011 has not been a good year for me.
Molly
BUT....39 months ago I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and was treated with several surgeries, chemo and radiation. All was well for the next 3 years.
BUT...3 months ago I experienced severe back pain and after numerous xrays and scans, it was determined that my breast cancer had metastasized to my bones. I was treated with radiation to relieve severe back pain and I began treatment with an oral chemo drug called Xeloda. After two weeks of strong Xeloda treatment, I began having severe diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain and fever.
Apparently the Xeloda coupled with the stress of my cancer recurrence had triggered my long dormant Crohn's disease. I have been in the hospital for almost five out of the last 6 weeks undergoing all the unpleasant GI scopes, tests and blood work to pinpoint and try to control my Crohn's symptoms. The last hospital stay was due to a severe reaction to the Fenatyl pain patch I was given before being sent home for Christmas. I became extremely nauseous and could not keep any of my Crohn's meds or any food down at all.
After being taken off the pain patch, I am slowly recovering from that ordeal but still feel weak and have severe stomach pain after eating meals. I am being treated with Predisone, Pentasa, Bentyl, Omeprazole, Rocaltrol and Dilaudid (for pain).
The bigger problem is that my oclologist won't start a new (and different) course of IV chemo for my bone metastases until the Crohn's is under control and I am weaned off the predisone. I worry that the cancer is continuing to grow while I am forced to wait for my Crohns to subside. I am also worried that I have missed 6 weeks of work and desperately need my job to maintain my insurance benefits.
That's my sad story.
2011 has not been a good year for me.
Molly
