M
MandyJ78
Guest
my crohn's story
I'm really excited to find this forum online. I've been living with Crohn's since Mar. 2006. I was completely shocked when I found out that's what I was diagnosed with. I grew up having sharp pains in my upper abdomen but was also told I just had a nervous stomach. When I was 18 years old, I had an outbreak of red raised nodules on my lower legs. I had no idea what they were and could not find anyone else who could tell me what it was. Then 3 years later, I broke out with the nodules again. They would always go away after about 8 weeks. The next breakout was at age 24. This one was the worst outbreak I had. I had severe left knee pain and over 20 nodules that broke out on my legs. It was terrible!! I was sent to a rheumatologist, but by the time I got in to see him my nodules and joint pain were gone. He asked me a million questions and sent me home. Then, the nodules came back a couple years later and I finally got in to see the doctor again while the nodules were there. He ran a ton of blood tests and after a million more questions, told me he wanted me to be referred to a GI specialist. I had no idea how that had anything to do with my legs!! I saw the GI doctor and during the exam she began pushing on my stomach while I was laying down. It hurt really bad and really surprised me when she said it was indicative of Crohn's or Ulcerative Cholitis. I just couldn't believe it. I had the colonoscopy done within the week and sure enough...Crohn's. I began Pentasa and Remicade, which has helped, but I definitely still have symptoms. I can't tolerate steroids at all. My doctor said my small intestine was very ulcerated but overall symptoms haven't been terrible. I certainly haven't lost any weight, and I can live a pretty normal life. I do struggle with fatigue at times and a lot of abdominal bloating.
I'm just thankful I found other people that struggle with the same symptoms and disease. I love the support!!
I'm really excited to find this forum online. I've been living with Crohn's since Mar. 2006. I was completely shocked when I found out that's what I was diagnosed with. I grew up having sharp pains in my upper abdomen but was also told I just had a nervous stomach. When I was 18 years old, I had an outbreak of red raised nodules on my lower legs. I had no idea what they were and could not find anyone else who could tell me what it was. Then 3 years later, I broke out with the nodules again. They would always go away after about 8 weeks. The next breakout was at age 24. This one was the worst outbreak I had. I had severe left knee pain and over 20 nodules that broke out on my legs. It was terrible!! I was sent to a rheumatologist, but by the time I got in to see him my nodules and joint pain were gone. He asked me a million questions and sent me home. Then, the nodules came back a couple years later and I finally got in to see the doctor again while the nodules were there. He ran a ton of blood tests and after a million more questions, told me he wanted me to be referred to a GI specialist. I had no idea how that had anything to do with my legs!! I saw the GI doctor and during the exam she began pushing on my stomach while I was laying down. It hurt really bad and really surprised me when she said it was indicative of Crohn's or Ulcerative Cholitis. I just couldn't believe it. I had the colonoscopy done within the week and sure enough...Crohn's. I began Pentasa and Remicade, which has helped, but I definitely still have symptoms. I can't tolerate steroids at all. My doctor said my small intestine was very ulcerated but overall symptoms haven't been terrible. I certainly haven't lost any weight, and I can live a pretty normal life. I do struggle with fatigue at times and a lot of abdominal bloating.
I'm just thankful I found other people that struggle with the same symptoms and disease. I love the support!!