At least I know now

at least I know now

Hi everyone. My name is Ken and I have just come home from a few weeks in the Hospital. I had been feeling unwell for two months and was loosing weight because I really didn't want to eat any more. Every time I ate anything it hurt a lot and I had to go lay down. My doctor checked me out for a few things but everything came back as ok. I finally went to the Emergency department at the hospital one night and they sent me for an Ultrasound. That got me a free pass to the Emergency Room in a bigger hospital where they did a CT scan and admitted me.

Turns out I had a 7 cm abscess coming off that last part of my Ileum that was pressed into my bladder and was working its way out of the abdominal wall. They put a drain in it and kept me on IV and antibiotics for 10 days. Then sent me home on a low residue diet to get stronger so I could have surgery. I was back four days later with a blockage. I spent another 8 days on IV and a liquid diet.

Now I'm back at home sticking with full fluids and wishing I could have a BBQ steak and Corn on the cob for dinner. These Protein shakes are great and all but I think you all know the spot I'm in right now.

Anyway I hope to hang out with you all here for a bit as I try to come to grips with whats going on. At least I know what has been going on all this time. and I suppose it could have been a lot worse :lol:

{edit} just wanted to clarify that the abscess is coming off a hole in my small intestine due to crohns and I will be having a bowel resection to fix that. They say it will be a month or two before the inflammation and infection are subsided enough to allow for the best possible outcome of the surgery.

Welcome to the forum Kenny.

I think you will feel much better after the surgery. I know I did. I hope you can get back in shape enough so you do not have to wait to long. Most of us have been in similar situations so don't be afraid to post anything that comes to mind.

Good Luck

Dan

hi there,

it seems we have a similar story, well similar but mine doesn't seem so bad!

I've been popping into this site for a couple of weeks now but haven't posted yet until now.

I recently also had a build up of about 2 months where i was losing weight and feeling really tired and then developed bad and constant stomach pains, fevers for 2-3 weeks (Nurse at my GP told me to rest up as it was likely the blooming Swine flu!!) and bad, bad night sweats.

Took myself off to the emergency room as got fed up waiting to see a specialist. I too had an abcess in the same place along with about 20cm of Crohns in my Ileum and spent 10 days in hospital. Seems though that for me the antibiotics and steroids have done the trick, but I guess it is still a waiting game (3 weeks out now).

Hope it goes well for you. They had warned me that I may need surgery once they figured out what was going on and I was scared s**tless about that as was still coming to terms at actually having a 'forever' disease! (until now I just had 'Irritable Bowel' and 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' for the last few years). If it fixes it for you though, then it will be a good thing.

Now I just have to cope with the steroid rush that stops me sitting still for more than 2 minutes at a stretch!

Hang in there

Sharon

welcome to the forum, Kenny and Shaz!

Welcome to the forum Kenny and Shaz!
Kenny - maybe you could add a little of that flavored coffee creamer to your shakes for a little variety. They make great flavors like chocolate caramel and pecan praline. That might help keep calories on too.
They don't make it in steak and potato flavor though =(

Steak and potato flavored shakes just doesn't seem right anyway. There is something almost unholy about that "MBH"

I did just discover there is Butter Pecan flavor Ensure to compliment the wildberrry, vanilla and chocolate varieties

I was wondering "Shaz" So you haven't had surgery yet either? I'm stuck with this bag and drain until I have mine done because there is GI material still flowing into the abscess. It's taking a bit to get used to and I don't feel comfortable going out in public with it. I tried putting it inside my jeans one day and got stabbed by the safety pin.

Any one got tips for managing a drain and bag for say . .. . . . Going into the grocery store and freaking everyone out in the produce isle?

Nope, no surgery for me. Seems the antibiotics have done their trick thus far and I remain optimistic that, since this is my first time with this, I will be put into remission with the prednisone.

Must say it is doing it's job well apart from the unbelieveable wiredness. Supposed to be resting and am almost manic most of the time. No other bad effects than that though I am hungry all the time too and last night I ate far too much and made myself sick - don't think this was Crohns-related at all, more like a silly 5 year old getting carried away with the food at a birthday party!

Having those outside 'accessories' sounds yuck - fingers crossed I never need those. Hope you get a handle on the safety pins!

shaz

hey kenny,
i cant say i was ever out in public when i had my drain bag but just around the hospital i still felt awkward, mine had a small coat hanger sort of thing at the top and i would hook it on my pants and where a baggy t shirt to cover it.
Good luck with the op you'll feel amazing

I decided to bump this for posterities sake. I got a call tonight that my Surgery is a go for 6:00am tomorrow.

July 23rd to Oct1st I have been dealing with a Percdrain poking out of my belly right about the hem line of my boxers. The line has to be flushed every day and I am so ready to say goodbye to it.

Heres to Big Mac's with fries and Double Whoppers with Onion Rings :cheerss:

Good luck, man! Please keep us all posted.

Oh man, Kenny - best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you

Just thought I would update this as I have been fairly inactive the past couple of months.

The surgery back in Oct went so so. I had some kind of surgical complication that produced 2 new fistulas right at the resection site within days. One went back into the small bowel and nobody is worried about that. The other went into my abdominal wall and required a second bag. I got that line taken out in late Novemberish.

Since then I have been trying to eat well and put this behind me. Being away from here might have been something to do with trying to move past the disease but I have come to accept that I won't be moving past it. I need to accept it as part of me and that I am still a normal guy, just like all the other people out there. Everyone one of them/us has a couple of issues of one kind or another to deal with. If we didn't we would not be normal.

So I find myself hanging around here again as I move into the Maintenance phase of treatment and once again I have to say this place is a great resource for information as well as support. I am really glad that Crohnsfourm.com exists.

We have missed you Kenny, but I get what you are saying about trying to move past the disease.

Thank you Peaches. I hope all has been well with you illowfight:

Just fine buddy! Life just keep crankin' along you know?

Just wanted to update in hopes of lifting peoples spirits and reinforcing the fact that this CAN get better. lol we need a video series like the other "It Gets Better" Campaign

Anyway I am doing great at this point. Been inactive again for a long period due to my disease not really having an impact on my life. Eating right, staying positive and enjoying life really really helps manage stress. And, for me at least, stress is at the very root of this disease. As soon as I feel my gut clench due to frustration I make a conscious effort to calm and relax. I stick with my meds and try hard to avoid the pitfall of using them to buffer bad eating habits.

I am working full time and can keep bathroom breaks to within break and lunch periods. Even during times of less optimum poop conditions a bit of Imodium comes in handy. If I have more of a problem then that is is because I am screwing around with food.

The physical trials associated with surgery are a thing of the past. I AM stronger and healthier then I was two years before being diagnosed. I had set a goal of being bigger, stronger and healthier at 45 than I was at 35. I am there already. Now I just need to maintain it.

Anyway. think positive people and you will beat this thing

Exact same thing happend to me. I was down to 150 lbs. Had that same nasty abcess. The resection took that rotten part out and was able to start on some meds. Glad to say I have gained 50 lbs and went up 3 waist sizes. First time in my life that I need to go on a diet. Lol. I will take it for sure. Sure beats looking and feeling like the walking dead...

Kenny, thanks for the update. What a positive story you have to tell!

What a heart-warming story! I'm new here, so read your entire thread, and glad to hear it has a happy ending. Hope it keeps that way!
Sandy

Hey Kenny!

Well done! hope it stays that way forever!
xxx

I am glad that you are feeling well Kenny That is great news!!

Good to hear Kenny! Still in the nursery business?

Dexky said:

Good to hear Kenny! Still in the nursery business?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

I just had a meeting with the Nursery owner and declined the offer to return for the 2011 season. I had picked up a job in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry over the winter and was offered an incentive to stay with them. I must be doing something right?

SO just to reiterate my message for people. This really can get better when you give it some time and take care of yourself. I am now working full time making OTC meds, (packaging and machine operation not mixing or lab work) and just moved onto a 12 hr continental rotation. I see my GI every 6 moths for a med assessment and am staying on the imuran for now. It is doing its job and we all want to keep any further fistulas and abscesses at bay.

Keep thinking positive and things will get better :hang: