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my emotions

Fri, June 15, 2012 7:34 AM

I was just diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I have been sick for 3 1/2 years with diarrhea and vomiting. I also have severe abdominal pain. Doctors kept telling me that it was irritable bowel syndrome. My symptoms just kept getting worse and I was not able to hold anything in my stomach. I am always running to the bathroom. I am very tired and my potassium, protein, and I was severely dehydrated to the point where they had a hard time finding my veins.

I am scared, lost, confused, empty, numb, angry, alone and I just don't know how or what to do with my feelings. I am also having a hard time accepting this disease. Why is it so hard to accept? I feel like I have lost my life. I know that I am not going to die but am I always going to be running to the bathroom. I don't have much of a social life because I am always running to the bathroom. How can I change this? I have a boyfriend and I told him about this and he is very supportive. Will I be able to have sex? I don't understand why this is happening to me? What did I do wrong to get this disease?

Please help if you can. I need help with this.

blackhawks25
Joined Jun 14, 2012

Wed, June 27, 2012 1:16 PM

Reply posted for blackhawks25.

Sorry you are having so much trouble with this disease. I was diagnosed last March and the first several months I went
crazy trying to find anything to help me. I was like you and kept saying how did I get this disease since I thought I ate healthy and
didn't eat at fast food restaurants very much. I did not want to go on Pred only for the fact that when they taper you your body
wants the drug and fights back. Then you have trouble getting off of it then the docs prescribe another drug with the Pred to combat
that problem. Anyway I learned about the SCD Diet Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It is difficult to do but well worth it. You mainly eat fish, grass fed beef, chicken,
turkey etc. all veggies usually steamed, some cheeses (not in the beginning) and homemade yogurt. You get rid of the bad carbs, all the junk food, chocolate, etc.
Like I said it is hard but you actually start feeling normal after awhile. You have regular bathroom breaks and the pain is gone. I also use LDN. Please google that and look up these sites. www.crohnsdad.com, www.digestivewellness, www.scdbakery, www.nomorecrohns.com. These sites have A TON OF INFORMATION and recipes. Most of the people on these sites have Crohns and know what they are talking about. LDN is a very safe drug at a lose dose. Low Dose Natrexone. There are no side effects. Please do the research it is well worth it. Also Read the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle.
This will help in the future so you don't have emergency visits at the hospital and then huge doctor bills.

Good Luck
MJP

mjppoll
Joined May 22, 2011

Tue, June 26, 2012 6:12 PM

Reply posted for gypsy72.

Thanks. I see my GI doctor tomorrow. I am doing better on the steroid Prednisone. The only thing is I look like I am pregnant. I am not sleeping very well. My medical staff said that it should subside because they are titrating me off of the Prednisone. If you don't mind me asking how long have you had CD? How do you get through your flares? Does stress play a big factor?

I don't have many friends because I am ashamed to tell them that I have CD. I am currently in therapy once a week and that is basically where I talk about how I am feeling and get ways to get through so I don't stress myself out. I have a boyfriend, but he doesn't really know what it is like to constantly run to the bathroom after eating or drinking anything. I am slowly getting into remission. How can I make friends and not be afraid to tell them that I have this condition? My boyfriend also doesn't understand how dehydrated I can get to where I need and IV for a couple of days. He seems to think I bring it on myself. How do I get him to understand?

blackhawks25
Joined Jun 14, 2012

Tue, June 26, 2012 5:13 PM

Reply posted for blackhawks25.

I hope by the time you read this that your symptoms are better under control! What medication(s) are you taking? Maybe you should try another treatment option besides your current one since it doesn't seem to be working. I know how hard the social aspect of CD is. Hopefully there will be a miracle drug that comes out to relieve us all of our never-ending CD misery!