I was on vacation and I felt the most unbearable pain. I have delivered four children and labor pain couldn't even relate to what I was feeling so I knew something was wrong. I began vomiting and had uncontrollable diarrhea. The pain presented on the lower right side of my abdomen. I thought great I have appendicitis and will need surgery while I am on vacation. Little did I know I would face the hardest six weeks of my life!
I spent day in day out at doctors appointments, emergency rooms, and urgent cares trying to find out what was wrong. I was living off of saltines and ginger ale. I often found myself asking am I ever going to find out what is wrong? I was throwing up constantly and what did not come out my mouth came out the other end. I remember the utter fear when I seen massive amounts of blood in the toilet. I was in complete debilitating pain that never seemed to go away. No one had an answer. My primary doctor refused to refer me to a gastroenterology doctor (GI) as she insisted I was suffering from a strong strain of the flu.A six week flu?!?!?!? So I got a new doctor and another one after that and so on after about 6 doctors and at least 10 emergency room visits I finally got my referral. During this time I found myself asking why are these doctors not listening? Why don't they believe me? What is wrong with me? I slipped into a deep depression I could not shake. I would spend days in bed with my handy saltines, ginger ale, and whatever pain medication they had me on at the time.
The pain was Excruciating! The vomiting and diarrhea would not stop no matter what I took. The local emergency room kept me as comfortable as possible throughout the entire process but I still did not know what was wrong and neither did they. I remember this being a very dark point in my life. I would wonder how it would end. I wasn't eating or drinking like I should because I could not keep anything down. I was very dehydrated and hungry and even more depressed. When I say depressed I do not mean I was crying all the time feeling sorry for myself. Instead I was waiting for what I thought would be the end of me and spending endless hours and days in bed. Maybe it seems a bit dramatic but I was at the point where I knew if something did not change I was done! No person can live off of saltines and ginger ale while vomiting forever.
Finally my appointment came up with my GI. I remember feeling excited anxious and scared all at once. I sat in the waiting room for what I thought was forever. Finally the nurse softly called my name and I was on the way to see the doctor who would change my life forever. I got in the room and put on one of those disgusting hospital gowns that often times would make me feel extremely vulnerable and exposed. He took one look at me and said "whoa your pretty sick huh?" I looked at him and said "there is something wrong doc!"
He immediately set me up for a colonoscopy and endoscopy. He explained to me that I would not feel or remember anything. He brought me to a room that was big and was separated by what looked like 30 year old curtains. I remember looking to my right at this machine that had this -what looked huge to me- probe thingy. I looked at the nurse and said "where in gods name do you plan on putting that?" The nurse who was putting an iv in laughed out loud and asked "do you even know what a colonoscopy is?" I replied "something old people get..." Once again laughing out loud the nurse serious as cancer said "Sweetie, That probe has a camera on it, the doctor will insert it into your rectum and view your colon and intestines." I was only 20 years old and never thought about a colonoscopy before and never needed to ask about them before this day. I looked at the nurse and said "The hell you are! That thing is not going in my ass!" She laughed and said "You will not be conscious so no worries." I am thinking to myself yeah no worries for you broad you don't have to do this. I knew that without this procedure I would never find out what was wrong. I hesitantly agreed and the nurse injected me with some medication and the last thing I remember was talking about my 17 dogs. By the way I only owned one dog at the time but the medication may have made me see 17 in my head. Yeah it was that good!
I remember waking up to the doctors face. He was pretty old so I often times found myself yelling at him not even thinking about it. I think at one point he said I am not deaf! Barely awake and on some pretty strong pain meds I look at him as he says "I brought some medication and you will be here for two hours while it is injected." Little did I know then I had a diagnosis.
After some time all of the medications began wearing off and the doctor explained to me that I have Crohn's Disease. 6 weeks after the onset I finally had a name to my condition. After losing nearly 40 pounds I weighed only 68 pounds and I was delighted to know there was a name to the issue. This diagnosis changed everything I do today. He explained it to me in simple terms.
This picture shows different types of problems and complications caused by Crohn's in the bowel.
Holding a picture up he said "Really your body is allergic to your digestive system. Crohn's is an autoimmune disease as well as an inflammatory disease. Crohn's has no cure however the symptoms can be treated and managed. When I was sick I was facing what is called a flare up. The medication they gave me helped me into remission where I was symptom free. This medication was called Remicade. I have used Remicade since I was diagnosed. The strange thing about Crohn's is that the medication may not always work. Sometimes I face remissions that last weeks or months while other times I am flared up in days. I have to avoid foods that make me flare up such as pork and eat foods high in fiber. Living with Crohn's is a challenge everyday but I learn more every day. My advice to people out there who are dealing with a medical issue that is not diagnosed is to not give up. Find the right doctor and you will find your diagnosis.
