(Stress!!) What Stress!?
I'm not stressed about trying to not
be stressed about this stressful condition !!!
My name is Ann, I live in Helen, West Virginia. I am 47 yrs. old.
I have had Crohn's Disease since 1984.

Thats is when the Dr's found that I had it. I have had problems with my stomach ever since I was born December 1, 1958. Mom use to have to boil whole milk and skim the top off of it before was able to digest it. I had my first resection in 1985, They removed 4 ft. of my small intestines. I have had 3 more resections after that. I have problems with hernias. I have mesh inside to help hold everything where it is suppose to be. But I still have the same problem. I was averaging surgery every 18 months or so for hernia repair. I also have an intestinal by pass. This is to bid me time. Age is the only thing that works for us with Crohn's disease. The older we get the better our chances of it burning itself out Right now Me and my Dr think its starting to burn out. For the past 2 yrs I have had no major problems with my crohn's. I do have a small hernia in the bottom part of my stomach. My blood pressure is staying elevated. I was up to 6 month appts, but now Im back down to 3 months. I return to the dr Dec 29th.

I have currently taking valium, paxil and sulfra for my Crohns and my nerves..

Here is a photo of some complications with Crohns

My Dr. started me on herbs. This is what he gave me.
1. Bios Life 2 Natural This is what it has; Advanced Fiber and Nutrient Drink, Excellent Source of Chromium, Antioxidant Vitamins and other dietary ingredients
2. Nature Force High Potency Antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E, with Beneficial Phytonutrients 3. Optimal Performance Enhanced Energy formula, with Spirulina, Bee pollen and Gensinseng
I sure hope this helps me.. I need to lose about 30 lbs to keep the pressure from causing more hernias.

November 1999
This is what that has happened to me..

The first day I was fine... 2nd day My intestines started bleeding, pretty bad 3rd, Day I was pouring the blood. So I had to stop the herbs, Didn't want to chance bleeding to death. I have enough problems with out the herbs causing this to me.

November 30,1999
Dr's Appt. He checked my stomach, I have another hernia. It is at my Navel. Well I almost made it a yr. without one. The weight is what caused it. He is starting me on diet pills. Dec. 1, 1999 I will start them Today. MY BIRTHDAY... WOW I sure hope this works. And don't do what the herbs did. Wish me luck..

December 14, 1999
Dr's Appt .I took the diet pills for 6 days, Affected me in just about the same as the herbs did, He weighted me and I lost 1.5 lb.
I went in and was starting to hurt, Well by the time I was weighed and put in a room I was in destress. Grabbing.. He gave me a shot for the pain, And a shot of Bentel. It worked too good. No pain. Well I drove myself, He had to call my girl to come and get me. Also said for me to never come alone again. Always have someone Help me.. Back and forth to his office. That is hard to do.. Especially when the people in the family have their own lives to live.

Well I made it home. Thank goodness. My girl stayed and helped me.. a lot. I couldn't walk a straight line if I wanted too. I go back in ,, in a week. 12-21-99. He wants to see how the Crohn's is acting. Wish me luck.. Don't look too good.. from here.. Boo :-(

Christmas 1999
I started hurting really bad after Christmas dinner. Dr. had told me I had a hernia,, but never saw it. Usually you can sit up in bed and the hernia will come to the surf and you can see it sticking out. I couldn't see this. But it was there. And made an appearance. Well I went to the hospital a couple of days later. Figured I ate something wrong. But didn't. Well I was in the hospital for about 3 days. Dr. sent me home for the big Millenium, They wasn't operating until afterwards. Except in life threathing cases. But while I was in the hospital, My Drs. associate. Put his hands on each side of my stomach. Really my sides. He pushed my sides in.. and up. BROUGHT the hernia to the surface. I screamed.... I looked and he was holding it in his hands.. The hernia was stuck down in my intestines.. Felt like a new person after a couple of hrs. But it really hurt...

Janurary 3, 2000
Well I went in the hospital Jan. 3, 2000, for my hernia repair. Well we thought that's all I needed. Not..... This was a Sunday, had to have x- rays and blood work done. Monday morning I went down for a colonscopy first, To see how my Crohn's was.. It was sick. I had to redo this part of my crohn's history I found out new details.

He did surgery. He removed 2 ft. of large and small intestines. I feel 100% better. My calcium is running low. So I am taking extra calcium, I will keep everyone updated. Here is an ugly picture of my belly...after surgery this time...

I still have my staples . I have a lot of drainage. They will come out Friday Jan. 14, 2000. Janurary 14, 2000 I got my stapes removed .. I feel more better now.. Horray !!! I go back to the Dr. February 8, We shall see how it goes... I am having problems burping and there is a pain in my back. Don't know if the Gas in trapped or what. I will find out soon.. February 8, 2000 I went to the dr. Feb. 8, I am doing just fine. I lost 4 lbs. This will help my hernias from returning. I hope anyway. I am now on 5 mg. of Predisone, And I got to drop the Axid. So I am on : 3-500mg of Azulfidine a day 3-1mg of Ativan a day 5-mg of predisone a day 1cc.(100 units) of B-12- 2 times a month 20 mg of paxil a day Extra Calcium, Potassium, And a multivitamin a day May 15, 2000 I went to the dr. today 5-15-00, and found out I now have a fistula. It is in the scar of my incision. I thought my scar had started splitting. But thanks goodness, it wasn't. He took a wooden stick with some nitro stuff on it and stuck it in the hole. He said that would stop infection. It drains fluid and at times the stuff is yellow, kind a link infection. I thought that is what it was. Whew, This has been a hard time for me. On top of the surgery This yr.

July 23, 2000
My intestines where they are sewed back together has formed a knot. The dr. says it is not a hernia.. But where they are sewed back together and there is stitches there. I guess they are the kind that don't go away. My fistula isn't happy. It is trying to break the skin again. Oh well.. More later.. I go back to the dr. Sept. 12, 2000.

August 28, 2000
I went to the dr. today. I started passing blood. Scared me. During this past week I laughed and where he had sewed me back together>>(there is a knot) and it popped. Dr. said I herniated it. Booooo My nerves are shot. He gave me amitriptyline 10 mg. I take one at bedtime for 3 days and then 2 at bedtime from then on out. But I think I would be ok to just take one a nite. It is working. I am mellow. I don't jump so much. I go back to the dr. on Sept 12, 2000. We are going to fix my hernia. I will find out more.. on that day. I went to the dr. today and we are going to do my surgery (Thursday Sept 14, 2000). He is going to fix my hernia and resew my intestines back together.. I am so glad I don't have to have the big Surgery yet.

He fixed my Hernia on 9-14-2000

November 7, 2000
I went for my check up today. I got a good report. I haven't had the Cohn's pain in a while now. My Surgeon says I maybe in remission. I have never been in remission all the yrs I have had Cohn's Disease. I keep waiting on the pain to start up again. I hope it don't but I know it will. I have to go and get a flu shot before Dec 8, 2000. That is my next appt date. He is going to take me off sulfa and put me on another drug. He said I have been on it too long and I need to be changed. He know best for me. He said the drug is something like aspirin. And I also can not come off predisone. He said I need that. Boo!!!

December 8, 2000
I went for my appt. And I had to stay on the sulfa>> Boo I had the skin demits and he said that would help them heal. Well my next appointment is in April. I hope I last that long...

Janurary 30, 2001
A lot has happened. I went back to the Dr. January 30, 2001. I was experiencing muscle cramps all over my body. They would grab all over me. I couldn't move without them. He started me on Valium and gave me pain pills for the pain. He also did blood work on me to see if it was off balance. And by the next day the cramps had almost stopped. Wow.. nerves can do all kinds of things to a person.

February 6, 2001
I went back to the dr today February 6, 2001 to get the results of my blood work and everything was perfect. So he is keeping me on the valium. Apparently my nerves was unbalanced. Haha. I also have a nerve tumor in my stomache. It is caused by tooo many surgeries. Boooo.. I have to use a heating pad on it. I have no idea what will happen with this. I have never heard of it.

I have gained a lot of weight. :-( So I ask him to really help me lose it.) So I am eating a lot of Cooked vegetables and fruits. No meat or cheese. I am still on predisone and that isn't helping my weight any. I know eating all these vegs and fruit is going to make my crohn's mad. I just hope I can do this without too much pain and blood.

Wish me luck :-)

February 9, 2001
The diet made my crohns mad. I added meat today and bread. I cut down on the fruit I hope this helps some. :-(

February 17, 2001
Adding the meat helped my crohns a lot. I am not eating much bread. Some but not a lot.
I had to stop the apples all together. I haven't tried applesauce yet. But that should work ok. I did add pears. I peal them. So far so good with them. I feel like I am losing. I am not going to weigh until my drs. apt next month.
This predisone >> is awful. If I could only get off of it.. I could lose without doing all of this.

March 27, 2001
Well My diet worked pretty good. I lost 10 lbs. I am developing a lot of fatty knots in my stomach area. They cause some pain. He said it is caused by my long period of using predisone. But we know I can't come off of it. My intestines will close totally. And I don't want that to happen to me. I am no longer in remission. For the past 4 days it has showed itself. Dr. said I would have bad spells. Wow. Will this ever end. I return to the Dr. In May. I hope I don't get sick.. before then.

April 14, 2001
I went to the eye dr. and my eyes are fine. My vision is 20/20. My Crohn's is in my eyes. But not bad or no damage yet. He said Crohns makes the eyes really dry. I am to use Artificial Tears. And I tried them. They make my eyes really feel better. I have mucus in my eyes. He said that is the Crohns doing it. I really feel better known my vision is ok..

May 27, 2001
Drs appt Doing pretty good. Lost 1 lb. He wasn't happy cause I hadn't lost more. Boo.. I will lose it sooner or later. I'm not stressing over it. I am happy with my weight like it is.

I'm having a lot of eye problems. My eyes turn red> Blood shot feels like they have a fever in them. And they hurt. He said he may have to have my eyes checked. I am still on valium. Helps a lot.

I am predisone dependent. I have a lot of pain in my leggs. He said for me to use heat on my legs. Sit in a tub of water or heating pad. Sitting in Water makes me sick at my stomach. He said if it does that to use the heating pad.

May 28, 2001
I woke up this morning with the Big D really bad. My stomach is distended. Boo.... I took Imodium A.D. and pain pills for the pain. The cramps started up. Sick at my stomach also. I've slept a lot today, and not able to much of anything. It is 10:00 p.m. now. Seems to have let up some. I sure hope so.

June 22, 2001
I lost 3 lbs. I don't know why. Felt like I had gained 10. I haven't tried to lose. Guess its the crohns again. Its been kinda active. I have an adhesion wrapping around my intestines. Its tight but not closed my intestines yet. He said it would have to be fixed but he didn't want to touch it yet. So I have time before surgery again. I hope..

He made me an appt with an eye dr. My eyes are really giving me problems. I think I need glasses besides all the other problems. I wore glasses when I was younger, but got till I didn't need them anymore.

October 1, 2001
October is a very hard month for all of us Crohnnies. No One really knows why but that's when all the pain and diarrhea starts up again. If we don't already have it.. We will !! I believe it has something to do with the change in the weather. I know I get a lot of pain and all the other good stuff when the weather changes.

February 5, 2002
I Went to the dr. today. I have Gained some weight. Making my skin stretch where my old scar is. He said I am fixing to get another Hernia. I started on the diet I was on before.. Again.. Wow.. Stress>> What Stress>>> Wish me luck.. I'm going to need it..

March 19, 2002
I went to the drs today. Everything seemed fine with me. I had lost 6 lbs. :) He was very pleased. Next appt April 19, 2002.

April 1,2002
I woke up at 2am, really sick. I started vomiting and couldn't stop. My daughter took me to the emergency room at the hospital. I had vomited so much I had blood in my urine. They put dye in my veins to check my kidneys. There was nothing wrong with them. So they gave me potassium through an IV. A LOT of it. Admitted me. They gave me phenagren and Demerol to help my vomiting and pain. The pain was in the middle of my stomach (strange) I had never had the Crohn's pain there.

April 2, 2002
April 2nd through the 5th I stayed on IV's they really pumped me full of fluids. On the 4th they gave me clear liquids. I was so dry I didn't care what they gave me.. I needed something. On the 5th at lunch they gave me a solid meal. They said if I kept it down for an hr. they would let me go home. It stayed down and I got to come home. They increased my predisone 5 mgs. I am now on 10 mgs a day. Which isn't much.

My Daughter took me to Wal-Mart on the 6th to get a few groceries. I got out there and got real nauseated. We thought she was going to have to take me back to the hospital. I got an empty bag from a cashier and took it with me. I made it through. Thank goodness.

April 7, 2002
I am not feeling all that well yet. I am still taking the increased dosage of predisone. And I'm on a soft diet. When I start eating regular food I have to really chew it really well or grind it .

April 19, 2002
Doing pretty good...... No attacks.. Been getting out some enjoying the summer

October 8, 2002
Had a bad episode. Around 2 pm I started vomiting.. My daughter took me to the ER. They gave me phenagren and Demerol in a shot to help the pain and Vomiting. Gave me some IV's Then I got to come home.. Horary.. I felt a lot better.. I go to my Dr. on the 21st. I have a lot of back pain right now.. but doing great...

This is Tom my Fiancé and myself

Photo taken New Years Eve 12-31-02

Janurary 4, 2003
We went shopping and I had walked a lot. When I got in the Van my left side cramped really bad.

We stopped again and I got out. There was a sharp stabbing pain in my left side... Like someone had an ice pick sticking it in me. And turning it. Tom took me over to the hospital. There they did 2 x-rays and blood work on me. They didn't find anything. Gave me darvocet and a darvocet booster. Gave me Bentyl and sent me home. Told me to go back to the hospital Tuesday January 7th and have and ultrasound taken of my liver and spleen. I knew I couldn’t stand the pain of an ultrasound … I was really scared. When I was registering, my surgeon walked in the hospital doors. I was so happy. I started crying. I told him what was going on and he said no ultrasound. We are going to admit you and do 1 x-ray and blood work and give me stuff for pain. And take it from there.

Well we found I had a fatty tumor on my left rib. And an obstruction in my intestines. He put me on full fluids. Got my obstruction loose. Gave me a heating pad. Helped my tumor. Right now I’m using a heating pad and taking Loratab for pain in my side. I'm improving everyday. I return to my dr. Jan 21st at 2:15 pm.

Janurary 21,2003 I returned to the dr. and he cannt operate on the tumor cause of where its located. On top of my left rib. The scar tissue would cause more pain than the tumor does. I return to the dr. April 21st. More then.

February 14, 2003 Our wedding Day

April 21, 2003
I went to the doctor today. I have a hole forming inside my skin where my obstructions are forming. We are just going to watch it for now. I return to him in 6 months. October 31st if I don't get sick. I have never went 6 months without getting sick. I have lost 7 lbs. I have not tried to lose... So.. This can be a good sign or a bad one.

October 22, 2003
I just had another bad spell with my stomach. My husband rubs it and helps everything go through my intestines. Ive slept most of the day today. My Husband has also been sick ... He has Crohn's in his small and Large intestines. :(

November 4, 2003
I didn't make it to the dr on Oct 31st. My aunt died and we had her wake that nite. I went to the dr today and told him about what my stomach had been doing. He is sending me to the hospital for Upper GI series X-rays on the 10th. I had lost another 7 lbs. This makes me loosing a total of 14 lbs this yr. I have not tried to lose any weight.

November 10, 2003
I went to the hospital today and had my x-rays. I hate the taste of chalk.. but thats the only way they can do an upper GI series. Took about 1 1/2 hrs to do them. The chalk got stuck and I had to push it through....... :( .. I go back to the dr on the 25th to

find out what is going on inside.
My X-ray results of Novemeber 10th, 2003

11-10-03
Small bowel Examination:
Scout abdomen view shows no bowel distention suggesting obstruction. There is prior right sided abdominal surgery indicating bowel resection with anastomosis. There is no abdominal mass, calculi, or ascites. Punctate bilateral pelvic phleboliths are seen. The SI joints are parent. No skeletal abnormality.

Single contrast examination was carried out.

There is diffuse mild to moderate thickening of the gastric mucosa. There is irregularity of the duodenum - (the first part of the small intestine) with diffuse cobblestoning of the duodenal mucosa. (Cobblestoning-irregular, blanket-like appearance to bowel wall caused by criss-crossing longitudinal and transverse ulcers separated by areas of edema). There is diffuse mild distention of the jejunum with dilution, mass, and stricture, or obstruction of the jejunum (middle section of the small intestine between the duodenum and ileum ). The small bowel transit is brisk through th ejejunum, barium entering the transverse colon by 15 minutes. Barium passes through the jejunum and a short segment irregularly stenotic rigid, small bowel loop with cobblestoning on the mucosa, repersenting the jejunal or the transverse colon; there is a right hemicolectomy with long segment resection of the ilium. There is no obvious bowel fistula. There are focal mucosal changes in the colon at the anastomotic site and hepatic flexture of the colon

IMPRESSION:
Prior right hemicoloctomy (hemicoloctomy-Removal of the right or left side of the colon), long segment itial resection with ileal transverse or jejunal colonic end to side anastomosis. Diffuse gastritis, duodenitis, and jejunitis without evidence of bowel obstruction. Acute and chronic changes of regional iletis are indicated involving the stomach, the duodenum, and distal anastomotic jejunum or ileum. There is rigid short segment stenosis of the distal anastomotic ( anastomotic- Refers to something located at the site of the surgical connection of two tubular structures) jejunum or ileum. Early inflammatory changes affect the perianastomatic colon and the hepatic flexure of the colon. No Bowel obstruction. .

November 25, 2003
I went to the dr and he said he couldnt do any more for me. He is sending me to a gasternologist on Dec. 5, 2003. I hope this dr. can help me>> cause I'm in a mess...... :(

December 5, 2003
I went to the Gasternologist and he was really nice. He upped my Sulfrazine to 2 x 2 a day. So I'm taking 2000 mgs a day now. He also put me on folic acid. I had a really bad reaction to that. The 1st day I had tunnel vision.. the next day I got really weak and started shaking and sweating. I stopped taking it. But the increase in my sulfra has really helped my stomach. I am taking prilosec everyday now. That has cut down on the acid my stomah is making. I dont have the heart burn like I was having. I was having it all the time. I sure feel better. I return to the dr Feb 5, 2004.

Wow its been a while since I've updated. Sorry everyone.

February 5, 2004
I had an appt to see my new Gastrologist in February. Boy did I get a surprise when I went in. I found out he had a new office and I had to see the Gastrologist that was there. He wanted to do a colonstomy on me in March. Well NO way. I didnt care for this dr.. and hadnt for yrs. Well I went ahead and let him make the apt and stuff.. but I knew there was no way. Well in the mean time I found the gasternologist I was suppose to be seeing . He had tried to find my charts and stuff but no luck. I made an appt and went in to see him. He told me he couldnt find me nowhere... So we found each other......... Horray!!! The surgeon I have is the one that found him for me. He is a life saver.......

April 2004
I still have a stricture.. Boo........ it gives me a lot of grief. PAIN!! and all that goes with Crohns disease. One day I will have to have it fixed. Cause I can eat anything with any density to it and it gets stuck. My hubby has learned to help it go through. My dr knows what he has to do to help me. I have an Apt to go back to him July 1st. if I dont get sick in the mean time. But I am having problems with being really tired. My B-12 shot isnt staying with me all month. I think I need another shot during the month. I am going to make an apt and go in and see him .. Really soon....

April 28, 2004
Called the dr. and went in for blood work. He is checking my B-12, Thyroid, and did a cbc on me. I go to him in 2 wks. If nothing serious is wrong with my blood work. Went in for my checkup.. and they didnt even have my bloodwork. They had to call the hospital.. they said the blood work was good. So Im scheduled to return in Sept. I went to the hospital and got a copy of my bood work and it didnt even have my b-12 on it.

June 7, 2004
My hubby had a colonoscopy done on 6-7-2004 and I told the surgeon what was going on with me.. He said for me to make an appt to see him. So Im back with my surgeon now.. Horray!! I feel safe again..

June 14, 2004
Me and my husband both went in to see him 6-14-04.. He ended up putting mein the hospital.

August 16, 2004
We went back for a check up 8-16-04. I had been passing blood. Lots of it. He scheduled me for a colonoscopy 8-27-04. My Crohn's is MUCH better. There is only a small spot of crohns now. He did a biopsy of the place. I return to him 9-3-04 to find out the results of the biopsy. I have lots of fishers and thats why I was bleeding so much. They took me some pictures of colonoscopy . I will scan them and add them to my site. Looks like my Crohns is burning itself out!!!! Horray!!!!!

The yellow part showing in this pic is old Crohns. Scar tissue

Oct. 5, 2004
I had an appt with the dr. I've been having really bad headaches. He said thats from my Crohn's. I have a fisher thats formed on the outside. I have been using antibotic ointment on it. He said for me to use a hot wet towel on it. That would help the pain and swelling. Then apply the ointment.
I return to him Dec. 6th. He said if I needed him to call.

2005
Ive done really well this year. They increased my B-12 to 2 shots a month.........

2006
Im still doing good.. My blood pressure was 128/92 the last 2 drs a little up.. I go back to the dr Dec 29, 2006.

I get blisters on my hands and back...
These are Erythema nodosum

How I deal with them............

Erythema nodosum literally means "red bumps." These tender red nodules, which usually appear over the shins or ankles and sometimes on the arms, occur most in people with ulcerative colitis (2-4 percent), although they may also affect those with Crohn's disease of the colon (1-2 percent). Women are more commonly affected than men. Erythema nodosum generally appears in conjunction with a flare-up of IBD, but it may also occur just before a flare-up. It tends to improve when the bowel disease is brought under control

My Experiences.....

My Blisters get on my back and hands...My Dr. has me to keep the areas clean. But I bust the blisters first. Drain them. Usually use peroxide on them, that helps get the fluid out Big time.

I use antibiotic ointment on them, and cover them with a Band-Aid. When they start to dry up.. I remove the Band-Aid so they will finish.. They always leave a scar.... Sometimes I have to get a penicillin shot for them. But not very often. I hope this helps someone..