I promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth about my bowel!
Hello my dears :)
Hope you have been snuggled up inside on this horrible wet Sunday!
This week I had my third infusion and all seemed to go well. Except my blood pressure dropped again and then slowly came back to normal, it's something they are going to keep a close eye on. However, I remembered that AGES ago I had asked for you to send me any questions you had about Crohn's disease or living with the illness. I was rubbish and hadn't answered them!
But I have re-visited them and here goes, this will be honest...
This week's infusion entertainment was Glamour Magazine
What actually causes Crohn's Disease?
Nobody has a clue to be honest! There are many theories such as you can contract the illness through your genes, that it's an abnormality of the immune system, environmental and lifestyle factors can trigger it. Sadly, nobody has been able to pin point it which is a real pain, if we knew the cause we could find the treatment and stop other people from suffering from this horrible disease.
How do you find out if you have Crohn's Disease?
It's a loooooong process. For me personally I first visited my GP because I was bored of feeling sick and really tired all the time. I had a few blood tests and after some abnormalities showed up in my results they thought I may have Irritable Bowel Syndrome so I was then sent on to see the paedetrician (I was 15 at the time) at the local hospital. I then had further blood tests, stool samples, x-rays and an ultrasound. From all these tests the results didn't look good but being a child they don't really explain it very well to you! So I was then sent to see a specialist at the Bristol Children's Hospital where after many more blood tests, a endoscopy and colonoscopy I was diagnosed with having Crohn's disease. It's not the easiest of things to pick up on that's why you have to go through so many tests to finally find an answer.
Do you have to be really aware of what you eat?
Everyone is different and have trigger foods which will result in a flare up. Some people have discovered that they are lactose intolerance or that they have a wheat allergy because it is what triggers off a flare up. Not being able to eat spicey food is really common within Crohn's disease as we all know what can happen the next morning if we have a spicey curry! (Eww!) I also find that really fatty foods will upset my crohn's, I use to have a chinese takeaway then feel hiddeous afterwards so I have had to stop that now. It's not difficult to stop having certain foods because we know what the result will be if we eat them so it's a real turn off!
Can you get any other illnesses or issues if you have Crohn's Disease?
Sadly yes. As much as Crohnie's don't like to admit it and talk about there are other illnesses and issues that can arise because of Crohn's Disease. This is quite commonly due to our crappy immune systems. We quite often have vitamin deficiencies for example when I was first diagnosed with Crohn's they found that my iron levels were very low so I was put straight on to daily iron tablets. We also easily suffer from infections and illnesses like flu and it can take a longer to get over them. Other common problems associate with Crohn's Disease are arthritis, skin problems, inflammation in the eyes or mouth, kidney stones, gallstones, or other diseases of the liver and biliary system. Some of these problems can be resolved during treatment for Crohn's disease but others have to be treated seperately. It's is something that Crohnies just have to accept.
I hope I have answere some of your questions and given you a good insight into Crohn's Disease. If you have any more questions, feelings or views on Crohn's disease please just facebook, tweet or email me :)
For now I await my next appointment with my consultant to decide on whether I should continue with my infusions.
I hope I have answere some of your questions and given you a good insight into Crohn's Disease. If you have any more questions, feelings or views on Crohn's disease please just facebook, tweet or email me :)
For now I await my next appointment with my consultant to decide on whether I should continue with my infusions.
It's a life long battle.
Until next time my lovelies :)
Mwah x
