A Writer's Life Interrupted #crohns #uc #ibc

I thought I'd give an update on my ongoing fight with Crohn's disease. The finger infections that started last November continue to crop up. I thought I was healed when another infection sprang up on the first finger of my right hand last week. I hadn't done anything, hadn't even touched a cleaning product, and I wear gloves in water. It is getting better as I write this, but I hesitate to say I am cured.

I saw the dermatologist week before last and he was so sure I was better he released me from care. His last words to me were to think very carefully about going back on Remicade. I get that docs don't like Remicade, but what am I supposed to do?

Crohn's has returned, but I won't say with a vengeance. It is sneakier this time. Some days I feel OK, other days I am so sick I don't want to get out of bed. Most days there is a lot of pain. Much more than what I am comfortable with but I can't go on any Crohn's drugs until the infection is gone.  End of story.

I was also suffering with the most horrendous mouth ulcers. I ended up at urgent care again due to the pain but there was nothing she could do for me. I was in such a panic that I Googled it, something I don't like to do because before you know it, you're dying from cancer. Anyway, turns out that some Crohn's patients develop mouth sores because they don't have enough Zinc in their system. I ran to the pharmacy and bought myself some Zinc supplements and within one week the canker sores were gone. So, I stopped them for one week and sure enough the canker sores came back. Now, I never forget my Zinc. 

For a rare disease, I sure know a lot of people with Crohn's disease. Another one passed away last week. Eh. So, my small intestine seems to be involved and I am having a lot of trouble with my stomach. I am becoming very limited in what I can eat. Nothing spicy,  only low acidic fruit, no bread, and no meat. Or I can chew the meat and then spit it out.  Whatever works, right? 

My back is great. God bless epidurals. I swear, I have not felt this good in my back in years. I saw my osteo doc last week, who is also not big on Remicade, and next up is my neck. Too many years sitting in a chair and typing, I think. Overall, with the exception of Crohn's, I am doing well. I am halfway through Gemini 3 and I am so excited. So is Lucia. She's happy to finally get her life back. After The Foundlings of Nirvana she's been driving me crazy. She's a stubborn one, that character. 

And so I sign off and head back to work on Gemini Rising, The Word. You will be so surprised to see where Kate ends up. Gemini Rising 1 and 2 are going into their second printing with changes so I think Gemini 1 should be available come fall/winter 2016. It is my favorite book and my first love. I just can't wait until she's reborn. 

I continue to receive interesting comments from my opinion page over at Blasting News. I get that some of my ideas aren't popular, but I am the victim of a well-lived life. It hasn't been easy to be me and perhaps I am a bit controversial, but hey, it was life that made me that way.  You can visit me here: us.blastingnews.com/editorial-staff/louann-carroll/

Hugs to all!