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

 As most of you know, I have Crohn's disease. Right now it is kicking my butt.  My fever has ranged from 99-100 for 3 weeks now and I'm am tiring. Just like before, the fever shoots up after I eat then goes down as food is digested.  My stomach gets queasy, my insides hurt, I get a headache and I have a weird Crohn's rash on my belly.  Did I mention exhaustion overwhelms me?

I don't like to complain, but I'm not happy right now. I've been so good at following my diet that I thought or believed this wouldn't happen again. Every Friday I tell myself, "If it's not better by Monday call the doctor." Then Monday gets here and I don't call. Instead I give it another week. 

Sometimes I think my thermometer is broken. I don't really have a fever, the battery is low or whatever excuse I can come up with at the time.  But it is the pain that is getting me down. 

When the disease is active, Crohn's disease sufferers often lose weight because nausea, fear of abdominal cramps, and diarrhea lead them to eat less. The chronic inflammation often leads to fatigue and malaise with weight loss. They also lose weight because swelling and fibrosis narrow the intestines. Crohn's disease - US Newshealth.usnews.com/health-conditions/digestive-disorders/crohns-disease/symptoms ​

 And my intestines are swelling which is never a comfortable experience and I have cramping after I eat which sucks and then there's the blood issue which isn't all that bad and seems to come and go, but still, if this doesn't improve, medication is in my future. 

Then there's the kid who had infusions of Remicade at the hospital with me. Did I tell you she has lymphoma? It's a known side-effect of Remicade. Or the young girl that passed away on Sunday from Crohn's who went septic. So young, both of them. I should feel thankful that I tolerated Remicade so well. Just a year of uninterrupted staff infections until they took me off it.

Urgh.

I do not do stress well.  

​Besides, it could be worse. 

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between IBS and IBD. Here is a great link for an in depth explanation.  Or copy and paste: 

​http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/resources/ibs-and-ibd-two-very.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/