I’ve had Crohn’s disease for over five years now and I think in all those years I have never ever been off the departments radar. You know what I mean right? I’m always causing trouble. If its not for being in hospital on their ward, I am taking biological medication and they discuss me in their weekly MGT meetings. Sooner or later I become unstable so I am then discussed because my…
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Remission: I AM IN IT
So, this week is proving to be quite good. And I want to share my good news, because lets face it, sometimes it happens so infrequently, I just get too excited. Today I’ve had the results of my MRI scan from last week come back, in the form of my IBD nurse calling me to cancel and rebook some appointments with me. I enquired to what was open on the…
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MRI Scan: Small Bowel Study – 19.01.17
So, last week I was at the hospital for a routine test; a Small Bowel MRI Study. My surgeon is using this procedure to finalise the plans for whether or not I continue to receive my Vedolizumab treatment, as my Crohn’s has gone into possible remission. I’ve had a couple of these MRIs before; all pre surgery and without my ostomy. I was hesitate, anxious and nervous for the following…
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“Remission” – One Step Closer
I have questions. So. Many Questions. 1. How do you determine if surgery has succeeded? 2. How do you measure ‘remission’? 3. Can you actually achieve it? 4. Do I want to be medication free? I hope these all seem logical, or at least follow on from each other. Maybe the additional, and probably first question should be Why am I asking these types of questions? The period between…
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What Does Chronic Illness Rob You Of?
It wasn’t long before I was thinking about how things had changed and how that upset me so much. What else was Crohn’s disease going to take from me? I wrote this the day after my first relationship since my diagnosis with Crohn’s disease broke down. I wasn’t at all shocked but it did stun me. I had to change. I had changed. But I was fed up and feeling…
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2016 – Year in Review
To say it’s been a challenge this year, is abit of an understatement. I went into 2016 knowing I would be having surgery and thing would be unstable for a while. The build up to surgery was agonising but I knew it would improve my future prospects of getting along with my illness – it could become easier to treat, more manageable, I would be in better health and I…
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Being Chronically Ill at Christmas
Each year I am so thankful I make it to the festive period and survive it. Why? Christmas for me is a time to reflect and see what I’ve been through. It gives me strength for the year ahead. We can draw a line under what has happened and focus on continuing my good streak. That’s what it always feels for me; I am in a game with my health,…
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2017 Goals
In 2016 I made a conscious effort to set myself realistic goals and hoped to hell that I could achieve them. I found that keeping goals helped me focus on something, especially when things got shitty and problematic. So I’ve set myself some specific health ordinated goals. These are things I wanted to achieve once I had recovered from my op in August and are focused around building myself and my life around…
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Forgetting about ‘The IBD’ and *all* that Anger
So it was Tuesday night and the boyfriend and I were discussing the previous day’s appointment with my surgeon. As much as I respect the logic and reasoning behind my surgeon’s need to keep me under his care and continue to test me – to make sure the Crohn’s is under control or if not, seeking the correct treatment option for me – but it has disappointed me. I honestly…