It's been a little while since I made my first post about being diagnosed with Crohn's disease back in April, seeing as I've now had my 3 month check up (albeit 1 month late) I thought I would let you know how I've been getting on. When first diagnosed I was put on Budesonide a steroid to bring down the inflammation in my bowel, this worked instantly but for the first 2 weeks did give me some pretty epic stomach cramps (nothing I can't handle), once this died down I felt the best I had in years, I was full of energy, my apatite was increasing and I was all of a sudden enjoying my food more. This did come with a few side effects, unfortunately my hair started thinning and I was going for a wee more than 4 times a night, but other then that I got on really well with this medication.
I was meant to be seen early July to discuss what was going to happen next, I was also meant to have an MRI scan and at the moment that still hasn't been organized. I had to wait until the 2nd August for my appointment and I dramatically went down hill in that time. For 3 weeks I was completely off food which is totally unlike me, I was eating for the sake of it and I permanently felt nauseous, not very fun. I've found it really hard to come to terms with the fact that I need to slow down and rest as my body can't function without it. On Friday I had a complete breakdown on my mother and ended up spending all day in bed.
At my appointment on Friday I met with a great doctor and he really took the time out to explain everything. I am still going to be booked in for an MRI scan, I have been put back on a 3 month plan of budesonide and I have also started taking Azathioprine. This medication has a terrible list of side effects and doesn't have very good reviews online, but I'm willing to give it a go if it will make me better.
Side effects include:
- fever, night sweats, weight loss, tiredness;
- feeling full after eating only a small amount
- pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder;
- easy bruising or bleeding, pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate; or
nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine,
clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
- severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
I have been taking this now for 3 days and although at the moment I do feel a little better I am however covered in bruises (I don't bruise easily), in 2 weeks of not taking any medication I lost 9lbs from not eating properly, I still don't have my apatite back and I constantly feel nausea. My doctor told me this will stay for at least 6 weeks until my new medication kicks in.
It's all fun and games over here.
