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| Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 | 8:17 am
[grimgirl_mwhaha]
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Ugggggggggg
Hey all. It's been a while since I was last on here. I just found out that after only being in remission for less than a year for the first time in 31 years, and over 38 operation's later; I am now not in remission and the Crohns is back with a wicked vengance. My question on all of this is, have any of you taken Liada? If so how did it work for ya, are there any side effects I should know about? They put me on it in hopes it will help, but I'm not holding my breath on that one because med's have never helped. I'm trying so hard not to get depressed about it all, but damn....this sucks so bad. I'm like so close to TPN that they can do it anytime now, once they do it then I have about 5 to 7 years before it will kill me. Just so you all know, yes Crohns can kill you one way or another. Hell, it's already killed me once, and that's no lie. Anyway, any help I can get would be much appreciated. Thanks, Grim | | Sunday, July 5th, 2009 | 4:16 pm
[snokat]
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Crohns and thyroid issues
Hello all! Me again. Last year I was on Imuran, which made my hair fall out. It upset me so much. So the doctor put me on Pentasa. I've been on it for probably 10 months or better with no side effects and my hair stopped falling out. Recently I've been on Flagyl for a secondary infection (that stuff is evil). My hair has started falling out again this past week. I'm hyper sensitive to how much hair I lose in a day now! It's not as much as I was losing at my peak of hair loss, but it's more than normal. I WILL be calling my dr on Monday. BUT, I was wanting to find out some things for myself. Last year, not long after my hospital stay, my gyno tested my thyroid (among other things) and said it was a little high (or was it low...it's been so long now I don't remember which!). I asked my gastro about it cause he was having me do a zillion blood tests but he seemed unconcerned. Not even certain if he tested for thyroid or not. Recently my sister was diagnosed with thyroid issues. And since some of the thyroid conditions are considered autoimmune (like Crohns), I was wondering if others had had thyroid issues tied in with their Crohns. Any thoughts or experiences or ideas?? | | Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | 11:19 pm
[bluefenox]
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18th surgery
I had my 18th surgery a couple days ago. they took an mri and found that the abscess had doubled in size even on antibiotics ( they always do with me).So the surgeon came in and told me he was doing surgery. My heart rate keeps going way up and they dunno why. they started giving me heparin to keep me from getting blood clots from laying down so much. Umm i have low blood pressure and tend to bleed. I got into a coughing fit while talking to my grandma. my head started to feel like it was going to split. one of the doctors said.. ohh looks like a capillary blew in your eye.i have had that in the circles of my eyes but never IN my eye. it looks like someone punched it. it is blood red over half my eye looks so icky. other then that more tests, feeling like hell and just being able to start eating.I can't seem to absorb oxygen either. i am hooked up to a monitor and on oxygen, fun times! god i wanna go home! Current Mood:  drained | | Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 | 10:21 am
[snokat]
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An update and "female issue" question.
Hello all! It's been a while since I posted. But I've actually been doing pretty well. Short bio: Was diagnosed last year. Since I've had maybe two flairs, minor really. I am on Pentasa and spend 99% of the time feeling fine! I am lucky. However, in my last colonoscopy the Dr said the inflammation had not gone down any. I went for an MRI of the area to see how much of the small intestine is effected. Surgery is a possibility. Ehh, okay. I'll deal with it when it comes. The problem that I have had that has caused me the most grief is something else that we are thinking stems from Crohns. It might be a bit TMI, especially for the men folk, so it's okay to skip this if you like!! A few months ago I developed what I thought was a yeast infection. I have them often. Over the counter stuff works usually. But nothing was doing the trick. So I go to my Gyno and she says "looks like yeast! But I'll runs some tests." All the test came back clean. She gives me some creams, Dyflucan, etc. Nothing works. Back at her office. "It STILL really just looks like yeast!" More tests, all negative. She finally says "I think it's basically from your Crohns." Weakened immune system. Susceptible to bacteria, etc. So I call my Gastro Dr and he proscribes Flagyl, which the gyno concurs with. But she warns it's harsh. And he wants me on 3 WEEKS of it. OMG, I hate to be a whimp, but after one week I was crying "uncle." I was exhausted, nauseaus, had diareah, and AWFUL taste in my mouth and coating on my tongue. The infection was tons better for sure! BUT, you how the rear end feels with diareah. So it wasn't a great trade off. I stopped it for a few days, but after talking with the Gyno again, and her saying I would adjust, I went back to it. Eeked out about another 5 days before I said I couldn't do it any more. The infection seems mostly gone. But I worry of it reoccurring and what could I do for it if it did that wouldn't be almost worse than suffering the infection?? I was told that Flagyl was really the only fix for it. I find that hard to believe, there are so many types of antibiotics. Anyone else ever suffered through this? Any suggestions? And I'm wondering IF I have the surgery and say it gets rid of the worst of the inflammation and perhaps I'm "looking" in remission for Crohns, will this other niggling crap go away? I'm also starting to worry about an achy lower back that I'm wondering is the start of arthritis. *siighh* Honestly I'm so thankful I have so much good health considering I have Crohns. But these little things can wear me down sometimes. Any thoughts are appreciated!! | | Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 | 12:52 pm
[scoopgirl]
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South Beach diet?
Hi all, Has anyone tried the South Beach diet for help in managing Crohn's? I just finished the first two weeks of the diet, and am curious is I am having a common reaction, or if there is more to expect. Since South Beach is similar to Cacye diet, which some swear by, I figured it couldn't hurt ... much. I have a more uncommon problem of inflammation at the top of my GI tract, in my tummy, which leads to bile problems. As such, I have trouble with roughage more than most, but I also crave meat at times and have no trouble with it, since all the bile goes to town on dense proteins. I had hoped the heavy protein-veggie mix for the first phase would be ideal for me. And it was, for about six days or so. My GI tract seemed to tolerate all that fiber nicely and I didn't need to run to the bathroom as much. Then, I started being actually regular, all within a week. It was too good to last. About a week in, I started with rectal bleeding from what I presume is an internal hemorroid. It became a regular problem for the following week, while I continued to follow the diet. But on day 14, I gave in and had some simple sugars, which I tend to process best. That and Canasa suppositories stemmed the flow and the problem now seems to be on the wane. But I can still feel some pain, even while my body is suddenly craving more veggies. Has this happened to any one else? Have you been able to follow this diet and actually get good nutrition, without sacrificing for pain or new problems? Anyone? | | Sunday, June 28th, 2009 | 12:58 am
[jetblakkmane]
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I found this while surfing and thought it applied very well to us Chronies!
An Open Letter To Those Without Invisible Disability Or Chronic Illness … By Ricky Buchanan on May 10, 2009 Having an invisible disability (ID) and/or invisible chronic illness (ICI) means that many things change. Just because you can’t see the changes doesn’t mean they aren’t real. Most people don’t understand much about these disabilities/diseases and their effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually mis-informed. In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand … … These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me… Please understand that being disabled/sick doesn’t mean I’m not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day being very careful what I do, and if you visit I might not seem like much fun to be with, but I’m still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I’d still like to hear you talk about yours too. Please understand the difference between “happy” and “healthy”. When you’ve got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I’ve been sick for years. I can’t be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you’re talking to me and I sound happy, it means I’m happy. That’s all. I may be tired. I may be in pain. I may be sicker that ever. Please, don’t say, “Oh, you’re sounding better!”. I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you’re welcome Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It’s quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I’ll need to recover – imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn’t repeat that feat right away either. Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, “sitting up”, “walking”, “thinking”, “being sociable” and so on … it applies to everything that I do. Please understand that the effects of chronic illnesses and many disabilities are variable. It’s quite possible (for me, it’s common) that one day I am able to walk to the bathroom and back, while the next day I’ll have trouble sitting up. Please don’t attack me when I’m worse by saying, “But you did it before!”. If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I’ll tell you. Similarly, my illness/disability may vary suddenly, meaning I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please do not take it personally. Please understand that “getting out and doing things” does not make me feel better, and can often make me worse. Chronic illnesses/disabilities may cause a secondary/reactive depression (wouldn’t you get depressed if you were stuck in bed 23 hours a day for years on end?) but they are not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not not correct and probably not appreciated – if I could possibly do it that, I would. Please understand that if I say I have to sit down/lie down/take these pills now, that I do have to do it right now – it can’t be put off or forgotten just because I’m doing something else more exciting. Illnesses and disabilities do not forgive their victims easily. Please understand that I can’t spend all of my energy trying to get well from my incurable chronic illness/disability. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well. But an important part of having a chronic illness or disability is coming to the realization that you have to spend energy on having a life while you’re sick/disabled. This doesn’t mean I’m not trying to get better. It doesn’t mean I’ve given up. It’s just how life is when you’re dealing with a chronic illness/disability. If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don’t. It’s not because I don’t appreciate the thought; and it’s not because I don’t want to get well. It’s because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest one at one point or another. At first I tried them all, but then I realized that I was using up so much energy trying things that I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured, or even helped, all people with a certain illness or disability then we’d know about it. This is not a drug-company conspiracy, there is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with similar and different chronic illnesses and disabilities, if something worked we would know about it. If after reading that, you still want to suggest a cure, then do it if you must. Preferably in writing and accompanied by the scientific papers that prove it works. But don’t expect me to rush out and try it. I might not even reply. If I haven’t had it or something like it suggested before, and it sounds reasonable, I’ll probably take what you said and discuss it with my doctor. Please understand that getting better from an illness can be very slow. And getting better from an invisible disability might not happen at all. People with chronic illnesses have so many systems in their bodies out of equilibrium, and functioning wrongly, that it may take a long time to sort everything out, if it ever happens. I depend on you – people who are able-bodied – for many things. But most importantly, I need you to understand me. Found here. | | Friday, June 26th, 2009 | 5:17 pm
[hbpen]
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| | Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | 6:22 pm
[gizzard]
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Best song ever
For anyone who's had to relieve themselves on public transport... Current Mood:  amused | 7:15 am
[damnedinflames]
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Kidney Problems
Hello everyone. I hope that you are all doing well in the never ending battle. My question is to those of you who may suffer kidney problems due to your crohns? So far I have had two kidney stones, one that passed and the other I had to have surgery to remove. My GI has told me that those with crohns are more pron to having kidney stones than the average person. I take a gram of calcium a day to try and prevent the build up of more stones. More recently I have been having pains in my right kidney, the side in which most of my crohns pain is located on, and now am scheduled for an ultra sound to take a look at both of my kidneys to compare them. Only my right one ever hurts though. I talked to my GI about this and he informed me that here are some tracts and medical stuff, ^.^, that run though the same area and could possibly affect this in the negative way. But more in the long shot field than in the normal. Like anything with crohns is normal? I have already had a small bowel resection, of about 13 inches, and am never looking forward to going back under the knife. I was just curious if anyone else here has ever felt or had kidney problems related to your crohns? Thank you for your time and God Bless. Current Mood:  curiousCurrent Music: Symphony in Peril - Inherent Scars | | Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 | 1:05 pm
[bluefenox]
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I might as well ask
I know a lot of folks on here on remicade.. what kind of side effects do you get? I was also curious if any one has a Porti-Cath and want to know how long they last and if there is a lot of side effects with that? I have heard they don't last long and end up causing a lot of infections. Current Mood:  contemplative | | Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 | 6:03 pm
[hbpen]
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Meds
I'm on Asacol, but it's just not doing what's needed anymore. I've got an appt w/my doc tomorrow. I feel like I may be ready to move up to the next level of meds. But what IS the next level of meds? Is there something btwn 5-ASAs and the immunosuppressants? How did you determine when/if you were ready to go to the next med phase? | | Sunday, June 21st, 2009 | 3:24 am
[bluefenox]
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Kids get it....
1 of the 101 ways to scare kids with out trying. trying to take the 4yr old boy to his mom when you wake up with him crying next to your bed because he had a nightmare.. then managing to hit him in the face with the two huge connectors hanging off my arm from my PICC line. ooops.I said sorry kido he says "is ok.. tummy hurt" and rubs my gut, while still crying.... Yeah they can be kinda cute at times. Earlier today his sister asked their mom (these are 4yr old twins) "Why are they mean to her when she is in hospital mommy?" her mom said what makes you think they are mean to her?" LOOK MOMMY.. she pulled my arms over to her mom and said.."lots of shots.. no band aids" ahhh if only band aids fixed every thing like it does when you are a kid.i keep expecting a sneak attack of kids with a box of band aids any minute ;) Current Mood:  groggy | 12:38 am
[bluefenox]
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infusion day one...
they found some rare antibiotic that doesn't really make me sick. I am in awe.. no pukey feeling no weird taste in my mouth that makes me wanna hurl in it's self.it also doesn't shut down my entire digestive system...BUT it's only available via iv. they found some form of morphine i don't react too. I take two pills a day and have some in a kind of cough medicine form that i take for "break through pain". I was right when i said they were draining me dry blood wise in the hospital. my pulse was super high from just walking in and sitting down at the infusion station. i have a picc line right now and am choking down as much benadryle as i can with out poisoning my self... yay hives and blisters from adhesives. So far I was told my medical records have finally made it to the doctors here.. it only took 5 bloody weeks of nagging my hospital back home to send them already. Now they will have a better understanding of what has and has not worked with me and what the docs back home have seen. I get the infusion, am ok for about two hours then just flat out fall asleep. no matter how hard i fight to wake up i can't. i slept like a rock last night knowing that no one was going to be walking in and stabbing the hell out of my hands and arms taking more and more blood. I just have about three more weeks of this. Meh. ON that note.. i am staggering back to bed. Ohh yeah, I told one of my friends about the comment left on here that someone pictured "keystone cops taking care of me" she laughed really hard. She has been there with me and that is JUST what it's like. Every time i am in a docs office it ends up that way. too funny. Current Mood: drained | | Saturday, June 20th, 2009 | 11:29 am
[hbpen]
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Crohn's & throat problems?
I know Crohn's can affect all the way up to the mouth, but has anyone experienced throat problems related to Crohn's? My throat feels weird. I don't know how to describe it. KIND OF like feels swollen in 1 spot right at the bottom of my throat/neck. It's not sore though. Current Mood:  confused | | Friday, June 19th, 2009 | 2:38 am
[bluefenox]
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bah..doctors.
they keep telling me they are going to release me then keep me another day. I am not sure why, my arms are soo freakin screwed up. Bruises every where some are small some are huge, all of them hurt. They come in and stab at me all day all night many many viles. I wasn't anemic before but now.. ohh yea. Weak as hell. they are going to be keeping me in AZ to go in every day for a special antibiotic that has to be given via iv.. for three bloody weeks. I didn't want to stay here that long. I am going to have to get a hotel. the closest one is the Marriott here. it's literally across the street. The family i have been staying with has visited me twice in a row. I get headaches with the temper tantrum kids screaming or yelling. The boy saw me trying to open my lap top on my bed and jumped on me getting his shoe tangled in my iv. I told my grandma about that and she laughed. I don't think she gets how freaking dangerous that is.. if it gets ripped out not only would it hurt i would also have to be stuck a couple dozen times to get a new one. When one of my doctors met the kids he asked if they were mine i said UHH NO. he said well when we send you back with them i would recommend a tazer.. maybe two.The docs here get edgy with me when they say they are all agreeing that i have Crohn's I told them about my experiences with this.they will say i do.. next doc i see will say i don't and blame me for saying i have crohn's when i don't. I fully think i have had it. At this point it doesn't matter at all to me. I STIL have not gotten any medical records from the hospital. I will be asking for that departments manager today. other then that fighting the fight i guess. They think i am going to let them put me on remicade after the antibiotics. not bloody likley! | | Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 | 5:20 am
[bluefenox]
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Well HELLO DR.CRAPHEAD
So it's been an interesting few days, my arms look like they were caught under a car. the last Iv lasted about 3 hrs and infiltrated while i was asleep i woke up to my arm hurting and being the size of a softball or two.they come get blood all the time. i am bruised all over the arms. Got some nice big patches of blisters going from adhesives. The surgeon who made sure to get me here so fast.. wow is he a dick with a god complex. So he had FOUR pages of medical records here. the hospital didn't send them even with three requests over the last month. I had them send him more. How ever in talking to him in less then 15 min. He said there is no doubt i have Crohn's disease. I said, no offense but i have heard that off and on for 18 yrs. You might say i have it today but change your mind later.. or someone else will.I get the diagnoses then it gets changed again eventually.. "because they can't SEE the diseases" hence all the surgeries. Well, turns out the rest of his office didn't know i landed in here the first time but HE did. He didn't feel the need to have me admitted and was part of them sending me off. He came in yesterday night. he had his arms crossed like he was getting ready to do battle. He asked me how come i was in here... what had changed since the last time i was in. ( keep in mind this was my third day here and they have found one of the fistulas is abscessing) I said a fever of 102, intense agonizing pain. He said well you know where i stand about doing any kind of surgery, i would need to do a full tear down or even a temporary one and "you CLAIM that you are allergic to adhesives" So that leaves me with no choice but to put you on remicade.. or something like it. ANYHOW, he said you know i refuse to do surgery, the abscess they found isn't very big. I said.. until someone see's active disease i don't know about taking meds for crohn's... with every one being so wishy washy on if i have it or not.. he then yelled WELL I SAY YOU HAVE CROHN'S SO YOU HAVE CROHN'S." the nurses heard him clear out in the station.( i have only talked to this doctor twice now this being the second time.) So you can imagine i am more then a little pissed off. I plan to ask for a patient advocate and to have a different surgeon that doesn't have the bedside manor of a jackass..assigned to my case. they are trying right now to bombard me with antibiotics. I am on morphine. Yeah they decided to start pushing it at me since they don't use demerol here. I am allergic to it by the by. I still have no idea what they are going to do from here. I was told i would be here a day i have been here about 4-5 now. I lost track with having a migraine for ever.SO.. so far same old shit different state. Current Mood:  angry | | Friday, June 12th, 2009 | 5:12 am
[bluefenox]
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In AZ..
I can say so far I am sorely disappointed with the Mayo Clinic. Turns out their standards have fallen with the rest of the nation. I feel like I have been treated just as bad as I was at home. As usual the new surgeon is focusing on trying to prove i have crohn's not UC. I tell you after 18 YEARS of them going back and forth.. franky scarlet.. i don't give a damn! My surgeon and gastro's all agree they see no disease inflammation. they all think it's definitely a mater of falling apart at the seams from too many surgeries. I think they are right actually.they came in with 4 pages of medical records that were mine. Umm 4 pages. i asked them who they got them from because there should be a metric-shit-ton of them. They didn't know. i am guessing it was my surgeon. The extensive tests were done at the hospital, so they are missing those and wanting to put me through them AGAIN next week. I hardly survived the last bunch of tests. they are AWFUL. My guts can't handle poking around or messing with.. period. Now i get the full meal deal.. scopes,barium.. shoot me? please just rupture my bowels and kill me.. check please.. all that jazz. I am up right now because I have been wracked with fevers. On top of that the nice folks i have been staying with are immune to heat. I am so very very not. I have literally sweat my self into complete dehydration every danged day. Don't get me wrong it was kind of them to take me in...BUT i am stuck in their living room. they have twin 4 yr olds who like to jump on this hide-a-bed just randomly scream while i am sleeping and i am taking up so much of the living room that they have to bump me constantly to get to the kitchen. this bed blocks the way. On days i can't eat from pain.. they are cooking food all day. The prob with this is if i am hungry, i smell food.. smelling food wakes my guts up and gets them spazzing like mad... more pain.. more agony. On day one I landed in the mayo ER the night after i talked to the surgeon. I told them my pain had reached the threshold.. it was beyond what I could take. My doctors are all in oregon and the pain meds i have right now are not TOUCHING the pain. For me (sorry for being graphic) I can no longer pee when pain gets to bad.Every thing cramps up and i go down hill FAST. This is why i went in. So the ER doc had a nurse use that weird pressure meeter thing that says how much is in your bladder. they told me it's hardly any thing. I said why is my gutt three times it's normal size and i am hurting into my kidneys? I have had this many times.. i have also had bladder infections, uti's. I know the difference. I could NOT go. I was writhing in agony on the bed. they came in jabbed me with a TEST TUBE catheter about six times not able to get any thing. After they did that i ran for the bathroom and was in there 10 minutes solid.. peeing. because they didn't "see" this they didn't believe me.i sat there shuddering in pain for two hours. I told the doctor i couldn't take the pain any more i was in agony, i told the male nurse. When the doctor came in he told me they found two white blood cells in my urin and that it could mean i might have an infection. he gave me antibiotics..three days worth. I said and what happens if i still can't go because of the AGONY i am in? he said if it gets worse to come back. When the male nurse came in with the release papers he said.. you are not a good color and are shaking are you cold? i said NO I AM IN PAIN I KEEP TELLING YOU I CAN"T TAKE THIS ANY MORE I AM BEYOND WHAT I CAN HANDLE." he says " did you tell the doctor that?" I hissed.. yesh i told you i told him.. that is WHY I AM HERE.. do you not listen?" he said he would go tell the doctor and see what he wanted to do about it. Came right back and said.. ohh sorry the doctor already left. The mayo clinic is 45 min from here. I spent most of yesterday on the phone trying to see if my surgeon could help me. NOpe..he is in another state and i have to physically pick up the perscription for a narcotic thanks to our fucked up laws. i got the pain meds by 5 yesterday.I called the mayo clinic surgeon's office. they had not been called about me being there.. they didn't know. the jerk ER doctor never even bothered to let them know.. Glad to see i was not the only one not happy about this. The meds are working so far.. but like i said.. sorely disappointed. I swear I must have something tattooed on my head..that i can't see..that says treat me like complete shit i love it.... /end rant Current Mood: angry | | Thursday, June 11th, 2009 | 7:37 pm
[24_24_1_1526]
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Teen diagnosis' herself: It's Crohn's
CNN For eight years, Jessica Terry suffered from stomach pain so horrible, it brought her to her knees. The pain, along with diarrhea, vomiting and fever, made her so sick, she lost weight and often had to miss school. During a science class, Jessica Terry, 18, discovered a tell-tale granuloma in her own pathology slide. During a science class, Jessica Terry, 18, discovered a tell-tale granuloma in her own pathology slide. Her doctors, no matter how hard they tried, couldn't figure out the cause of Jessica's abdominal distress. Then one day in January, Terry, 18, figured it out on her own. In her Advanced Placement high school science class, she was looking under the microscope at slides of her own intestinal tissue -- slides her pathologist had said were completely normal -- and spotted an area of inflamed tissue called a granuloma, a clear indication that she had Crohn's disease. "It's weird I had to solve my own medical problem," Terry told CNN affiliate KOMO in Seattle, Washington. "There were just no answers anywhere. ... I was always sick." Terry, who graduated from Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish, Washington, this month, is now being treated for Crohn's, says her science teacher, MaryMargaret Welch. "She was pretty excited about finding the granuloma," Welch said. "She said, 'Ms. Welch! Ms. Welch! Come over here. I think I've got something!' " Welch, who has taught the Biomedical Problems class at Eastside for 17 years, immediately went on the Internet to see whether Terry had indeed spotted a granuloma. "I said, 'Jeez, it certainly looks like one to me,' " Welch remembered. "I snapped a picture of it on the microscope and e-mailed it to the pathologist. Within 24 hours, he sent back an e-mail saying yes, this is a granuloma." Video Watch Terry describe her experience » Don't Miss * In Depth: Empowered Patient * Has your illness been misdiagnosed? * Five commonly misdiagnosed diseases Although Terry was relieved to finally get a diagnosis, it was also tough for her to hear that she has such a serious disease. There are treatments, but there is no cure for Crohn's, a condition in which the digestive tract becomes inflamed. It can lead to ulcers, malnutrition and other health problems. "As I get older, the disease can get worse," Terry told KOMO. Crohn's disease is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed very late, says Dr. Corey Siegel, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. "Granulomas are oftentimes very hard to find and not always even present at all," Siegel said. "I commend Jessica for her meticulous work." Pathologists also sometimes miss important findings for other diseases, says Dr. Mark Graber, chief of the medical service at the Northport VA Medical Center in New York. "This story carries a valuable lesson about how errors are found. It's very often by 'fresh eyes,' just like in Jessica's case," he said. "Some specialty centers, recognizing the reality of perceptual error and the power of a second independent reading, are now requiring second reviews on certain types of smears and pathology specimens." Welch credits Terry's "fresh eyes" but also local pathologists who volunteered to train her and her classmates on how to view specimens under the microscope. Health Library * MayoClinic.com: Crohn's disease "We've been lucky to have that partnership. It allowed Jessica to think of herself as a scientist," she said. "The class empowered Jessica to think of herself as being a partner in her own health care." advertisement As for Terry's future, she'll start nursing school in the fall. She's written a book for children about Crohn's disease, which she hopes to have published. In the meantime, she's grateful for her science class and for the pathologist for giving her her slides. "This has been the highlight of my high school career, for sure," Terry told the Sammamish Reporter newspaper. "It's been amazing. | | Sunday, June 7th, 2009 | 11:28 pm
[bluefenox]
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BUAHAHAHAH!
one more day till i see the colo-rectal surgeon at the Mayo.. this was too funny not to share! Current Mood: amused | | Friday, June 5th, 2009 | 3:00 pm
[becauseicare]
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How many of you test negative for Crohn's/Ulcerative Colitis/IBD on the Prometheus Test, yet are still being treated for one of those diseases based on symptoms, colonoscopy/endoscopy results, etc? My boyfriend has been getting treated for Crohn's Disease for 4 years now. He has had the promestheus test done twice now and tested negative for all IBDs. I have read before that 20% of people do test negative even though they clearly have the disease based on their symptoms. Perhaps I should add: he has been to three different G.I. doctors during the last 4 years. For 2 of those years he was treated by a doctor who was positive he had Crohn's despite his negative test result. The 2nd doctor said he just had IBS and if he took some tums, he would feel great.... yeah right, he was a quack. The 3rd doctor, his current, has pretty much just said "I don't know if it is or isn't Crohn's since you test negative, but let's just treat your symptoms instead." I am just curious about how common this is. Any ideas? Thanks! |
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