Sweetpea's Story

My name is Rach, I'm 16 years old and from Wisconsin. The first time I ever experienced any signs of Crohn's disease was in early November 2000.

After a few days of diarrhea (during my high school musical - that I was in! GRR)... I went to the doctor and he said that I showed signs of either Crohns or UC. Later I went home and decided to do some researching on it. Since my odds on getting UC were higher, I looked up that one first and browsed the internet finding new friends and interesting pages (Like Shaz's). (Note my weight started at 155lbs).

Nov 30th 2000
After the series of cup after cup of Golytely and prayin' to the porcelain god, I went in for the scope. A few hours later (or what seemed to be hours)... my doctor came out and told me I had a mild form of Ulcerative Colitis. I wasn't really in shock, because I knew something had to have been wrong. He put me on prednisone a few days later for the inflammation but that didn't work. Total weight loss calculated: 10 lbs

Dec 15th 2000
I was admitted to the local hospital were my doctor put me on a very high dose of steriods (80 mg) and morphine (for pain). All I could eat was ice chips. I stayed there for four days (a long weekend) as my friends dropped in and family stayed for hours. Total weight loss calculated: by now it was 19 lbs. Dec 19th 2000
My doctor now moved me to Childrens Hospital of Milwaukee, the long car ride was blurry since my doc gave me Vicoden(sp). After days of sitting with my morphine pump at CHOM, my colon had perforated and by Xmas Eve I was in horrible pain. Christmas was a blur, I barely remember opening my presents in my hospital bed. I couldn't move the pain was so bad.

Dec 26th 2000
My surgeons and new GI at CHOM knew that it was bad, they decided two days ago that I would get surgery after Xmas. So today I got my epidural and went in for surgery at 2pm for the removal of my perforated colon and construction of my permanent ileostomy.

They did tests on my colon right after the surgery and found that I had had Crohns, not UC. And because of that, couldn't get reconnected right away since the CD moved to my rectum.

The hospital stay is hazy in my mind as of now. I remember the dozens of abcesses I formed, the fistula, my reconstruction surgery, all of the cat scans, the xrays, the walks down the hall for excersize, the sweating, the hospital smell, the puking, OH GOD the puking. My sweet 16 was spent throwing up in a large yellow bucket. I was lucky that my lovely boyfriend was with me through it all. He missed so much school to see me and be there for me and from the beginning he was so supportive of Diva (my stoma).

My mom was also so important to me.. we cried together a few times.. bonded as she changed the bandages on my bed sores, or as she washed me in a huge bathtub down the hall. I finally got out of there on Feb 9th... (Total weight loss calculated: 35lbs).

It was a bad morning, but I felt so excited. The moment I stepped out of the hospital, I smelt fresh air, lost all nausea I had had, and began my new life as a new person. I love my little Diva because she gave me life. Even though my sickness was rather quick and like BAM BAM BAM, I'm greatful for everything I've learned. Hospital leaving date weight: 120 lbs.

Update:
I'm still at home now, with the rare occasion of a hospital visit to my GI for a checkup. The 6-mp seems to be working for my rectum, also the Prilosec for my ulcerated stomach. My apetite is back and I'm going to school (half days, but STILL!). Strength is coming slowly but surely, and since I left the hospital, I've gained 1 and a 1/2 pounds (WOO HA!). I'm doing great. I love Jake. I love my life. Thanks for listening to my story

...Sweetpea

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