Julie's Story

I'm 20 years old now. I've had Crohns Disease since age 10 and had a emergency colostomy done in July of 1999 at age 17 due to a rectal vaginal fistula. I was, however, supposed to get reconnected but my disease got too bad in my large intestine and I was very sick and was told to get the ileostomy done.

I got that done this past September 10th, 2001 and I was a very sick person when I got there. As it was I was like 80 some odd lbs and the operation took 5 hours instead of 3 which left some of my friends worried while in the waiting room. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks coz of the build up something or another in my blood - I can't remember how to spell it - amonia? And I was confused and stuff.

Then I got out and was doing good but then my surgery incision kept popping open and having infections and all that, on and off for lets see... um 3 months! I finally (knock on wood) have the incision in check and its not draining and has not blown open since then.

Then I got the Remicade treatments to which I got an allergic reaction. Even so, my doc told me to keep with it and he would medicate me before I get another treatment! I got a second opinion and was advised not to get it done anymore. It was weird coz this was my 6th treatment. It took that long to get a reaction!

Now I'm currently getting somewhat better. I'm on 40 milligrams of pred, 3 pentasas 3x a day, 6mp, prilosec, and a calcium supplement. They couldn't get all my disease out of my large intestine and its in my small intestines now as well so I have to go get CT scan done and see where the disease is initially and see if its that bad enough where I need to have it removed. Hopefully I don't!

So that's my story :)

Julie

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