Another updatey thing
Feb. 3rd, 2011 04:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenayYesterday was actually much less awful than predicted. The drugs they gave me were terrific (versed and fentanyl) so I didn't feel anything and didn't really care anyway :-) It certainly got me past the "OMG, so undignified!" moment nicely.
I vaguely remember seeing something on a screen, but I did lose about thirty minutes there so I'm pretty sure that the procedure was much longer than I am aware of. I'll probably be having scopes regularly so knowing how easy it was will put my mind at rest for the next one.
I've been given some preliminary results and the doctor will be seeing me in a few days to discuss it in more detail and hopefully answer the list of questions that I'm gradually building up.
Apparently it's definitely a form of Colitis and he'll tell me what form and how extensive it is when I see him. Essentially my immune system thinks my gut is a foreign object and has decided to destroy it. Urgh. The nurse said there is a lot of pretty bad inflammation in there :-( I'm now just hoping not to lose any bowel as a result of this.
The good news is that the GI guy has started me on treatment immediately. I'm on lots of prednisone, which will suppress my immune system and thereby reduce the inflammation and allow my bowel to heal. Long-term, from what I can find out, I will be switching to another drug for maintenance once the pred has done its job.
It's pretty much what I expected, to be honest, although I suspect that it's more widespread than I'd hoped. It means a life-time of immuno-suppressants and the possibility that it could flare up again, which sucks but now that I know the signs we'll be able to catch it before I get hideously sick again.
Hopefully my GI guy will be able to tell me what I need to do to avoid flares as well. According to what I'm reading, a high-fibre diet is not recommended while I'm flaring and I may never eat a vindaloo again. As I don't like highly spiced foods, this is not going to be an issue :-) But I think that I need lots of information from him about how to handle this and what the plan will be before I make any major dietary changes.
At least we've got a diagnosis, I've started treatment and I'll start to feel well very soon. The cramping today has been very mild and I've been eating regularly again. I'd reached the point on Monday night where I was vowing never to eat again if it triggered cramps every time so this is definitely an improvement!
Also, my lovely team at work sent me an edible 'flower' arrangement, that consists of lots of chocolate covered fruit. They're amazing people :-) I took a sick day today to get some rest and recuperate a bit and I plan to work from home tomorrow because I'm getting tired very quickly. Hopefully I'll have all my energy back next week and be able to make proper appearances at work again :-)
I vaguely remember seeing something on a screen, but I did lose about thirty minutes there so I'm pretty sure that the procedure was much longer than I am aware of. I'll probably be having scopes regularly so knowing how easy it was will put my mind at rest for the next one.
I've been given some preliminary results and the doctor will be seeing me in a few days to discuss it in more detail and hopefully answer the list of questions that I'm gradually building up.
Apparently it's definitely a form of Colitis and he'll tell me what form and how extensive it is when I see him. Essentially my immune system thinks my gut is a foreign object and has decided to destroy it. Urgh. The nurse said there is a lot of pretty bad inflammation in there :-( I'm now just hoping not to lose any bowel as a result of this.
The good news is that the GI guy has started me on treatment immediately. I'm on lots of prednisone, which will suppress my immune system and thereby reduce the inflammation and allow my bowel to heal. Long-term, from what I can find out, I will be switching to another drug for maintenance once the pred has done its job.
It's pretty much what I expected, to be honest, although I suspect that it's more widespread than I'd hoped. It means a life-time of immuno-suppressants and the possibility that it could flare up again, which sucks but now that I know the signs we'll be able to catch it before I get hideously sick again.
Hopefully my GI guy will be able to tell me what I need to do to avoid flares as well. According to what I'm reading, a high-fibre diet is not recommended while I'm flaring and I may never eat a vindaloo again. As I don't like highly spiced foods, this is not going to be an issue :-) But I think that I need lots of information from him about how to handle this and what the plan will be before I make any major dietary changes.
At least we've got a diagnosis, I've started treatment and I'll start to feel well very soon. The cramping today has been very mild and I've been eating regularly again. I'd reached the point on Monday night where I was vowing never to eat again if it triggered cramps every time so this is definitely an improvement!
Also, my lovely team at work sent me an edible 'flower' arrangement, that consists of lots of chocolate covered fruit. They're amazing people :-) I took a sick day today to get some rest and recuperate a bit and I plan to work from home tomorrow because I'm getting tired very quickly. Hopefully I'll have all my energy back next week and be able to make proper appearances at work again :-)
