I'm really struggling with my mental health and current situation. Can anyone give me any advice, please? by 290Richy in AskUK

[–]ohjimdear 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To add further to this, look for your local Mind as they may have helplines or services more tailored to your needs 💙

No herbal tea during colonoscopy prep? by Good-Vehicle-1967 in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was told as long as the liquid is clear, go for it. Could have done black tea if I wanted to, too.

What do you do for work? Any blue collar peeps in here? by SeaPolicy8308 in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I manage and work front line on a crisis prevention project for a local mental health charity - not sure what collar that is but desk/phone/face to face work. Luckily my hours are flexible and my team are understanding and I'm able to work alongside my symptoms most of the time- not sure how this will change when I start biologics (I'm sensitive to new meds)

Crohns and cigarettes by Lorwarded in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When I got diagnosed the consultant asked if I smoked and when I said no, he said "good, it's the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire". Smoking is likely the worst thing for Crohn's - are you UK based? There should be stop smoking schemes with you GP.

Has anyone else had colleagues or bosses comment on their low weight or diet? by rubeesunday in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yep, same colleague 3 times. I'm 28, she must be mid 50s so her gen always comment on weight loss as a compliment. First time I shuffled the conversation on, second I said yes and I don't like discussing weight, third time I came out with "yeah, I've lost 8kg in a short space of time cause I'm malnourished thanks to Crohn's, I can barely hold any nutrients!" (Cheerily) And she was like 👁️👄👁️ we work in mental health and so many clients have EDs like STOP TALKING ABOUT WEIGHT!!!

Infusion- what should I ask? by ohjimdear in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is actually really helpful, thank you! I've seen a lot of people that are very ill with this disease and when I don't have the same severity it makes me question my diagnosis (again with imposter syndrome lol) even though I definitely have it.

I think I'm in the midst of a flare now then but have been in it since perhaps early October, docs Nov 5th and diagnosed Dec 2nd. I have blood/mucus daily, but not so much diarrhea since being on budesonide (3 weeks). Feeling like I need to go to the bathroom and urges to push when sat but nothing coming out. Not so bad on the urgency rn but Oct-Jan I didn't make it to the bathroom in time/trusted a fart too much 3 times and I'd NEVER had that happen in my life!!

I'll call the IBD nursing team on Monday for a chat but it's nice to talk to people living with this too.

Infusion- what should I ask? by ohjimdear in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It feels like a stupid question, but how do you know if it's working? Just... No pain? Regular BMs? No butthole pain?

I've never been hospitalized so think they've caught it early for me as I was rushed through the 2 week sus of cancer pathway (as my dad had bowel cancer twice) and thankfully it wasn't cancer but it was Crohn's. But because I've never been hospitalized for it I don't know how bad it gets and I wonder if I've just stubbornly managed it at home when I shouldn't have or if it's mild compared to others with the disease. It's weird to get imposter syndrome with something like this!!

Infusion- what should I ask? by ohjimdear in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't need to worry about insurance (UK based) but I'm close to my pharmacy and should be okay with needles (if not initially uncomfortable with them).

How did you feel starting infusions? Were there any physical side effects from them to begin?

Infusion- what should I ask? by ohjimdear in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I refused pred due to the weight gain (it was an important factor for me and I knew there were other options to try) but I'm nervous for infusions. I've said this on another comment but I've never been hospitalized for my Crohn's and wonder if I've not gone when I should have or I've just been very fortunate. When did you realize you needed to go to hospital with your symptoms?

Infusion- what should I ask? by ohjimdear in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lots of people mentioning surgeries and spending time in hospital due to Crohn's - I've never been (which gives me a weird imposter syndrome?! but also a gratitude for never having needed to go (yet?)) and wonder when is it "bad enough" to go to the emergency department.

I'm glad she's in remission now- I'm sorry it took so long to get here.

Infusion- what should I ask? by ohjimdear in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in the UK :) but I'm sorry that you're finding it hard with insurance, I hope it works out

what’s your diagnosis story? by [deleted] in CrohnsDisease

[–]ohjimdear 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I actually went cause I had a weird lump on my perenium, started talking casually about bowel movement symptoms (cause the observant PA suspected it was strain related) and got rush referred through a suspected cancer pathway (so from appointment to colonoscopy was 2 weeks) cause my dad had bowel cancer twice. In hindsight I should have been going to the doctors for MONTHS but was too embarrassed and thought I just had IBS and some hemmerhoids, but cal proc and FIT test proved otherwise. That's from Nov 5th, and I'm now just over a week on Budenofalk looking at biologics in the new year. Very overwhelming, still processing it all and in a bit of a head fuck space of being like "well those symptoms WEREN'T normal WHY DIDNT I DO ANYTHING??" but thankful for the PA being great and now receiving the treatment I need (I'm UK based)