When I started to research on Crohns I was very surprised at the different idea’s put forward as to causes, and the support available via Medication, intervention,diet etc. So I thought it more reasonable to write about my own experience’s with the disease as I think most people will be able to relate to at least some experience’s that they may have had.
I did not realise as a child that I was ill with this disease, but I do remember very clearly sitting on the toilet for an awful long time and Mother shouting to ask if I was writing my last will and testimony!
My teeth as a child were just black stumps especially my front ones. I know my Mum said she would be glad when my Baby teeth had gone and I was encouraged to tie cotton round and slam the door to get them out. I naturally declined and waited until the horrid things fell out. It didn’t help matters that my elder Sister had a beautiful set of pearly whites.
I remember sometimes being doubled over with pain in my stomach but never questioned it as I thought every bodies tummy hurt. As a young child recognising that pain is not the Norm, is difficult if you have never know otherwise about the age of six onwards until about ten years of age, I had large spots or pustials keep coming up on my arms and legs which I dreaded as Mum would get a bowl of boiled hot water and squeeze them!I was constantly taken to the Doctor who always said I was anaemic, and I was duly dosed with an Iron tonic which always made me heave and the thought of it to this day still makes me heave!
In my teenage years I constantly had ulcers in my mouth sometimes for weeks at a time and I remember being off work for two weeks when they were particularly bad. I have always made an effort to keep and preserve the teeth I have as its very important for your ongoing health.
I hated Red meat and still don’t eat much of it, and Lamb which although I like the taste, I can still only eat a little. Pork is still not good for me but I do love Bacon but it has to be cooked really crisp. I did and still do however,like Liver as long as it is cooked in a casserole especially with Tomatoes. I love all sorts of Vegetables and Chicken, Turkey, pheasant etc. and adore cheese but find I can’t stomach it at night,apart from goats cheese. I love nuts and always eat muesli with a Banana in the mornings I eat Butter (demi sel) but not emulsified fat but use Sunflower margarine or oil for cooking and lots of olive oil. I don’t take Sugar and never drink Coffee accept maybe twice a year after a big meal, as I find that it is quickly rejected by my body, but I do like Cake! I make a fruit loaf without fat, full of dried fruit soaked in tea which is also very good at keeping me healthy. I also find that the bread and flour we buy here in France suits my body better as it is made from Soft Wheat and more easily digested.
I don’t much like Fresh orange’s as these can sometimes give me migraine which started at about 12 years of age, but funnily, Marmalade is OK. I also have a B12 injection every eight weeks.
My Grandmother used to say that I was always tickle stomached! But that Granddad was too, who I never met as he died when my Mother was a little girl. We believe that Granddad probably had Crohns.
When I was in my 23rd year, I had a cyst on my ovary which combined with diarrhoea led to me being in Hospital for six weeks, then convalescent for another six weeks. I still continued to loose weight and had every test in 1970 that you can imagine including barium meals ans enema X-rays. It was then decided that I had an allergy to Milk and never drank Milk after that, until 1992. I drank Soya milk instead. I managed in my 30th year to have my daughter and then went on to have twins with which I was given calcium tablets as it was realised that I was very low in Calcium. I had dreadful fissures after they were born, but nothing was ever investigated. I went on to have two more children but was poorly after my youngest was born in 1988. in 1990/91I started to not be able to keep food down and had a lot of pain in my Stomach and bowels,and it was supposed, that there was a problem with lesions from the site of the cystectomy I had had years before. I was then told no you have Crohns disease and then not given any explanation! But two weeks later I was back in Hospital for an Operation to be fitted with a Stoma bag, but I had a really good surgeon who managed to cut out the blockage which was at the junction of the large and small bowel and then pull the intestine round and rejoin. I was told to go away and eat whatever I liked (including Milk) and just leave alone anything which upset me. I remained well for a number of years with no Consultancy visits at all.
I have kept well until 2008, when I landed back in Hospital here in France. I had ulcerated around the site of the section done in 1991. I now have to have a Colon; Coloscopy every year to check that everything is good. The French system always works on Prevention Rather than emergency intervention. I remain fairly well, although I now have associated illness’s which include Arthritis and osteoporosis in my back, knees, and wrists so I have started vitamin D treatment with regular blood tests to help stop the advancement of this painful condition. I have had painful inflammation of my knees and surrounding muscles for a number of years again associated with Crohns.
The French Doctors are adamant that this illness is a hereditary wild card, and as my eldest Daughter,(Who I had very young) has this disease and also my niece, I tend to agree with them.
I hope this personal account is helpful to you and if you still need help Please search for a national body associated with Crohns in your area for support.