Brand new, out of the box

[Megs28]

I’ve been feeling unwell for months, being looked at funny, implying that I can’t handle the pressure or that I’m close to a mental breakdown. Coming home crying after a huge amount of effort to get out of bed that morning.

Struggling with allergies, that tingling feeling in your face, the fact that you can’t walk out the front door without squinting your eyes because you’re suddenly sensitive to the light. Your heart constantly beating. You’re losing an alarming amount of weight. You struggle to get out of bed but when you do you feel a bit more human but by the end of the day you’re exhausted - you’re constantly fatigued, you can’t fall asleep at night and you’re wondering if they are right - maybe I am reaching brunout.

Go to a GP get handed a box of lexamil and sleeping tablets - huge mistake. I don’t have a mental illness.

Go to an integral functional medicine doctor and everything becomes more clear - blood tests have shown that you’re severly iron deficient, your body isn’t absorbing nurtrients (why), your deficient in Vitamin D too; next thing to do is go for a colonoscopy, endoscopy, biopsy for celiacs and an ultrasound on your thryoid.

I went for my procedure and seeing the surgeon next week Friday, but he chatted briefly to my mom while I was still passed out. Apparently it’s not good, I’ve been in flare-up mode for months and I’ve realized that I’ve had symptoms for years.

Currently the right side of my colon is super agro, leaky and inflamed which is clearly stopping me from absorbing nutrients. I’m not sure what the next step would be for me, and reading up on the types of steroids and the their side effects concerns me.

It turns out that I will need to go for a biopsy on my thryoid as well. Is there anyone out there that has or knows someone that has this similar issue?

[Munchkinfeet]

Aw you poor love x I am you, gut and fatigue-wise, except I am still awaiting my endoscopy and colonoscopy, and I think my thyroid is ok. Lots of sympathy here.

I have been ill for months and now in limbo on amitriptyline for pain until I get my scopes. Feel for you, and anyone else going through this x

[SORRELHIPPO]

I felt a lot of what you mention prior to my Crohn's diagnosis, yes probs with B12, Vit D, and also massive wt loss, I needed rehydration sachets also to help with keeping body salts level. I did improve with treatment. Do not worry about meds. if you have a bad reaction to one, there are others. Also Prednisolone can have a bad reputation, however it worked for me, kept me going, also if you are prepared for how it may affect you mentally, not so much of an issue. I have lived with this since I was mid 30's now 66, after 5 years managed to work again part time for 15 years. Prednisolone was responsible for what I managed to do, so I considered the days of "speedy gonzales" and " very blue" worth it.

[FRreedman]

Reading your post took me back many, many years (53). It was like looking at my own medical records. Okay so now you reckon, well, at least I ain't gonna die for a while. My diagnosis was Crohn's disease, I was put on prednisolone, (I actually think I was part of the trial) but couldn't tolerate it. I was then tried on many, many drugs, some of which are used today and a lot more that aren't. I have had numerous resections, but for the most part I am not doing badly. I have regular Vitamin D, and B12, I am on Azathioprine and Pentasa. Currently I am having to take many laxatives, because I am on Morphine for a completely ( they say) non related condition. My life, on the whole has been worthwhile, I've had ups and downs (probably more ups), I've got a family and at 62, I am fairly content with my life. Remember many people have suffered to allow you and me to use the drugs that are now available to ease this bitch of a disease, but at least we are still around to bitch about it. The doctors are pretty good these days, they will give you a diagnosis and a prognosis, if you want it.