MRI Scan...

Today was my last hospital appointment until after Christmas and I spent it in the radiology department having an MRI Scan. I wasnt that nervous about this one as I thought it would just be laying down in a tunnel for a little while.  The only part that scared me was the unknown injection of dye that I knew I would be getting. When it comes to injections I am fine getting a cannula, they hurt a little but I can get over that and I'm happy knowing I dont have to keep having needles, but for this i wasn't sure if a cannula was an option.  For anyone who is having an MRI and is hoping I will say something good about it like 'it was fine!' stop reading now! I would hate to put fear into someone like I have had done on some Crohns blogs but honestly, I thought the whole thing was awful. 
It started with a half 8 appointment which I couldn't eat or drink anything for 6 hours before, that part was fine as I wasn't hungry anyway. When we arrived the nurses were lovely, I was allowed to keep all my clothes on as they didn't have any metal or zips (so wear leggings if you can instead of jeans and try to wear a jumper). Then it got unpleasant. I was given a big jug of liquid to drink which was a warm thick consistency and was told to drink it In 45 mins. The first cup was fine but after that it became undrinkable and I found myself heaving back into cup. I only managed half and although the nurses were unsure that it was enough the MRI went ahead fine anyway. I was taken into a room where they went through a list of questions which could prevent me from going any further like have you had heart surgery etc. I answered no to all except one which was about intimate piercings. I have my belly done and I did have a ring in my ear which were fine to take out, however I also have had my nipple pierced since march and still can't get it out. It is very much stuck. They warned me about the chances of it heating up and even said they had a belly bar burn someone before but I didn't really have a choice but to go in anyway. 
The machine is smaller than I thought but still very intimating and not comfy to lay on. They did some test scans first to see where the liquid was but saw it wasn't down enough so I had to go to the toilet and walk around for abit. When I went back the test began. Although they give you headphones the noise is extremely loud and pulsing and very scary when you are in a small space. The space really is tiny, the roof of the scanner is right infront of your eyes. All I could think about was the injection and the piercing which made me upset and the whole process a lot worse. After a few tests they took me out and inserted a cannula (massive relief!) which calmed me down, I could also lay on my front which meant I couldn't see the ceiling. I was given some dye injections and a muscle relaxant and told it might make my eyes bit funny after which sure enough it did, I couldn't see infront of me! After the cannula was removed I was allowed to leave but it has been a bad day and I've felt unwell for most of it. I hope this hasn't scare anyone and looking back I could have had worse things done but if I had to choose I would have a colonoscopy any day!

A month on Meds

On Saturday it will have been a month since I came out of hospital where I was diagnosed with Crohns and things are definitely much better! I'm having more good days than bad and some days when I forget i'm even ill at all. I've been able to go and visit Coventry which I didn't think I would manage for awhile but its also shown me that I do need to take it easy and i'm not as strong as I was before. I get tired quickly and my legs ache but I hope that when I come back to University in January I will be able to cope. Since coming out of hospital I've been on some medication which I think has been working for me. These are Entocort which I take 3 capsules but will only be 2 next month, 1 capsule of Omeprazole and 2 Adcal tablets (my new prescription is for tutti-fruiti flavour!)  All the tablets are fine but its taken some time to get used to not being able to eat an hour after I've taken them! It means getting up an hour before I want to eat breakfast! 

Hopefully i'm going back to see the gastroenterologist in a couple of weeks and then I have an MRI scan on Friday and that will be it until the new year which is exciting. I can see in myself the progress I've made, not just with how much better I feel but how well I can cope with things. I was terrified of needles and couldn't get a blood test but now the thought doesn't scare me, I might even look into giving blood! Things are definitely looking up! 

Crohns

I wasn't sure about whether to write about Crohns or not, partly because it hasn't really sunk in yet and partly because I actually don't know that much information about it. It was two weeks yesterday since I came out of hospital- my first proper time in there (very scary!) but my problems started around 6 months ago. I'd just moved into my new uni house, got a new job and was very happy with how everything was going. I don't think I was stressed but looking back I probably was. This was when I started having 'issues' but I ignored them for a few months. I went to the doctors at home and he told me I would need a blood test but at the time I was so scared of needles I didn't want to get it done. SO stupid! If anyone else is in that situation then seriously don't wait, I cant believe i've been dealing with it for such a long time. 
Then the pain in my stomach started and I became really tired all the time. I started uni again and eventually it became too much so I went back to the doctors in Coventry and he was so helpful. He felt my stomach and asked me lots more questions and I was sent away for samples and a blood test which I did! That was a proud moment and now I don't know what I was worried about. The results came back and showed there was inflammation and my doctor referred me to the hospital to have more tests. The only problem was the appointment wasn't until December 5th - 6 weeks away! I carried on for another week but started being sick a lot, I weighed myself and I had lost a stone in about 3 weeks. One weekend I couldn't keep any food down so I went back to the doctors where I saw yet another doctor. He told me to get another blood test to see any changes and tried to bring my appointment at the hospital forward. The next day I got a phone call from him saying I needed to be admitted to hospital straight away, the inflammation had got worse ( I think?) and I was now anaemic from my lack of food. The thought of being in a hospital in Coventry on my own terrified me so I went home the next day and then on the Friday morning mum took me to hospital.  
In hospital I had a colonoscopy (very weird!) and they diagnosed me with crohns and I was put on steroids to bring down the inflammation. There were blood tests every day and early mornings for medicine. I had a cannula which was scary to look at but meant that the injections could go in there. Apart from the one for blood clots which was horrible until they told me to put it in the leg then it was fine! I couldn't wait to get out of there and since i've been home i've felt so much better. I still take the steroids and I will be back in the hospital soon for another MRI scan and a further colonoscopy. The thought that I have something now that cant be cured is scary and I don't really know whats going to happen in the future but at the moment I feel great and cant wait to get back to normal!