Medical
-
My Appointment with Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology in Scottsdale, Arizona
After the last few weeks have been less than ideal for me, I felt like I needed a change. I felt let down by my doctor’s office and their lack of taking my reports of pain and struggle seriously. I felt helpless, a little, and hopeless. I read a book recently that discussed Body Grief, Continue reading
-
Stuck Between A Rock and a Hospital Place
Well, things have gone downhill since my last post. After starting Prednisone two weeks ago, nothing got better. Nothing. Unlike my last flare-up, I didn’t respond at all to the steroids at all. I tried reaching out to my doctor’s office a week ago to see what else we could do, and, because my timing Continue reading
-
Flaring Up
Until late September, I was feeling great. Better than I had been in years. The Inflectra/Remicade infusions were doing what they were supposed to do, and after some gentle advocating for myself, even dealing with the infusion center wasn’t so stressful anymore. I was working out, sometimes twice a day. I was able to get Continue reading
-
On Advocating For Yourself (Even if You’re a People Pleaser)
What you probably don’t know about me, because, well, you don’t know me, is I’m a chronic people pleaser. It comes out often in social settings, but, surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly) it comes out in medical settings too. The first doctor I saw who diagnosed me with Crohn’s laughed at me when I asked him Continue reading
-
My Introduction to Inflectra
Well, long time no talk. There’s a lot to catch up on. So, let’s jump in! After my last Humira dose on Christmas day, the welting persisted. I reached out to my doctor’s office to let my gastro know I still had the issue even with the dermatologist’s prescription and she immediately put in a Continue reading
-
Trouble in Humiradise
Okay, I’m back with a three-month update since starting Humira. I’ve got good news and bad news. First, the good news! Humira is working! My inflammation markers are all down into the normal range except calprotectin which is much, much lower than it was before. So, yay! I’m feeling better, eating more, and gaining weight. Continue reading
-
The Humira Road So Far
It has been seven weeks since I started Humira and I’m finally noticing some changes. To catch you up, here’s what has happened since my first dose. For my second dose around a month ago, a nurse with Humira scheduled a video call with me to go over tips and tricks with me. I prepped Continue reading
-
My First Thursday with Humira
Welp, I’m officially immune suppressed. Yay! My experience with starting Humira was a bit of a whirlwind, a mostly administrative one. I went for a follow-up with my doctor after my last colonoscopy in July where we saw continuing inflammation in my esophagus, stomach, and colon despite taking Mesalamine. So, after waiting six weeks for Continue reading
-
My Diagnosis with Crohn’s Disease (Probably)
Before I get into the nitty gritty, just a warning at the front: I don’t believe in TMI. Not really. At least, I don’t anymore. Maybe I did before all of this, but I’ve had enough conversations about the consistency of my stool, driven one too many times with a container of it to the Continue reading
My Crohn's Diaries 