So mad at myself. *Horrible* ER experience.

[Stella_luna]

I have had a horrible few years health-wise. Long story short, after 3 bowel obstructions last year and lots of testing, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The testing involved 2 CT scans and while hospitalized with the obstructions I had at least 20 chest/abdomen X-rays. I also had to have two horrible barium X-ray studies. I have been hysterical worrying about all the radiation since then.

So I had surgery on Feb. 4 to remove a portion of damaged bowel. I also had to start a new medication that often causes pancreatitis. Two nights ago, I woke up with excruciating pain and nausea. My GI doctor ordered me to go to the ER, which my husband insisted we do, even though I fought him on it. I KNEW what would happen. I *KNEW* that I would be talked into more studies and that nothing serious would be wrong. Sure enough, the stupid ER doctor wanted to do a chesdt/abdomen X-ray series and CT scan. I refused. She brought in a team of doctors who browbeat me into the test by threatening that I could have all these horrible problems that they needed the scans to test. My husband called my sister (a doctor) and she yelled at me to take the tests. I was worn down by that point by hours of extreme pain and being drugged up on pain meds. So I should have walked out, but
wound up succumbing to the pressure.

Oh, and they did it without contrast, whcih my GI doctor was horrified by. He said you can't see anything on a CT scan wiothout contrast, ansd referred to it as a total waste.

Of course nothing was found. It turns out my bowels were partially obstructed as they are moving slowly after the surgery. I just ate too much fiber the day before.

I am SO, SO MAD. I am going to get cancer, and for nothing. I *KNEW* there was nothing seriously wrong! Whay can't I just stick to my guns under pressure? I am a G%^&$*(#^mn IDIOT, and I hate that I let this happen to me. I will have cancer *AND* Crohn's, because I am a wimp. Unbelieveable.

[Purple*Lotus]

I am so sorry that happened to you

[mbbinsc]

So sorry that you had that experience.

[Penny4Them]

(((HUGS)))) You know, even though you were exposed to these machines, I believe that exercise and diet AND the way we emotionally internalize the things that happen to us are equally as important in the body's natural ability to fight or promote cancer. The people who you honored by finally agreeing to the tests love you and/or were really concerned about you, that's why they were so emphatic. They didn't want to hurt you.

I doubt that your body will develop cancer due to these tests. Since you are so upset about it, perhaps you can switch your focus from the future possibility of becoming ill, to what you can contol right now,today. Perhaps focusing on feeling gratitude to your loved ones who cared so much about you, and on changing your diet to help decrease the possibility of future obstructions would make you feel in control again. By creating these things now, you may reduce any possible damage done to you by the machines.

I share these ideas with you from my own experience. In the past I often felt pressured by my family when I was sick (many er visits due to fibromyalgia, migraines, high bp). Personally I wanted to find blame for my illness. When my mental state improved, my physical body improved dramatically.

I hope this helps to lift you and to stop worrying. You are so blessed to have a dh and sister who love you. You have their love for sure right now.

[MountainMamaGC]

I am a fellow crohnie who is recovering from the medical system. Please be careful. I have many medical interventions and they didnt really help and in some cases made me a lot worse off. It may take a long time to find out what works but I really do believe that diet, herbs and probiotics can heal a crohnie.

-I have been hospitalized many times for flares.
-I was told I would be sick forever
-I was told that diet and supplements would never help me
-I was pumped full of antibiotics that caused strep A to grow out of control
-I was pumped full of steroids that reduced my immunity and thinned out my tissues including my bowel
-A CT scan and x-rays failed to see an absess that I had developed
-I developed an abscess that caused my bowel to fall apart 2 days after being released from the hospital.
-I went septic and almost died.
-I had 18 inches removed and a colostomy. Then I had to get the colostomy reversed.
-Shortly after that while on the same medications I developed another serious infection and almost needed another colostomy.
A few months after that I weaned my self off all medication, started eating whole foods and went into remission for almsot 4 years.

I am currently flaring again as after 4 years I started thinking I could relax about what I ate. I am currently trying to figure out what I can take and cut out of my diet to heal me, but unless I have a fever with signs of serious infection, I will never take their meds ever again. Currently I have been wheat and dairy free for almost 4 days and the hard inflammed lump of a colon I had is finally cooling off and no longer tender to the touch. I know I can heal myself. If I had 4 healthy years, then I can do it again.

Dont be mad at yourself or them. Its easy to get desparate when you suffer the way you do with crohns. I have been in terrible pain, and starving myself so I can get a couple days of relief here and there. Its easy to get desparate. Also "they" really believe they are helping you. They did not have ill intention when it came to your health. They dont know any better.

I feel weak and pathetic too. Some days I cry and cry. My daughter cries with me and I am sorry that she has to see that. Its ok to cry, its ok to feel defeated. Just as long as you pick yourself up afterward and keep moving forward. Laugh, its good for you. Buy a yoga video, it'll teach you how to breath through the pain. Go to an ND and get some allergy and live blood analysis done. Keep trying and never give up. Immuran did help me a bit after all my surgeries but I was picking up every single bug and infection so I had to stop. I did maintain my remission for 4 years so its possible. Next time I will remain vigilant with what I allow into my body. I just gotta get back to where I was.

[iamme]

Originally Posted by Stella_luna

I have had a horrible few years health-wise. Long story short, after 3 bowel obstructions last year and lots of testing, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The testing involved 2 CT scans and while hospitalized with the obstructions I had at least 20 chest/abdomen X-rays. I also had to have two horrible barium X-ray studies. I have been hysterical worrying about all the radiation since then.

So I had surgery on Feb. 4 to remove a portion of damaged bowel. I also had to start a new medication that often causes pancreatitis. Two nights ago, I woke up with excruciating pain and nausea. My GI doctor ordered me to go to the ER, which my husband insisted we do, even though I fought him on it. I KNEW what would happen. I *KNEW* that I would be talked into more studies and that nothing serious would be wrong. Sure enough, the stupid ER doctor wanted to do a chesdt/abdomen X-ray series and CT scan. I refused. She brought in a team of doctors who browbeat me into the test by threatening that I could have all these horrible problems that they needed the scans to test. My husband called my sister (a doctor) and she yelled at me to take the tests. I was worn down by that point by hours of extreme pain and being drugged up on pain meds. So I should have walked out, but
wound up succumbing to the pressure.

Oh, and they did it without contrast, whcih my GI doctor was horrified by. He said you can't see anything on a CT scan wiothout contrast, ansd referred to it as a total waste.

Of course nothing was found. It turns out my bowels were partially obstructed as they are moving slowly after the surgery. I just ate too much fiber the day before.

I am SO, SO MAD. I am going to get cancer, and for nothing. I *KNEW* there was nothing seriously wrong! Whay can't I just stick to my guns under pressure? I am a G%^&$*(#^mn IDIOT, and I hate that I let this happen to me. I will have cancer *AND* Crohn's, because I am a wimp. Unbelieveable.

I'm so, so sorry. Sending you many hugs, healing vibes and prayers. I, too, am a chronic invisible disease survivor, and deal with medical-induced PTSD. I have dealt with this for over 20 yrs and I can assure you that even with all my ER experience under my "belt", I could still end up in the ER w/ a horrific experience.

I've had 12" of my bowel removed, and sometimes will get pain in the area-I believe due to scar tissue inflammation on nerves.

Be gentle on yourself. If it were me, I would direct my anger toward the bullying ER team-they performed tests on you w/o contrast-that is ridiculous and you have every right to file a formal complaint with the hospital. ER docs are *notorious* for having horrible bedside manners, and ordering unnecessary tests. They often see the worst and usually treat a challenging situation as life-threatening.

Because you are new to this, may I suggest you have a plan in place with your dh? Guidelines as to when to call your doc, pre-ER care plans(similar to birth plans),etc..

Let yourself be angry for a short time, learn from your experience, and direct your anger toward a system that thrives on bullying the most vulnerable.

Originally Posted by Lydiah

I am a fellow crohnie who is recovering from the medical system. Please be careful. I have many medical interventions and they didnt really help and in some cases made me a lot worse off. It may take a long time to find out what works but I really do believe that diet, herbs and probiotics can heal a crohnie.

-I have been hospitalized many times for flares.
-I was told I would be sick forever
-I was told that diet and supplements would never help me
-I was pumped full of antibiotics that caused strep A to grow out of control
-I was pumped full of steroids that reduced my immunity and thinned out my tissues including my bowel
-A CT scan and x-rays failed to see an absess that I had developed
-I developed an abscess that caused my bowel to fall apart 2 days after being released from the hospital.
-I went septic and almost died.
-I had 18 inches removed and a colostomy. Then I had to get the colostomy reversed.
-Shortly after that while on the same medications I developed another serious infection and almost needed another colostomy.
A few months after that I weaned my self off all medication, started eating whole foods and went into remission for almsot 4 years.

I am currently flaring again as after 4 years I started thinking I could relax about what I ate. I am currently trying to figure out what I can take and cut out of my diet to heal me, but unless I have a fever with signs of serious infection, I will never take their meds ever again. Currently I have been wheat and dairy free for almost 4 days and the hard inflammed lump of a colon I had is finally cooling off and no longer tender to the touch. I know I can heal myself. If I had 4 healthy years, then I can do it again.

Dont be mad at yourself or them. Its easy to get desparate when you suffer the way you do with crohns. I have been in terrible pain, and starving myself so I can get a couple days of relief here and there. Its easy to get desparate. Also "they" really believe they are helping you. They did not have ill intention when it came to your health. They dont know any better.

I feel weak and pathetic too. Some days I cry and cry. My daughter cries with me and I am sorry that she has to see that. Its ok to cry, its ok to feel defeated. Just as long as you pick yourself up afterward and keep moving forward. Laugh, its good for you. Buy a yoga video, it'll teach you how to breath through the pain. Go to an ND and get some allergy and live blood analysis done. Keep trying and never give up. Immuran did help me a bit after all my surgeries but I was picking up every single bug and infection so I had to stop. I did maintain my remission for 4 years so its possible. Next time I will remain vigilant with what I allow into my body. I just gotta get back to where I was.

I am so, so sorry. You've been through so much, too. I hear your strength, and greatly admire you for continuing to fight the good fight! It's great that you are so determined to retain your health, even though it is soooo hard. My oldest went through a lot with me, and it did have a negative affect on her eventually-but that is life and i did the best I could with my circumstances. I can only take each day at a time-as can you.

I see we disagree about how to handle anger toward the medical system. I only suggested that, as the GI specialist said it was useless-therefore it is justified to file a complaint-and to not have to pay $.

to BOTH of you!!

[MountainMamaGC]

Originally Posted by iamme

I'm so, so sorry. Sending you many hugs, healing vibes and prayers. I, too, am a chronic invisible disease survivor, and deal with medical-induced PTSD. I have dealt with this for over 20 yrs and I can assure you that even with all my ER experience under my "belt", I could still end up in the ER w/ a horrific experience.

I've had 12" of my bowel removed, and sometimes will get pain in the area-I believe due to scar tissue inflammation on nerves.

Be gentle on yourself. If it were me, I would direct my anger toward the bullying ER team-they performed tests on you w/o contrast-that is ridiculous and you have every right to file a formal complaint with the hospital. ER docs are *notorious* for having horrible bedside manners, and ordering unnecessary tests. They often see the worst and usually treat a challenging situation as life-threatening.

Because you are new to this, may I suggest you have a plan in place with your dh? Guidelines as to when to call your doc, pre-ER care plans(similar to birth plans),etc..

Let yourself be angry for a short time, learn from your experience, and direct your anger toward a system that thrives on bullying the most vulnerable.



I am so, so sorry. You've been through so much, too. I hear your strength, and greatly admire you for continuing to fight the good fight! It's great that you are so determined to retain your health, even though it is soooo hard. My oldest went through a lot with me, and it did have a negative affect on her eventually-but that is life and i did the best I could with my circumstances. I can only take each day at a time-as can you.

I see we disagree about how to handle anger toward the medical system. I only suggested that, as the GI specialist said it was useless-therefore it is justified to file a complaint-and to not have to pay $.

to BOTH of you!!

Thank you for that. There is something healing about just knowing that you arent alone and that other mamas have been there too. Dont get me wrong I was very angry. I think the whole medical system is really messed up. I compare it to a car with an oil leak. They dont fix the leak they give you oil and tell you to top it up the rest of your life. Consider yourself lucky if you even get oil, some cars get topped up with antifreeze. Its a totally backwards way of dealing with health. Trauma care is their specialty. I trust them with that and thats pretty much it. I dont even do WBV. I do have some kind of PTSD too. I get really agitated if I have to go to the doctor and some days when it hurts I have flash backs of those horrible surgeries. I dont feel I am in good hands at the doctors, the trust is gone. Anger is bad for the digestion so I try not to stay angry.

[csekywithlove]

Hang in there. I know it's rough. :::

[newmum35]

please do search on "modifilan radiation"

This is a natural seaweed supplement that absorbs radiation from the body!


You might want to also research detox and radiation for other ideas (just came across one here that might help) but I've used this specific product in the past and it came to mind.