I am not taking any medication and i am not on a diet for my crohn's i have had it for 4 years now. I have flare ups frequently and a lot of pain. I guess i am scared, my doctor scared me last time i was there. I need some advice on what to do. Do you have any?
5/ 5/08 8:19pm
Mel22,
I'm sorry to hear you're having frequent flare-ups of your Crohns, and that you aren't feeling comfortable with your current doctor. It may be time for you to find a new doctor, with whom you can have a more comfortable, honest relationship. A doctor/patient relationship isn't unlike a relationship we have with friends or co-workers. Some people we see eye-to-eye with and feel comfortable with and others we just don't. It sounds like this is the time for you to seeka new GI doctor - you need to find someone who you can really 'talk' to and be honest with, especially if what they are saying is confusing you or making you feel scared. Ask family, friends, neighbors, etc. if they have a GI who they feel confident in.
Since you are having frequent flare-ups of your Crohn's it is important to see a doctor to discuss treatment options. It could be possible that by not treating the flare-ups you are having rebound symptoms that are causing the frequent recurrence and possible worsening of your symptoms.
It's up to you to find a doctor who you can work with, do it today.
Good luck,
Elizabeth
5/ 6/08 5:39am
Crohn's is scary, no doubt about it. It is life long. It is life changing. It isn't going away, and ignoring it isn't going to make it better. Your body is talking to you and telling you it needs your attention. The scariest part about Crohn's is that it takes away your sense of control -- you never know when you might get a flare-up or pain or what to do. Luckily there are things you can do in your daily life -- diet and exercise -- and things you can decide to do with your doctor, especially medication to make living with Crohn's better. Plan out small steps for what you want to do -- figuring out which foods or stress points trigger flare-ups, make an appointment with a doctor, look for questions you want to ask on-line (http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/living-with.html?ic=4026), bring a friend or relative to the doctor with you (who can help give you moral support and make sure you aren't intimidated by the doctor). There's probably almost nothing worse than a Crohn's exam, then the doctor pulls off their glove and starts to talk to you about what's going on. You're sitting there thinking, whoa, let me get my dignity back for a minute and then I'll talk with you. It's important to set boundaries with the doctor. They are busy, I'm sure, but it's also your life! I hope your situation starts getting better.
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