Crushing Fatigue and Pain

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Crushing Fatigue and Pain
31
Sun, 08-21-2005 - 2:45am

I have not been on this board in weeks. All winter I was doing tests and trying to find the best solutions for my Crohn's and the crushing fatigue and pain from my waste down to my ankles. The miracle drug Remicade that I had fought for so long, that my insurance denied me four times, has not yet helped me in any appreciable manner. Actually I was able to get off my other Crohn's drugs and finally the prednisone so maybe it has helped the Crohn's symptoms. But I was left with the arthritis pain, the spine, hips, legs, knees (oh god, the knees) and ankles and oddly my wrists. The fatifue from the constant pain, the Vicoden, the Tylenol (with Crohn's I am very limited in the anti inflammatories I can ingest) was making my life a non life. I felt like staying in bed all the time. BUT I have a job Monday through Friday, I am my sole support, my grandson is 6 and I have had him often, with my son courting his second wife and planning their marriage and now honeymoon. I could not continue as I was. So I started on 10 mgs of prednisone again, to get through the wedding in California where the girl's parents live (we live in Seattle), the time and attention needed for my grandson and meeting all the new people, seeing my own family again who lives in California.


So I am back on the prednisone and also was prescribed Wellbutrin which was really helpful. My god, I feel so much better! I have even lost 15 of the 25 pounds I gained over the winter because Wellbutrin leaves me with no appetite. I actually feel like doing things again and I need to feel like that because I am moving in a month to be near my son and his new wife's new home so I can continue to be a part of my grandson's life and the new babies that will come.


I am just venting here but maybe someone will get something from the Wellbutrin thing. I know all these drugs are so individual. One will help one person and not another. My biggest disappointment was the Remicade. But as I said, perhaps it has helped my Crohn's symptoms as I rarely have them, only occasionally.


I had been so depressed over the winter, losing my body shape, losing my energy, losing hope. And now I have come to terms with the fact that I may never get my body shape as it was but it can be better and it is. I may never feel like I did, never have that energy again. But I am better than I was last year at this time. It has been a year this month that I had my first huge Crohn's flares and was hospitalized three times and found my wonderful GI doc who has helped me so much. He is the one who said Wellbutrin has shown to help Crohn's.


Maybe I am on the wrong board here. But I like you guys on this board so hope you don't mind hearing me rant again.


Going back to bed now.


Donna
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2005
Thu, 08-25-2005 - 5:34pm

Sue, Amy talked me into watching this season's Big Brother. It is so time consuming!!! I do like it though and dh is hooked too!!! Heehee!!! Isn't most TV trashy??? ;o)

How are you feeling?

Hugs,
Vicki

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2005
Thu, 08-25-2005 - 5:39pm

Heehee!!!! Molly, I was a big Eric fan too. I must have voted 100 times trying to get him voted back into the house!! LOL

Hugs,
Vicki

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Thu, 08-25-2005 - 7:22pm
Vicki!!

Molly

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Thu, 08-25-2005 - 11:36pm

Wow, funny how I was a Kaysar fan and voted a million times to get him back in the house. He was the smartest player but he made a huge mistake taking his finger off the button and believing that little lying Biach Jennifer. So blame me for Kaysar getting back on BB. This is the first time I have watched it.

Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 1:33pm
DONNA!!!!!

Molly

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 3:47pm

Yeah, it was me. And I am rooting for James to win because he is playing the best. I wondered last night if he even blew the HOH on purpose as strategy so he would not have to select someone for nomination. He is one smart cookie.


I know what you mean about Howie. He is such a big kid you gotta like the guy. Sometimes his behavior is just so off the wall he is just plain entertaining. I can handle his anger which is like a big kid. Erick scared me with his violent type of anger which is why I didn't like him.


Survivor is my favorite too. I cannot stand to watch Fear Factor and eating all that awful stuff. Yuck! But I do get into the Amazing Race, although why it wins the Emmy every year instead of Survivor which is the grandaddy of all reality shows, stuns me every year.


Okay, everyone is really going HUHH??? now. :-)


Donna
Donna
Avatar for donnaldy59
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2001
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 4:14pm

Awe Donna you had a lousy time of it haven't you!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 5:19pm

I'm hooked on the Amazing Race--to the point that my DH has to tape it when I am out-of-town just in case I can't watch it. I even had the greatest dream about being on the show once--my best friend and I as a team. It was the last leg of the race and we had to get from Moscow to San Francisco. We won! But not before much trial and tribulation. I was exhausted from my travels the next day.

I'm not much of a TV person, but for some reason, really enjoy that show.

Rosemary

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 8:25pm

Sounds like you should be on it. Remember last year all the varying types and ages of people on there?


I just got into it last year I think. I saw part of the one before that but I really watched all of last season's show.


I have Tivo which I don't know how I could do without now. I just let it record the series things I want to watch every week and I don't have to worry. Then I can delete it just as easy if I end up watching it or I can watch it again if I want to anytime.


Survivor startes Sept 15 and I can't wait!


Donna
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Fri, 08-26-2005 - 8:29pm

That is one of the side effects I am really enjoying, the appetitie suppressing of Wellbutrin. I had gained so much over the winter with the higher doses of prednisone I was on the whole time. So this is really nice, losing 10 pounds or more already. I have to actually make myself eat.


I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I lost mine to cancer ten years ago this Sept. and my father 4 years before that to cancer also. Not in the lung but it all ends up there I guess if you have it long enough. I hope you have someone to support you as you support your mother through this time. We are all here of course so let us know how you feel and what is happening if you like. I can relate.

Donna