They had to give me a blood transfusion, which was gross because I still cant stand the sight of blood, but it helped a lot. I have the Crohn’s in the most common area but in other places as well. They gave me something I never heard of before: A PICC line. It’s a long term IV line, but it’s inserted in the upper arm just below the armpit and it goes all the way into your chest just before the heart. It hurt at first, but my other IV’s kept blowing out, so they felt this would be better. I didn’t eat all week. They put me on TPN (I called it imaginary food). It helped as I didn’t lose too much weight.
When I first arrived at the ER, my blood count was all weird. My white cells were way up and hemoglobin was way way down. My blood pressure was 75/43. My body temp was 96 degrees, and my heart rate was steady. They gave me morphine! Can you tell I like morphine? lol.
First test was a CT scan and it showed the Crohn’s right away. Second test, another CT scan but lower this time to see if there was any more active infections. Third test, Upper GI showed active Crohn’s, they called it. Then came the surgery, infection handled, all went well.
They gave me lots of meds in the hospital and even more to take when I got home, about 30 pills a day. *eyeroll* No baths only showers, low residue diet…ew, moderate bed-rest. Here’s the one that got me! Abstain from tobacco…yeah right. lol. Follow up with GI appointment, surgeon in a week. Start Remicade treatments soon. Oh yeah, the only good thing aside from finally being diagnosed: Morphine…lol. Have I mentioned how wonderful morphine is when your in excruciating pain? That’s all. ;)