| It all started out in the spring of 1999. I was 15 years old, a sophmore in high school, and just recently returned from a family vacation from Florida. I had a terrific time in Florida, but it was the days after the trip when I started having trouble. I had quite a few nasty cramps, the type that makes a person double over with, and I was constantly running to the bathroom at least once an hour, sometimes more. I started to lose weight, and overall just didn't feel good. As all fifteeners know we are constantly worrying about everything - apperances, boys, hanging out with friends and mostly having fun. The last thing that we need is health problems, at least thats what I thought. Finally, my parents decided that they hated seeing me lose all the weight, it was close to 10 lbs. They brought me into the Urgent Care at our clinic at the time, and that doc started questioning me about everything...asking me at least about a million questions, (or at least it seemed too). My answers tipped him off that maybe I should see a GI doc. Since I was 15 at the time I had to see a pediatric GI doc, which frusterated me quite a bit. I thought that since I was 15 I should see an adult GI doc...but nope, oh well. I thought. We had to drive about an hour and a half to see this GI doc. The first time that I saw her we went to the clinic where she worked, my mom and I had to run to the restroom and my dad waited at the door. When we went to meet my dad the GI doc was there. The doctor wore the ugliest clothing. She wore huge glasses, her clothes didn't match, wore bright pink lip stick, needless to say...she didn't make that great of an impression on me. It turned out that she wasn't feeling the greatest and was going to leave early. She wasn't going to let us know that she was leaving, in other words we would have been waiting at the door for a while wondering where she went, if my dad wouldn't have caught her. My parents demanded that we see her, so that she can let us know what was going on with me. The four of us went to her up to her office. I was a sophmore when I got ill. My GI doctor at first didn't know what was wrong with me. So I got hospitalized. That was a lot of fun! (Just kidding) I wasn't able to eat or anything, due to the medical tests! I was put on Predinose and when I got out of the hospital my cheeks were puffy (side effect). That is not a good thing for a sophmore. Anyway my friends were very supportive to me and I owe them one. Thank you! I couldn't have done it with out you! A year goes by and I got a flare again that is not very fun. I lost a lot of weight. My GI doc I wasn't very impressed with. She had a thing about wearing very odd clothing. Ick! She also had a pair of glasses that did not complement her. Anyway when I was hospitalized the food wasn't very impressive either, but I was able to eat so that was good. It was much better than my first visit. In addition to eating I had an IV in with TPN. TPN is a bunch of nutrients given to you by an IV. I was hospitalized for about a week. I was so happy to get out of there. My parents fought a lot to get a recomendation to go to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion, because the meds that I was on were not working. So my parents and I drove down to Rochester. It was impressive. The receptionists gave me a pager instead of calling of my name they paged me. When I was there I saw two GI docs. The first checked me over and questioned me about everything. Then she left the room we were rather disapointed we thought that was it until a second doctor came in and started to talk with us she got right down to the point. She talked and gave us recommendations about different meds and thought that I shouldn't be on TPN if I am able to eat. She recommended that I be on Asulfazine instead of Pentasa and corrected my other meds. After that day I ended up having to go back to the hospital. We told the docs what she said and they corrected it and discharged me. I soon switched doctors and I feel fine ever since then. Oh sure I had bad days, but since I am on the right meds I have more good days than bad. Jumping to the present. I am a college student that is going to become a nurse. I was very impressed with the nurses that I had.They were quite something to be able to deal with the patients that didn't want to be there. One thing about school though...don't become stressed about school. Talk to your teachers if you have problems they are very helpful. So to everyone out there-you can do it just hang on, and smile! I have faith in you. :-D |