27th Feb 2011
It’s been 6 weeks since my diagnoses of Crohn's disease, although I have been suffering for many months prior to that.
What is Crohn’s: an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also referred to as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. The swelling extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. Ref: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK
Crohn’s has decided to “invade” my ileum and the inflammation has almost blocked that part of my small intestine, secondarily resulting in a fistula (hole in the intestine wall.) I’ve been having the standard medical treatment of steroids etc but unfortunately they have not worked to reduce the inflammation so the only option left is surgery.
With this blog I aim to chart my progress through pre-treatment, surgery to remove infected bowel, post surgery recovery, a second operation, stoma corrective surgery and finally my inclusion in new two year drug trial which is meant to stop Crohn’s returning once surgery has removed the infected bowel.