Embarrassing illnesses

lesleyh30

Hiya All
This is my first post on here. Been reading this thread with interest. I was diagnosed with Chrons 18 months ago and had a resection 5 months after diagnosis. Im pretty lucky cos Ive been well since then, just taking mesalazine now but was on steroids for 6 months and eating a pretty normal diet too - not sure if i should be eating low residue or not though! Feel pretty sorry for myself sometimes but im well controlled for now so I think I should thank my lucky stars for that after reading whats happened with you guys.
Im also a nurse which aint great, doctors and nurses all expected me to know everything about it and ive found ive had to find out loads of info for myself. I do know its an immune disease and smoking increases frequency of flare ups decreases remission time in Chrons but that it seems to be a good thing for UC sufferers to smoke.

Never thought id be having a discussion about this on here!!
Hope you all stay well
xx

AnnieH

Hi Lesley - and welcome to MSE:)

It's strange how smoking has the opposite effect on Crohn's and UC isn't it? My flare ups have certainly been more often and worse since giving up smoking 4 years ago.

Do you find it difficult to talk about with friends and family? I get very embarrassed about it. Work have been very understanding though, and very kind to me. Not a lot they can do really I suppose, as when I go back, I'll have been off sick for 4 weeks:eek: I feel guilty though, but I know I'm not ready to go back yet. The tablets and hospital stay have made me very weak, and I'm having to restrict myself to only doing the bare minimum of housework, and not get stuck into it, like I want to, as I don't think much got done while I was in hospital. LOL