Intro and History of my disease

[kmc2016]

I'm sure we all have our own stories of what happened before MC. This is mine, though I'm not sure where the MC actually started or whether it is all linked or not. I had abnormal bowel movements for about 15 years. When it started I was about 18, and my family doctor said it was IBS, so I didn't worry nor did I think anyone would dig into the gastro problems of an 18 year old (for example with a colonoscopy). At 31 I was pregnant with my first child, pregnancy went well but about 3 months after I delivered I felt so tired and painful all over. My family doctor ran tests, I had an ANA of 1:640. So I was sent to rheumatology who ran tests galore, and diagnosed me with nothing because no other tests were abnormal, but informally told me he thought I should regularly have my thyroid monitored. My TSH remains fine. I think since all of it developed after pregnancy, he felt it was post par tum thyroiditis. 6 months passed and the pain and tiredness resolved, but then I developed sinus infections. I had so many they retested me for autoimmune diseases, immune function, and allergy testing. All negative except a low vitamin d. I had sinus surgery and still infections. I took tons of ibuprofen during that time, including prescription strength remaining from my c-section (ibuprofen was supposed to relieve the swelling from the sinus infection). Eventually, I started having diarrhea and stomach pain. I developed the flu and needed IV fluids, during that time they realized my liver enzymes were high, ultimately I think it was from the ibuprofen, because again they tested my liver for everything under the sun, ultimately liver enzymes went back to normal. After the flu, diarrhea continued, became more frequent, cramping and urgency got worse. My family doctor said try no lactose, try no gluten, etc. I was living on pepto-bismal and immodium. Nothing fixed it, and finally I got my GI consult and the rest is history. I have MC, lymphocytic to be precise. I hope to have another child some day, hopefully, in the very least with the dietary changes I will be less "inflammed" during my pregnancy, and hopefully it will be improvement from here on out. Maybe I will get really lucky and have a really great remission while I'm pregnant. I will hope.

[crervin]

I have had D since 2008, but Oct. 2014 I was at my worst. That's when I was diagnosed with MC. I had a baby in 2011 during my D and actually felt better while I was pregnant. 2 months after the birth of my daughter, the D came back....I wanted to stay pregnant forever. I took a lot of vitamins, I didn't eat very good and was worried about that.

Good luck with your decision! It may make you feel better for a little while.

[hollyweb]

This is a good place to share our stories, and I know I'm very interested in each one. There are so many things that we can learn from each other, and common events / symptoms preceding our diagnoses that we can relate to. It's important, I think, to be able to share our thoughts, memories, and feel supported as we go through all the stages one goes through when finding out we have such a life-changing condition.

I do think it's important to remember that mc is not considered a life-threatening condition. That said, there are many side-effects and deficiencies, reduced immune system function, etc., that need to be addressed in order to be as healthy as possible. And this is DEFINITELY a life-CHANGING condition. The medical field and outside world downplays that part and that's an important form of support we who have this condition offer to each other.

We are each in our own place in our own journey, and we're not alone! We are on a path that we didn't choose to be on! But boy, we sure are in good company, with the best people, who show us so much courage and share so willingly what they've learned the hard way ...

~ Holly