Diseases - IlCat.org

Jessica Said:

Adelaide Crohn's sufferers

We Answered:

I don't live in your area but I have run into the same problem. I was recently diagnosed with Crohn's and I live in a small area. I contacted the CCFC (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada) and asked for their help. They gave me some tips and some names of a few people in my area that I could contact. I had to put out all call of interest in local stores and restaurants but right now we have a group of about 10 people with a few more interested in attending.
So i guess the best thing you could do would be to make a few flyers and place them in a few public places so people know about the group and how to contact you.
All the best =)

Irene Said:

Will memory loss and retention of short term ever come back after PTS and severe depression?

We Answered:

My background is similar to yours, but I was not able to have any kids because I was never stable enough. I was sexually abused for many years and then got bipolar disorder. I'm on disability and get a social worker's help periodically (but they are never much help). I am suicidal almost all the time, and have never been able to find anything that will help.

The abuse makes the forgetting so easy, and depression itself causes memory problems. Also, medications can interfere with thinking. I will say however that I keep blaming the meds, but it always is turning out that it is the bipolar disorder that is causing most of the problems, I just have ever shifting symptoms because the meds are not helping me.

If you are going thru getting counseling for past events now, it gets worse before it gets better, and eventually you will be at peace with yourself. Then some of the forgetting will be better. Also, make sure your doc knows this stuff!! I bet a lot of it is the depression, and won't get better until you get better meds. that is my opinion, but I don't really know. Most people do find helpful meds eventually.

Keep track of your periods - PMS time is holy hell especially as women get into their 40's. There are lots of relapses then, my social worker and doc tell me. So don't plan anything for those times, if it is an issue for you.

Good luck!

Terri Said:

How much malabsorption does Crohn's Disease cause, and what is some good food to gain healthy weight quickly?

We Answered:

As far as malabsorption, it really depends on what part of your GI tract is inflamed. For instance, I have Crohn's in my iluem, which is the last part of the small intestine. It is hard to for me to absorb the daily requirements of Vitamin D and Iron. Obviously, taking supplements helps this. If you have been on Prednisone for longer than about 6 weeks, you really need to make sure that you are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D, because that steroid unfortunately is very hard on the bone-building cells in your body.

Good luck, man, hang tough.