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Hi! :) (long! ...and a little tmi)
Well, I have a few minutes before I'm going to turn in for the night so I thought I'd pop in and say hello and tell you all about DH. I guess my facebook updates have been sort of cryptic...My brain is fuzz so I think I'm making sense but I guess I'm not. haha.
Anyway...DH has ulcerative colitis. He started to get sick on Oct 16 out of the blue. A week went by and he finally went to the dr. who only prescribed him with anti-diarrhea meds. He said to come back in two days if he wasnt better so he did. The dr was shocked that he'd lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks and sent him to the medical center for testing. They ordered a colonoscopy. The dr who performed it said she wasnt sure what it was but assumed it was UC - she couldnt even get far enough in his colon because he was so inflamed and irritated but only prescribed 2 antibiotics and sent him home. Two days later, (Halloween) I take him to the ER. He had been running a temp on and off for a week and I had had it. It turns out that his potassium was dangerously low (and you can go into cardiac arrest if its too low), he was severely dehydrated and a CT scan showed that his entire colon was inflamed. They admitted him and he stayed for three days on antibiotics, steroids, and anti-inflammatory. He started seeing a new, much better gastroenerologist. Needless to say, we fired the first two moron doctors who did not take the situation seriously.
He stayed on the meds and did great until they ran out. The day after the steroids ended, he was back to the dr. He put him back on everything. Three days later he is back in the ER (last Monday) for what we expected would be a day of fluids and IV meds to get him jump started but they admitted him and said he wasnt going anywhere for at least three days...and we're still here. Apparently, he stopped responding to the meds, things got worse AND he had a parasite. He had another colonoscopy on Friday which confirmed all of this which started talks of surgery if the 'big gun' medicine didnt work.
Of course they couldnt start him on it right away because he had to pass a TB test, which takes three days to confirm so he kept getting worse. Finally, they gave it to him Monday morning and things have been looking up! He hasnt had a fever since before the meds on Monday morning, his poo is slowly getting firmer but not back to normal yet (TMI, sorry) and his blood pressure is under control.
He is 26 and of course we dont want to have his colon removed. Its really the only cure for UC but as long as we can keep him healthy and in 'remission' from the flare ups then he can stay away from it. Its a three step process where they remove his colon, give him a 'bag' for about two months while he heals, then fashon a new colon out of his small intestines. It takes 6 months...and that is when the baby is due. So, needless to say it has been a stressful time. I just wanted you guys to know that I appreciate your fb comments and messages. You guys are awesome. I know I dont get around to TN much but I love how everyone has stayed in touch.
So....yeah.... 
Drama.
Re: Hi! :) (long! ...and a little tmi)
Oh Melissa, tell John we are all thinking of him and he must get better so you can go get a Christmas tree !
we miss you terribly, my dear.
I hate that the first two doctors didn't really take his symptoms seriously, that really sucks. As PCPs, our office overreacts because we don't want to miss anything.
Is he on STD and are you using any FMLA ?
Oh, wow Melissa! I've been keeping up with you on FB and John too. Send him our knottie/nestie thoughts and prayers!
Congratulations on the baby. I hope John can get well soon and you can enjoy your pregnancy together at home!
Did you get a teaching job?
PCOS and Endo
Ovarian drilling and endo removed 1/3/12
BFP - 3/27/12
Beta's 11, 14, 57, 637, 2800
Sono showed no baby and teeny tiny sac. Waiting to M/C naturally.
Wow! I wanted to ask but didn't want to pry. What a stressful time for your family! I hope the "big gun" meds continue to work and that he doesn't need surgery just yet.
And CONGRATS on your baby! So excited for you guys
Oct.'13 Siggy Challenge: Cheers to Easter!
Holy cow, poor guy!! I really hope he doesn't have to do the surgery, does he have any other options? Do they have any idea what caused it? I'll keep you both in my prayers.
And congratulations on the baby! How are you feeling?
Good gracious! I've been really worried about him...thank you SO much for the update.
If you guys need anything, please let us know. Here's hoping he gets better soon so you guys can go home and focus on baby!
This. Congrats on the baby!
This again! Good to hear from you!
The Sand in My Snow Boots
this! thanks for the update and please keep us posted.
This! I've been reading your updates on facebook and wondering! Hoping he gets better asap with the meds! Congrats again on the baby
Hope you're feeling well!
Congratulations on the pregnancy!
I haven't been on FB in forever but I did see you talking about this right when he first went to the ER in October. The timing on this just sucks. I hope you are feeling well and I'll be praying for the two of you!
They arent sure what causes it. He has probably always had it butit was dormant. So it could have been anything. We THINK its because he stoppedsmoking about 14 months ago because we heard nicotine keeps it at bay. Mix thatwith a change in diet (I became a vegetarian earlier this year so he is eatinga lot differently).
I'm substitute teaching still and schedule to do student teachingfrom Jan-April. Because I'm subbing, I work my own schedule and dont have toworry about FMLA. I'm worried about him not being better by January thoughbecause I'm not allowed to miss any days of student teaching. He has not beenplaced on disability yet but I know they were talking about it the last time hewas in the hospital. We?re trying to hold out as long as we can. He still hasquite a bit of sick time and vacation but we don?t want to use that all either.We just don?t know how long to expect things to be like this.
We are going to get a second opinion about surgery if it comes tothat but we're hoping it doesnt. He had a bad night last night and is reallysick again today.
Hopefully we fixed the probably and he will bebetter again soon.
I dont have a problem talking about it or else I wouldnt have putit up all over FB. haha. I know that in situations like this, thereare often people who have been through similar situations and are willing toshare their experiences. We both also have a lot of family in other states andit keeps them updated as well without me having to call everyone and saying thesame thing a thousand times. haha.
Thank you! We're really excited about the baby. We're 15 weeks ? I?venever had morning sickness but I?m sure the next baby will make up for it. Ifeel good?sporadic headaches and mild constipation but that?s about it. It feels like a miracle. John cant wait to bea daddy. We were only going to try twice this year (Aug & Sept) so that wecould have a May/June baby (teacher schedule friendly) and then try again thefollowing year if it didnt happen. John was out of the country for work in Aug.and missed the window so it was all up to September. We prayed about it andleft it up to God's will - if it was meant to happen this year then it wouldhappen...and it did. (Mind you, I charted for 4 months and knew exactly when totry...I'm sure that helped.) I love following everyone's pregnancies onFB.
Its so strange that two years ago we were fussing about the color oftable cloths and favor ribbons. 
We had a few who had UC last year, and is all better. Still has his colon
Hope everything works out good for John!
So sorry y'all are going thru this!
Hey Melissa!
So glad to see your post! Thanks for the updates on you guys! Hope that John gets to feeling better soon! Sounds like you both have a lot on your plate trying to get all of this figured out along with planning for a baby! Congrats on the baby!
Will be keeping you two in thoughts and prayers!
Congrats on the baby.
I'm glad he still has his colon, I have a friend with UC and she doesn't have her colon and she doesn't have a bag either, they were able to work it without the bag.
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