Sheryl's page

The Life and Times of Sheryl

Hi and hugs all! My name is Sheryl and I've lived in northern Indiana my whole life. I graduated from high school in 1981, got married in 1982, and had my first of two children in 1983

Shortly after I had my first child is when I started having some minor trouble with my gut, but didn't have my first major flare until 1995. I had a large number of leukocytes in my stool and at that time was diagnosed as having food poisoning-little did I know what was really coming my way.

After having flares off and on for two years after that, I returned to the doc and he ordered my first colonoscopy in 1997. I had biopsies taken and some polyps removed. The biopsies showed inflammation and the doc said it appeared to him to be Crohn's disease. He told me to come back in a year for another colonoscopy.

So in 1998 I returned and he only took one biopsy this time and it did come back as being IBD. 

I was put on sulfasalazine and after a few weeks my glands started swelling and I got a sore throat. Went to the ER two nights in a row and finally took myself off the sulfasalazine. A few weeks later after feeling better, I decided to try it again-mistake. I ended up in the hospital with serum sickness-caused by an allergy to sulfa.

Next we tried Asacol. It quit working after a few months plus made me gain 20 pounds, so the doc desensitized me to sulfa so I wouldn't have to go on stronger drugs. It actually worked and I am now taking Azulfidine Entabs. They have been a godsend to me as they have kept me functional. I know my time on them will be limited because of the fevers and major fatigue they are causing me, but I'm enjoying this time of functionability. I do still have trouble with arthritis and mouth sores, but I won't complain too much as long as the bowels stay under control.

Thanks for reading my book-lol. Take care of yourselves!!!