I’ve been in France since last July and had by second attack of severe pain and vomiting on Friday. So that’s two attacks in nearly eight months, which really isn’t bad for me.
It is important to look at it like that, because going through an acute episode of my Crohn’s and the few days afterwards is rather unpleasant and dispiriting.
The attack I had in October which lead to me being on steroids was far worse. I think this time it was more of my bowel giving me a ‘final warning’.
I have to remind myself that my Crohn’s has come to live in France with me – and that it is still a big problem in my life.
This time last year, my doctors were encouraging me to have more surgery on my bowel to remove some scar tissue that was causing narrowing in two sections of the small intestine.
If the appointment with the surgeon had come through earlier (it took nearly six months for an ‘urgent’ appointment) I would have had the surgery before I came here.
As it was, I decided that it was more important for me to join my partner on this adventure and my healthcare team in the UK were very happy to support me in these plans.
My généraliste, gastroenterologist and hospital doctors here in Caen are all aware of how dodgy my Crohn’s can be, but are very keen for me to avoid surgery if at all possible.
I will go and see a doctor this week, but ultimately it is up to me to rest my bowel and go easy on all the great food there is here. It is not impossible to eat a tasty low-residue diet with all the cheese and cream produced locally.
I know what leads to these attacks – not being strict enough with my diet, getting stressed, not sleeping enough, not resting enough and getting exhausted.
Ultimately I need to listen to what my body is saying to me – and on Friday it sent me a very clear message!
