All tagged Medicine

Diagnosis - My First MRI

Diagnosis - My First MRI

Ro
Health

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s about the time same my roommate, Hannah,  was diagnosed with her second bout of cancer.

On a cold December morning, I woke up early to get my first MRI of the bowel. An MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of the small intestine. It helps the doctor diagnose inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s. Because the procedure uses magnets, I removed all of my jewelry, including my nose ring and belly button ring; a choice I probably should have made before the year 2010 regardless. The machine looks like a person sized, space-age doughnut, with a narrow bed running through it.

My Last Remicade Infusion

My Last Remicade Infusion

Ro
Medicine, Health

I refused Remicade infusion therapy initially. Remicade is a medication used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Remicade helps decrease inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The medicine is hooked into the user's arm via an IV drip and administered by a nurse every 6-8 weeks. The whole process takes about 4 hours. The doctor said it takes two.