Is it Crohn's?

My boyfriend has been in and out of the hospital for over a week with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and now constipation. He's had multiple CT scans that have shown swelling in the terminal ileum, but there is nothing wrong with the colon, so it's not diverticulitis. He doesn't have a fever, but his white blood cell count is slightly elevated. I know constipation is kind of unusual with Crohn's, but this seems to be the best guess diagnosis at this time. Does this sound like Crohn's?

Thanks!

I would have to disagree with the above post.....when I was first diagnosised, I didn't have weight loss, blood in my stool, diarrehea, or stomach pain. I didn't start to lose weight until about a yr. after I as diagnosised and I was very, very sick. I tend toward constipation....

A colonoscopy would be a good thing to have done at this point.

It could be Crohn's. There are also bacterial pathogens that can focus on the terminal ileum (Salmonella, Yersinia, Campylobacter, TB, etc.) so that is something else to consider.

When he had the CT scans, did they use oral and IV contrast? If they used oral contrast, I would not bother with the x-ray small bowel follow through, it is less accurate. I have a stricture at the terminal ileum. My SBFT appeared normal, but CT scan with oral contrast and colonoscopy both suggested Crohn's. A positive Serology 7 test finalized the diagnosis for me. I never had D, vomiting, nausea... My symptoms were fevers, liver problems, WBC and ESR elevated, and some constipation.

I do agree with Nanners that a colonoscopy with biopsies is a very good idea, as well as the Serology 7 test if the doctors are strongly considering Crohn's.

Wow! Thanks for all the responses! I really appreciate it. My boyfriend is staying in the hospital another night...they want to do that barium x-ray thing, but want to wait until his intestines are less swollen (they have him on steroids). I believe his CT scans were all with oral contrast. How does a Serology 7 test work? And they also don't want to do a colonoscopy until he is less inflamed. So, how long of a hospital stay does this look like it's going to be? I just want a diagnosis! I miss my boyfriend!

How would bacterias such as salmonella, yersinia, etc etc. be identified?

The Serology 7 test is a blood test. The doctors would draw the blood and send it off to the lab, then you get the result in about a week. It is very accurate.

A bacterial pathogen would be identified from a stool sample. Do you know if he submitted one?

I'm not sure how long he'll be inpatient. Hope he feels better soon.

So, my bf is out of the hospital, and they are fairly certain it's Crohn's (though they haven't done the colonoscopy/biopsy yet to confirm it). He is on Prednisone, an acid blocker, and pain meds. He has a doctor's appt next week, and then they will do a colonoscopy. So...my question is, what do we do first? See a nutritionist? Join a yoga class? Join a support group? What has been most helpful to you?

Side note: He is totally addicted to Rockstar (the energy drink) and drinks an insane amount a day. I'm trying to get him to stop, but he doesn't think it will affect his Crohn's...can someone validate for me here?