Hi all,
I am in the process of being diagnosed with Crohn's...and am really frustrated. I had stomach pain for about 6 weeks and lost a lot of weight following a stomach flu before I could finally get a referral to a GI specialist (I'm a graduate student and have to go through the crappy student health center with my crappy insurance to get anywhere). Went to the GI, said it could be lots of things, sent me for an ultrasound to rule out gallbladder, then scheduled me for upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Fun times. They found multiple ulcers and inflammation throughout - took biopsies and started me on Nexium. Abobut a week after, I felt great, almost like I had before everything began. When I went for my followup, the doc said he was ready to dx Crohn's, but since my symptoms had subsided so much, he wasn't sure. So, sent me for a blood test that was supposed to determine it. After 2 weeks of not hearing anything (he said he'd call me in a week), I finally stalked him, and he said it came back negative, no Crohn's! WOO! He said ulcers probably from NSAIDS and the inflammation from a nasty infection. I was obviously thrilled. Well, wouldn't you know, the pain started to come back. I had a follow-up upper endoscopy to check the ulcers on Monday, and also told him about the pain. Turns out some ulcers had healed, some had not, and there were some erosions and a polyp. Took biopsies again, and now we've gone from definitely not Crohn's to most likely Crohn's. I am SO frustrated. They started me on Pentasa and scheduled me for capsule endoscopy. I have ALWAYS been an incredibly healthy person, and am having a hard time accepting this. Just getting the Pentasa and seeing I have to take pills FOUR times a day was so hard. I have always been incredibly active - a competitive runner and cyclist, and had been training for my first triathlon...now, I haven't been able to run in over 3 months because of all of this. I wonder if I'll ever be able to resume that part of my life on the same level. I guess at this point I'm trying to accept the diagnosis because I am desperate for relief. It's the life-long chronic part of it that really scares and frustrates me...
I just needed to vent, and appreciate any words of wisdom on Pentasa, getting diagnosed, the capsule, being an athlete with Crohn's....or anything.... Just from looking through posts I can see what a supportive community this is and how helpful it can be...so, thanks in advance.