How did your Colonoscopy go? What did you find out?
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Yes, I experience all of those symptoms with my Crohn's except for the blood. I've been lucky to not have to deal with much blood...but then again, I've been on a maintenance drug, COLAZAL, since I was diagnosed.
Yes, 9 pills a day of just that drug EVERY DAY. It overwhelmed me when I started them. I didn't even like to take Tylenol when I had a headache so the thought of taking 9 pills a day really freaked me out. But I went into remission after I started the Colazal...and because I started feeling better immediately AND because I never could remember to take all of the doses during the day, I decided to drop my dose of the Colazal because I couldn't stand the thought of having so many drugs in my system, particularly since I was feeling better!
But TIME has taught me a lot. I had decided on my own to take only 3 pills/day instead of the prescribed 9 pills/day of the Colazal. But within a year, I started getting sick again. Not a "true" Crohn's flare but I just didn't feel good. My BM's were loose & mucousy (not true D, just loose) and were coming more frequently during the day and there were a handful of other symptoms I was dealing with, too...Crohn's-related symptoms.
By January, 2008 I was in a full blown flare. Iron-deficiency anemia was really kicking my butt and the prescribed iron supplement was making my intestinal problems worse. My BM's were waking me up in the middle of the night every hour or two and I was having painful gas and abdominal pain throughout the day, every day. My ankles were swelling. The fatigue from the anemia and the lack-of-sleep was exhausting me. I was put on a short taper of Prednisone and Flagyl that helped for a short-while.
I knew I NEVER wanted to go through that kind of flare again. And if that meant FORCING myself to swallow 9 maintenance pills a day, I was willing to give it my best effort. And I have. I'm just now starting to feel like I'm going back into remission. But I truly believe that's because I got back on the full dose of Colazal. Does that mean this drug will always work for me? NO. But I do believe STRONGLY that it will keep the inflammation in my intestines at bay for a while.
There is a new maintenance drug, Lialda, that has been more focused toward UC patients but has been prescribed to Crohn's patients, too. My GI tried to put me on it back in December. This drug is only ONE pill/day which is why my GI wanted me to try it. I asked if it would do anything DIFFERENT than the Colazal. He said, "No, but you wouldn't have to take so many pills each day." I thought about it and chose to stick with the 9 pills of Colazal because a) my insurance won't cover Lialda! and b) Colazal is what allowed me to go into remission in the first place.
Since you're not convinced you have Crohn's, I'm curious as to what OTHER information your doctor gave you 3 years ago other than simply telling you you have Crohn's. Or maybe you got some confirmation either way today since your Colonoscopy?
For me, I have scattered ulcers throughout my large intestine. I have many "extra-intestinal" problems that are common with Crohn's. Plus, the blood markers came back as a 98% chance of Crohn's Disease. So no denial for me. I've accepted drugs are going to be a part of my life. I DO believe diet helps a great deal, but I do not believe diet ALONE can put my Crohn's into remission or cure it.
Let us know how things go for you...