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Pregnant with Symptoms. Could it be Crohn's, Really Long Post

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Posted 6/11/2009 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, everyone... I'm really glad I find this site and I'm also super scared. My mother has Crohn's disease and has had surgeries and other problems related from Crohn's. Recently my nephew was also diognosised with the same after being hospitalized for rectal bleeding. I've been having some issues and I'm beginning to really worry...

I'm 17 weeks pregnant. I had a previous molar pregnancy about a year ago, I'm not sure if it is relevent, but the loss has made me a little anxious in this pregnancy.

I've always had problems with constipation for as long as I can remember. I can go a week or more without a BM. Sometimes I'll get bad pains on the lower right side when I try to have a BM, other times I won't. No real history of diarrea, besides stomach bugs and the like. However lately I've been having a lot of problems. I'm sorry if this is TMI, but I don't know what else to do...

about 9 weeks ago I was having some minor bleeding with BM with no stool. I thought it was hemroids and mentioned it to my OBGYN, who didn't seem concerned. In the following weeks I began to experience lower right hand stomach pains/cramps and the bleeding became markably worse. I also began to pass mucuos and what looked like white stringy tissue. As I've only seen it in the toilet, I can't say for sure, but that's what it looks like.  It began as just really small amounts, but as the days passed it was more and more and several times a day. My bottom is sore from wiping so much...

I went back to my OBGYN and she referred me to a GI. I'm still waiting for my appointment which is next week. On Tuesday I began having sever stomach pains and the urgent need to use the restroom, but  I still could not pass any stool, just the blood stuff. By this point it had been several weeks since I passed any actual stool. And I was beginning to feel nauseated and bloated. I went from drinking 120 oz a day to forcing down 40 oz. i started feeling like a snow globe swishing around. On top of that I could barely force any food down my throat without feeling stuffed. It felt like I had eaten a seven course meal after only a few bites of food. 

I went to the ER and they told me I needed an adominal x-ray to rule out a blockage. I was really scared for the baby, but they said if I had a blockage it could rupture and I could die along with the baby. So I allowed them to do the x-ray... There is no blockage but he said there is A LOT of stool in there. So he prescribed my prednisone and zofran.

I'm experiencing cramps after I eat and the need to go to the bathroom immediately. I passes some stool yesterday, but none since, just more blood. I'm tired and cranky and my body aches everywhere. Sometimes it just hurts to get out of bed, I feel so stiff and achy. I try to keep a bathroom near by at all times, and I won't eat before I leave the house or when I leave work for fear I won't be able to hold a BM.... the stomach pains come and go, but are especially painful when having a BM and the nausea is sever at nighttime while in bed. I also occassionaly feel burning under my right rib.

The doctor at the ER said they can't do a colonoscopy because I'm pregnant. They said all they can do is assume I have Crohn's and start treatment. I can't wait to see the GI, but I'm still scared for me and the baby. Does this sound like Crohn's? Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. I'm so lost and scared and I don't know what to do!

Posted 6/11/2009 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
It could possibly be Crohns, but I am wondering though if you might be impacted too. Can you ask you doctor if you could take stool softners? They are not laxative but just help to soften the stool and make it easier to pass. I am a Crohnie who suffers with constipation not diarrhea and if I don't use the stool softners I am in a world of hurt the next day.

Also, when I was pregnant with my girls I used to get constipated even worse. I used to eat salads (when I was able) everyday in order for me to go. When I would get backed up I was able to use Ducolax suppositories and they would clean me out good. For starters though you might ask about the stool softners.

Good luck
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 6/11/2009 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I think I still have stool softners from my first trimester. If I remember correctly, they caused some diarrea the next day and I was on the toilet all day. I was thinking of taking one Friday night and see how I do on Friday. Do you think it would make the bleeding worse? They also gave me mineral oil, but it says not to take while pregnant, so i threw it away. But I'll try the stool softeners, since I've already taken that before...

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it!
Posted 6/11/2009 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
It could be crohn's you are at more risk since it is in your family, hope not though..
Maybe it could just be something regarding the pregnancy.
I would recommend that you put something on your tussy so it wont hurt so much when you wipe it, I use Vaseline but there must be something better and also try to buy the best toilet paper.

Let us know what the GI says..

Good luck hope you feel better soon..
Posted 6/11/2009 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hormonal changes are known to cause either a flare in symptoms or suppression of symptoms. It would follow then that the hormonal changes present during pregnancy could be causing these symptoms.
They gave me a run for my money when I was pregnant last summer.
Posted 6/12/2009 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for responding... It's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm just so afraid what all of this is doing to the baby. It's hard because the medication could hurt the baby and the disease untreated could be just as bad. I just hope the GI can tell me what is going on so I'll know. It's hard to say, well you MIGHT have this, so we'll give you this. but there's not much else i can do. I'm hoping the prednisone starts to help soon. I can at least eat a little more, but the rest is still there... sigh... I'm trying to stay positive, but it's so hard.

Well, thanks again. I do appreciate all your comments.
Posted 6/12/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Just remember too, that with the crohns, take care of yourself first so you can care for the baby. I know the treatments, even the xrays and all may seem bad, but if you don't do it, the baby will suffer and as doctors said, if you don't find out you could both die.....I've had my baby 3 months ago and in a huge flare now, I wanted to keep breastfeeding for the life of me, but gave up finally since my meds are just too much to allow him to intake, so just take care of what you need first since your the one who ultimately has to take care of baby and if you can't care for yourself that will hurt baby even more. Just take it as it goes best you can and get better! Hope they find out whats wrong.
Posted 6/12/2009 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your words of encouragement. It makes me feel a lot better.

Although today the diarrea started. So painful. During work and i was so glad I had the bathroom to myself... And really very painful. and go figure, I had a salad for lunch... Jeez... But I was on the toilet practically in tears. And I hate when I have cramps cuz I'm so afraid for the baby. I'm pretty sure they are bowel cramps, but it's still painful... It's not getting any better, and of course I'll go to the bathroom ten times to make sure I'm not bleeding. I'm terrified of miscarriage.

I just want to cry. I feel so miserable. I was doing so good for the pregnancy. I stopped taking antidepressents. I quit smoking, I am eating healthy (or at least I'm trying), I was even exercising. I was doing everything I could to have a healthy pregnancy, and now I feel like I failed some how. That no matter what I do it just won't be good enough. It's so frustrating! I don't know what to do... I'll be so happy to see the GI next week. I have an appointment with the nurse at the GI office, but the receptionist told me she could start me on some kind of medication and order tests and stuff. It was that or wait longer and I'm so terrified now... I can't imagine waiting any longer. I'm so scared and frustrated. I've already had a pregnancy loss, and I don't want to go through that again. On top of that I have depression and anxiety and this is really putting me in a tail spin. It's all I can do to hold myself together. I keep telling myself that Wed is not that far away, I can make it.

And I need to ask her if I should call the OBGYN and let them know or if I can wait for my appt in July. I'm being seen at a women's clinic, but they have me scheduled for a midwife. Would I be considered high risk now? Should I request an actually OBGYN? I mean my midwife gave me the referral for the GI thank god, but shouldn't I be seen more often??? I just don't know. My only consolation is that in the ER they gave me an ultra sound and I could see the baby's heartbeat and stuff... And I have my routine ultra sound next month...
I'm sorry, I know I sound a little crazy, but I just worry so much. I'm trying to stay positive, but it's really hard. It really is....
Posted 6/12/2009 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
I was in remission when I was pregnant and I worried too, especially in the beginning. Weds is not that far away. Can you plan an activity to distract yourself this weekend?

I'm really sorry you are dealing with this. Pregnancy is supposed to be such a wonderful time, but it's hard to appreciate that if you are sick or worried. Good luck with the GI. I'd ask the GI about needing a high risk doctor (maternal/fetal specialist). I just had a regular OB/Gyn, one would probably be more comfortable dealing with your pregnancy than a midwife. Actually though, your GI will probably have more information on Crohn's and pregnancy than an OB/Gyn.
Posted 6/12/2009 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Just remember if you get terribly desperate or don't think you can wait you can try the ER again, let them know just how bad things are going still and that all your appointments are too far away. I've had to do that. I noticed you said you were on antidepressants but stopped for the pregnancy, is that safe for you? or would you be better off on them still to keep some of the anxiety and worries at ease? sometimes, with doctors or pharmacists opinions the good outwieghs the bad if you ask or seek opinion. Keeping depression at bay so you don't do anything bad or harmful might be the better option if everything is becoming too much. Anything to help keep you keep a sounder mind so your body can relax a bit too will help.
honestly I think even normal women can feel like they failed during the pregnancy for some reason or another...I almost think that its a natural part, we worry so much about our babies I think we'll find a way to think we failed no matter what....I know I sure had alot of anxieties before baby was born then in the end they all turned out to be 'why was I worried about this?' or 'that wasnt so bad'. Try not to focus on that so much.
Is bedrest something you should consider? i was bleeding at the start of my pregnancy and got ordered five days bedrest as a test and it worked so I didn't have to go on it longer, might help you and baby both if you got that rest for a few days.
I'm not sure on experiences with midwives, but in your case, an actualy obgyn might be the better option I think, I think they might have more of the proper training to deal with your case, especially being so complicated. You should probably take the highest up option you can get for help. And of course definately tell them all that is going on.
AND remember you always have us for support too!!!! thats why your here!
Posted 6/15/2009 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your posts. I feel so much better knowing there are others out there who have been through what I am going through.

Inflamed- I did distract myself this weekend. We actually went to an old war fort and then to the aquarium. I was a little scared by the lack of a bathroom at the fort, but I made it through... I think the prednisone is working. I haven't been confined to the bathroom and that is good. And the urgency is less, although still present. I continue to have bad stomach pains and my diarrea turned to sever constipation yet again. Sigh, but I'm dealing....

As for the OBGYN, I'm gonna ask the GI. and they probably do know more. The receptionist was more concerned for me than my midwife was. I have an appointment with the midwife again next month, but if the GI recommends an actual OBGYN I'll call the women's clinic and see if I can schedule one. It's all just a waiting game now. But now that the week has started, Wed doesn't seem that far away.

Lady G- the antidepressents I weened off. I've actually been off of them for over 3 months now. I notified my doctor and it was really rough at first, but I'm a bit better now. I still have issues, but I think I'm doing what is best for us. I had a previoud molar pregnancy which is a 1 in 2,000 chance, but side effects from antideppressants have a 1 in 100 chance of occuring. I decided statistics weren't in my favor. My midwife and I and my Psych discussed it, and for my own peace of mind, it's best. I would be devestated if I cause problems. I can make it, and DH has been SUPER supportive. Even when I'm angry and nasty :)

Thank you all for your encouragement. I'm really glad I found this board. Your words of encouragement have been super. I feel so much better... Thank you so much for everything. I'll let you all know what the GI says!
Posted 6/17/2009 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
You made it to Weds! Hope the appointment goes well.
Posted 6/17/2009 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
bump
Posted 6/18/2009 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone... So, I went to the doc yesterday. They were really nice and she listened to everything from the very beginning. She said that it could still possibly be hemrroids (I don't believe that one), but she said since the prednisone did improve my symptoms that it's indictive of inflammation. They really don't want to do a colonoscopy until after I deliver, so they are going to start me on cesena (spelling???) It's a suppository.... I'm really nervous, but she said it comes with directions and everything. So my pharmacy ordered it, and it should get here by Friday. She also wants me to ween off the prednisone in the next two weeks, which I'm super glad for cuz I wasn't comfortable being on it anyway. She said if the cesena works they'll keep me on that for the entire pregnancy and then do the colonoscopy. If it doesn't work, they'll do a flexiscope, I think she said, in the doctors office. She said it could be Crohn's with my family history, but they aren't entirely sure. So, they are going to try to treat the inflammation and the bleeding. And she also listened to my stomach and said my bowels are very sluggish. Things just aren't moving through them at all. So, I guess we'll see. I go back in two weeks to see how the medication is working and we'll go from there! I feel so much better that someone actually listened to me and didn't make me feel like I was overreacting. She was really good and I'm glad I got to see her. So, I'm hoping this new medication works and then we can figure out what is going on in another 22 weeks... Thanks again and I'll keep everyone updated!
Posted 6/19/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you had a great doctor. Hope the Canasa (is that it?) works for you.
Posted 6/19/2009 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Canasa! That's it!!! i knew it was something like that. I stopped taking the prednisone, eventhough I was suppose to taper. I just didn't feel very good on it and I was exhausted all the time. Now I feel like I'm getting sick with a sore throat and Chest congestion, so I'm kind of glad I stopped. But my stomach is starting to feel bloated again. I just feel like I'm walking around with a full stomach all the time. No matter how much or how little I eat. So, I'm really hoping the Canasa works. I have to go get it from the pharmacy today, so I guess I'll start it tonight. We'll see what happens. I guess if I'm not better by July 1st they'll do the scope or start a new med. But she said if I get worse before then to call her right away. They were so understanding. it was so nice to actually have someone listen and understand and take the time to work with me. So, now I guess it is just a waiting game.

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