Mild Crohns?

Hi there everyone.

I'm so glad I joined this forum. I too am waiting on a diagnosis. (Colonoscopy Aug. 24th) I posted my own thread, but not many have replied so I thought I'd get in on this conversation. I'm a big believer in - we know our bodies. Whilst we may not be doctors, I believe God designed us in a way that our bodies are definitely able to tell us, "hey, look, something is not right here." For me, looking back, I've had an overactive bowel for years, many D's, but I never thought anything of it. now, for about the last 3 months, I've been plagued by new symptoms everyday it seems. I started getting the terrible bloating from one bite of food and a sip of drink (literally), the cramping assocaited with the bloating or whatever is going on internally. Then came the nausea, and sometimes eye inflammation, I have itchy skin a lot now, but no rash, I'm on sinus infection #2 within a one month period, many days, but not all, I have really bad pain in my back (low/mid). Last Saturday I went to the ER because I had at least 15 watery D's, but my anal cavity (I guess) had become so inflamed that it was hard to pass even gas or the watery stuff. I had gone to the ER mostly because that night I was also experiencing trouble breathing. I don't understand what is going on with me, but it seems (if it's Crohn's) that it's attacking every part of my body. There was no blockage last weekend (not surprised as I had been on the pot all day long).

I just hope that all of us can help each other. I've always felt guilty and alone for complaning about any of my ilnesses (was dx with borderline personality and major depression with psychosis back in '04) and wish that I had not let those things define me. I am learning now, even if I do have Crohn's to try and help others and just be who I want to be. When I started letting doctors tell me I had a problem, I let them manifest into bigger problems than they needed to be in the first place.

So, I just encourage everyone to write down here what they are feeling or experiencing so we can all help each other. I know right now I can hardly breath from my sinus infection and I broke down crying at urgent care last night because I can't stand that I've literally been sick for 3 months with something or another. I am finally starting to appreciate life, not because a religion or God told us we should, but because I truly believe it will help bring me more joy. So, not to be nosy, but I hope to be involved in ya'lls journey on here because I believe we all need a friend, companion, etc. (btw-my life partner is out of town this weekend so I'm all alone/sick by myself)

Mild crohns, hmmmm , is that like being a little bit pregnant ? Yep , good news , your leg is just mildly broken . I suppose to some with fistula and several resection something less could be termed mild but I don't get the use of the word by a doctor. Just tell me I have crohns and this is what we are going to do about it. My doctor never used the word mild or severe , just gave me his diagnoses and what to expect in the near future. Yes you should be on a med of a type that helps keep symptoms at bay and you should keep a log of what you eat and how it effects you until you know what to avoid . As for mild crohns and pain , no one else can tell you how much you hurt . Pain is a personal thing . What I may consider painful , you may not. Its like asking someone how something taste if they have never tasted it before. You have to have something to compare to .

Hi Hammonsma and welcome to Healingwell. If you have a heating pad, that might give you some comfort for your tender tummy. If you feel nauseous something like GingerRoot capsules might help some too. They are natural and you can get them at your local healthfood store. So sorry you are suffering so. Hugs!

PS: Maybe try going into your family doc and see if they can prescribe something for you. I do that when I can't get into my GI. Hugs!

Usher, I think you are mistaken that these issues you're having are from your medications. Neither the mesalamine nor the budesonide causes chills or fever. And they don't increase the likelihood of bleeding.

How are your anal fissures doing? Are you using any rectal medicines? These seem most likely to cause the fever and chills.

Acid reflux could be from the budesonide (it is a steroid and one of the side effects of steroids is reflux) but probably its from the rectal inflammation. It seems strange that rectal inflammation can cause reflux, but it does. Rectal meds should help with that, and you should also try taking a proton pump inhibitor like Prevacid to help with the acid reflux.

I found iron pills to be really hard on my stomach, too, but better to take them and get rid of the anemia, which had made me very fatigued.

Usher, all of us here have symptoms unique to our own bodies. Your perception of your disease might not be "mild" even though your DR tells you you have "mild to moderate" disease. My GI told me the same thing. You are perfectly right to insist that your disease is not "mild" to you.

One thing my GI told me that I take to heart - Crohn's can be really aggressive in some people, and in me it is not. The condition of my bowel when scoped was not horrible; I have never had fistulas or abscesses. My GI's opinion was that you either have aggressive disease or you do not. The "nature" of your disease will probably not change over time.

You have inflammation and you have fissures. Personally I find the fissures alarming and I would be concerned that they are the predecessors of abscesses and/or fistulas. I would be aggressive about treating my Crohn's even if my GI said it was "mild."