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Change in bowel movements

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/18/2015 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was diagnosed almost two years ago with a  perianal transsphincteric horseshoe fistula with abscesses. I haven't been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The only indication was a  Prometheus blood test I took a couple of years ago  which was positive for Crohn's disease. I had a normal colonoscopy.

Last October, I was hospitalized for a few days with inflammatory colitis. The colonoscopy showed the colitis but it wasn't able to be determined if there was Crohn's disease. The chief doctor of the Crohn's clinic thought by my symptoms I had it, but my gastroenterologist reviewed my case in clinical rounds and he said it was inconclusive.

When I was in the hospital, I experienced for the first time orange-colored stool that had an awful odor. Since then, it's become more a part of my bowel habits. 

Has anybody experienced such a change in bowel movements? Is this something I should be concerned about? I think I told my Gastroenterologist, however, he didn't seem to think it was anything.

Thanks for your help! 

 

Posted 2/18/2015 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome back, gidget. I'm not sure what you are looking for - many of us have smelly stools of different firmness. It is pretty common with Crohn's to have soft stool. I don't know what the color orange is about, specifically, probably related to something you ate. Fecal matter can be green if your digestive process is too fast (from undigested bile), red if you have bleeding in the distal colon, black if you have bleeding high in the digestive tract, gray if you have issues with pancreatitis (I think).

Have you started treating your colitis with remicade or anything else?
Posted 2/18/2015 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Did they do small bowel tests on you as well? If so what were those results? It's pretty common that if CD is suspected they would check your small bowel out and not just do a colonoscopy to check out the colon.

Did they say if the inflammation they saw in the colon was patchy or not? With CD the inflammation is patchy whereas with UC it's continuous.
Posted 2/19/2015 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, kazbern. I appreciate your feedback.

I've had soft stool for a while, however, the orange color has persisted since October when I had the inflammatory colitis. The strong smell, mucus and more recently episodic blood concern me.

Since my gastroenterologist thought it was a transient colitis, probably from a virus, he didn't think treatment necessary unless it happens again.
Posted 2/19/2015 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
well I think intermittent blood plus soft stool comprises a "recurrence."
Posted 2/19/2015 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply, pb4. I had a small bowel test just over a year ago which was normal.

I remember the colonoscopy report indicating patchy inflammation from the colitis and some crypt changes, however, it wasn't enough to make a diagnosis of Crohn's disease apparently.
Posted 2/19/2015 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree, kazbern. I need to follow-up with my gastroenterologist. Thanks again for your help!
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