Do my symptoms sound like Crohn's Disease?

Hi Everyone!

I have yet to be diagnosed with anything specifically but am in the process of getting one. about 6 months ago I started experiencing my first (what I call) flare. Extreme stomach pain (right upper quadrant and abdominal--already got my gallbladder tested and it isn't that), nausea, diarrhea after eating anything (often beige / yellow in color with fine grounds or lots of mucous, black and tarry, or loose and watery with undigested food in it), upper right back pain, low grade fevers (99.4-100) usually at night, body aches and chills, severe exhaustion, and mouth sores that come and go.

I went to the hospital and they thought it was my gallbladder, when they found out it wasn't they gave me morphine and lots of IV fluid and sent me on my way home with the name of a gastro doctor.

Made my first appointment with the gastro, did a stool sample (they found blood and lots of mucous). I had a colonoscopy that came back normal (with the exception of a few bumps on parts of my intestine). I am going in for an endoscopy on Tuesday.

This past Monday I was in the hospital due to the same severe pain that I had felt the first time around--again, they gave me a CAT scan and found nothing.

I do not have these symptoms all the time--they, for the most part, come and go quite frequently (in 'flares'). I do, however, have constant diarrhea (and sometimes vomiting) after ingesting ANYTHING and severe exhaustion.

My doctor believes that this sounds like Crohn's, but I just want to know if anyone else had similar symptoms and also did not have anything show up on the Colonoscopy.

Thank you!

Post Edited (chronicallysarah) : 9/10/2017 5:59:14 PM (GMT-6)

Hi CS, sorry to read about what you have going. I know you mentioned stool testing, did the drs check for parasites & possible infections? When you had your colonoscopy did the dr do biopsy's. The biopsy pretty much determines if you have crohns or not, as it is considered the gold standard for dxing crohns. These bumps you mention really doesn't tell us much. Why is these bumps located?

I do suggest that you obtain a copy of your biopsy report. His office can give you a copy. If you get the report please let us know what it says. Does the dr have you on any medication?

Sorry for so many questions but right now we have a pretty blank canvas to make any comments or suggestions. Take care.

This is exactly what I am going through!!!!!
What do I do? I am in so much pain and am literally in and out of the hospital constantly. They just give me morphine and anti-nausea meds and send me on my way. I've tried diet changes, etc. nothing.

Surfer21 said...
Hi I'm sorry you're going through this, I know how frustrating it can be when you're in so much pain and they can't find anything. I'm 19 and had the same problems since I was 14. 2 colonoscopies and 2 endoscopies between the ages of 15-18 found absolutely nothing wrong with me. It was so frustrating! Until in may this year my flare had gotten the worse it had ever been and it lost 25lbs in a weeks and half. I was admitted to the hospital and my new GI did a colonoscopy and finally found crohns in my ileum. I was relieved it wasn't in my head! Just got my capsule endoscopy results back a few days ago and I have tons of ulceration throughout my small intestine and end of my stomach. I am on proper medication now. So I would say don't give up until you get a clear answer, whether that is good news or bad news, at least you'll be at peace of mind. I hope the best for you and that you'll get some answers.

Unfortunately my last GI was a total idiot. He did not physically give me any copy of the colonoscopy. He just said that he noticed some "bumps" and did several biopsies. Switched GI's very, very quickly and my new one is wonderful. Getting an endoscopy Tuesday so hopefully some answers will be had! (May get another Colonoscopy or one of those cameras that you swallow if nothing shows on the Endoscopy)

Bulmanboi123 said...
What did they say the bumps were thag they found on the colonoscopy ?

Hi Sarah, I have not had EOE but I've come cross info about it online while looking up other issues I have. I haven't seen it specifically connected with crohns but more its own condition related to allergic reactions. Its hard to say about the polyps because there are different types of inflammation, which is why the pathology report will be so important. It's possible. I hope you get some answers soon!

Sarah, I suggest that you go to MayoClinic.com & read about EOE if you haven't looked it up online. I prefer the Mayo Clinic when looking up info because there is too much garbage on the internet.

In all honesty it is difficult for any of us to comment whether you have crohns or not. Once again, you should call the old GI's office & ask for medical records. Just tell the person you would like to come by & pick up a copy of your biopsy report. They will not give you a problem with this request. You can come back here & tell us what the biopsy report says. The report will be helpful to your new dr. By the way, drs rarely just offer up a copy of records, a patient has to request them from the office.

Were you ever checked for infections & parasites when having a stool test done?

Take care.


PS: You may want to delete the 2nd thread you started about the endo, otherwise you will have people posting on both & it may get confusing, lol.

Also, I would do a liquid diet for a few days if I were you, it always seems to help my pain level. You should look into the SCD diet