I am new to this board, and have some questions as to whether I may be experiencing Crohn's rather than the IBS I have been diagnosed with. My primary symptom is of course diarrhea; it comes on within an hour of eating, and is "violent" (accompanied by extremely painful cramps and forceful gas) and urgent (cannot be held - have had one accident and lots of near misses.) I was put on glycopyrrolate by an FNP to help w/ the diarrhea; this helps somewhat, as far as frequency, but now, I am experiencing a kind of constipation; it's as if the same chaos is going on inside, it just can't get out. The cramps (usually mid-abdomen to lower right side) and bowel sounds begin, and it becomes an all-day process to move first the harder stool, then progressivly looser until completely water. Occasionally, I have an extreme cramp, I call it a "stitch" in my left side, under my ribcage; it hurts to the point of making it hard to breathe and move. After an hour or two of this pain, a bowel sound that is so loud it is audible to people who aren't even standing next to me occurs, followed by the urgent diarrhea. Another really worrisome symptom that has started in the last few months and has occurred about six times is that during these awful painful episodes of sitting there, crying in pain and waiting for it all to pass, I get an immediate urge to throw up. No nausea, just all of a sudden, I have to throw up. It is usually yellow and burns coming up. Also, I have seen bright specks of blood on the tissue from small splits, which also burn like fire when the liquid stool hits them. I feel out of control, trapped by my symptoms, and really frightened. PS, my oldest brother had ulcerative colitis and had a complete colostomy at age 22. (I am 42 now; had symptoms for about 18 months; treated for IBS for about 6 months.) Any help or advice is appreciated. I am scheduled to see a gastro- later this month, but am so frightened that this may be Crohn's, I would like some information. Thank you for this site and your help.