crohns for 35 years?

 I JUST HAD A COLONOSCOPY DONE ON THE 21ST. THE DR THAT PERFORMED IT TOLD ME I HAD CROHNS.  I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER WEBSITES AND RECONIZED ALMOST ALL THE SYMPTOMS THAT GO WITH THIS DISEASE. I JUST NEVER HAD ANY OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME AND THE SEVERITY VARIED. I CAN REMEMBER SOMETHINGS FROM AROUND THE AGE 10 OR 11(SKIN TAG, ANEMIA,BEING THE ONLY SKINY PERSON IN MY FAMILY) AND THEN AS A TEENAGER THRU ADULTHOOD. DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE HAD THIS FOR CLOSE TO 35 YEARS AND NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS THAT WERE BAD ENOUGH FOR SOMEONE TO FIGURE IT OUT? I ONLY KNOW ONE OTHER PERSON THAT HAS THIS SO I DONT HAVE ALOT TO GO ON OTHER THAN WHAT THE DRS TELL ME.

After speaking with my gi intially, we figure I have had it a good 20yrs, possibly longer. Keep in mind, this is a disease that can be mild, with very little problems to severe. evens drs in er never gave it a thought, I was always told it was a virus, a bug i picked even the flu. Longesr running bouts you have ever seen.lol

While I've never had confirmation from a doc, I suspect I've had this DD since 11 yrs or so... I'm now 46. I was hospitalized between the 5th & 6th grades with "duodenal ulcers", I bet if they did the testing today they would have DX me then.

IMHO, you could very well have had a milder version since then.

WELL THIS IS REALLY BLOWING MY MIND. THE MORE INFO I READ THE MORE I CAN SEE I REALLY HAVE HAD THIS JUST about ALL OF MY LIFE. FORTUNATELY I DONT HAVE THE CONSTANT POOPING CROHNS, (I LEAN TOWARDS CONSTIPATION) BUT I HAVE HAD PEROIDS OF VERY LOOSE BM(WAS TESTED FOR PARASITES,YUCK) TERRIBLE MENSTRUAL PERIODS, HAD A BOWEL RESECTION AT 25 (WAS TOLD IT WAS PID) TERRIBLE ABDOMINAL PAIN (WAS TOLD IT WAS IBS AND DIVERTICULITIS) UNEXPLAINED FEVER. NIGHT SWEATS AND PREMATURE MENOPAUSE. HAD CHRONIC FATIGUE, SEVERE JOINT PAIN(WAS TESTED FOR RA AND LYME) AND SOME OTHER GYNO SYMPTOMS. IN A NUTSHELL(LITTERALY) THEY TOLD ME IT WAS DEPRESSION AND PUT ME ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS. IM SURE AFTER ALL THIS CRAP I NEED TO BE ON THEM BUT I AM SO RELIEVED THAT FINALLY I HAVE A ANSWER TO WHATS BEEN GOING ON. (ALSO TEETERING ON THE FENCE BEING MAD AS HELL I WASNT TESTED SOONER).  I DONT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DR UNTILL OCT 4. IM NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT PLAN HE HAS IN MIND. ANY FEED BACK WILL BE GREATLY APPRICIATED. ONE LAST THING, HOW about DENTAL ISSUES RELATED TO CROHNS? IVE HAD A LIST OF THEM TOO (NO ONE ELSE IN MY FAMILY DID). THANKS!!!!!!

I just joined the forum, and I was diagnosed in December, 2004 after years of being told i had IBS, and suffering with vague symptoms that didn't add up. I was told this past May that I've probably had it for 30 years. I had many of the same emotions you did and I still struggle.

As for the dental issues, I'm on a couple of meds that give me a yucky taste in my mouth. After having had only 2 cavities in my entire life, all of a sudden I'm getting them, and my kid's dentist agreed that anything that makes the mouth dry or causes acid (and if you have reflux) can wear away the enamel. he recommended pronamel toothpaste and a fluoride rinse along with daily flossing.

I was lucky to find a wonderful GI who also knows the top people at Mt. Sinai in NYC, so i know I'm in good hands. i hope you are too.

Daize - I could have written your description of symptoms myself! I was diagnosed CD about a year ago, but I beleive I have had a mild form of it since about 16.

Oh well - except for the skinnny part and the skin tag part. LOL.