Newbie, suspected IBD.

Hi,

I stumbled across this forum doing some research into IBD and you all very friendly and knowledgable.

I'm just turned 20 and went to my GP about 4 weeks ago after passing blood when going to the loo and experiencing diarrhoea and abdominal pain. As I was diagnosed with sero-positive Rheumatoid Arthritis last year (funnily enough about the same time of year!) she suspected some sort of IBD and made an urgent referal to a gastroenterologist. I saw him for the first time last night and he thinks I have either Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis. I'm having a colonoscopy with biopsy and x-rays on Wednesday so should know more then. He thinks either my RA jump started some form of IBD or I had IBD all along, causing arthritis but my symptoms were masked by the high doses of steroids I was on to get the RA under some form of control.

Due to the RA I'm already on a lot of meds - Arava, Plaquenil, Prednisolone, Co-codemol and Diclofenac when needed. I don't take the diclofenac as my RA is being pretty good right now. When I was first diagnosed with RA I was on 20mg of pred. for about 3 months. I was first put on methotrexate (MTX) but was allergic to it and then sulfasalazine, which was ineffective. The Arava/Plaquenil combo seems to be working and I now have the pred. down to 7mg. It has been as I've reduced the pred. that symptoms for IBD have become more pronounced.

Medical stuff over: I'm a second year English Lit. and Creative Writing student, studying in Wales. It's the beginning of a new term and I have to miss all my first lectures of the year to try and sort this out. I'm feeling a little lost and am trying to find out as much info as I can really.

Thanks!

Scat.

Hi Scat, and welcome! Yes, it must be challenging to be at college and have to deal with everything you are dealing with. I also hope you can get some answers at your upcoming appointment. You are right--there is a lot of knowledge here! Good luck to you! Keep in touch!

Hi Scat Welcome to HW you will find lots of caring people and knowledge here it is great not to be alone. I hope you don't have IBD but it is good you are getting tested and as you know lots of us have joint and body pain. Hope things go good for you with your studies and Best Wishes. lol gail

Thanks for all your replies! It's great to find communities like this.

Matthew - I wish it was due to pred withdrawal but with the exceptionally slow taper I'm on I very much doubt it! I'm meant to be dropping another 1mg of pred today but I don't know that it's a good idea. Any thoughts?

Once again thank you - it's to feel supported as I wait for a diagnosis. I hope you are all having a good day.

Scat.