Crohn's and constipation

Is it TOTALLY unheard of for a Crohn's person to literally NEVER have diarrhea?  I am constipated all the time, and was diagnosed with Crohn's 12 days ago and I can't find much info on this... it all seems to be about diarrhea, which is obviously the more common affliction.... help??

I have never had D...ever. and welcome!

I'm very, very curious to learn what symptoms you presented with in the absence of diarrhea that made your doctor's suspect Crohn's. I, too, have always tended toward constipation. I went to the surgeon for what I thought was hemorrhoids, but it turns out that it was several fissures with skin tags that make my surgeon strongly suspect Crohn's because of their appearance and location. I also had a very frustrating period of constant mouth ulcers a few years ago that lasted several months. Biopsy result from one of the fissures showed small granulomas and says IBD is a possibility. I was shocked since, like you, I've never had issues with diarrhea. I do not have a confirmed diagnosis yet, but I've been researching like crazy and can find very little about Crohn's with constipation. I desperately want to hear more from others with this particular symptom!

I have Crohn's with constipation. Start eating lots of brown rice and veggies! It will really help you out.

Wow... I am overwhelmed and grateful for the many responses to my question.  Anyone ever feel like a freak of nature??? I bought a really wonderful book last night and it is going to be a big help to me.  I don't have time to go into all that I would like to say right now, because I have to get my fanny to work.  Twenty-one little first graders will be bouncing into my classroom in 45 minutes, and I need to beat them getting there!  (lol)  I am excited to have found this forum.  Thank you for jumping in to respond quickly.  I hope you all have a great day... please look for more posts from me.  I need ya'll!!  (Hey, you could be my "Crohnies"...) Ha!!

I have experienced both D and contipation throughout my 4 years of being diagnosed with this fun disease.  My doctor actually told me that having both is a really indicator of crohns rather than colitis because it shows that you most likely have inflammation in the small intestine.  There are many medications that we take than help with the D, but very few that are prescribed for the constipation.  I have found that miralax had been the most gentle and effective medication when I am going through a period of contipation rather than D.  Diet is also something that has really help me relieve some of the pain.  Many people try the route of major laxatives, but for me personally it causes more trouble and pain than the miralax.  Of course, if you are really backed up do not hesitate to call your doctor, because that last thing that you want is a blockage that ruptures.

First, "dx" means diagnosis/diagnosed. Second, BE CAREFUL WITH THE FIBER. Too much of the wrong kind can make a bad situation worse. Personally, I find that if I go a couple of days without a bowl of oatmeal, my C returns. If I have a bowl everyday, I have a movement everyday. (I hated oatmeal at first, now I've come to enjoy/almost crave it.)

I, too, am a constipated crohnie. It was because of my family history of colon cancer and finding blood in the toilet that I had my first colonoscopy. I had been having some abdonimal pain, but thought it was from poor eating. I was dx'ed from the results of the scope, but the guy was a horrible dr. So I found a good one and he started asking me all these questions: Do you have X? Have you had Y? It turned out all these little things that I thought were unrelated were all part of CD. (joint pain, ab pain, mouth ulcers, etc).

You're doing the right thing looking for answers. I put my head in the sand for about a year. All it did was make things more difficult on my body.

I can't tell you guys how helpful it is to me to learn that I am not alone with the C. I was seriously doubtful that I had even been properly diagnosed because of the lack of info on the subject of C. The book I bought last night, called Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, an Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed is really helpful. I am learning a lot. The author is a Crohn's patient named Jill Sklar. You should check it out if you are like me and you feel a little clueless.

I have to say, I have been surprised at how little information I have been given by my doctor. He has literally only told me the diagnosis (while I was still "drunk" with anesthesia after my oscopies,) and prescribed medication. My next appt. isn't until Oct. 11, so it's a long time to feel as though you are in the dark.

I feel like I finally have a diagnosis for ALL the health problems I have had for so long. It AMAZES me to learn of things it can cause... like eye swelling! Okay- I took allergy SHOTS for that, and when that didn't work, I was prescribed MIGRAINE medicine for "cluster migraines." The skin problems! HELLO - I am the only person I know who has EVER returned a Proativ Kit. I don't know of anyone else it hasn't worked for. Now, I learn that THIS is very likely Crohn's related. The sores in my mouth--- I have described it as feeling like my taste buds are swollen. I know that sound goofy, but it is the best way to describe it for me.

It is SO NICE to have a place where we can share things that we don't want to talk about, but need to. Thanks for being part of this. There have been so many more things that I feel like I understand now. I feel like I could write a BOOK right now about it all, but gee--- I don't want to put anybody off. I hope everyone has a good evening. I'll be checking back in later.

My daughter never had D. Used to have C, but it went away when she started eating homemade yogurt, ate more fruits and vegies, and tried the SCD diet.

I also have Crohn's with C and I never have D. So yes, it can feel very confusing when everyone else gauges their wellness by whether or not they are having D all the time. I have learned that if I drink tons of water, take fiber twice a day, and take 2 stool softeners every day I can keep from getting bad, since that will flare up my anal fissures, which is a bad thing! I just try to be grateful that I'm not having to deal with the D since I know how awful that can be for your quality of life.

Hmmm...my daughter has Crohn's only in the terminal ileum, but no D.

Am interested in finding out more about why only a minority has C rather than D, but haven't been able to find related research. 

I have also had periods of C and thought it just me, also have D, but not as ofter as C. It's finally great to see that others have had this problem. (you know what I mean!!!).

When I had my "flare" it was all D, but now it's both and mostly C. Very frustrating! Still on low-fiber diet, so that's not helping...My GI seems most "interested" in the D. Not as many solutions for the C I guess.