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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/21/2007 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am 27 years old and since the start of December I've been having nasty tummy pains, feeling sick, trouble going to the toilet, blood when going and feeling run down. I've seen doctor, who give me a blood test weeks ago, it was normal. I've got another test next Friday, scan on Jan 7th and a colonoscopy sometime soon. Now I am thinking the worse, but theres no history of cancer in family, and everyone is telling me to not worry. But I am worried. Does this sound like Crohns?!?
Posted 12/21/2007 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
My first fear when I started bleeding with BMs was cancer. Certainly it is necessary to be diagnosed, but it could very well be either Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis. It's good that you've got the colonoscopy lined up. That will tell you what you need to know... as much as it's no fun, it's not really all that bad! Hang in there and try not to worry too much for now.
Posted 12/21/2007 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the post. I am trying to take my mind off it now. It's Xmas, I want a good time u know. The docs are doing everything they can for me and I am grateful! I know that everyone is like it's not bad, you're be ok, theres no history...but cant help worrying u know! I am just happy I am getting the best tests done
Posted 12/22/2007 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our message board Welsh girl!

I was 15 when I first noticed something was wrong, and they were able to diagnose me pretty quickly with Crohn's. But first, I spent all summer reading health books trying to figure out what was wrong with me....not a good idea....you have made the right step by going to the doctor, and hopefully they should get to the "bottom" (pun intended) of it all soon.

I would try not to figure it out on your own...the mind is really good at worrying, although it doesn't really help much...

Nat aka gladbag
Posted 12/22/2007 12:33 AM (GMT 0)

Welsh_Girl said...

Now I am thinking the worse, but theres no history of cancer in family, and everyone is telling me to not worry. But I am worried. Does this sound like Crohns?!?

Hi Welsh Girl. What you're describing doesn't sound like cancer. In general, bowel cancer has no pain, and it's actually almost symptom-free until it reaches the liver. A bowel tumor is possible, but even so it could be benign (my mother had one of those, and it was easily removed). I don't want to play "Internet Doctor," but I feel fairly sure that cancer isn't your problem, especially considering your age.

Yes, it could be Crohn's, or maybe Ulcerative Colitis, or maybe celiac disease. If it's celiac, you can cure yourself just with dietary changes. You do, of course, need tests. You're doing the right thing getting a colonoscopy. Nobody here can diagnose you just from the description of your symptoms.

You should try to enjoy your holiday. Don't overeat, avoid irritating things like coffee and hot spices, take it easy. You'll find out soon enough just what sort of illness you have, and what you need to do to counter it. You might try taking probiotics - these are good for many types of intestinal afflictions, and there are no dangerous side effects.

Once you get a diagnosis, let us hear from you.

best regards,
Robert
Posted 12/22/2007 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, and welcome. I can't tell you what you have any better than anyone, but some of your symptoms do sound like crohns. One more idea about diet for the holiday. I have found that dairy is very bad for me. When I first got sick and they hadn't yet got a diagnoisis I ate a yogurt thinking it was soft and easy on my stomach. It almost sent me back to the hospital!
I stay away from dairy, whole grains, and raw/fresh fruits and veggies. I know it sounds like there isn't much you can eat! If nothing else you might stay away from dairy for a few days and see if it helps. Also in case you do have crohns or UC it might be a good idea to keep a food log and see how you react to specific foods. One thing about this disease. It is different for each person and no one can give you a sure fire diet that will work for you.
Try not to worry and to enjoy Christmas.
Heather
Posted 12/22/2007 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for ur posts. I am now taking some probiotics which have help sightly, my tummy is feeling better. I am having another blood test after Xmas in which they are lookin for other problems of the bowel. I think my doctor called it Crohns or something esle, which I cant remember the name of! I am going to enjoy my Xmas! I know after it, I shall be getting the tests and hopely find out whats wrong!
Posted 12/23/2007 9:08 AM (GMT 0)
I went to the toilet and it was runny with blood and white stuff! Thats cancer isnt it?!?
Posted 12/23/2007 4:04 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there,

Oh my god you poor thing, i know exactly what you're going through.  Every now and again i get paranoid that it must be bowel cancer that i have and that it's not just Crohns. I'm still not convinced and am waiting on a colonoscopy to put my mind at ease. I'm in Ireland so will be waiting a pretty long time unfortunately. ANYWAY to get to your point, i'm definitely no expert but the white stuff is most probably mucous which is extremely common in those with Crohns. So as the other posts were saying, this most definitely sounds like Crohns symptoms. And the only way to put your mind at ease is by having all the necessary tests. Seriously, try and enjoy the holiday period as best you can. It took my doctor almost 10 yrs to diagnose me and as i knew nothing of any website like this, i was convinced all those yrs that i was dying. I was actually relieved when i received a diagnosis. Now i'm just fed up with the disease (as is everybody who has it!!!).

But keep your head up and try to stop worrying, because for me anyway and alot of others, stress makes all the symptoms much worse. Viscious Circle isn't it!!

Happy Christmas anyway and don't worry too much............

Posted 12/23/2007 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
The mucus and blood mixture was my first symptom of Crohn's, though I was originally diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis... Hang in there and keep good thoughts. It's very scary when you don't know. It's natural to fear the worst, but it's much more likely to be Crohn's or UC.
Posted 12/24/2007 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Welsh_Girl,
Honey try not to worry! I know that is the easiest thing in the world to say to someone who is in pain and worried.
My CD started exactly with those symptoms. Runny , bloody, white mucousy diarrhea....horrible cramping and pain, cold sweats, passing out, terrible weakness...it is all part and parcel of having UC or Crohns disease. I would try not to worry about cancer.I was a Reg. Nurse for many years and most cancers of the bowel were inconspicuous...no symptoms....found by chance during other medical tests or after it had metastisized to other areas...in other words, the secondary cancer was discovered first....so I don't think you have cancer....it may very well be IBD....inflammatory bowel disease.....but that is not a death sentence. It's a pain in the a..... sentence for sure. There is nothing easy about either UC or CD....but for the most part they are both manageable and for many people they can be only mild in nature and flare only from time to time. Worrying about it , is not going to change the outcome of your tests ..(I'm a fine one to be lecturing someone about not worrying )...
We are all here for you ...come to us as often as you need...you can rant, cry, get angry, worry, ...we will always be here to support you through whatever....
I will keep you in prayers this holiday season...try to have a happy xmas
Mary
Posted 12/27/2007 10:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much! I know I am driving myself mad with worry. Tomorrow I've got a blood test again, followed by my tummy scan on Jan 7th. Now everyone in my family knows whats going on with me, my Dad told them all yesterday! They are being very kind and telling me I will be fine, and I am keepin that idea in my head! I am now going to the toilet better, no blood, but the pain is there. Yet I know I can post here and have some help too :0
Posted 12/27/2007 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
Can I ask about my scan. Will the scan show up anything bad?!? Seeing as they will check everything inside but will this test show up anything wrong?!?
Posted 12/27/2007 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
my ct scan didnt show anything exept an enlarged liver. It took them almost a year to diagnose me and still im not 100% sure. Did they try promethus lab testing they have to send it out to California. Specific antibody testing. My blood work always came back find sometimes my lymphocytes and moncytes or whatever would come back high or light white blood cell count would be slightly elevated but that would be it on the blood work except antibody tests are always positive for me. I have the same thing you do except no blood only after colonscopies or barium tests. I dont always have pain going to the bathroom but usually after i eat and even a few hours later not sure if it takes time to hit a certain area in there or what?? Don t stop going to the dr find it first before they start putting you on all kinds of medications. They will try to see if you respond and how you feel but then you will have a hard time finding it especially on steriods. Just keep doing as many tests as you can to try to find it. Go down the throat and up the other way. I did the capsule test were you swallow camera.
Posted 12/27/2007 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Well tomorrow I've got a blood test to check blood level and other things. That will take a week to get back to me, so maybe I will get the results before my scan. When I eat, it takes a while for it to get down and out of me...if u know what I mean! I do have a small tummy ache but it goes after a short while. The tummy pain was worse at the very start, it was killing me. It felt like someone was slabbing me again and again! Not a nice feeling thats for sure! I went to the toilet 3 times last nite and it felt great (I know that sounds strange!) but there was nothing wrong with the stools but it did hurt a bit.
Posted 12/28/2007 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Had my blood test today. The nurse couldnt read my docs handwritting so she did two bloods, on in a yellow bottle and one in a purple bottle. I HAVE no idea what this means?!? I did tell her whats been going on, she nodded and told me she was doing the best thing for me. I did also tell her my periods have been very late over the last 4 months, so she thinks its all down with that too! I've got to wait til next Friday to know of results
Posted 12/29/2007 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Can I ask a question, yes another one! But can Crohns change the colour of your stools?!? Mine is yellow. There's no blood anymore but it's yellow. Is that good or bad?!? Sorry but being such a pain
Posted 1/4/2008 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
My second load of blood tests were normal again. I've got my scan on Monday. Everyone has start if theres nothing found in blood tests, then there cant be anything bad going on inside. I guess I've got to wait til 3.30pm on Monday to know whats going on!
Posted 1/4/2008 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Honey, don't expect to get too many answers on Monday. Sometimes it takes months and years to find out what is wrong. It's really a process of elimination in some cases. Blood test can (sometimes) show if there is inflammation going on inside but it doesn't always. Scans may show narrowing of intestines but not always. The best test you can have will be the colonoscopy where the docs can see inflammation. But sometimes the inflammation is microscopic and can't be seen on a scope. There is a wide range of tests to help the doctors pinpoint the problem but it's not one test or one procedure for most people.

My suggestion is to try to relax and go ahead and live your life. Have the tests done. If the doctors start even suspecting IBD they will probably put you on a very easy drug called a 5asa to try to slow down any inflammation. There are several 5ASAs out there.
Posted 1/8/2008 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I had the scan and there was nothing showing up to due with the pain. She checked everything but it took ages to find my Gallbladder! There was something wrong with it but nothing too bad, so she told me. I've got to wait 2 weeks to call my doctor to find out results. I also got a letter about a camera into the colon but was told it would take months. Do you think I will need that to happen if my doctor cant see anything wrong with the scans??!
Posted 1/16/2008 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
The results of my scan was told to me today and it seems I've got 2 capillary hemangioma in my liver! I was told it's small packages of blood and I need a CT scan to check them out in a better light. This is sign of Crohns??!
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