Annoyed

Hello,

I have not officially been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease but my mother believes I may have it. For the past 3 years I have been suffering from loss of appetite, fatigue, really bad constipation, when my bowels do move they are really painful, I have a fullness feeling often even though I don't eat, bloating, occasional headaches, cramping, and back pains,dehydration, paleness, and constant discomfort. I was seeing a GI but he kept saying I had IBS yet none of the medicine worked or even helped, and as soon as I turned 18 he refused to see me(pediatrician). I was recently diagnosed with depression and anxiety and that is what he thought was the cause of the pain. Everytime I go to the ER(most recent:last night) they do blood work and always tell me that everything came back normal. After my aunt told me that she was recently diagnosed with CD, I told this to the doctor because I hear it tends to run in families. The doctor took a cat scan (supposedly looking directly for any diseases) of my stomach and said that everything looked normal. These issues are really starting to take a toll on me. I am a freshman in school in North Carolina and I had to quit playing basketball 2 weeks ago due to the pain and fatigue. My grades are also starting to be effected. I know that I am not crazy and I am so annoyed that doctors keep telling me everything is normal when I'm going through all of this. Did anyone else go through these? Did anyone have this test come back normal and then was later diagnosed? I just want to know what is wrong with me so that I can get better. Please help!!! Thank you.

God, reading your post brought back so many bad memories for me. I was diagnosed with crohns this year after having problems most of my adult life.

I ended up in hospital with suspected appendicitas, kidney infections etc etc. Id also been treated for depression in my past.

And like you all my blood results etc came back negative for any diseases etc. It wasnt until i found a doctor who actually believed me that i got anywhere. She sent me straight for a colonoscopy and low and behold crohns was diagnosed.

It made me so angry because i knew for so long that i really wasnt well yet it seemed to be falling on deaf ears. You should insist on a colonoscopy. I am a strong believer in gut intuition. if you dont feel right you musnt be right. I hope you find a doctor like i did in the end.

I have been talking with my campus health clinic and they are currently trying to send me to Wake Forest, where supposedly the best GI team in this region works, but after last nights normal test results, I'm not sure if they still will send me.

With IBS taking meds is not necessarily all that needs to be done to control it...diet (enough fibre particularly) and exercise daily along with meds are 3 key things that can help get it under control.

Have they done upper GI tests to check your small intestines? A colonoscopy alone will not be enough to rule out crohn's disease, especially if your colon is free of CD but your small intestines could very well have signs of CD causing your symptoms.

Another possibility is you could have collagenous colitis, which is also referred to as microscopic colitis, this would be affecting your colon but not visually seen via colonoscopy, rather they'd have to take biopsies and examine tissue under microscope.

With no obvious signs of inflammation (or even microscoped signs) throughout your intestinal tract, you very well could be suffering with IBS...many IBSers are majorly impacted with their condition that's why meds, diet and exercise are crucial daily and indefinitely to help get it under better or even for some people, complete control.

:)

it took forever to dx my crohns,i kinda think doctors are just stupid,i think if u believe u haf crohns then everyhting in your power to get dx,is it possible to book your self in for a colonocopy? i mean i got told i just had tummy bugs,and a blood test i had done ages ago cme back normal even when i had crohns,try getting a scope done then youll know for sure.just dont give up,i ended up having surgery coz i didnt get diagnosed quickly.

my crohns has never shown on a ct scan. I would demand a colonoscopy, that is the only way my crohns was diagnosed. I hope you get a dr that will listen to you.