Posted 4/24/2009 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I have a few questions I was hoping someone could answer. I'll give you some background info first.
I am a 24 year old non-smoking male. I don't have anyone in my family that has ever had Crohn's or any IBD. My parents and grandparents are all extremely healthy. None of them have had any serious health issues at all. I know that doesn't mean I can't get Crohns but figured I would share that since it seems to run in families.
I was told I probably have Crohn's Disease but never a for sure answer. about 3-4 years ago, I started having light heart burn problems and had a swollen left tonsil. I went to the doctor and they gave me something for heartburn but that didn't help. about 6 months after this I started having severe fatigue problems and was sleeping 18 hours a day and still felt like I wasn't sleeping enough. I went to see a doctor again and they told me nothing was wrong and that I had heartburn. I had to see two more doctors before I was eventually given an antibiotic. I forgot the name of it, but it wasn't ciprofloxacin or metronidazole. I felt a lot better after taking the antibiotics but a few months later I was starting to get a little tired again, but not nearly as bad.
about a year and a half ago, I started getting really tired again. This time, I also had a slight pain in my lower left abdomen as well as a burning pain when I urinated. I went to the doctor and he felt my colon and it hurt a lot as well. He gave me ciprofloxacin and I felt great for about 3 months or so and then had a little fatigue again.
Last summer I started feeling a slight pinching feeling in my lower left abdomen. I also started noticing that I was having a hard time recovering from running, lifting weights, and any exercise in general. I also noticed that my arm pits smelled a little with deodorant. A few months later, I started having terrible stomach pain. It got so bad that I had to go to the emergency room. They kept me for 6 days and told me I have an ulcer in my small intestine and that I probably have Crohn's disease. They did a CT scan and a chest xray. They gave me an antibiotic and prednisone. I never really felt all that great even after leaving the hospital. I went to see a doctor a few weeks later because I had pain while urinating again. He gave me ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. I felt great for a while and haven't had any serious problems for another 3 months.
I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago and they said the ulcer is a lot smaller than when I was in the hospital. My colon and everything else looked fine. They also took a biopsy. I was on prednisone for 2 months as well and am currently taking azathioprine.
Now I am starting to feel very tired again and every time I ask my GI doctor a question he doesn't answer them very well.
My questions are:
What makes them think is Crohn's disease and not just an ulcer or something else?
In general, I only have fatigue and twice have had burning pain while urinating, a little heart burn, and a pain in my lower left abdomen. Is it common for someone with crohns to only have these symptoms? Or likely? I have never had any diareah problems.
Why do the antibiotics make me feel better, but the azathioprine and prednisone don't?
I apologize for the long read. Thanks to anyone that can help.