Hello, we are all new to this.. so here goes.
This journey started soemthing like 20ish years ago,when my husbadn was 29- he would get these crazy stomach cramps- they would always be very low in his abdoman, and always very bad pain. The pain would many times make him pass out, and he would always have diarrhea.
He would have diarrhea 10-20 times before it finally went away. He would have these "episodes" once or twice a year-
over the past few years, ehw ould have them a bit more often.
This year has been the worst- since last October- 10 months- he has lost 11 pounds, without really trying or doing anyathing .He's not a big man- he weighs about 160 pounds and is 5'10
He is also 51 years old.
He had two episodes early in the year, and then again in March- each the same as always.
I finally taught him how to breathe through the pain, so he doesn't pass out,a nd end up in the er getting stitchces (2 times now).
These episodes never result in blood- but always result in him quite fatigued.
He spends most of his time tired.
Finally, I convinced him to go to the doctor- because since 2 weeks ago- he spent at least 8 of those days with diarrhea. The diarrhea and the pain would come on somewhere between 8 and 10 am- and last for at least 5 hours- he would have diarrhea 20 or so times in that amount of time- and hten the rest of the day he would just be tired- and weak.
Yesterday, we went to the doctor- he pushed on his stomach- and he did have some tenderness, but isn't sure if the tenderness was just because his stomach is irritated.
They ran some blood work and stool samples.
He thinks it could be IBS- but it isn't quite as common to lose weight like this- so he said he thinks something else like crohn's or colitis.
Does crohns' start and stop? I mean, today, he hasn't had any diarrhea- yet he has had some minor twinges of pain here and there, and he has eaten.
He is still exhausted and tired- no fever, never a fever.
The blood work showed a very mild elevation in his white blood count, but said that could be from inflammation, yet he started him on an antibiotic just in case.
With no fever, and with it not lasting all day long, every day, etc.. he said it didn't make sense to be an infection or parasite, yet they are still checking.
My wonder is why do the symptoms come and go. One day he is great- and then 2 days later he is sick with this for 2 or 3 days for 5 or so hours.
His mean platelet level is low- which the doctor said indicates some type of IBD
He also said that his lymphocytes are also mildly elevated and also his actual platelet level is also mildly elevated.
We don't know what to think at this point, we are waiting for our GI appointment.
At the same time, he is afraid of eating anything, he is tired yet tired of being tired and feeling like garbage.
Any ideas would be great. If this DOES NOT sound like crohns' that would be great, and do let me know.
BLessings.
Christina