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Crohn's with constipation?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/28/2010 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
A friend of mine has a daughter who has many of the symptoms of crohn's, but she is constipated alot. I never had that. She is just beginning the long, frustrating visits with doctor after doctor and she is only 17 years old. I would sure appreciate it if those of you who experienced constipation with CD could give some info. She is exremely fatigued, gets skin rashes, a bloated belly and body aches, too. Thanks everybody!
Posted 1/29/2010 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
when I first started my crohns symptoms, I would get terrible constipated, then my small bowel collapsed, and i had mayor surgery. that 1970. went years after with no med's. they took at that time 8ft of small Int. disease potion. 1989 came back at the resection then had elective surgery to avoid another collapse. now on imuran an pred. I hope that is not her case very painful. my verry best

Posted 1/29/2010 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. At least now I know they shouldn't stop looking for the cause or settle for the first diagnosis unless they have proof.
Posted 1/29/2010 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
I've had terrible constipation with my Crohn's for the past few years. Big time bloating. I can't tell you why though, my doctor is still looking into it. Please tell your friend to hang in there!
Posted 1/29/2010 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
ok, I should elaborate, my cd. the part that infected was so inflamed that it made the opening narrow,very narrow. that was why the collapse and the surgery to remove that portion of my small bowel. so until it collapsed my stomach would bloat out and  very tender to touch. they then cut out the 8ft of disease and then it came back where it was connected. but my cd isn't spread thru out my gut just in centrolized area. I hope you understand how I'm trying to say it. some cd'er's have it spread thru out so surgery is practiclly impossiable, that's why they go on high tech med's withno surgery. I hope that helps

Posted 1/29/2010 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Some people with Crohn's do have constipation rather than diarrhoea. It's often due to inflammation/scarring causing narrowing of the intestines. Right now I think I have a stricture; I'm not exactly constipated because what comes out at the other end is still usually diarrhoea - it just takes longer than it used to, I get horribly bloated, and I get a sensation of my guts feeling bunged up and sore. Also, it's fatiguing. I find constipation in general to be fatiguing though - there's just something inherently draining about not being able to go...
Posted 1/29/2010 9:25 AM (GMT 0)
while I get both D & C the constipation is far more common and back in the early days was very bad, so much that i would often tear. Thats the thing with Crohn's, its different for everyone. My GI thinks that my case is simply a combination of the scaring in areas and also that I have a sluggish and lazy digestive system. . Good luck to her x x
Posted 1/29/2010 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
When I first became sick, I was 16 years old...I started with severe constipation. It took them 5 years to diagnose me after seeing many doctors. When they did diagnose me with crohns they removed 3 feet of my large bowel, that was in 1987.

Thanks
Carmen
Posted 1/29/2010 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am a crohnie who suffers with more c than d. I also have the stricuturing/scarring type of Crohns. I have to take stool softners nightly in order to keep things softer and easier to pass.
Posted 1/30/2010 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have had Crohns since 1993 with one re-section. After years of diarrhea, suddenly I am constipated with back pain and right quadrant pain. Colonoscopy last year showed significant narrowing so I think it's finally taking it's toll. Expect to be put on meds Monday since pain has made me very tired and walking an effort. Anybody take Tramadol for pain? It was suggested to me but I'm afraid of side affects.
Posted 1/30/2010 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Tramadol is one of those meds that works for some and not others. I don't tolerate it well as I have a sissy gut. I take 1/2 tab of Percoset 3 x's a day for my pain. Before that I took 1/2 Vicodin 3 x's a day and it worked well without making me super drowsy. I would also recommend that if you get put on maintainence meds this time Calace, that you stay on them. I was told I no longer needed to take meds after my 1st resection, and 3 years later I had to have another resection. While you are busy getting on with your life, the Crohns is still in there doing its damage on a microscopic level. Thats exactly what happened to me and I would like to see you stay healthy. Good luck!
Posted 1/31/2010 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
I get constipation and bloating more than diarrhea. What I do to remain regular is drink 1-1.5 capfuls of miralax every day or every other day with juice. (Don't do what I did and drink it dissolved in water--THAT WAS NASTY but i didn't know any better). It's not a laxative. It puts more water back into one's poop. I have also tried docusate which is like putting soap on the poop but it never really worked for me.

I used to work in an ER for 4+ years and one of the pediatricians on there told me it was bad for my colon for me to swing from not going for 4-6 days to diarrhea for 3-4 days and that he prescribed it to his patients to keep them regular. I tried it and it works for me. I've been taking it since 10/2007 and so far so good. <crossing fingers> By the way, i have moderate crohns symptoms but i don't have any fistulas, strictures, or surgeries. My GI never prescribed it to me or told me what to do about my constipation but when I told him what I was taking and that it worked, he told me to keep doing what worked for me. Miralax is an over the counter prescription and they have a smaller bottle so you're not stuck paying $20 on a 2-3 test.

Tell her to hang in there and good luck.
Posted 1/31/2010 6:54 PM (GMT 0)

My son was diagnosed with Crohn's Nov 09 at the age of 16. He too had the constipation and severe stomach pain. His GP put it down to heartburn!!! I do not know a great deal about this disease (but am rapidly learning) but I would have thought if some blood tests were done that would 'flag up' whether her symptoms would need further investigation.

Posted 1/31/2010 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
When I first got crohn's at 15 years old I had constipation. At around 35 years of age I came out of remission and this time and since it's been diarrhea.
Posted 2/1/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
My daughter had constipation, never D. THe constipation is gone now that she is on meds (LDN), vitamins and a modified version of the SCD diet.
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