Posted 5/2/2011 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with crohn's about 6 years ago. I have had some abdominal pain but the worst was the pain after a bowel movement. My intestines would be "upset" for the rest of the day after a bowel movement, my feet would hurt and it really felt like I just ran a half marathon. By night time I felt better and was ok until my next bowel movement and then it would start all over again. I was on Pentasa and still am. Over a year ago I decided to see an acupuncturist. I really didn't get any benefit from it until she suggested I try Griffonex 5HTP. about two weeks later I was so much better. I guess it has seratonin in it which helps the brain/gut function. I had some down days but for the most part I was fine. Well, I needed my Pentasa filled so I called my GI and he said he wanted to see me as it had been over a year. I went in and explained everything. I explained about the Griffonex and that most of my pain when I had it was in my lower abdomen. I said it seemed like it was more IBS. I asked if they were sure I had chrons and he said no biopsy was ever done and that the superficial ulcer that the pill cam and colonoscopy showed could be from something else. He said no blood test was ever done and since I have always maintained my weight maybe it wasn't cronhs but to still treat it as it was. I said ok. Well, a few weeks after that I have started getting alot of lower abdominal pain and my bowel movements have been "exhausting" again. Most of my pain is when I am sitting and it seems like it is worse during the week when I am working. about 6 months ago I started taking Align and since then it seems like my stools have been really soft...up to that point my bowel movements were normal. I still am basically going once a day but the stools are really long, thin and soft. GI said he was not worried about what the stools looked like. I am a very stressful person and am wondering if it is the stress causing it as I does seem better on weekends.....is it IBS or does it sound more like chrons? Also wondering can you have chrons at a moderate level and have it stay like that for ever and not have it get worse or does it always get worse? I think that is my problem. I hear all these stories about people with debilitating chrons symptoms and I keep waiting for that to happen...once again stressing over something.My doctor thinks a low dose of a effexor or a drug like that would help but I really do not want to go down that route. Any help or suggestions anybody has would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.