Abdominal Pain

ramman

Regular Member

Joined : Oct 2007

Posts : 28

Posted 11/7/2011 5:12 PM (GMT 0)

I was diagnosed 6 years ago with crohn's. No biopsy or blood test but they did see ulcer on small intestine from colonoscopy and pill cam. They don't seem 100% sure as I only have mild pain but they are treating it as if it is Crohn's. I have a few questions. Does anybody else get pain after a bowel movement? I am pain free until I have a bowel movement in the morning and then the abdominal pain starts. Could last an hour or it could go on until evening. Worse when I am at work sitting all day. Sometimes it feels like I need to go to the bathroom again but i do not. Doctor thinks it may be spastic colon. He has given me a few different medications to take when this happens but they do not seem to work. Anybody else get this and if yes any suggestions on what could help? Also, should I pursue further to see if I actually have Crohn's or should I just keep doing what i Am doing. Doctor thinks it may be combination of Crohn's and IBS. Sometimes I think I should get a second opinion from a different gastro. Currently I am just taking Pentasa. I did start taking Align probiotic a year ago and it helped immediately...thats why I tend to think I have more of the IBS. Finally, I have had mild symptoms for 6 years but keep waiting for the big flare. My gastro said everybody is different but usually if you start out mild your symptoms tend to stay mild as long as you stay on your prescribed meds. Is he correct about this or do you think he is just saying that to calm my fears? Any help with any of these questions would be great. Thanks.

Post Edited (ramman) : 11/7/2011 10:56:23 AM (GMT-7)

NiceCupOfTea

Elite Member

Joined : Jan 2010

Posts : 11145

Posted 11/7/2011 9:38 PM (GMT 0)

The feeling of needing to empty your bowels when they're empty has a medical name: tenesmus. It's quite a common feature of Crohn's and UC; inflammation in the rectum tends to be the cause.

If your last colonoscopy was 6 years ago, I'd definitely recommend getting another one. If your current doctor doesn't want to do one, seek one who will. You really need a proper diagnosis: just assuming it's Crohn's and/or IBS isn't good enough.

gumby44

Veteran Member

Joined : Nov 2007

Posts : 4505

Posted 11/7/2011 9:43 PM (GMT 0)

I think it really helps to have a definitive diagnosis if you can get it. If the Crohn's is only in your small intestine and not in your terminal ileum, then the doc may not be able to reach it for biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis. Has your doc sent blood work to the Prometheus labs in California? They have a blood test that can be predictive of Crohn's, but I'm not sure it's absolutely conclusive...just one more piece of the puzzle. I have a disease free colon, but bad IBS along with Crohn's in my terminal ileum and small intestine. The IBS is manageable with fiber and probiotics when my Crohn's is in remission, but when I'm flaring, like now. then it's hard to get anything under control or know definitively if my pain is from IBS or the Crohn's itself. It sounds like you should get a second opinion just for your own piece of mind. Also, if you don't really have Crohn's then the Pentasa is really expensive and maybe not needed. I hope this helps.

kazbern

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2010

Posts : 8384

Posted 11/8/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)

Ramman, I'm like you - my disease has been mostly mild for the 11 years I've had a diagnosis, and my DR does say that it usually stays that way if it starts that way.

I assume that you got a pill cam and colonoscopy because you were having problems with your gut. Diarrhea? Bloody stool? Pain? Regardless, if you continue to do well taking Pentasa, that is a good thing and I wouldn't stop. But you should be seeing your DR on a regular basis and having bloodwork done periodically to make sure that you are indeed doing well.

Bloodwork should look for anemia and vitamin deficiencies, and kidney and liver function issues, which can come about as part of the disease and/or taking the meds.

The explanation of tenesmus makes sense to me - I have the same sensation and it is bothersome. One of the things I struggled with a lot these past few years is really inconsistent bowel function. I'll have sloooooow bowels for a few days, then a day or two of "catching up," where I'll have multiple bowel movements and a lot of cramping. I elected to try a gluten free diet early this summer to help address some of this and other issues, and you know what? I got a lot of good results.

Later in the summer I experimented with laxatives to keep things more regular and that has helped with the crampy spasms I was getting, too.

HTH, and welcome to the forum.

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