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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/22/2015 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Background: Have had Crohn's disease for 12 years now.

For the most part, I never had constipation or bad abdominal craps during this time. Always had normal bowel movements. Hardly loose or watery stools. Solid stools.

about 1 year ago, I started noticing a change. Was constipated a LOT more, and had watery stools, or stools with undigested food in them, diarrhea, etc.

I had 2 different colonoscopies done, and the doctor said everything looks good. Had a small capsule endoscopy (where you swallow a pill that has a camera attached to it. Had X-rays done. CT scans. all tests came back looking good.

It feels like I have some sort of obstruction (I usually strain during my bowel movements, and they are rarely solid anymore). but all of these tests say I am "fine". It's frustrating to say the least.


Could I just be "flaring"? Do flares last 1+ years??? I always thought a "flare up" was when you struggled for X days or weeks/months. But years??


Please tell me what everyone thinks about this....


Thanks
Posted 6/22/2015 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brunnell,
There is Crohn's disease, where there are diseased parts of your GI tract, and then there is IBS, which is not part of a disease process, and you can have both issues, as many of us do. Your doc can determine that you are in remission with your Crohn's based on all of the tests that you had done, in addition to blood tests and stool tests that look for inflammation markers, such as CRP, SED rate, normal iron levels and fecal calprotectin tests, and stool cultures to look for infection. If you have all of these tests and they come out normal then you are probably struggling with IBS which can include slow or erratic motility, or you might have developed some food intolerances. Many folks become increasingly lactose intolerant as we age, or you might struggle with gluten (wheat) or something els. It might be helpful to keep a food diary and see if you find any symptom correlation with any foods that you eat.
I have a similar issue with soft looking poop but straining and slow motility. My doc still considers this constipation. So this doesn't mean you don't also still have Crohn's disease. I hate my guts, so I can relate!!
Posted 6/22/2015 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Brunell,

Your story is similar to mine, I developed IBS (as my GI suspected) about 14 years into already having crohn's and we finally got my crohn's in remission last year with Humira and I still have gut issues which my GI pointed out it's the IBS that he suspected I developed 14 yrs ago so now we're tending to it, trying to at least. Mine is IBS alternating but more often constipation compared to diarrhea....it can be common for CDers to also become sick with IBS and they can coexist together....I never experience much D after about the 10 year mark into having CD so there's a chance that's actually when my IBS may have developed.

My GI referred me to a dietitian (she also is one of his CD patients) she specializes with people that have IBS, IBD and other gut diseases/syndromes, she was able to determine my IBS is more stress than food driven so I'm also seeing a therapist (also specializes with IBD/IBS patients in my GI's clinic) to help me learn to reduce and cope with stress better, it's a process and certainly not going to be a quick fix unfortunately but it is what it is I suppose....some help is better than nothing.
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