Can they really know after just one test

[luvsymm]

Well i was reading a lot of info on here on Crohn's Disease since i got diagnose with it last Tuesday(22nd) im 29 years old. All the symptoms i read that most people got while being Crohn's i dont think i have had it that bad. When i was 23 i had a period that lasted 3 months straight heavy and i went to the family doctor for that and my doctor put me on birth control pills to help it and it did i was on that for about a year then got off it and everything was fine again. Then in a couple years ago(3yrs) i had severe pain in the upper middle part of my chest where the bottom rib cage meets and it was like a ball went to the hospital 2 times and they sent me home saying it was gastric pain so i left it like that everytime i got the pain i just rode through it but when i got it the 4th time i went back to the hospital and they did an ultrasound and found out i need surgery to have my gall bladder taken out so i went in that night and was released the following day. The pain stopped till a year after the surgery i got a lil bit more pain but this time it was the whole length of my upper stomach and when i would lay on my right side the pain would *roll* from one side to the other till i would have to move on my back then it would stop. I would feel a lot of burnin sensation in the middle of my stomach and a bit of cramps but thats about it i never have to use the washroom a lot and when i did sometimes it would be mushy/solid and sometimes diarrhea had no blood in stool just from hemmroids. I had a lot of test performed and every single one came back fine so i got sent to doctors after doctors test after test and everything always came back fine so my family doctor set me up with a GI doctor which i got a colonoscopy done and he found some canker sore like on my upper large intestine and thats when he diagnose me with Crohn's Disease, he took a biopsy of the sores (i guess to conform it) and a piece of my stomach for another biopsy. Is this just the begining of Crohn's?? will the pain get worse then what i have described?? I can eat almost anything food wise, and most days i dont have any pain and some days the pain will just be dull. Maybe im just still in denial =(



Sorry if this was confusing i dont do well typing things down pain wise.

And Merry Christmas everyone hope all you guys/gals are having a good day =)

 

[Peaches]

Well, I think the answer to your question is - yes. If they scoped you and took biopsies and the biopsies came back positive for Crohn's (they are looking for pretty specific markers on the biopsies) - then I'd say you indeed have it. Many people are looking for that holy grail of a diagnosis through positive biopsies as they struggle for long periods of time with all their tests being negative - but are very symptomatic. It is *very* normal to be in denial so to speak. Especially if you feel your symptoms are not that bad. Maybe you will be lucky and just have a mild case of it and be able to control it well - I hope so. But just make sure you pay attention to what your body tells you because if the disease progresses and you aren't "listening" - this is ultimately when damage can happen that can lead to surgery down the road. Not at all trying to scare you - and this may *never* happen to you, but just be aware. I also haven't welcomes you yet - so :welcome: - and Merry Christmas to you as well :O)

 

[beth]

Colonoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic test for Crohn's... apart from when it's hiding only in the small bowel. So if it shows you have Crohn's then you can be pretty sure it's for real.

 

[mwb3779]

Merry Christmas Luv and Peaches.

Luv- The answer to your question is yes. Peaches info is right on. You need to make sure you "listen" to your body. If you don't things do get worse. I didn't "listen" to my body for 8 months with severe D. I jut thought it was because I was working so much. No, it was my body saying " Hey stupid, something is very wrong down here!". When it all finally caught up to me, I had lost 95 pounds in 2 months and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. Not fun. My Crohn's is the moderate to severe type. Lots of drugs and supplements now for me to take.

Food changes everyday for me. Some days are good, some aren't.

You'll find lots of info on here. Welcome to the family!

Sorry Beth, didn't see your post right away, Merry Christmas to you also!

 

[razz]

I am like the denial queen and also see to have a mild case (which helps with the denial).

That said, without pain I was getting really fatigued, fuzzy in the head and depressed. Then they found I was low in B12 due to a (now painless) part of my bowel being scarred.

Not everyone is so lucky but now I take injections for B12 and I feel AWESOME and actually a bit pissed that I didn't realise how fatigued I was for so long. lol

So, yeah it can be mild and 'do-able' like mine, but its still good to try to stay in tune with your body and don't keep quiet on symptoms that you think are mild.
Your normal might be different to everyone elses normal lol.

Welcome and Merry Christmas!

 

[imisspopcorn]

In a way you are fortunate to have a clear diagnosis...I know it doesn't seem that way right now, but many on this forum are still undiagnosed. And it is normal to be in denial at this early stage in the disease...I mean, who wants this stinky disease, right???

Read up on as much info as you can. It will help you manage your disease and know what questions to ask of your doctors....I am happy to hear that your symptoms are mild...I pray they continue this way for the rest of your life ....Good luck, and if you have any other questions please ask.