Confused about crohns, help

[TJ88]

Well, im here asking for any advice possible. I had a very bad stomach problem a bit back, was in the hospital and they said it was just a viral problem. Had a colonoscopy, and CT scan, they said i did not have crohns or anything visibly wrong. Its been about a month and i still feel stomach pain, bad bowel movements and so on.

I recently had a cyst and on my rear end which was drained and removed, i later read online this is common in crohns, i also have anal fissure. Small amounts of light red blood associated with it, mostly badly digested stools. Cramps and pains different areas of the abdomen.

Is it possible crohns isnt visible through a colonoscopy or that i might have crohns? Im afraid that i do, but i hope its not. Im supposed to follow up with GI doctor but not for another 2 weeks, couldnt get in.

 

[Sojourn]

A colonoscopy is usually the gold standard for diagnosing crohn's. You could have it in the early stages if they could not diagnose it. Hopefully not. Try adjusting your diet and taking probiotics like Primal Defense available at your health food store.

 

[AgB621]

From what I understand, depending on where in your digestive tract your Crohn's is located, it is possible that a colonoscopy might not show anything. My most recent colonscopy looked really clear but my doctor still thinks I have it. (My diagnosis isn't absolutely definitive, I think it's the bloodwork and symptoms that make my doctor so sure I have it.) It's good that you're seeing a gastroenterologist. They should be able to point you towards some tests that could tell you better whether you have Crohn's, IBD, or something else.

 

[Sojourn]

That's true, if it's in the upper part of the tract, they might not find it in a colo.

 

[Guest]

hi TJ, welcome to the forum

i agree, it is reassuring that you're already under the care of a GI - i'm sure they will keep on doing diagnostics until they're sure of what's causing your problems, and then get you on the appropriate treatment.

meanwhile, it's really difficult to guess what the problem is. if you did have a bad stomach virus, and it wasn't very long ago, then possibly you are still having the after-effects of that (i developed IBS after a pretty bad stomach bug picked up in hospital). but then again, it is possible they called it a virus at that point, because they didn't really know what it was (some docs have a habit of doing that lol). so, it could have been something else even then...

maybe try a little self-help while you're waiting, maybe Primal Defense as Sojourn suggested, or pro-biotic yoghurt drinks, a low residue (gentle) diet... increase your fluids intake.. it might just make things easier on your digestive tract until you know exactly what's going on.

 

[TJ88]

hi TJ, welcome to the forum

i agree, it is reassuring that you're already under the care of a GI - i'm sure they will keep on doing diagnostics until they're sure of what's causing your problems, and then get you on the appropriate treatment.

meanwhile, it's really difficult to guess what the problem is. if you did have a bad stomach virus, and it wasn't very long ago, then possibly you are still having the after-effects of that (i developed IBS after a pretty bad stomach bug picked up in hospital). but then again, it is possible they called it a virus at that point, because they didn't really know what it was (some docs have a habit of doing that lol). so, it could have been something else even then...

maybe try a little self-help while you're waiting, maybe Primal Defense as Sojourn suggested, or pro-biotic yoghurt drinks, a low residue (gentle) diet... increase your fluids intake.. it might just make things easier on your digestive tract until you know exactly what's going on.

Well right now im on a Antibiotic, and Probiotic. The GI dr is the one who did my colonscopy that i will be seeing, i havent seen him since the hospital where he denounced me having any real issues. Right now my stomach pain is very small, only sometimes after eating, or bowel movement do i feel pain. Sometimes random pain but not as much. Worse thing right now is i have a paper cut feeling (fissure i assume) pain on my rear, and abnormal stool. Plus during this time my tonsils have been chronically inflamed with strep so i may have to get them removed also!, When it rains it poors!

I also seem to have really dry skin on my face lately, its like a rash almost looking gah!

 

[AgB621]

When were you put on the antibiotics? They make me really nervous because I took some for a sinus infection, and some probiotics, and that's what made me really sick. I just wonder if the antibiotics could be contributing to your current symptoms.

 

[TJ88]

When were you put on the antibiotics? They make me really nervous because I took some for a sinus infection, and some probiotics, and that's what made me really sick. I just wonder if the antibiotics could be contributing to your current symptoms.

Its good question. In the hospital i had very aggresive anti biotics. A week or so later, maybe two weeks, i got new antibiotics which i am taking now for another week with acidophilus compound for probiotics.

 

[AgB621]

What antibiotics did they give you in the hospital and what did they say they were treating? The rash you mentioned makes me curious too, could it be from the strep? I know my brother has gotten rashes with strep before. Actually, strep can cause stomach issues too, it's manifested itself that way in me a few times.

 

[TJ88]

What antibiotics did they give you in the hospital and what did they say they were treating? The rash you mentioned makes me curious too, could it be from the strep? I know my brother has gotten rashes with strep before. Actually, strep can cause stomach issues too, it's manifested itself that way in me a few times.

They gave me IV antibiotics for two days, cant say i recall the names. They said i probably had a viral infection or some kind of infection but they never really found anything wrong with me. I had colonscopy, CT scan, and cradiograph i think its called due to some chest pain. They never tested my for strep until 2-3 weeks later and it was positive for strep. I am currently taking anti-biotics for it. I had a throat dr look at my throat the other day, and my tonsils are extremely inflamed and have pockets etc. He thinks they may be chronically inflamed, which i guess would explain some of the wierd esophagus feeling. The rash on my face is kind of on my cheeks its real dry and flakey/irritated.

It seems alot of my basic problems are around digestion. When i eat i have gas during eating, stomach hurts a bit. Then when i go the bathroom it hurts a bit in stomach region,(and of course the fissure its awful) i dont have diarrhea i would say really. Its more like not fully digested foods, sometimes its even hard/lumpy type stool but mostly not fully digested looking.