Cutaneous Crohn's Disease

[ssttpp]

Hi everyone,

I've had IBS for about two years now. My GP ran a blood test and some sort of stool test and said I didn't have anything more serious than IBS. I manage pretty well by eating well, working out, and taking immodium on a pretty regular basis. Even though I do have chronic diarrhea, I consider myself healthy.

Earlier this year, I got a strange abscess on my leg. The docs weren't sure what it was and why it wouldn't heal since I'm young and have no serious health issues. Eventually, they removed it and sent it off to the lab. The results came back and said that it suggested "cutaneous Crohn's disease" and that I needed to be seen by a GI right away.

I have my first GI appointment later this week. My questions are, does anyone know anything about skin problems and Crohn's? I've tried searching but I can't find much. Also, what does cutaneous Crohn's disease mean?

I also want to know if I could have Crohn's if I'm not very ill. I do have stomach problems but I'm not as sick as I know a lot of people with Crohn's are. Can it be mild?

Finally, what can I expect at the GI's office? What tests will they run? Is there any easy way to rule out Crohn's? I know it can be hard to diagnose but is there an easy way to exclude it?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Jennifer]

"About one-quarter of patients for both types of IBD may have extra-intestinal disease manifestations, most commonly arthritis, eye inflammation (uveitis, iritis or episcleritis), and skin inflammation, typically pyoderma gangrenosum and erythema nodosum."
http://health.usnews.com/health-conditions/digestive-disorders/crohns-disease

Cutaneous Crohn's Disease (Syn: Metastatic Crohn's Disease)
There's a lot of words I don't know in this paragraph (link below) but what I got from it is that the disease is affecting your skin and not just your intestines.
http://dermatology.wustl.edu/dermsub/caseofmonth/11-2001a.html

Yes crohns can be more mild for some people.

The GI doc will likely order blood work, schedule a scope, possibly barium tests (upper and lower) and maybe even a CT scan. There are so many conditions that have similar symptoms to crohns that it could be anything and they won't test for all those before they test for crohns. Crohns is easier to diagnose than it used to be.

Hope you get some answers soon and welcome to the forum.

 

[Keona]

I was diagnosed through MRI. They like to do that here now since there is no harmful radiation...and the bloodwork.

I have skin rashes too.

 

[Astra]

Welcome!

yeah, I have skin rashes too, Crohns or meds? or supressed immune system? dunno
Crabby has said it all
hope you will be ok? don't fret about tests, glad you found us, lots of support here for you, any questions, fire away.
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[Manzyb]

I don't really have much to add, Crabby pretty much covered it all! Let us know how your appointment goes. I hope you continue to feel well (or some-what well!).

Amanda

 

[dreamintwilight]

I also wanted to add you can feel like your symptoms are mild, but have a moderate-severe case of Crohn's. My GI said it's not so much about how you feel always, but the way the disease presents itself. If you have fistulas, abscesses, or strictures your case can be considered at the least moderate, if not severe. I've also heard stories of people on here saying they felt fine and then coming back with crazy colonoscopy reports from their GIs saying they had tons of inflammation and ulcers and things.

Not to scare you or anything. It was difficult for me to a) accept that I had Crohn's because I didn't have many of the "typical" symptoms you hear associated with the disease and b) to understand that my case was moderate-severe. Up until last year I didn't experience any significant symptoms of discomfort and I don't suffer from diarrhea, urgency, or mucus, but because I had fistulas, abscesses, and strictures I have a more serious case of Crohn's.

And currently I am feeling fine! Though I haven't reached remission yet, my meds seem to be working. So, it is also possible to have a more serious case of Crohn's and do well

 

[Jennifer]

What dreamintwilight said is very true. It just comes down to everyone being very different. Keep us posted on your GI visit.

 

[ssttpp]

Thanks for all the information and support! I'm still learning about Crohn's, so this forum is extremely interesting to read. I'm sure after my appointment with the GI, I'll have many more questions for you guys. Thank you again for the warm welcome.