Desperatly need help

[bellacoastie08]

desperatly need help

hi, im 21 years old and NEED answers!! first off my sister got diagnosed with crohns at 22. to make a long story short.....in june i started getting really sick with stomach pain and bad diahrea along with not eating. then they did all these tests and they all came up negative. so the drs ended up taking out my gall bladder july 23rd of this year. it ended up having gall stones in it. after about 2 weeks post surgery, i started feeling very sick again. i was only able to eat 1/2 of what i was normally able to eat. i was 125 at the time of my surgery and now..a little over a month later i weigh 113. the weight is just comming offa me.

i cant eat bcs when i do eat...no matter what it is....I have super bad (watery) stools. its rediculous. the back pain, and the stomach pain..and the rapid weight loss is just so awful. i got more tests done to see if it was bcs of my surgery and it wasnt. so now this tues i have to go in for a colonoscopy. im so nervous bcs i NEED answers. i cant lose ANYMORE weight. im not eating....and just looking gaunt.

my gi dr is at a loss. i recently developed a very painful lump next to my belly button that is under the skin. the cat scan came back normal and he is just at a loss of what it could be. he has mentioned that he is going to be looking for crohns since my sister got dx around my age.


please...i have looked everywhere and need advice...thank you so much.

 

[Isla]

There isn't much we can help you with as we are not doctors and cannot diagnose you. There are many different reasons for your symptoms and Crohns is definitely a likely candidate, but that doesn't mean it is the only one.

Though you should know, me for instance, all my tests were normal - colonoscopies, biopsies, the pill camera but my pANCA ASCA test (a controversial blood test that is only about 75% accurate) was positive for Crohns. So my GI went ahead and tried me on Asacol - it is starting to work. Therefore that confirms I have Crohns. Without these things together I would have never gotten a clear answer and EVEN THEN most doctors won't diagnose and treat with so little evidence. I was lucky to get the treatment that I have.

All we can encourage you to do is to be persistent about getting help for whatever it may be. You should not settle for doctors just going "we have no idea." Keep searching, keep fighting for your health because no one else will.

 

[theability]

Hello there, I am so sorry your having to go through these things, yet as you read through here you'll find your not alone!

First and foremost my suggestion is to try to be patient and not stress, since stress is my #1 TRIGGER and can make me ill in seconds. Next try reducing foods that might have made your gut angry with you, cut out alcohol, caffiene and sodas, things like that till you can pin point what is actually going on with this and manage it till you have the diagnosis.

I have had to learn to be very patient with this in my life, write in a journal and talk about your life in it, maybe you can start finding things that help allieviate your symptoms.
I hope you find some relief soon and have a good attitude ok!

 

[art_nj]

Hi Bella,

Welcome! I am a newbie to this too, but I have suffered with abdominal pain and symptoms for 27 years now. After this many years, I am finally in the process of being taken seriously about this. I completely understand your frustration and fears. BTW, I too have started experiencing lower back pain suddenly, I don't know what that's all about.

You'll find that many of the people on the board are kind folks who have walked down this road. I have to agree with the other posts about avoiding "trigger" foods and drinks and if possible stress. I've found that eatting several smaller meals throughout the day is much easier on me. If I sit down and gorge myself I will be sick within an hour, no doubt. Soda is a big no-no!!!!

Have you considered a second opinion? Perhaps there is a GI doc in your area that specializes in Crohns. I don't know, it's just something to think about. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Art