Hello all. My name is Scott. I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn's about 2 years ago. I have taken Asacol only, from then on, which has seemed to work very well for me. By the way, scanning through some of these threads has been really inspiring to me since I've found this place a couple days ago. Forgive me if I am not very knowledgeable about the disease that I now live with, but I just don't think I am, and this is why I've sought your help.
Anyway, I have always had one question that I just don't understand and to which my GI is very vague about, and it is probably a question that almost every person living with the disease knows but me: Are periods of diarrhea/loose stool just a run of the mill symptom of having this disease that could occur at any time despite the state of affairs of the intestines, or is it necessarily a sign of a flare up in the colon that needs addressing?
I do realize that everyone is different and that eating one thing or another, or stress can certainly cause this for short periods of time, but I'm talking 2-4 weeks long intervals of diarrhea multiple times a day that eventually subsides and reverts back to what I consider "normal," which is formed stool a couple of times a day. I must add that this is THE only symptom during and after these periods. I feel fine and dandy other than this! And this is what confuses me. There is absolutely no fever, weight loss, cramping, etc. as there was with my first and only flare up when I was initially diagnosed.
Obviously, the reason I ask this is because these periods have happened to me a few times and will clear up for a few months and then come back again and then clear up, etc.. I've always assumed that this is just part of my life now with Crohn's. Although, frustrating, I can deal with it if this is all it is, but I just wanted to see if my doctor and I not being overly concerned about it because of the absence of any other symptoms sounds right to everyone else. Thanks so much for any and all comments, advice, opinions all care to give.
-Scott
Anyway, I have always had one question that I just don't understand and to which my GI is very vague about, and it is probably a question that almost every person living with the disease knows but me: Are periods of diarrhea/loose stool just a run of the mill symptom of having this disease that could occur at any time despite the state of affairs of the intestines, or is it necessarily a sign of a flare up in the colon that needs addressing?
I do realize that everyone is different and that eating one thing or another, or stress can certainly cause this for short periods of time, but I'm talking 2-4 weeks long intervals of diarrhea multiple times a day that eventually subsides and reverts back to what I consider "normal," which is formed stool a couple of times a day. I must add that this is THE only symptom during and after these periods. I feel fine and dandy other than this! And this is what confuses me. There is absolutely no fever, weight loss, cramping, etc. as there was with my first and only flare up when I was initially diagnosed.
Obviously, the reason I ask this is because these periods have happened to me a few times and will clear up for a few months and then come back again and then clear up, etc.. I've always assumed that this is just part of my life now with Crohn's. Although, frustrating, I can deal with it if this is all it is, but I just wanted to see if my doctor and I not being overly concerned about it because of the absence of any other symptoms sounds right to everyone else. Thanks so much for any and all comments, advice, opinions all care to give.
-Scott
