- Joined
- Apr 20, 2011
- Messages
- 256
how the hell do you deal with this?!
My name is Sam. I made this account yesterday after days of frantic internet searching. My username is the number of times I had diarrhea that day.. lol.
I haven't been formally diagnosed yet, but after years of dealing with all the typical crohn's symptoms, my doctor finally gave me a partial answer.
When I was 6, I woke up with excruciating abdominal pain in the lower right side. My dad rushed me to the hospital, (a very rare thing) and the doctor simply touched where it hurt, and I projectile vomited pure bile. He diagnosed me with the stomach flu. I got this pain on and off for a few years, always thinking I just had a virus. When I was 11 it happened again, really badly. I was doubled over and had no idea what was going on. I didn't want to bother my parents, so I just dealt with it. I remembered that I ate a butterfinger chocolate bar the night before, so for years, I thought I was allergic to butterfingers haha.
When I was 12, my aunt got sick. I was too young to know what was wrong with her, but she lost about 100 pounds, was in the hospital, and my family kept making jokes about "colostomy bags" (my family has a wierd sense of humour..) Turns out she has crohn's disease. she's managing it now, but it does run in my family.
When I was 17, I started having these stomach pains more frequently. And more painfully. I was always either in the ER or at the doctor. The ER told me I was constipated and kept giving me perscriptions for metaclopromide and stool softeners. I know my body. I was not constipated. I was constantly having bloody bowel movements, as well as bloody urine. I was diagnosed with everything from irritable bowel syndrome to psychosis. Like I said, I know my body. I was never psychotic lol
I finally had the dreaded colonoscopy. They found a couple polyps, and they were removed. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary. That's when I was told I needed to see a psychiatrist, because It was all in my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it not extremely difficult to make yourself bleed internally? I had so many symptoms I was losing track. Severe abdominal pain, bloody and mucousy diarrhea with alternating bouts of constipation. Nausea, joint pain, eye problems, skin rashes.. you name it I had it. But by now, I had given up with doctors. I could deal with it myself.
Fast forward a few years. I am now 20. I have had random abdominal pains, near constant diarrhea, sometimes bloody, sometimes not. But for the past month and a half, I have had CONSTANT diarrhea. Most of the times it is bloody (bright red, and coffee grounds too.) My abdominal pain is so severe at times, if I could even reach for the phone, I would be in an ambulance. I saw my doctor a couple days ago, and had him re-read all my tests from a couple years ago, and go over every symptom with me. By the end of it, i was schedualed for bloodwork the next day, CT scan next week, and another colonoscopy to follow. He told me it is either one of two things. Crohn's, or colorectal cancer. I'm only 20. I shouldn't have cancer right now. Obviously I'm freaking out.
My boyfriend doesn't understand why I'm exhausted after sleeping for 12 hours, or why I make 15-20 trips to the bathroom daily. It's really hard to be with someone who doesn't get what I'm going through. I don't want him to resent me, but I know I need him around.
Anyways, sorry for the long post haha I have alot to get off my chest, and everyone here seems really kind and understanding. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Sam
My name is Sam. I made this account yesterday after days of frantic internet searching. My username is the number of times I had diarrhea that day.. lol.
I haven't been formally diagnosed yet, but after years of dealing with all the typical crohn's symptoms, my doctor finally gave me a partial answer.
When I was 6, I woke up with excruciating abdominal pain in the lower right side. My dad rushed me to the hospital, (a very rare thing) and the doctor simply touched where it hurt, and I projectile vomited pure bile. He diagnosed me with the stomach flu. I got this pain on and off for a few years, always thinking I just had a virus. When I was 11 it happened again, really badly. I was doubled over and had no idea what was going on. I didn't want to bother my parents, so I just dealt with it. I remembered that I ate a butterfinger chocolate bar the night before, so for years, I thought I was allergic to butterfingers haha.
When I was 12, my aunt got sick. I was too young to know what was wrong with her, but she lost about 100 pounds, was in the hospital, and my family kept making jokes about "colostomy bags" (my family has a wierd sense of humour..) Turns out she has crohn's disease. she's managing it now, but it does run in my family.
When I was 17, I started having these stomach pains more frequently. And more painfully. I was always either in the ER or at the doctor. The ER told me I was constipated and kept giving me perscriptions for metaclopromide and stool softeners. I know my body. I was not constipated. I was constantly having bloody bowel movements, as well as bloody urine. I was diagnosed with everything from irritable bowel syndrome to psychosis. Like I said, I know my body. I was never psychotic lol
I finally had the dreaded colonoscopy. They found a couple polyps, and they were removed. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary. That's when I was told I needed to see a psychiatrist, because It was all in my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it not extremely difficult to make yourself bleed internally? I had so many symptoms I was losing track. Severe abdominal pain, bloody and mucousy diarrhea with alternating bouts of constipation. Nausea, joint pain, eye problems, skin rashes.. you name it I had it. But by now, I had given up with doctors. I could deal with it myself.
Fast forward a few years. I am now 20. I have had random abdominal pains, near constant diarrhea, sometimes bloody, sometimes not. But for the past month and a half, I have had CONSTANT diarrhea. Most of the times it is bloody (bright red, and coffee grounds too.) My abdominal pain is so severe at times, if I could even reach for the phone, I would be in an ambulance. I saw my doctor a couple days ago, and had him re-read all my tests from a couple years ago, and go over every symptom with me. By the end of it, i was schedualed for bloodwork the next day, CT scan next week, and another colonoscopy to follow. He told me it is either one of two things. Crohn's, or colorectal cancer. I'm only 20. I shouldn't have cancer right now. Obviously I'm freaking out.
My boyfriend doesn't understand why I'm exhausted after sleeping for 12 hours, or why I make 15-20 trips to the bathroom daily. It's really hard to be with someone who doesn't get what I'm going through. I don't want him to resent me, but I know I need him around.
Anyways, sorry for the long post haha I have alot to get off my chest, and everyone here seems really kind and understanding. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Sam
But its the easiest test of them all, even the stuff you drink isn't bad!
