Hypochondriac

[Mary]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 2 months ago and recently have been experiencing strange pains around my ribs and chest. Now Im worried about stomach cancer. I have had 2 cat scans since July, colonoscopy, and the pill cam. I wonder if the Pentasa is making me sick. Tomorrow I have to go for surgery for a uterine polyp. I am so scared of everything. I have an appoint for a smal bowel follow through and have asked them to to the upper gi series with it. I have alot of muscle pain also. Does anyone here have depression symptoms I wonder if that is causing some of my problems. I am also on Imuran.

 

[Brad P]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 2 months ago and recently have been experiencing strange pains around my ribs and chest. Now Im worried about stomach cancer. I have had 2 cat scans since July, colonoscopy, and the pill cam. I wonder if the Pentasa is making me sick. Tomorrow I have to go for surgery for a uterine polyp. I am so scared of everything. I have an appoint for a smal bowel follow through and have asked them to to the upper gi series with it. I have alot of muscle pain also. Does anyone here have depression symptoms I wonder if that is causing some of my problems. I am also on Imuran.

The chances of getting cancer from Crohn's is low. You may have read my previous thread about my situation. I had Crohn's for 21 years prior getting small bowel cancer. Having Crohn's for 20+ years, where almost every year I had a flareup of some sorts, increases one's chances of getting cancer but the risk is still low. Small bowel cancer is rare. Colon cancer not so much, but it doesn't sound like you have that. I've had 2 CT scans since July as well and I am all clear as of late Sept. I know everyone is different but it seems like you're being monitored well.

You may have inflammation/ulcers in the duodenum or stomach. Stress isn't going to help matters either, trust me. Once I finished chemo back in May, my safety net was gone, my regular trips to my onc went to 3 months (seeing my onc regularly helped my comfort levels), and I was stressed out if the cancer would return which didn't make me feel good.

Either way, the least complicated/straight forward answer is usually the outcome. Try not to jump to the worst case scenario.

 

[imisspopcorn]

Hi Mary,

There is some correlation between depression and Crohn's disease. Serotonin which is a chemical in the brain is responsible for depressive mood. The intestines have receptors for this chemical so if the intestines are not functioning correctly it could cause mood problems.

Also, just feeling lousy can make you depressed. I consider myself a happy person, but I do need to take meds for depression now. I am sorry you are feeling so bad/ sad right now. I hope you can get some answers that will put your mind ar ease.

 

[bethyd78]

I have had rib and chest pain for some time now. The rheumatologist says it is muscle and joint related and Crohns related I take muscle relaxers and mild pain pills Darvocet for it can really painful. Oh the joys of this disease.

 

[Pirate]

I also have rib and chest pain. Sometimes when the CD is flaring and I have the normal pain from it for a while I end up with the rib and chest pain. I believe it is caused by being so tensed up from the normal pain. It can be almost as bad as the abdominal pain of CD. I also am on Bentyl for spasms and when I take it regularly I seem to have less rib pain.
I quit worrying about the big C cause if it is going to happen there's not a lot I can do about it. I know if it happens it will get caught quite early cause both my GI and GP order blood tests about every 2 months. I think they must be working together just to get me poked for being a smarta$$ with them all the time. But they taken good care of me and both know the side effects of my meds.

Fear is normal with CD but over time you learn to take everything in stride. Sure, when a flare starts up you always say not again, why me, why now. But after the first week or so you buckle down and fight back.

 

[merrywidow]

welcome to the forum

 

[Crohn's 35]

Could be many reasons of your pain, a reaction to meds, liver isnt functioning as best it can, (I got that last year from 6Mp) went off it immediately. I also have a hiatus hernia which I thank Prednisone for that help and kidney stones too. I know it sounds like you are a hypochondriac and I have to think twice before I tell anyone if it is worth telling, because it is always something. Sorry you are hurting. Try to drink water to flush out your system.

 

[+ve19]

Hi Mary, I am new here, got diagnosed with Crohns about a month ago. Just relating to what you said about the Pentasa, it could definitely have side effects in your muscles. When i started taking it (2g twice a day) i had side effects, i had really bad cramps in my arms and in my legs (below the knee) to the point where i couldnt walk without limping. When i told my consultant she said to half the dose (to 0.5g twice a day) and the side effects went away. SO if youre experiencing the same sort of muscle pains it could be that. However i havnt experienced any pains in the stomach or ribbs area. But everyones different. Hope you find out what it is though, and hope you get better!