I need your opinion! I think I might have Crohn's.

[alleksee]

Hey guys!

I'm a 20-year old girl from Canada and I think I might have developped Crohn's disease (or something similar).

I have been experiencing symptoms for a while now (a year or so), but never really checked into it because my dad and I both have very active bowel movements and I just thought it was my genes.
But now, I'm getting more and more upset by this because the "episodes" are becoming very frequent and the more it goes the more they get violent.

Here's what I'm experiencing:

I always feel bloated and have gas all the time. There's a pressure in my lower stomach and it's getting pretty sensitive. For the past 3 weeks, I've been using the stool about twice a day, and each and every time it's very heavy and painful diarrhea. Sometimes, it's so painful that I have to throw up, or take off my clothes because I am sweating so much. Usually, once it's done, I feel fine (except for the bloating and the soreness), but it starts again the next day and the symptoms are on repeat. But since last Sunday, my stool has gotten better and the pain has toned down, but I am experiencing mild to heavy bleeding every time I use the stool. That's when it triggered that something was wrong. I am blessed to have a family doctor, but my appointment is only in 3 weeks. I have yet to get a diagnosis, but I am expecting the worse. I want your advice : does this sound like I have Crohn's? I need reassurance, I need people to tell me that it'll be okay...'cause right now I feel so nervous..

Thanks for taking the time to give me your advice, or to talk to me about your story. It would help a bunch.

From a worried girl.

 

[Angrybird]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

It is possible that it could be something like crohn's. With regards to the appt that you have in 3 weeks is that with a gastroenterologist? Have any blood tests been done at all yet? Have you made any type of changes diet wise and if so as this eased symptoms at all? We do also have an undiagnosed sub forum that is worth checking out so you can also have a chat with the folks here: http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=75.

Wishing you all the best and please keep us updated on how you are getting on.

AB
xx

 

[alleksee]

Hey, thanks for replying!
The appt I have in 3 weeks is with a general doctor (I need a recommendation from a general doctor in order to see a gastroenterologist). I stopped eating dairy products, this has helped a bit, but hasn't made the symptoms stop. Thanks for the link to the other thread, I'll check it out!

 

[David]

Hi alleksee and welcome to the community. It must be really scary and frustrating to have those symptoms I wish you didn't have to go through this.

Anytime there is rectal bleeding, it needs to be explained. When you see your family doctor:

1. DO NOT let them tell you it is IBS.
2. DO NOT let them tell you the blood is "probably" just hemmorhoids or a fissure without doing an actual physical examination.
3. In my opinion, unless there is an obvious explanation, you need a referral to a gastroenterologist since this is a chronic and now worsening situation.

Let's hope it's not Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis and something much easier to deal with. But even if it is, with proper management of your disease, chances are excellent that you'll be back to feeling better than you have in a long, long time.

We're here for you. Please keep us updated!