Hello to all! I finally decided to join the forum. Have been watching for a while now. I'm 26 years old (male), and was diagnosed with mild Crohn's a few months ago.
It started in August '09 while I was on a plane going to my one week trip to the Caribbean with my girlfriend. At the airport waiting to board, I caught severe stomach cramps and needed a rest room immediately. My BM was diarrhea and very x-plosive, and I figured i had too much coffee. Then i went another 3-4 times on the plane, and by the afternoon I felt amazing. Like nothing happened.
I got to the resort, went to the beach, had dinner, and all was well. Next morning at 5am I woke with cramps and for the next 3 days I had 10-20 bm's a day, with mucus and at times a lot of BLOOD. I was real scared. I went to the hospital there and they told me to wait until I got home. Tried coming home early but all the flights were booked.
*** Luckily, one of my clients (a doctor) was at the same resort and he gave me a 3-day supply of CIPRO. The day after I started the CIPRO I felt much better. No more diarrhea or visible blood, just a little mucus and my appetite came back. Made it to the beach for the rest of the 3 days.
Visited a GI, and told me it was probably an infection. But he stuck his finger in my rectum and tested for blood and said there was a lot of blood in my stool. Gave me a 4-day Xifaxan regimen and scheduled colonoscopy and biopsies one month ahead.
I did the colonoscopy mid-September and it came back with Crohns. He said my blood points to Crohns but my biopsies point towards UC. And I did have some ulcerations sporadically in my colon.
AFTER THE COLONOSCOPY - 3 months of Flagyl and he put me on a half dose of Apriso. 2 pills a day in the morning. I haven't really had any diarrhea (only on two occasions since August) (after dinner). My main symptoms are irritation right inside and outside of my anal opening. Especially after a BM it starts acting up. In the mornings its fine. He has not given me anything for that even though i asked twice. I do a sitz bath everyday which helps.
I did lose about 25 pounds since then. I think the IBD had something to do with it, but I was also overweight and have changed my diet greatly. No more sweets and very minimal on breads. I also was not eating much while on Flagyl because it cut my appetite.
I do have some minor abdominal discomfort here and there. And I am much more bloated and gassy. I have 1-2 bms a day, usually well-formed (occasionally oversized and constipated). I see darker colored streaked blood on the outside of my stools occasionally, but I do have some hemmies.
Also, sometimes I feel great for a few days but then sometimes I'll get this wave of exhaustion and fatigue for a few days. I also noticed more eye redness, even though I have always had allergies.
I know my symptoms aren't as bad as some others here, but it still sucks. I always think about the worst and I admit my outlook on things have changed a bit. Its still new to me so i guess I'll have to adjust.
Anyway, I WISH ALL THE BEST TO ALL OF YOU, and God Bless You. Talk to you soon.
It started in August '09 while I was on a plane going to my one week trip to the Caribbean with my girlfriend. At the airport waiting to board, I caught severe stomach cramps and needed a rest room immediately. My BM was diarrhea and very x-plosive, and I figured i had too much coffee. Then i went another 3-4 times on the plane, and by the afternoon I felt amazing. Like nothing happened.
I got to the resort, went to the beach, had dinner, and all was well. Next morning at 5am I woke with cramps and for the next 3 days I had 10-20 bm's a day, with mucus and at times a lot of BLOOD. I was real scared. I went to the hospital there and they told me to wait until I got home. Tried coming home early but all the flights were booked.
*** Luckily, one of my clients (a doctor) was at the same resort and he gave me a 3-day supply of CIPRO. The day after I started the CIPRO I felt much better. No more diarrhea or visible blood, just a little mucus and my appetite came back. Made it to the beach for the rest of the 3 days.
Visited a GI, and told me it was probably an infection. But he stuck his finger in my rectum and tested for blood and said there was a lot of blood in my stool. Gave me a 4-day Xifaxan regimen and scheduled colonoscopy and biopsies one month ahead.
I did the colonoscopy mid-September and it came back with Crohns. He said my blood points to Crohns but my biopsies point towards UC. And I did have some ulcerations sporadically in my colon.
AFTER THE COLONOSCOPY - 3 months of Flagyl and he put me on a half dose of Apriso. 2 pills a day in the morning. I haven't really had any diarrhea (only on two occasions since August) (after dinner). My main symptoms are irritation right inside and outside of my anal opening. Especially after a BM it starts acting up. In the mornings its fine. He has not given me anything for that even though i asked twice. I do a sitz bath everyday which helps.
I did lose about 25 pounds since then. I think the IBD had something to do with it, but I was also overweight and have changed my diet greatly. No more sweets and very minimal on breads. I also was not eating much while on Flagyl because it cut my appetite.
I do have some minor abdominal discomfort here and there. And I am much more bloated and gassy. I have 1-2 bms a day, usually well-formed (occasionally oversized and constipated). I see darker colored streaked blood on the outside of my stools occasionally, but I do have some hemmies.
Also, sometimes I feel great for a few days but then sometimes I'll get this wave of exhaustion and fatigue for a few days. I also noticed more eye redness, even though I have always had allergies.
I know my symptoms aren't as bad as some others here, but it still sucks. I always think about the worst and I admit my outlook on things have changed a bit. Its still new to me so i guess I'll have to adjust.
Anyway, I WISH ALL THE BEST TO ALL OF YOU, and God Bless You. Talk to you soon.
