New member, a few questions

[mcnulty]

Hello everyone,

Just thought I would introduce myself. I am 23 and got diagnosed last year (after a years of stomach problems and misdiagnosis) during a particularly bad flare up. I was put on steroids for 8 weeks which stopped the stomach pains. After that I was put on Azithorpine and remain on them now (150mg a day). Since then the flare ups have been less frequent and when the do appear the are usually only a few days. Compared to the weeks a used to go through this is a welcome relief. However, my day to day toilet habits have not improved. Everyday I make frequent trips to the toilet often lasting 20-40mins sometimes more. It is not always diarrhoea, in fact it is often constipation. I know this is an unusual crohns symptom but just wondered if anyone else suffers this? I always have blood in my stool as well.

I would also like to say that I am getting surgery at the start of next year and would like to know peoples experiences.

My last question was about the lofflex diet. I am currently suffering a flare up and have decided to start this diet despite my doctor insisting that diet has nothing to do with crohns. I was wondering if anyone managed to get on the liquid diet before this and if so how they managed to convince their doctor to give it a go?

Cheers

 

[glum chump]

Hello mcnulty

Welcome to the forum! Seems like you followed the same path as a number of people and having to wait a long time and go through a lot before being diagnosed.

Yes, constipation affects a lot of people with Crohn's. If you do a search using the term 'constipation', I think you'll find several threads dealing with that.

As for surgery, what sort of surgery are you having done? There's a subforum in the 'Treatment' section of the forum where you might want to post specific questions about the type of surgery you're having. I've had a subtotal colectomy resulting in a permanent ileostomy, but that's only one of many different kinds of surgeries!

I've not done the lofflex diet, but i know that there's threads on that as well. Just head on over to the "Diet and Fitness" section of the forum, and post your question there...I'm sure there'll be a number of folks who'll be able to better chime in with answers.

Glad you found your way over here.

Cheers,
Kismet

 

[TeresaPro]

Oh boy do i know . I suffer from it all the time..so when i am not flaring i can't go if my life depened on it, and when I am flaring I can't stop going. I also bled, lots. But since going on remicade ( now Humira if i ever get it.) the bleeding stopped.
Healing thoughts sent your way

 

[David]

Greetings and welcome

First off, I have no doubt whatsoever that diet affects people with Crohn's Disease. A lot. That your doctor believes otherwise... concerns me. Heck, studies have shown that enteral nutrition can have the same remission induction rates as steroids.

What kind of surgery is planned? We have a surgery support forum you may want to check out. How long have you been on the Azathioprine? That you still have blood in your stool is a bit concerning to me. We do have an Azathioprine support forum as well.

I wish you well

 

[tiloah]

Welcome to the forum! I have never experienced constipation but a lot of people here have. I don't think it's as rare as doctors say it is.