On the Brink of Crohn's or Colon TB

[Ram]

Hi guys n gals, Glad such forum exist where we can share our thoughts freely and also get help and advice.
Now for Over four years i used to get this consistent bloating and also passed a lot of gas, besides that my stools were more like porridge. I used to ignore this symptoms thinking that it shall subside, but it only got intense over the years. My initial response was that may i have colon polyps, and i decided to go for colon-scopy, But my surgeon said i am too young ( 26 yrs) to expect colon polyps, but i still got colon-scopy done and guess what ?....no polyps nut at the Ileum IC valve, superficial ulcers where found. As of now they have been sent for Biopsies. After the Colon-scopy the Gastroenterologist said it may be either Crohn's or Colon TB disease. He also said that both the said diseaes can be managed and need not worry. With respect to TB, i am bit aware that there are drug available for the cure, but in case of crohns i have no idea, except that there is no medicine to cure it . Thus i am waiting for the Biopsies report which is due in 12 days. In any case i am expecting a dreadful news.ale: Can you guys help me by telling me how to manage the crohns disease

 

[xJillx]

Hi Ram and welcome! You are right, there is no cure for Crohn's disease. However, many do well with medication and can enjoy daily life. There are many treatment options, and it can take some time to find what works best for you.

I suggest taking a look in the Treatment forum to get familiar with the many options. Therefore, if you do get diagnosed with Crohn's and your GI wants to discuss medication, you'll have some background knowledge and can make a better decision.

Keep us posted!

 

[Loriebird]

Welcome to crohns forum! Crohns is different for everyone. I know that doesn't help, but your disease may end up being relatively easy to manage (or not). But you do need to take the diagnosis very seriously and make sure you have a good GI doctor you trust. While crohns is not curable, there are a lot of different treatments out there that may be able to give you a normal life. Talk to your doctor about te best treatment for you and think about getting a second opinion (my first GI put me on steroids which made me dramatically worse). I have a friend with crohns who is not on any treatment program and who has stayed in remission solo for 3 years. I can't live without my meds. So everyone is different. Stay close to your doctor and let him/her know as soon as symptoms change or get worse, even if it seems minor.

As to living with Crohns, just take it day by day. Don't freak out yet - it sounds like you don't have a final diagnosis? And you could easily have a normal, healthy life with proper care and attention. With crohns, everyday could be something different - you can't predict what your disease will do or how you will be feeling on any given day. One day, I feel like I'm on top of the world, and the next I completely crash. Pay attention to your diet and what foods make you feel better or worse. Diet really helps. I find that overall my disease is easier to manage when I am living a healthy lifestyle.

Are you in school/working?

 

[Ram]

Thanks for all your advice. BTW I am working. Honestly i don't know how these 12 days will pass, it is really depressing. Any way lets see what happens.

 

[David]

Greetings and a hearty welcome to you. I don't have much to add, I just wanted to welcome you. Please keep us updated and I wish you all the best

 

[RoyvR]

hey Ram,
I had the exact same thing as u. i used to get loose stools and bloats from time to time. but in march i really got bloated that i cldnt eat for days at a time. i so a GI dr. n he suggested a colonoscopy i really didnt give it much thought until i heard the diagnosis that the images showed massive subdermal inflammation which indicates either TB or CD. and after getting a PCr done on my boipsies to check for TB i was diagnosed with crohn's.
Living with the disease could be esy dependng on how intense the inflammation is and your body reacts to medication.
but cheer up once on meds u'll be better than new. and u'll resume a normal lifestyle as long as u keep an eye on ur condition.

 

[Ram]

Thanks for all your kind support. Shall update as and when i receive my biopsies report, till then fingers cross. BTW i never had any pain in the right lower quadrant i.e. where the ileum IC valve is located (connection between Small and large intestine), also i never had any inflammation, which IMO is one major symptom in crohns disease. My biggest annoying problem was that after Bowel movement i never felt like i had completed evacuated my bowels and always felt something was still there in the pipeline, that is why my initial response was that may be there may be an polyp causing it, but none was found in colons-copy. So any of guys had similar problem and were later diagnosed with Crohns ?

 

[Ram]

Hi, received two reports, Biopsies says there is no evidence of granulomas or inflammatory disease. The second says acid fast bacilli not detected. Well the final report is after 6 weeks or when the culture is positive. I guess it is going to be crohns disease. I better start preparing for it. Any advice is welcomed.

 

[ABC]

Hi Ram, curious to know what was your final diagnosis. I am in a similar situation. Have been diagnosed with Crohn's but the steriods and Humira are making it worse. Planning to get surgery or request TB medication if things don't get better. Please see my thread under the 'Your Story' forum and let me know if you have any feedback. Thanks.