Good evening -
I've never been very good about letting my guard down or opening up to anyone about my personal struggles, so let me start off by emphasizing that this is difficult for me. I've started this post maybe a half dozen times before and have deleted it every time. I feel embarrassed, ashamed, self-conscious, vulnerable...Even with the cloak of anonymity that the internet provides, I am still finding it very hard to write my story. It's almost like this is that pivotal moment where, if I write this down and share with someone else, there's no going back and I have to give in to the fact that this "Thing" really isn't going to just get better on it's own and I need some help. I guess it means that I'm finally admitting that there is, in fact, something wrong with me...
I am a 32 year-old male and I have been suffering from my symptoms for probably 15 years or more, but they are getting worse and I am getting more and more concerned. Until recently I've been able to sort of manage my "issues". But now it's really beginning to take a toll on my everyday life. I suffer from moderate to SEVERE cramping in my stomach/intestines that usually leads to diarrhea and/or vomiting. At times the diarrhea is so intense that my rectum/anus will almost spasm and clench on its own for minutes afterward, as if "dry-heaving". This usually occurs between 15 minutes and 2 hours after a meal and there does not seem to be any discernible triggers causing the cramps. This doesn't necessarily happen after every meal and sometimes just comes on randomly, even when I haven't eaten that day. It also does not necessarily correlate to a time of day. I've woken up and had an attack before breakfast, and I've been awakened in the middle of the night with an attack. Until a few years ago, these attacks would happen maybe once a month, or only after eating out at a restaurant. Now I am having attacks nearly every other day, sometimes more. Just today, I had to pull my son out of his baseball practice because I had a VERY urgent need to get to a restroom and I was afraid that I wasn't going to make it. This sort of scenario has happened to me on many occasions, making it very difficult to live a functional life.
Aside from the cramping/diarrhea/vomiting, I also suffer from hemorrhoids (probably related to the diarrhea) and had a fistulotomy in 2012. At that time, the GI doctor asked if I had heard about Crohn's or if I knew of a family history of it. He suggested running some tests but, having no health insurance, I never pursued the testing. I just chalked it up to IBS and kept on doing nothing. It has gotten noticeably worse since then, and I have often thought about getting tested, but as I said before, I'm not good at being vulnerable and putting myself out there.
About 2 months ago, I visited a natural health doctor in my area and after a long discussion I decided to try using medical marijuana to curb the pain and nausea when having an attack. I have to say that in small doses I have experienced a positive reaction to the marijuana with shorter cramping sessions and lessened nausea. But it's definitely not a fix.
So, I guess what I am ultimately looking for is someone with experience to read about me and tell me what to do next. Here's a list of all of my symptoms, related or not:
- Severe Cramping
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hemorrhoids
- Fistula Operation in 2012
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Moodiness
I'm looking for ANY opinions, good or bad.
Thanks for listening
I've never been very good about letting my guard down or opening up to anyone about my personal struggles, so let me start off by emphasizing that this is difficult for me. I've started this post maybe a half dozen times before and have deleted it every time. I feel embarrassed, ashamed, self-conscious, vulnerable...Even with the cloak of anonymity that the internet provides, I am still finding it very hard to write my story. It's almost like this is that pivotal moment where, if I write this down and share with someone else, there's no going back and I have to give in to the fact that this "Thing" really isn't going to just get better on it's own and I need some help. I guess it means that I'm finally admitting that there is, in fact, something wrong with me...
I am a 32 year-old male and I have been suffering from my symptoms for probably 15 years or more, but they are getting worse and I am getting more and more concerned. Until recently I've been able to sort of manage my "issues". But now it's really beginning to take a toll on my everyday life. I suffer from moderate to SEVERE cramping in my stomach/intestines that usually leads to diarrhea and/or vomiting. At times the diarrhea is so intense that my rectum/anus will almost spasm and clench on its own for minutes afterward, as if "dry-heaving". This usually occurs between 15 minutes and 2 hours after a meal and there does not seem to be any discernible triggers causing the cramps. This doesn't necessarily happen after every meal and sometimes just comes on randomly, even when I haven't eaten that day. It also does not necessarily correlate to a time of day. I've woken up and had an attack before breakfast, and I've been awakened in the middle of the night with an attack. Until a few years ago, these attacks would happen maybe once a month, or only after eating out at a restaurant. Now I am having attacks nearly every other day, sometimes more. Just today, I had to pull my son out of his baseball practice because I had a VERY urgent need to get to a restroom and I was afraid that I wasn't going to make it. This sort of scenario has happened to me on many occasions, making it very difficult to live a functional life.
Aside from the cramping/diarrhea/vomiting, I also suffer from hemorrhoids (probably related to the diarrhea) and had a fistulotomy in 2012. At that time, the GI doctor asked if I had heard about Crohn's or if I knew of a family history of it. He suggested running some tests but, having no health insurance, I never pursued the testing. I just chalked it up to IBS and kept on doing nothing. It has gotten noticeably worse since then, and I have often thought about getting tested, but as I said before, I'm not good at being vulnerable and putting myself out there.
About 2 months ago, I visited a natural health doctor in my area and after a long discussion I decided to try using medical marijuana to curb the pain and nausea when having an attack. I have to say that in small doses I have experienced a positive reaction to the marijuana with shorter cramping sessions and lessened nausea. But it's definitely not a fix.
So, I guess what I am ultimately looking for is someone with experience to read about me and tell me what to do next. Here's a list of all of my symptoms, related or not:
- Severe Cramping
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hemorrhoids
- Fistula Operation in 2012
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Moodiness
I'm looking for ANY opinions, good or bad.
Thanks for listening