- Joined
- Mar 8, 2012
- Messages
- 1
I am 21 years old and have had GI problems all of my life. Starting about 7years ago I started having severe anemia problems. I finally was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about a year after the anemia started. I went gluten free and have been VERY strict about it ever since.
I also have a ton of other medical problems (spinal disorder, gyno problems, etc) and because of all this was forced to drop out of High School. My anemia got a little better when I went gf, but then it returned with a vengeance. I ended up getting tons of IV iron treatments, but then had an anaphylactic reaction after 12 treatments.
In this time I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and started on a tough regimen. Because of my gyno problems I ended up on huge doses of anaprox and it rapidly burned holes in my stomach.
I saw a GI Dr and had an endoscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy. The colonoscopy almost killed me...literally. I did the pill form of the prep and bled rectally for 6 hours straight. I ended up in the ER with critically low potassium and was super anemic again. I went and had the test which according to my Dr nothing showed up. He said it was maybe my period and I was mistaking it for rectal bleeding....as women out there know, there's no mistaking rectal bleeding!:yrolleyes:
Fast forward and I just kept getting anemic and requiring blood transfusions because my hematologist was afraid to give me a different type of iron IV because of my reaction.
This whole time I was having such severe stomach distention that I have to wear maternity clothes because my tummy gets so big.
Fast forward to the end of last year and after a hospitalization for my back, I had to change Drs and my new hematologist admitted me to the hospital in January to try to get to the root of the anemia problems.
Ater doing a bone marrow biopsy, they discovered I have aplastic anemia. In order to figure out what was causing it, they brought on a rheumatologist. He came back saying I have IBD. Because I don't have health insurance at the moment, they're not sure whether I have UC or Crohn's. I guess I have the gene for IBD and also had very positive blood tests.
I also had a colonoscopy last year that I just discovered showed inflammation in my ileum as well as multiple internal hemorrhoids. I also have urgent diarrhea a lot, can't tolerate any fiber, lose weight rapidly and frequently.
At the end of my January hospitalization, I was diagnosed with a fissure and literally wanted to die. I have been through excruciating pain, but that took the cake. I was in the bathroom screaming for 14 hours.
So, I guess my question is, does this sound like Crohn's to people? I will get health insurance in May and will undergo another colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, CT and endoscopy to figure this all out.
Needless to say, I'm overwhelmed. From the research I've done, a lot of meds for IBD suppress bone marrow production which is a problem for me.
Any support would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long-winded post.
I also have a ton of other medical problems (spinal disorder, gyno problems, etc) and because of all this was forced to drop out of High School. My anemia got a little better when I went gf, but then it returned with a vengeance. I ended up getting tons of IV iron treatments, but then had an anaphylactic reaction after 12 treatments.
In this time I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and started on a tough regimen. Because of my gyno problems I ended up on huge doses of anaprox and it rapidly burned holes in my stomach.
I saw a GI Dr and had an endoscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy. The colonoscopy almost killed me...literally. I did the pill form of the prep and bled rectally for 6 hours straight. I ended up in the ER with critically low potassium and was super anemic again. I went and had the test which according to my Dr nothing showed up. He said it was maybe my period and I was mistaking it for rectal bleeding....as women out there know, there's no mistaking rectal bleeding!:yrolleyes:
Fast forward and I just kept getting anemic and requiring blood transfusions because my hematologist was afraid to give me a different type of iron IV because of my reaction.
This whole time I was having such severe stomach distention that I have to wear maternity clothes because my tummy gets so big.
Fast forward to the end of last year and after a hospitalization for my back, I had to change Drs and my new hematologist admitted me to the hospital in January to try to get to the root of the anemia problems.
Ater doing a bone marrow biopsy, they discovered I have aplastic anemia. In order to figure out what was causing it, they brought on a rheumatologist. He came back saying I have IBD. Because I don't have health insurance at the moment, they're not sure whether I have UC or Crohn's. I guess I have the gene for IBD and also had very positive blood tests.
I also had a colonoscopy last year that I just discovered showed inflammation in my ileum as well as multiple internal hemorrhoids. I also have urgent diarrhea a lot, can't tolerate any fiber, lose weight rapidly and frequently.
At the end of my January hospitalization, I was diagnosed with a fissure and literally wanted to die. I have been through excruciating pain, but that took the cake. I was in the bathroom screaming for 14 hours.
So, I guess my question is, does this sound like Crohn's to people? I will get health insurance in May and will undergo another colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, CT and endoscopy to figure this all out.
Needless to say, I'm overwhelmed. From the research I've done, a lot of meds for IBD suppress bone marrow production which is a problem for me.
Any support would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long-winded post.
From the symptoms you have mentioned it certainly could be crohns and the tests you have coming up the docs should hopefully be able to get confirmation for you. With regards to diet have you ever looked at enteral nutrition? A lot of people here have had a really good response to this and it is not a medication........ check out our diet and sups sub forum for more info on this.
