Please help- does this sound like Crohn's or colitis?

[meakulpa]

I'm completely new to this... the day before yesterday I started having diarrhea and very bad stomach cramps. The diarrhea was very bloody, culminating in many stools that were just blood and mucus. The cramps would let up after going to the bathroom, but within a few minutes they would be back and would continue until I went again. I would cramp so severely that I was nauseous as well.

I went to the ER where they did a lot of blood tests, a stool sample, and CT scan. CT scan was okay, blood was okay, still waiting on results from stool sample. They put me on Flagyl and Cipro, as well as meds of nausea and medication for the pain. The doctor says I have colitis.

Upon reading about it more, I think I may have had this for a while. The past few months I have noticed sometimes a fair amount of blood in the toilet when I go to the bathroom or on the toilet paper when I wiped. I chalked it up to just a hemorrhoid or something, but did notice that there seemed to be a lot, and I had urgency and stomach cramps far more than usual.

As of right now, I'm still having lots of cramps and bowel movements, though less blood.

My questions are, does this sound like Crohns or colitis? What would be my next step in terms of getting help for this? The ER doc recommended a gastroenterologist. Just wanted to get the help and advice from all you great people who may have been there/done that. Thanks in advance for your help!

Wendy

 

[teeny5]

Welcome to the forum Wendy. I cannot tell you if it is Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. Your next step I would think is a colonoscopy, will have to see what the gastroenterologist says. Keep us posted as to what your GI dr says and test results.

 

[DJW]

Hi and welcome.
Colitis is inflammation in the colon. It isn't necessarily Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.
Do you have an appointment with a gastroenterologist?

Sending you my support.

 

[Lady Organic]

your symptoms are really similar to mine. I have rectum and left colon affected by colitis which is still called indeterminate colitis after 14 years, but behaving mostly like ulcerative colitis.
they couldnt hook you up with a gastroenterologist from the same hospital? you need to see one asap. if big loads of blood and mucous return and heavy cramps, do not let this escalate furthermore and return to the ER and press to see a GI. there is usually one who is present to see emergency cases. wishing you well.

 

[UnXmas]

Colitis is inflammation of the colon, which can have many causes, one being Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn's can also cause inflammation in the colon, however, it is a specific type of inflammation, and Crohn's can also cause inflammation elsewhere in the digestive system, allowing doctors to distinguish Crohn's from other causes of colon inflammation.

I'm not sure why the doctor would say you have colitis if your tests have been normal (assuming that by "ok" you mean negative). Your symptoms do sound very much like those of Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis or other forms of colitis, but tests are needed to may the diagnosis. I guess that the doctor made a guess based on your symptoms, but I think you need to ask for clarification on how the diagnosis was made, and which form of colitis the doctor thinks you have.

Seeing a gastroenterologist would be a good step to take next. A gastroenterologist should be able to give you more informatiom about your test results, but will probably want to run further tests - most likely including a colonoscopy and, if you have symptoms suggesting your upper digestive system is involved, an upper endoscopy - to make a more precise diagnosis and make a plan for treatment.