Question about crohns and fatigue

[Adam1971]

Hi all. I am wondering about what your experience with basic fatigue is with crohns. I ask because I have been searching my memory about signs and symptoms of crohns ever since being diagnosed on 12/24 with inflammation and narrowing at past surgery site. I thought I had been in remission since surgery in 2012. As i look back, especially over the last several months, excessive tiredness has been the one constant symptom. I just wonder if this is a crohns thing. Could I be relatively symptom free except for fatigue while my crohns is flaring? Thanks for considering. -Adam

 

[Delta_hippo]

Hi Adam, may be worth getting doctor to check your iron and b12 levels (needs a blood test), lots of people with Crohn’s have low levels of either or both and can cause fatigue. If you have had surgery and can’t absorb b12 then you can get injections, spray or skin patches. Iron can be taken orally or if that upsets tummy by infusion (but make sure they supervise closely, I didn’t realise there was a small chance of severe reaction to iron infusion until it happened to me!). I also found that azathioprine made me increasingly fatigued and some other drugs have that effect on others.

I think that just having Crohn’s is also a bit knackering to be honest.

But I’d start with the blood test to rule in or out deficiencies that could be easy fix.

Good luck.

 

[Adam1971]

Hi Adam, may be worth getting doctor to check your iron and b12 levels (needs a blood test), lots of people with Crohn’s have low levels of either or both and can cause fatigue. If you have had surgery and can’t absorb b12 then you can get injections, spray or skin patches. Iron can be taken orally or if that upsets tummy by infusion (but make sure they supervise closely, I didn’t realise there was a small chance of severe reaction to iron infusion until it happened to me!). I also found that azathioprine made me increasingly fatigued and some other drugs have that effect on others.

I think that just having Crohn’s is also a bit knackering to be honest.

But I’d start with the blood test to rule in or out deficiencies that could be easy fix.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for the tip! I hadn't even considered these absorption possibilities. I will ask for these tests when I see the specialist in 2 weeks. Thanks.

 

[D Bergy]

Low B12, low Iron, high amount of mycoplasma could all result in fatigue.

Not necessarily just one thing, could be one or more.

 

[LoJo]

Hi Adam, may be worth getting doctor to check your iron and b12 levels (needs a blood test), lots of people with Crohn’s have low levels of either or both and can cause fatigue. If you have had surgery and can’t absorb b12 then you can get injections, spray or skin patches. Iron can be taken orally or if that upsets tummy by infusion (but make sure they supervise closely, I didn’t realise there was a small chance of severe reaction to iron infusion until it happened to me!). I also found that azathioprine made me increasingly fatigued and some other drugs have that effect on others.

I think that just having Crohn’s is also a bit knackering to be honest.

But I’d start with the blood test to rule in or out deficiencies that could be easy fix.

Good luck.

Just my two cents worth, years ago(almost twenty), I had severely low iron. The only reason given at that time..It may have been poor absorption?? It built back up, slowly, with "Slow FE" and vitamin C taken with it. Years later, thyroid problems(I was feeling tired); now taking generic, Levothyroxine. Years later, I felt super fatigue, I couldn't get enough rest and had no motivation to do anything. A blood test showed high Calcium levels which indicates an over-active Parathyroid. I got surgery and felt better the same day.(you have four Parathyroid glands, no problem to remove one) usually just enlarged. Scans don't always find it, but high blood calcium is an indicator. Forward about 10 years, I was diagnosed with Crohns in April 2019. I am currently taking Humira. My symptoms were not what I thought Crohns should be. I had various arthritis symptoms, including, "iritis" in my eyes several times over the last few years. No diarrhea, mostly constpation. A colonoscopy found the ulcer in the illeum. Feeling great, so far(three months on Humira).

 

[Poopbuddy]

Can I jump into this thread with a symptom question...I was dx with UC and Crohn's in March of 2019. Regarding the current question about fatigue, I had and still do have issues with fatigue. I feel like it goes hand-in-hand with the disease. I also have significant arthritis so that is another factor. I am new to this forum and after reading different threads I agree that everyone has varying symptoms. My current frustration is the rejection of food that once did nothing and then turns into the enemy. This morning after eating it was painful cramps, loose stools and severe nausea. This happens either weekly or a few times a month. Anyone else have similar experiences? No fun when it happens at work and sometimes happens when I eat something outside of "safe foods." I take oral meds and started Humira in December...hoping it will be the game changer!

 

[Mountaineer01]

Fatigue was always a problem for me. I've been taking B12 shots for a little over a year and they've been a big help. Also, have your doctor check your Vitamin D levels. Mine were low, so I was given a prescription Vitamin D supplement.