Questions

[wheepsie]

Hi ,

Alright, so I'm 22, and trying to not flip out over my symptoms, which due to the "evils" of google, can apparently be anything from colon cancer to simply irritable bowel syndrome. So I thought I would ask around, and see if my symptoms are similar to others', especially as my doctor (long story short, I had health insurance, but won't have it again until the first of the year) suggested I get a colonoscopy if the pain in my abdomen doesn't dissipate, as I might have Crohn's (I went in for an internal hemorrhoid)?

I have flare-ups of excessive diarrhea, where my stomach hurts so badly, I break out in a heavy sweat, and I have to rotate between laying down and trying to expel everything. I haven't fainted (yet), but I've come close in my four flare-ups that I've had (over the span of a year and a half), and my first two flare-ups caused me to become extremely nauseous. My last flare-up was two days ago, and while I didn't get nauseous, I did nearly faint (again) from the pain, and I got dizzy. The issue that I have, is each flare-up only lasts about twenty minutes (I guess, as I'm usually too busy to time them and my husband is fortunate enough to be at work usually so he misses all the fun), and I can't find online if this is typical of Crohn's? According to my husband, I don't get flushed in the face, as in I turn red or anything. I just look really really sick.

This past flare-up caused lasting effects though. My stomach is still cramping mildly, and I've had watery diarrhea since then (and green diarrhea). I know to avoid fast food now (it guarantees diarrhea), and generally I switch between constipation and diarrhea (stringy stool or watery) when I don't have flare-ups.

So in other words, are these flare-up symptoms (generally short-lived) typical of Crohn's? I've managed to terrify myself when I google, and HIV, colon cancer, brain tumors, etc. pop up in my search. And I'm sorry if this is tmi, but I'm trying to calm myself down before a doctor's appointment can be made for February, etc. I don't know if we have Crohn's disease in the family, and I'd prefer to not ask my parents (as my mother will stress even more than me) until I have definitive answers from a doctor. Even if I did ask, I'm not sure my parents would know. :/

I appreciate any and all help,
Wheepsie

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi Wheepsie, welcome to the forum. You are right, your symptoms could indicate any number of illnesses. I'm guessing you must have blood in your stool as you mentioned internal hemmies, and those can bleed bright red. Do you have any other symptoms like unintentional weight loss, dehydration, nocturnal diarrhea? You don't get bleeding and those other symptoms I mentioned with IBS, so that would be one to likely eliminate from the list of possibles if that's the case. Where in your abdomen is your pain typically located?

I would also highly doubt it's colon cancer, as I'm 31 and before my colonoscopy my doctor told me that he doesn't believe I have cancer as it would be very rare for someone as young as I am to have colon cancer, and you are younger than I am. Try not to scare yourself with googling, but do arm yourself with information so that you can ask informed questions of your doctor. And I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. If you do have something like IBD, stress can do a number on you and make things worse.

One more thing, you might want to start keeping a food & symptom diary to track your symptoms - that will help you see if there is a correlation between eating certain foods and having symptoms. There's an entry in the "Wiki" section of the forum that explains how to set up a food diary and what information to include.

Good luck, if you have a colonoscopy let us know how it goes!

 

[wheepsie]

I didn't actually have any visible blood. Things just came out... where they weren't supposed too? ^_^ The doctor confirmed that I had a number of internal hemorrhoids--

As far as any other symptoms, I don't really meet any of that criteria except for the dehydration (but I assume that could be due to the watery diarrhea).

Pain in my abdomen is largely underneath the belly button, or to the right. After my flare up two days ago though, the pain shifted to the central and left although today I just have generally overall cramping. Eating anything since then just causes my stomach to get upset.

And thanks for the welcome! :] I'll work on the food diary, because if nothing else, my stomach will appreciate me more. ^_^ Thanks Cat.

 

[Rebecca85]

I shouldn't worry too much, the alternating diarrhoea and constipation sounds more like IBS. The flare ups you mention don't seem to be that frequent, or last for that long, which again sounds like aggravated IBS or even a mild stomach bug rather than Crohn's. But this disease presents itself in so many different ways. Definately keep a diary, then you can see if any particular food sets it off, and means you won't miss anything out next time you see your doc.

 

[Rebecca85]

When you say things came out where they won't supposed to, what exactly do you mean (don't worry there's no such thing as tmi on here!)

 

[wheepsie]

*palmface* My internal hemorrhoid blocked my anus, and I had to push it back in (I guess a Grade II or III).

:/ Everything I've been reading makes Irritable Bowel Syndrome sound like what doctors tell you when they don't know what's wrong with you (which as long as they can tell me it's nothing serious, is "okay" with me). I hope if this is it, they can at least prescribe something so that I don't feel like I'm dying during one of my "episodes."

I pretty much have constant cramps on the right side of my abdomen, so I'm hoping that a specialist will help me fix that too. ^_^ My regular doctor just shrugged during a pap smear when I was doubling up in pain (I went to emergency care for the hemorrhoid).

 

[Rebecca85]

Oh, I had completely the wrong end of the stick there! Thought you meant the diarrhoea was coming out somewhere it wasn't supposed to!

Yes, IBS is a bit of a 'catch-all' diagnosis, in fact one of the diagnostic criteria is that other things must have been ruled out. But it is a real disorder none the less, they just haven't found the exact cause, though there are a few theories. And yes, there are things you can take to help such as anti-diarrhoea tablets, anti-spasmodics and painkillers.

 

[wheepsie]

Thanks Rebecca. I'll keep y'll updated.

 

[Jennifer]

I highly doubt its just a stomach bug if your symptoms return and for that long. The regions where it hurts sounds like the ileum and colon. If the pain comes and goes away then it could be food passing through a narrow passage but isn't quite a blockage. If you start vomiting or notice large amounts of blood in your stool, then I'd suggest going to the ER. There they could preform some tests at least to know if its life threatening. So yes get the scope done but use the ER at your disposal (the new year is coming up soon so hopefully you can make it till then without having to use the ER before your insurance kicks in).

I'm curious. Why did your husband say that you don't get flushed in the face? Is that supposed to be some sort of Crohn's indication? With my flares I tend to feel as though I have the flu and doesn't go away along with bleeding, mucus in stool, and abdominal pain that can be on the lower right or upper left. My point is that everyone has different symptoms.

 

[wheepsie]

During the past day, my research has brought my to Carcinoid Syndrome, whose symptoms include diarrhea and dry flushing (so no sweat). I just mentioned it as a just in case (that I break out in sweat, but it's not like I've been running in the heat, so no red face for me). I didn't know if it was relevant, but I was trying to mention everything that I could.

Nope, I've had no vomit, just the need too. It's like my stomach is so upset that I'm trying to empty my stomach in any way that I can (without actually vomiting). I haven't seen any blood (and I've become quite the stool observer lately), but I don't know if there are any traces.

Stress- wise, my husband is moving across the country from where we live normally, and I'm finishing up my Master's. I've been reading that stress can cause flare-ups?

My first two flare ups were within a week of one another approximately a year and a half ago. My third was a couple of months ago. And then this one. They're so sporadic, but I have no problem going to the ER if I need to (I have very basic health care for emergencies), but I'm just being cheap, and not wanting to pay for tests if I can just make it a week or two more. I just wish I would have pursued the issue with my doctor earlier, instead of letting him shrug my issues off. :/ I know better now. And I won't be going back to that particular physician.

**Sorry for claiming I had no health care. I guess I just don't think of it as health care due to the larger deductible, and as it's not health care to be used on a day to day basis.

 

[Jennifer]

It's crumby health care.

Yes stress is a major factor. Stress can cause ulcers in people who don't have IBD so it definitely affects those with IBD.

 

[outlier]

which due to the "evils" of google, can apparently be anything from colon cancer to simply irritable bowel

To quote my cousin doctor "Medical advice from the internet is like porn [on the internet] some of it's good, but most of it's really bad."

Welcome and I hope you feel better soon.