Recently diagnosed

[jay1212]

Last week after a colonoscopy I was diagnosed with colitis and "potential" crohn's. My syptoms prior to the colonoscopy were 3 weeks of diarreha with blood by the last week. My doctor put my on an iron supplement and scheduled the colonoscopy. 3 or 4 days prior to the colonoscopy symptoms went away and I feel fine. Normal bowel movements, not tired, go to the gym everyday and no loss of appetite. These are most of the symptoms I have been reading from other people. My doctor now wants to put me on 6 pills a day as well as a nightly enima of medication. I am 32 years old and before the 3 weeks of loose stool I have never had an issue. Is this diagnosis a little pre-mature? All I take on a daily basis is a fish oil pill, protien, and daily vitamin (and now iron). I am not crazy about taking all of this medication when I feel fine. I also just changed jobs, went to a rotating 12 hr schedule, sat in front of an engineering committee to get licensed, sold a condo at a loss and bought a house at the endge of my spending limit. Could all of this have anything to do with me not being regular during this time?

 

[LaHarmon]

Stress can make you more susceptible to flare ups, i know personally I have more flair ups when im stressed, especially around the holidays. If you feel this diagnoses is incorrect you can always get second opinion. However if your doctor found signs of active colitis that's not something you should ignore because if your colitis is active it can damage your colon irreparably. I would advise you to get a second opinion. I know it's a hassle trying to find time and the right doctor but if he can give you a more form diagnoses it will be worth it.

 

[itsMeFred]

None of that sounds like "irregularity", jay...

Also, I'll mention I've never had a problem either (36) until a month ago when I wound up hospitalized for four days for what I thought was appendicitis. Nope, the CT showed it was an inflamed ilium, colon and severe bacterial infection.
*sigh*
Crohn's.

What meds does the doc have you on? And more importantly, will they be permanent or are they to get a flare under control?

I left the hospital taking about a dozen pills a day when you added up both antibiotics, as well as the prednisone. However, a month later, I've finished all the 'scripts and am waiting for my colonoscopy. I'm also asymptomatic.

Whether I'll end up on something permanently remains to be seen, and frankly, I'll probably insist on a second opinion if my GI says I need to be on "maintenance" drugs...

BTW, two weeks after I spent that long weekend in the hospital, I was back to planting trees, working on our house and chaperoned a class of 5th graders all day at the zoo. I haven't "felt" sick at all.
But there's no doubt in my mind that I have Crohn's.

 

[jay1212]

He has me on Asacol 3 pills twice daily which he didnt give a timeline on and he has me on Mesalamine which is an enema of basically the same drug put can find where it needs to go more easily. I need to take the enema every night before bed for a month, not real excited about it.

 

[xJillx]

Hi Jay and welcome! My diagnosis seemed to come out of nowhere as well. So, though it seems sudden for you, your doctor probably isn't jumping the gun. If colitis was shown in your biopsies, you can't ignore that. However, a second opinion is always an option.

As far as the meds, what type of medication were you given? I assume your inflammation must be lower down, hence the enema. I have been on nightly enemas for several weeks now, and though it isn't ideal, it is important to get the inflammation under control before it gets worse.

 

[jay1212]

Thanks Jill,
The enema medicine is Mesalamine. I've been trying to read up on diets and supplements as well but they vary so much Im just going to see how it goes.