Should I be officially diagnosed with Crohn's?

[primemathbrat]

I have had issues with my bowels for over a decade and thought I just had IBS because I have been able to put on weight the past two years. I talked with a friend today who told me that I could have Crohn's and still have gained weight. What good will a diagnosis do? What treatment is available besides surgery?

 

[Orchid]

There are a number of drugs that could help put you into remission that would be opened up to you, your care could be more focused, and your doctors would pay closer attention to your inflammatory markers and know not prescribe certain medications that severely aggravate CD.

 

[primemathbrat]

Are the side effects worth the treatment of the drug?

 

[Orchid]

Instead of asking yourself if the side effects are worth it, ask yourself if avoiding surgery is worth it. If your CD is untreated you WILL require major bowel surgery in your life. IBD is a serious chronic illness that you can't ignore.

 

[HARVinTX]

Agree with Orchid. The only way to manage a chronic illness is to get it diagnosed. We all have to weigh the benefit/risks with any drugs we take and that is no different with IBD. You can't assess benefit/risk without a diagnosis. If it is Crohn's, you want to fight the enemy....inflammation! BTW - I am having my 2nd bowel resection on Tuesday and I wish I would have had someone like Orchid in my life 10 years ago to knock some sense into me.

 

[Orchid]

I am nothing if not a bucket of cold water on a colder morning.

 

[krika]

If there is a risk of you having crohns or uc, just should get that checked out asap. What it does to the system and life in general is not worth putting it off. If you in fact have it, you can choose if you wish to be on meds or not. If you do not have it, maybe its that you need to see a person who can help you sort out what food is best for you and your belly.
Good Luck