The big C

[llake]

Hello everyone:

I have a question about C. Can people with Crohn's diesase or Colitis or other IBD have the C. It's really weird for me because when I have my flare ups I get terrible intermittent abdominal pain on my lower right side which is relieved when I have a bm. When I'm not having a flare up (I'm not diagnosed yet I just call it a flare up) I'm always constipated. There are times when I have normal stools and normal frequency, but most of the time it takes three to four days before I have a bm. Do you have any suggestions? Before I went into the hospital three years ago I had normal frequency and now I no longer have that. Is this normal for IBD sufferers?

My list of diagnosis' keep on growing. Right now I'm dealing with schizoaffective disorder and am on meds for that. I'm on abilify and wellbutrin so maybe my meds are causing C. I don't know. Please help. I did see a GI doc yesterday so I'm getting help i would just like to hear some other people's experiences. Thanks. Peace to you all. And take care.

 

[Jeff D.]

Have you had a recent colonoscopy to see if you have any inflammation or scar tissue. I went a long time without talking to my GI about my C and how small my stool was. Now I have scar tissue in my rectum and may possibly need an ostomy within a year but hopefully not.

Welcome to the forum. Good luck with treatment and let us know how it goes.

 

[llake]

I may have a colonoscopy

I just had a barium ct scan yesterday so I'm waiting on the results for that and if that doesn't show anything conclusive then I will get a cscopy. I'm sorry to hear of your ostomy. If you do have it I hope everthing works out okay. Take care and thanks for replying.

 

[Jeff D.]

Good luck with your colonoscopy. I'm just tryong to spread the word that if something seems wrong like narrow stool, please get checked out. It's better to get checked out soon then to get scar tissue.

 

[llake]

Thanks Jeff

I do have narrow stools quite often. The thing is when I was at the GI doc the other day I forget to mention that and my constipation. I know dumb huh? I'm going to have to write this stuff down the next time I go there. Peace!

 

[Agent X20]

I get the narrows stools and the constipation sometimes... most of the time I'm quite "normal" (whatever that is), presumably because the drugs are working. Also had a bout of D last week. Talk about 4 seasons in one day!

 

[dayng1016]

I suffer from constipation and narrow stools also when I have a bm. I do have a stricture, which my GI seems to think is the cause of my C.

I hope you can get some answers soon, so you can hopefully get some kind of relief. I would definitely recommend making a list of questions and/or concerns to mention to you doc at your next appointment b/c its easy to forget things by the time your appointments rolls around. That's me on a regular basis, forgetting things.

Good luck to you!

 

[cheeky]

yes, some people get constipation instead of diarrhea ... i am also one of those people who will experience constipation and/or narrow stools during a flare.

i was told i have severe narrowing in my intestine (on the lower right side) with potential for surgery if my meds don't help (but it seems they are helping as far as my symptoms, so i hope when i get another colonoscopy there's an improvement and i won't need surgery)... so although the word 'stricture' wasn't used, i'm sure that's what my GI meant.

btw, when i saw the thread title 'the big C' i thought this topic was going to be about Cancer lol ...not that there's anything funny about cancer, i'm just sayin... i think that's what is known as the big C so you might not want to refer to constipation that way.


good luck to you

 

[llake]

That's true I probably should have been more careful on my wording. Thanks.

 

[drew_wymore]

Constipation is quite possible. I went from having diarrhea to constipation and back several times now in 2+ years I've battled this damn disease.

 

[ladyB]

My ex-boss's hubby has CD and had to take fiber drinks twice a day to help with his C.

 

[kello82]

ive been having C more recently, so its kinda new to me too, llake.
its very weird though, ill go to the bathroom again and again and feel like i wont make it each time, and barely anything comes out. then finally i will have an explosion of gas and diharrea. i was always under the impression that C meant you would have hard stools as well, but thats not the case at all for me.
i have a stricture, but i dilate myself at home so i know that it isnt a narrowing that is causing the problem.
im wondering if it is just really poor and slow moving digestion that causes the C? maybe b/c they are so ill, our intestines take a really long time to finally expel the stool?
not sure. kinda just guessing here for my own benefit as well as yours.
good luck