Hi, sorry to ask about such a disgusting and humiliating topic but I think it's important.
Whilst I've known that I display pretty much all of the symptoms of Crohn's, the one I have which I've never been able to find out about is the amount of time on the toilet...
I used to always go after dinner on a night and it would always take around an hour and a half, but when I first started experiencing the fatigue, pain etc. it began taking longer and longer every day, before having the uncontrollable urge after breakfast which had never happened before, and then that was taking longer too.
We all know how it is - bad days and better days, but this has never improved and to me is the worst symptom, as I no longer have a life. It's currently 6 hours a day. The urge wouldn't be so bad if it didn't take so long, or it wasn't literally every day.
Doctors have always said "constipation" but I don't see it as such. It's not that I can't go, it's just like slow moving traffic... And really, it never feels "complete". They ask about the consistency but it can be the full 1-7 scale during the same session. Laxatives don't help - I can feel them doing what they're designed to do, but that just isn't MY problem. It doesn't help the duration.
When I was finally hospitalised, it started to improve from day one. I wish I knew why or how but from being discharged 3 months later, it was an hour a night but then it started to get worse again, until here we are a year later and I'm writing this essay on the toilet.
Incidentally, the past few weeks it has felt difficult, like I'm just too dry. I haven't drank any less than usual. I have a bladder problem so I have to drink gallons every day. Anyway, that isn't the inherent problem, it's just recent.
I've driven myself insane thinking of potential causes. From handwashing to starting to use the dishwasher regularly for the first time, to storing my mushrooms at room temperature to most recently, around the time it all started, our house was refurbished, including a new toilet and I'm thinking the height might be just so subtly different as to have this effect.
Yes I know it's pathetic.
In hospital, I said I had this problem straight away. But I was abused including being accused of throwing up every time I went to the toilet. Emptying my bladder, defecating, brushing my fucking teeth - no, I must have been throwing my guys up 20-odd times a day, all because I was underweight. This is the tip of the iceberg of what else happened. Of all the wards for them to do this, a gastroenterology ward. Seriously?!
I asked a consultant about it - being underweight leading to abdominal muscle deterioration... But no, I've been underweight before for other reasons and this has never happened. Anyway my weight has been the same since December thanks to a year's experience.
Sorry to bring up this subject and for going on so long but I'm desperate for answers, and where better than others in my position?
This problem is my tipping point. I could bear to go for more years undiagnosed if I didn't have to deal with this. I have another gastroenterology appointment next Wednesday and if I'm no closer to any treatment, I'm giving up on my "life". I'm deteriorating every day and I'm not repeating the cycle of last year. I can't believe I could be treated that way as a hospital patient.
Anyone have a clue?
Thank you all so much for your time, know that it is massively appreciated.
Whilst I've known that I display pretty much all of the symptoms of Crohn's, the one I have which I've never been able to find out about is the amount of time on the toilet...
I used to always go after dinner on a night and it would always take around an hour and a half, but when I first started experiencing the fatigue, pain etc. it began taking longer and longer every day, before having the uncontrollable urge after breakfast which had never happened before, and then that was taking longer too.
We all know how it is - bad days and better days, but this has never improved and to me is the worst symptom, as I no longer have a life. It's currently 6 hours a day. The urge wouldn't be so bad if it didn't take so long, or it wasn't literally every day.
Doctors have always said "constipation" but I don't see it as such. It's not that I can't go, it's just like slow moving traffic... And really, it never feels "complete". They ask about the consistency but it can be the full 1-7 scale during the same session. Laxatives don't help - I can feel them doing what they're designed to do, but that just isn't MY problem. It doesn't help the duration.
When I was finally hospitalised, it started to improve from day one. I wish I knew why or how but from being discharged 3 months later, it was an hour a night but then it started to get worse again, until here we are a year later and I'm writing this essay on the toilet.
Incidentally, the past few weeks it has felt difficult, like I'm just too dry. I haven't drank any less than usual. I have a bladder problem so I have to drink gallons every day. Anyway, that isn't the inherent problem, it's just recent.
I've driven myself insane thinking of potential causes. From handwashing to starting to use the dishwasher regularly for the first time, to storing my mushrooms at room temperature to most recently, around the time it all started, our house was refurbished, including a new toilet and I'm thinking the height might be just so subtly different as to have this effect.
Yes I know it's pathetic.
In hospital, I said I had this problem straight away. But I was abused including being accused of throwing up every time I went to the toilet. Emptying my bladder, defecating, brushing my fucking teeth - no, I must have been throwing my guys up 20-odd times a day, all because I was underweight. This is the tip of the iceberg of what else happened. Of all the wards for them to do this, a gastroenterology ward. Seriously?!
I asked a consultant about it - being underweight leading to abdominal muscle deterioration... But no, I've been underweight before for other reasons and this has never happened. Anyway my weight has been the same since December thanks to a year's experience.
Sorry to bring up this subject and for going on so long but I'm desperate for answers, and where better than others in my position?
This problem is my tipping point. I could bear to go for more years undiagnosed if I didn't have to deal with this. I have another gastroenterology appointment next Wednesday and if I'm no closer to any treatment, I'm giving up on my "life". I'm deteriorating every day and I'm not repeating the cycle of last year. I can't believe I could be treated that way as a hospital patient.
Anyone have a clue?
Thank you all so much for your time, know that it is massively appreciated.