• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Well, this is a surprise.

Hi there!

I've been reading various parts of this forum off and on for a few weeks now. This is my story.

I'm 25 years old, and I work a pretty high-pressure job in Canada as a consultant. Like a lot of us, I'm not typically great at taking care of myself when I'm sick (I'm working on it). For the last 6 months, I've had minor blood in my stool about once or twice a week. I went to see a clinic doctor who told me I had hemorrhoids, so I didn't worry about it any further (even though it kept happening for months).

Three weeks ago, I had a massive GI bleed (we're talking murder scene, not to be too graphic) and I had to call 911. I was admitted to Emerg and hospitalized for 4 days. They gave me a colonoscopy (damn unpleasant procedure!) and a rotating roster of nurses. Before I was discharged & put on Pentasa, they told me that they thought I had Crohns, but the biopsy results wouldn't be back for another 6 weeks or so. I'll find out mid-April.

It sounds like Crohns to me. Here are my symptoms:
- Bleeding (less now that I'm on the Pentasa)
- Indigestion (better or worse depending on the day)
- Weakness and exhaustion (this might be me recovering from blood loss)
- Episodes of chills, fever, mild nausea, dizziness that come in waves, especially at night, with anxiety
- Diarrhea
- No pain, thank goodness. I know some of you guys have severe abdominal pain and I feel so bad for you, that must be the worst thing ever in addition to the rest of this, I'm so sorry.

Anyway, my friends, coworkers, and family are being really supportive but I think it's tough for them to understand the chronic nature of the thing. I'm usually good but I break down occasionally, and it's nice to have this community to turn to so that I feel less alone. :)
 
Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to hear that you may have CD. You are right it is something that most people can't fully wrap their head around. I'm so glad you were able to find the forum.

There are wonderful, compassionate members here with a wealth of knowledge and experience so please visit often and throw out any questions you may have.

I wish you the best with the results and if it is CD I hope the treatment regimen you choose quickly puts you into remission!
 
My son also just recently started the low res diet due to a hospitalization. He seems to be doing fairly well on it and doesn't complain about it too much.

Have you you looked through our sub forum on Diets and Supplements(<--click here)? You may be able to find some good recipes and you can browse through other diets members have tried.

Hope all goes well for you!
 

Trysha

Moderator
Staff member
Hi
Sorry to hear of your misfortune and hope you are feeling a bit better.
Colonoscopies are unpleasant things to deal with, but a real gold standard for diagnosis.
You should have been given appropriate drugs to help with the procedure, the prep is something else but usually the worst part as the members of this forum will attest.
Hopefully if it is Crohn's there are some different approaches to treatment which seem to work quite well.
Just have to wait for the biopsy reports for a definitive diagnosis.
Sounds very similar story to mine, had bleeding small at first then it became too much blood.Gp was inaccurate in his diagnosis of diverticulitis and internal hemorroids. Finally after referral to GI specialist
Colonoscopy and biopsies showed Crohn's.It was mild at first and I opted (stupidly) for no treatment
thinking it would get better on its own.
Later I found out Crohn's does not go away and without therapy just gets worse.
So here I am after various bad episodes having treatment with Remicade. Seems to be working quite well thank goodness.
Hoping for a full remission.
Looking forward to hearing from you again and hoping for the best diagnosis for you.
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha
 
Trysha, it sounds like your experience was similar! It's tough for me to grasp that this is probably something that I'll always have to deal with, but better to know and be able to manage the symptoms intelligently.

You're so right, the prep is the worst! I would do a great many things not to have to drink GoLytely again (although I'm sure I'll have to - the things I've read say that a colonoscopy is generaly required every couple years or so - maybe modern medicine will make it more bearable by next colonoscopy?)

I'm glad the Remicade is working well for you, and I really hope you achieve remission in the near future!

Clash - that sub is awesome! So much information. Crohn's is interesting b/c it seems like everyone responds differently to different foods, but some things seem to be universally ill-tolerated (like popcorn, went to the movies last week and felt like hell, now I know why!). I'm keeping a food & symptoms diary which I think is helping as well.

Thanks for your support!
 

Trysha

Moderator
Staff member
There is an easier prep called Pico Salix.
Only a couple of cups to drink,tastes a bit lemony very easy to take.Must drink loads of fluids with it though.
GI prefers GoLytely but I told him it gives me projectile vomiting.......absolutely true.. so he gave me Pico Salix.\Hugs
Trysha
 
Welcome to the forum
I hope you start feeling well soon!!!! Sounds like your on the right track :)

Oh and by the way salamander's are awesome..I had some when I was little





.
..
 
Location
Ontario
There is an easier prep called Pico Salix.
Only a couple of cups to drink,tastes a bit lemony very easy to take.Must drink loads of fluids with it though.
GI prefers GoLytely but I told him it gives me projectile vomiting.......absolutely true.. so he gave me Pico Salix.\Hugs
Trysha
Funny now people tolerate things differently. I vomit with Pico Salix. It's nasty.
 
Location
Georgia
Welcome to the forum. There is great information and support here. I hope the meds give you some relief and you feel better soon.
 
Hi there!

I've been reading various parts of this forum off and on for a few weeks now. This is my story.

I'm 25 years old, and I work a pretty high-pressure job in Canada as a consultant. Like a lot of us, I'm not typically great at taking care of myself when I'm sick (I'm working on it). For the last 6 months, I've had minor blood in my stool about once or twice a week. I went to see a clinic doctor who told me I had hemorrhoids, so I didn't worry about it any further (even though it kept happening for months).

Three weeks ago, I had a massive GI bleed (we're talking murder scene, not to be too graphic) and I had to call 911. I was admitted to Emerg and hospitalized for 4 days. They gave me a colonoscopy (damn unpleasant procedure!) and a rotating roster of nurses. Before I was discharged & put on Pentasa, they told me that they thought I had Crohns, but the biopsy results wouldn't be back for another 6 weeks or so. I'll find out mid-April.

It sounds like Crohns to me. Here are my symptoms:
- Bleeding (less now that I'm on the Pentasa)
- Indigestion (better or worse depending on the day)
- Weakness and exhaustion (this might be me recovering from blood loss)
- Episodes of chills, fever, mild nausea, dizziness that come in waves, especially at night, with anxiety
- Diarrhea
- No pain, thank goodness. I know some of you guys have severe abdominal pain and I feel so bad for you, that must be the worst thing ever in addition to the rest of this, I'm so sorry.

Anyway, my friends, coworkers, and family are being really supportive but I think it's tough for them to understand the chronic nature of the thing. I'm usually good but I break down occasionally, and it's nice to have this community to turn to so that I feel less alone. :)
Damn Bro, it certainly does sound like crohn's. lets hope you have just been working way too hard and stressing out those guts too much.

If not, I can tell you as can the nice people on the boards that life goes on. Your attitude sounds awesome and that just might be the most important thing of all.

Please take care and let us know how things go for you. :dog:
 
@Trysha & Alliruns - haven't tried Pico Salix but I'd be willing to try anything to avoid having 2L of GoLytely for Valentines Day Dinner again!

@Mary - I had fire newts when I was 12 and they were adorable. They escaped and bit the dust somewhere in the house though. So I made this username in memoriam! :p

@johnd66 thanks for the welcome!

@cal1 yeah it sounds like it's going to be interesting balancing the disease against the job. I should take up yoga or something. Everyone in the forums seems really cool and supportive so far, & I definitely appreciate the welcome.
 
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