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.
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.