What is wrong with me??? :(

[frustratedbelly]

I am in the midst of another round of test to r/o Crohns and I am just clueless what is going on because I have the majority of Crohns symptoms but no evidence from colonoscopy. Below are a few details...
btw.. i have a different doc now than i did in august.

-10 years ago positive ANA test they thought I had Lupus... never symptomatic also low RBC at time never found source
-diarreha pretty much ALWAYS.. from the moment i eat or drink anything... ALWAYS for last 3 years or so. Almost immediate.
-bloody stool only once...sometimes mucous (sorry ... I know gross)
- 3 partial small bowel obstructions from April of 2010 till NOW...that typically resolved themselves within 13 -15 hours. Doesnt show on xray but did on ct as dilated fluid filled spots in small bowel (my dad has a hx of 2 obstructions)
-alot of gas
WEIGHT LOSS!! In last 2 months I have lost about 16 pounds and am very thin now!!!

Test showed...
- years ago colonoscpy revealed ibs and a few other thing......the one i had in August this year showed enlarged/dilated veins throughout pelvic area... cant remember what he called it... something similar to Pelvic inflammatory but it wasnt that. No evidence of crohns
-Barium xray series last week ... dont have results but exam took almost 6 hours because barium wasnt moving till i ate....
- labs from hospital last week... low RBC, low hgb, lowhct, high neutrophil, elevated wbc in stool sample, low potassium and several other out of whack.
I have an endo in the morning and just ready for some answers

 

[Rebecca85]

Hello and welcome!

Crohn's can be very tricky to diagnose, as it can hide in places it is hard to see. Since your obstructions were in the small bowel, it's quite possible that you have areas on inflammation there, where a colonoscopy cannot reach. (though I'm intrigued as to how a colonoscopy can show IBS, since by definition IBS is an absence of any physical findings)

Since you have a history of obstructions, a pill cam probably isn't a good idea. But if the barium doesn't show anything, maybe they could do something like an MRI, which is probably the best imaging you can get from the outside!

If all else fails, some of our members have had luck with their doctors treating them for Crohn's even though no 'proof' was found, and if they respond then that is enough for a tentative diagnosis.

 

[Rebecca85]

Also, one of our previously undiagnosed members (allieinwonder) has had a difficult time, they were looking for signs of Crohn's, turns out it was lupus causing similar symptoms! So that is a possibility.

 

[David]

I'd just be guessing as to the cause but wanted to welcome you. Please keep us updated as to your findings. We're here for you anytime!