Aa
Crohn's or not?
Is it possible to have a negative bloodwork & NO dirrahea & still have Crohn's?????
Yes, you can have Crohn's and not have the frequent diarrhea, or typical results from blood work. Crohn's is an autoimmune disease. It isn't a "stomach" disease, as most think of it. My experience with it has been painful, and grueling, but I have had little in common with many who suffer with it.
I had heavy bleeding, and tissue loss which resulted in a colonoscopy, and endoscopy that clarified the diagnosis, along with other symptoms, but I had very little in the way of diarrhea. I did have vitamin D, and B-12 deficiencies, but blood work alone was inconclusive.
Now treated with Remicade, I started to get some relief, but chronic sinus infections have led to Remicade being put on hold for corrective sinus surgery. Now days, my feet hurt, and later my knees, and now my elbows hurt as well. This was determined to be a result of Crohn's as other causes were ruled out. Extra-intestinal manifestations of the disease is an occurrence that many a lay person does not know about at all. I am always in pain, and frequently battle severe fatigue, and depression was just a byproduct of it all, but some days are better than others. So, I am learning to be thankful for the days when it doesn't hurt as much! One never knows when "today" may be the best I will ever feel again! You know? And, yes, that is easier said than done.
Nonetheless, Crohn's is not easily diagnosed. My diagnosis came 15 years after I had the first fissure, or bleeding, or what might have been the first real signs of the disease. Not as much was known about it then, as is today. You see, only now do I understand why I have had so many things happen that were related to the advancement of this disease. Hindsight is 20/20 once diagnosed. The "ahaa" moments have been numerous, as I have learned more about my condition, and symptoms. Such an epiphany is liberating to finally know what is, and has been wrong, and to know that I wasn't just imagining things wrong with me, but it is no less frustrating, believe me.
With so many variables, and variations in the disease of Crohn's, IBD, and within the autoimmune disease category itself like Lupus, diagnosis can be difficult, and long in detecting, unless like me, a flare-up is suddenly so bad that the diagnosis is clear. I certainly hope this has not been the case for you. This has been a grueling ride for YEARS.
So, little is said, or reported about Crohn's and other types of IBD compared to other diseases. Let's face it, it isn't dinner table talk to most people! It is safe to say that only the people who have been diagnosed for several months are the ones who know anything about it, beyond the GI doctors themselves. So, if you meet someone who knows a lot about it? They either have the disease, live with someone who does, or they are a GI doctor. It's sad, but true.
The best of luck to you.
I had heavy bleeding, and tissue loss which resulted in a colonoscopy, and endoscopy that clarified the diagnosis, along with other symptoms, but I had very little in the way of diarrhea. I did have vitamin D, and B-12 deficiencies, but blood work alone was inconclusive.
Now treated with Remicade, I started to get some relief, but chronic sinus infections have led to Remicade being put on hold for corrective sinus surgery. Now days, my feet hurt, and later my knees, and now my elbows hurt as well. This was determined to be a result of Crohn's as other causes were ruled out. Extra-intestinal manifestations of the disease is an occurrence that many a lay person does not know about at all. I am always in pain, and frequently battle severe fatigue, and depression was just a byproduct of it all, but some days are better than others. So, I am learning to be thankful for the days when it doesn't hurt as much! One never knows when "today" may be the best I will ever feel again! You know? And, yes, that is easier said than done.
Nonetheless, Crohn's is not easily diagnosed. My diagnosis came 15 years after I had the first fissure, or bleeding, or what might have been the first real signs of the disease. Not as much was known about it then, as is today. You see, only now do I understand why I have had so many things happen that were related to the advancement of this disease. Hindsight is 20/20 once diagnosed. The "ahaa" moments have been numerous, as I have learned more about my condition, and symptoms. Such an epiphany is liberating to finally know what is, and has been wrong, and to know that I wasn't just imagining things wrong with me, but it is no less frustrating, believe me.
With so many variables, and variations in the disease of Crohn's, IBD, and within the autoimmune disease category itself like Lupus, diagnosis can be difficult, and long in detecting, unless like me, a flare-up is suddenly so bad that the diagnosis is clear. I certainly hope this has not been the case for you. This has been a grueling ride for YEARS.
So, little is said, or reported about Crohn's and other types of IBD compared to other diseases. Let's face it, it isn't dinner table talk to most people! It is safe to say that only the people who have been diagnosed for several months are the ones who know anything about it, beyond the GI doctors themselves. So, if you meet someone who knows a lot about it? They either have the disease, live with someone who does, or they are a GI doctor. It's sad, but true.
The best of luck to you.
Hi There!
Yes, it is very possible! I was diagnosed with Crohns about 8 years ago, and my symptoms weren't very typical of a crohns patient. My blood work was fine, and I didn't (and still dont) have diarrhea. The only reason they decided to go in and take biopsies was because of a family history of colon problems. To this day, doctors always second guess whether I have crohns because "I don't look like or sound like I have it" until they go in and see.
Good Luck!
Yes, it is very possible! I was diagnosed with Crohns about 8 years ago, and my symptoms weren't very typical of a crohns patient. My blood work was fine, and I didn't (and still dont) have diarrhea. The only reason they decided to go in and take biopsies was because of a family history of colon problems. To this day, doctors always second guess whether I have crohns because "I don't look like or sound like I have it" until they go in and see.
Good Luck!
yes!
I was diagnosed 14yrs ago and my only symptoms were horriffic abdominal pain and projectile vomiting. I had early symptoms that weren't correlated as they were so vague, like joint pain.
It took my docs a little bit to diagnose me but they finally did and said that it was hard since my symptoms were atypical
I was diagnosed 14yrs ago and my only symptoms were horriffic abdominal pain and projectile vomiting. I had early symptoms that weren't correlated as they were so vague, like joint pain.
It took my docs a little bit to diagnose me but they finally did and said that it was hard since my symptoms were atypical
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