Does this sound like Crohn's?

[beka777]

I have always been tagged with "IBS".  Symptoms started in my early 20's(pain, sometimes severe, constipation, bloating gas etc...) but late 20's to early 30's I had a lot of relief from symptoms while having my three children. (all c sections because of PIH/preeclampsia in my first...which led to a crash c-section.)

Here I am two years out from having my third and last child and the last year has been miserable.  I started having diarrhea about 8 months ago, almost daily.  Lots of abdominal pain and cramping.  Weight fluctuates...sometimes I lose 10 lbs in a short amount of time without trying, but then again, I  just recently gained about that amount back in a short amount of time...with no change to diet etc...I'm still on the average to small side as far as my size goes.  I had a rectal/anal fistula that I finally had diagnosed (after months of symptoms) last fall, and fistulectomy about three months ago...still healing from it.  (it started to form a secondary abcess during healing, so I had a second smaller procedure in the office to stop the infection)  The colo-rectal surgeon only dealt with that, there was no discussion of underlining issues/disease causing it.  I have mouth ulcers in my mouth in cycles every 1-2 months...one time i had more than a dozen in there.  But usually it's anywhere from 1-3 at a time, always accompanied by low grade fever and swollen glands.  I went to the ER 2 weeks ago for sharp lower right abdominal pain (was thinking it was female related because they found an ovarian cyst.)  But the follow up with the OB/GYN says he doesn't think it's related to the female organs at all (he re-examined everything and felt no cyst on the ovary etc..)  The severe pain lasted about a week.

Anyway, these are the kind of things I have been dealing with for the last year, more often than not...just miserable...and my body just hurts all over too. (MRI a little over a year ago on my back shows degenerative changes in the lumbar area)  So I found a new doc today.  Internal medicine doctor.  I shared with him all my symptoms and (oh i also have white spots forming on my skin, like I am turning albino or something...and something else on my skin they couldn't identify so they are sending me to a dermatologist.) anyway, he brought up Crohn's disease as being what he is most concerned about right now.  So he referred me to GI doc, but also to a Rheumatologist and Dermatologist and he also did a ton of blood work today.

To those of you who suffer with Crohn's does this sound to you like it could be that??  I thought no one better to ask then someone who actually has it.

[emilylomas]

Hi

I wouldn't like to diagnose you, as i am no doctor, however what you have described is exactly what i have and had when i was rushed to hospital, my doctor rushed me in after i couldn't stop being sick and was complaining of lower right side pain, she thought burst apendix, after 6 days (they thought it was a gynie issue as i had just had a baby), of every other possible cause i was confirmed crohns. apparently pregnancy eases the symptoms, but after you give birth you likely to have a flare up.

I hope that helps.

[beka777]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.  I appreciate that.  My GP did say that endoscopy/colonoscopy would be ordered.  They are referring me to the best GI doc in town, so it could be a wait to see him.  That waiting game is sooo hard.  Thanks again for the reply.  Good luck with your test on Monday.

[MarisaV]

Beka,

Since no one's answered you yet, I'll put in my two cents worth. First, let me say, that I've not been diagnosed yet. Crohn's is suspected, and on Monday I go in for an endoscopy+colonoscopy where they'll perform a few tissue biopsies of the lining of the colon.

What you have _could_ be Crohn's disease. I imagine they'll want to do tests like I just mentioned to determine the cause.

You can have arthritic joint pain with Crohn's. Mouth sores are common with Crohn's. The white spots on your skin _may_ be psoriasis (skin rashes are common with Crohn's). Rectal/anal fistulas also occur with Chrohn's when it presents in the lower colon and rectum.

I was originally diagnosed with IBS, but when I saw a gastroenterologist last week, she immediately said that this did not sound like IBS.

I know its hard to wait on doctor appointments and test results, but I think you're going to have to try and be patient and wait for the gastroenterologist, and see what they say.

Hope this helps some.

Take care.

Mar