anxious about chron's

I am a 30 year old female.  Within a few months of giving birth to my daughter last October, I noticed some slight rectal bleeding on the tissue when I was constipated.  I did not think much of this and assumed it was due to childbirth or the fact that I had 3rd degree tearing during childbirth.  

In late July, I was feeling a bit rundown but attributed it to the fact that I had a 10 month old and a new job.   About a week later, I developed a case of erythema nodosum, diagnosed through biopsy by my dermatologist.   Blood tests were all normal with the exception of elevated sed rate, which was within the normal range two weeks later.  At the time that the erythema nodosum developed, I had restarted birth control pills.   My dermatologist said that this could possibly be a cause.

This was about a month ago.  After a particularly spicy meal last week I woke up with gas and diarrhea and an acidy stomach.  I finally saw a physician last week about the rectal bleeding and found out I have a rectal fissure (it is in the perineal area). The first two days of the diarrhea, I had several bowel movements a day.   Then, a couple days went by where I had none.   Today, I had a bowel movement and it is still loose.  

I have an appointment with a gastro next week.  I have lost my appetite and  have been a nervous wreck ever since the erythema nodosum.  I know that that both erythema nodosum and rectal fissures are related to Crohn's disease and at this point, I have been tested for everything but Crohn's and colitis.  

What can you tell me about these symptoms?  Thanks!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There are many causes of E nodosum - with inflammatory bowel being one of them (affecting up to 16% of cases).  Here is a list of other causes:

Sarcoidosis
Strep infection
TB
Infections other than strep

There can be no discerable cause in up to 30% of cases.  

With the presence of E nodosum and these other symptoms, ruling out inflammatory bowel disease is certainly a reasonable approach.  I would further evaluate with an endoscopy - either colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[PAJ]

Sounds like infection! Here are a few possibilities , yeast infections are endemic the doctors have taken on a spectator role with the condition , with a yeast infection the altered gut conditions  predispose  for other organisms TO invade. Read the articles ,post if you have questions

With luck it maybe bacteria [easer to cure] Erythema nodosum is linked with infection . search

[kimbacat]

some good sites for basic info on inflammatory bowel diseases are

www.ccfa.org

ibd.patientcommunity.com

if it does turn out to be IBD, check the ccfa site for a support group in your area.  they are a big help.

take care

[lost413]

Hi, I am new to this forum but unfortunately not to croanc/colitis I have been living with this disease for over ten years now.They tell me that I am in remmission accourding to my last colonoscopy.I ended up with chroans related arthritis in my lower back which causes me chronic lower back pain. Ialso have a hyadle hernia and gerd which kinda goes along at lest for me with the chroans but my advice is if you are worried or anxious about it ask your DR about a colonoscopy if you catch it early there are so many different thing that they can due to make easier to live with. I had mine for a long time and did not go to the DR's so I ended up in the hospital for 13 days with no food they put in a central IV line and gave me my nutrition tat way. but I was told that they do not have to do that with everyone as long as they don't wait years before you give in and have youself checked !
                     Thanks hope you feel better
                             lost413

[EN Lady]

Hi!

I have had Erythema Nodosum  for the past 35 years--idiopathic type where no trigger or associated disorder can be discovered.

I just found this group as I was searching for more info on EN. I don't know if it is permitted to post here, and I hope I will be advised if I should refrane from it in the future, but I would like to invite all sufferers of Erythema Nodosum (EN) to my 3 month old support group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erythema_nodosum_Group

and to view my EN webpages:
                                 http://www.geocities.com/erythema_nodosum/Home_Page.html

We have members with Crohn's who also have EN and you may wish to discuss both these disorders with them.

Our group is very friendly and helpful.  At last count we had 86 members world-wide. We have many resouces, Photos, Files, Links and Member case histories.

Hope to meet you on the EN Group site.
Best wishes,
Rebecca Strecker