What is this?

[ashleigh830]

I don't know what this is, but I am so tired of it; I don't want to go to the doctor and give stool samples unless I am pretty sure as to what is going on, I've been to websites about Chrone's and UC, to read the symptoms, but they are all so vague: pain, diarreah...etc, there are lots of conditions that can do that, so I am really confused.  My symptoms started when I was sixteen.  Blood in my stool; not a lot, maybe like a teaspoon, and not always in relation to diarreah.  It happened on and off for probably months, I had stomach pains my mother said were just gas, but I have had gas pains before; these were much much worse.  It went away and came back, each time getting worse with pain and occurence of blood.  I will be constipated for a couple of days, then have diarreah, burning stools, blood in stools and sharp, stabbing pain in my upper stomache, in my small intestines, in my large intestines in the top left section of my abdomin and in the section of intestine right before it comes out (I don't know what that's called).  The pain always is in the same places, often very sharp and stabbing then irradiating outwards; I get awful cramping.  I know the blood is from some where in my large intestines, because it is still red, and coagulated.  When I get diarreah, it is awful.  It hurts, and I can feel my intestines seizing up like they are trying to push more out, but there is nothing; like dry-heaving of the intestines.  I find my self standing up only to sit back down several times while in the bathroom.  
I have never lost weight from this, infact, I have gained weight in the past three years since this started.  I just feel like this is getting worse and worse, the pain spreads into my back.  Extreme pain in my large intestines comes in waves; it will take my breath away for a second, then dull away alittle, it lasted for two and a half weeks last time.  The pain went away for a few weeks, now it seems to be coming back; I was constipated since Thursday, now I have runny stools with blood in them, and pain in a new spot in my abdomen, I think also in my large intestine.  It is sharp and pulsating and fades away and comes back.
Any body want to take a shot at what this is, or at least what this isn't?
Thank you!

[lizziecee]

Hi there - not sure I can properly answer your question as I have never discussed the difference between ulcers and crypt abscesses with any gastro.   Some 7 yrs ago when I was visiting friends in Florida I had a very severe life threatening rectal haemorrhage and my friend took me to the local ER. I was hospitalised on IV steroids, blood transfusions and anti-biotics. A couple of days later the gastro did a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, and as is usual in the US (but not in the UK where I live) I got a copy of the report, which showed I had multiple ulcers and crypt abscesses throughout the whole gastro tract, from mouth to anus. From what little I know, ulcers appear in the internal mucosa of the intestines, but when they get infected they become crypt abscesses and go right through the intestinal wall., hence the use of the term "crypt" I guess.  Ulcerative colitis is different to Crohn's and only affects the first layer of the intestine.

My guess is that the abscesses started bleeding and that is why I had the rectal haemorrhage. This was not just bits of blood on the toilet paper or in the stool, but copious amount of red blood, filling the pan. It was terrifying. This was the 3rd time I had this scenario, but since I have been on methotrexate, I have not had a single bleed.

I was dx in 1970 with Crohn's in the small intestine, and it was not until 1986 that I had a rectal bleed. The report from the Florida hospital gave a diagnosis of "Pan Crohn's Colitis".  Some Crohn's patients only get one or two flares and the disease settles automatically into remission. Mine never did and is called refractory Crohn's - meaning it must be controlled by medication.

I don't understand your current diagnosis - if you have ulcers, albeit "miniscule", there has to be a reason for them. I have no idea what your doctors mean by a virus causing ulcers. Never heard of it, but that is not to say that it could happen. Is your doctor a gastroenterologist? The jury is still out on what causes Crohn's, although certain genes have recently been isolated. Genetic pre-disposition is obviously not caused by viruses, but I guess a virus could trigger the pre-disposition.  What you need to know now, is whether you have Crohn's or not, and what indeed caused the ulcers. There are other causes besides Crohn's and UC. Getting a proper diagnosis will lead to appropriate medication/treatment.

Feeling weak and having chills is a sign of inflammation/infection somewhere in the body - you just need to find out why.  I was ill for 9 months before I got a dx of Crohn's - I went down to 60 lbs, although eating well, but as I ONLY had diarrhea and weight loss, with no pain, my doctors couldn't find out what was wrong. When being hospitalised for 3 weeks for tests, I suddenly had a stitch like pain in my right side, near the appendix, and within 24 hrs had toxic megacolon. I had a laparotomy the next day, after a blood transfusion, and that is when they found Crohn's in my small intestine - some 15 different parts. Too many to resect the surgeon told me, so I was put on a megadose, 60 mg daily, of steroids.

I have struggled for 37 yrs with this disease, sometimes well, sometimes really ill and losing weight rapidly.  "Going under the duvet" was a regular occurrence.   I am now so thankful for methotrexate as I am currently stable, with no pain or spasms,as my meds keep me in remission..

Sorry I can't properly explain a crypt abscess - it just never occurred to me to ask any of my gastros the difference between an ulcer and a crypt abscess. I am due to see my gastro very soon for the results of an MRI I have had, to determine the extent of a stricture I have in my small intestine, and will definitely ask him. He usually blinds me with science when I ask questions, so will have to ask him to explain in "idiot language"!!  I'll get back to you after I see him in the New Year.

Take care - hope you are feeling better.

Liz.

[WhatCanItBe]

What is a crypt abcess?

I had miniscule ulcerations but they said the virus could have caused this.
I had this virus from August 1 2006 when one day I was standing at the sink and my upper belly started to tingle and I got the chills, to the rest of the year and didn't feel better until January. Off and on I felt better until finally 5 or 6 months or the better part of 2007 with no problems, until this weekend. I felt like my tummy was tingling/festering so I ate horseradish and lemon juice and that fixed it for a while. Usually I give myself a good dose of garlic and it clears it up.. But the weakness, I suppose any time your stomach feels off you will be weak and have the chills?

I had every test, no bleeding, no polyps, a few hemmies which are normal for my age, and don't bother me unless I sit funny for a long time improperly. I have always had a good mediterranean diet and never a belly ache in my life but sure made up for it in 2006 when I had that constant "kicked in the solar plexis" feeling all the time.

[barb61]

well, i'm not sure about the constipation part, even though i went through that right before crohn's became obvious, but i've had all your other symptoms. things just got worse & worse until i started going to the washroom just to bleed! i never had "d" & i lost 15 lbs once & gained it back. i know what you mean about the symptoms being vague! i also think not all symptoms are listed: that awful feeling when you go, stand up & wash your hands, & then have to sit down again & there's nothing there, that started years before i had major problems. i hate that. i don't think that's listed as a crohn's symptom but i'm sure it is. the one i hate the most, & i've never seen it on the list, is the rectal spasms! they are so intense that you can't relieve your bladder because everytime you sit on the toilet, you get this uncontrollable urge to push & nothing's there but your bladder muscles won't work because you're pushing the wrong way. so you can't go but you really need to. sound familiar?and the backpains! at one point (before my dx), i would get it so bad i had twitches, & it would wake me up about an hour before my wake up time & the only way to make it go away was to get up & walk around so the muscles would relax. and if i got sick & needed to stay in bed, i was in big trouble because my back seems to have a bed phobia! lying down is the worse thing for me. i used to think this was due to fibro or arthritis (because they are "buddies) but then i found out other people with crohn's have them too. and it sounds to me like you're not far from getting fissures if you're straining because of the urge to push, & believe me, they were my worst nightmare:24 hr/day pain, for months! my advise to you: seek medical help; don't worry about it being a false alarm; knowing is half the battle. ibs can cause a lot of similar symptoms, & the simple stress of not knowing what's wrong can probably trigger it. at least if it turns out thaat you have crohn's ( & i hope you don't), then you can treat it properly & reduce some symptoms. i haven't had fissures & spasms in over a year now, & i'm glad i seeked help when i did because it took months befoire i could even see a specialist & a dx. i would have suffered much less if i'd gone sooner but at the time, i thought it would "go away". was i ever wrong. good luck; & take care of yourself; don't eat fried foods; they can cause a lot of pain!

[lizziecee]

Sorry to hear you are having such problems.  You really do need to see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. We can't diagnose someone over the internet. Your problem could be caused by a number of different disease: harmorrhoids, inflammation, infection or an obstruction. Also, it could be gall bladder problems, but I doubt this would present with bright red bleeding from the anus.  

When my Crohn's flares, I get similar problems - sometimes I think I am going to pass out when on the loo because of the pain in defecating. Altering my meds sorts it out.

Crohn's can atypically present with no weight loss, so don't factor this into the equation. When I was first dx in 1970 I had no pain whatsoever,just severe weight loss and diarrhea, but on laparotomy surgery (no scopes then) I had some 15 different areas of my small intestines ulcerated and with crypt abscesses. The disease has now spread to my large colon and I have a stricture that probably means surgical resection. You don't want to mess with Crohn's!!

Please go and see a doctor - the problem willl not just go away no matter how much you will it to.

Take care, Liz.

[ashleigh830]

Also, I don't know if this is related, but sometimes I feel like I am going to vomit for no reason.  It doesn't seem to be in relation to food.  I never do end up throwing-up, but some times I feel like if I could, the nausea would sub-side.