Any one here have Chrohns or UC?

[Evoman]

(note to mods: I'm NOT asking for medical advice)

I've been having some real bad bowel issues. It started with a slight constipation and a little blood and progressed into bloody, mucuosy stools, and alternating constipation and diahhrea. It's bothering me so much and I constantly feel sick.

I'm not asking for med advice...I've got an appointment with my GI in three days, which means I have to drink about 4L of colyte. I strongly suspect that I have some sort of Inflammatory Bowel, though I guess it might be possible it's an anal fissure or hemms (though I doubt it). I'm only 32 so I doubt it cancer, but I'm still scared.

I'm just looking for a little support and your stories...I find it hard to talk about this stuff to my friends and family, because I don't want them to worry.

[Evoman]

1. I guess not :(

[chemenger]

2. I've been dealing with ulcerative colitus for about two years now.

Symptoms aren't quite the same as you're describing. No constipation, (except for one or two occasions) no bloody stool. But ... God, the diahhrea (no control over my BMs at all) and the constant wiping. A lot of mucuos in my stools. I don't have the constantly sick feeling you describe but I do have a general feeling of discomfort down below the belt, if you know what I mean. Feel much better when I don't eat.

In case you have,nt had a colonoscopy before ... My (first) colonoscopy after the symptoms first appeared wasn't bad ... you're asleep for it and its over before you know it. And drinking the pre-colonscopy prep solutions wasn't as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. Best to take a couple of days off before your scheduled date for it and stay close (and I do mean close) to the toilet.

After the diagnosis I was given a prescription for mesalamine pills and enema. The enemas (for 1 month)were a nasty, messy business. Hand to go back after the month was up for a followup proctoscopic exam. That was very unpleasant (you're awake for that). The mesalamine pills worked for awhile but I've been experiencing a flareup for about 8 weeks now. Medications are quite expensive BTW. Couldn't go back to the doctor when it first started because I was umemployed (no insurance. Doctor told me that that would likely happen ... next step is steroids of some kind. Working now but can't take time off yet.


I was 57 when I came down with UC, too bad you have to deal with this at 32.

To put it succinctly ... its a major pain in the ass :-( but no reason to be scared though. Just wait to see what your doctor has to say

[mopinko]

3. my daughter has chron's

she is just now 18, but was dx'd at age 9. it is a frightening dx, but really, it will be a lot less grief once you are being treated. she is unable to take most of the chron's maintenance meds, so we have mostly played roulette with it, and shut it down when it flared up. she has never had any kind of dangerous flare, or major damage.

generally, tho, it is manageable with current meds, and there is a whole new wave of meds like humira coming that are antibodies to the rogue antibodies. and probably another wave behind that.

and really, drinking that stuff is the worst, worst, worst part. can you imagine a tiny little 9 year old trying to drink a gallon of that stuff? they had to do give it to her through a gastronasal tube the first time. it is so nasty. they have flavorings that you can put in it, and we always put a couple different ones in there. or get some of that syrup stuff from starbucks if you like that. or have your tastebuds ripped out first. it is so awful. (have had a couple myself, i have to keep the polyps down.)
ok, the part after that isn't much fun, either, but really. small piece of medical advice, in case they don't tell you, a liquid diet for a day or so before makes it much easier. look up a low residue diet, and do that for a few days before that.

my baby is off to college this week. she is the brightest little penny in the drawer. she wants to go into biotech research. she wants to study chron's, especially in people like her who have trouble with the primary meds.

anyway, good luck. i know the chronic illness forum is not the most happening place on du, but you will get replies over a couple days. if you would like to move this, alert and ask that it be moved there. we usually comply with requests like that.

[REP]

4. Crohn's in the terminal ileum

What is constipation?

My symptoms are different and did not have a sudden onset.

[brendan120678]

5. Crohns, sort of...

When I was 18 my small intestine kinked over on itself, and the surgeons had to remove over half of it by the time the were able to cut me open.

Due to my now severely short small intestine, I have all the symptoms of Crohns, without "officially" having it.