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Possible Crohns?
Hi, I'm a 27 year old man and I want to list out my stomach symptoms that I've been having so that maybe someone more knowledgeable on the subject could let me know if this sounds like crohns or not. Before I start I want to add that I've gone to the dr and they basically told that it's probably nothing. In fact I had to insist just to get some blood tests.
Anyways my symptoms include:
- 2 days of diahrea at the begining of all this followed by constipation for the next 2 weeks
- Bloating all day, but I don't pass gas
- I'm passing less stool than normal
- Sometimes I get pain and nausea before passing stools that goes away after doing so
- I notice a little bit of mucus in my stool but only at the front end of it
- I get nausea and pain in my stomach that comes and goes
- at night my stomach grumbles like it's having trouble digesting
- fatigue that comes and goes
- Body temp is slightly above normal, usually at night
this all start about 2 weeks ago. As of three days ago the pain has gone away, but I still have very bad bloating all day long that gets much worse after eating.
There are 2 things as a nurse that i suggest...
1. Get your thyroid tested
2. My guess if your thyroid is fine is IBS. Follow an IBS diet, and also start taking metamucil asap daily. you will be amazed at how you feel! Good Luck!
1. Get your thyroid tested
2. My guess if your thyroid is fine is IBS. Follow an IBS diet, and also start taking metamucil asap daily. you will be amazed at how you feel! Good Luck!
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Here's the thing - it may very well be a temporary thing, and if it is more permanent - you want to control the symptoms before they spiral out of control. This is crucial - there's obviously something happening.
I think you have one of two avenues you can pursue - I'd probably choose both - finances depending -
1st - Make an appointment with a GI doctor (Gastroenterologist) - explain your symptoms, and ask questions regarding a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscope in addition to barium x-rays. Also explain all of your symptoms - and keep a diary so you don't forget! Let them know you feel you're having an active "flare" of something you've never had before - and you'd also like to find an immediate course of treatment versus letting your symptoms getting out of control so they don't cause any additional damage.
2nd - There are some basic self-treatment options that I would suggest that are all "over the counter" that most Dr's would advise anyway.
1. A stool softener to help make a BM without causing any tissues damage along the way. Stay away from laxatives - as they cause cramping, which is probably a partial contribution to your pain.
2. In the event that there is cramping - drink Chamomile tea - it relaxes soft tissue.
3. Eat a gentle diet - stay away from fibrous foods, do use phylum husk fiber supplements - it's a different type of fiber than say, roughage. Ensure is great for absorbable nutrition (malnutrition due to inflammation and/or an infection would explain the fatigue - and the night fever).
4. Take large doses of fish oil supplements - three times a day - a handful of the capsule at a time. It takes a lot for this stuff to get where it has to go and to coat the digestive track - however, it is one of the few OTC supplements that are known to aid digestive inflammation.
I hope this helps - and I hope it's a "fleeting" condition - but given your description, everything I've listed is probably the most you can do for yourself regardless of what the problem is.
To really find out what it is, however, is to visit the GI doctor and run a battery of tests. Crohn's is autoimmune - and depending on the severity (if it's actually that) - then a level of intervention is required - read through the forum regarding some of people's horror stories during their diagnosis of Crohn's - believe me - your best off to do what you can to prevent that at all costs, as these horrible symptoms people talk about are truly progressive and don't magically appear in a snap of a finger.
Regards,
J