I was 18 years old and had extreme stomach pain. I went to my doctor and had a fever that I was unaware of. They sent me to the hospital to have my appendix removed. After the surgery the surgeon told my parents that he just removed a perfectly healthy appendix and that I had Crohn's disease. At that time they removed 18 inches of my intestine. I lost a tremendous amount of weight and have be thin since. My main problem since then, I am now 39 years old is the inability to move my bowels, just the opposite of what I have heard other patients have. I have been hospitalized since, thank god no more surgeries for Crohn's. I recently had a hernia removed, which I was told could have been from straining all these years. I was also in the hospital for five days for what was supposed to be an outpatient procedure because the hernia was so large and there were many lymph nodes that needed to be removed.
I was recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the age 17. One morning at school I felt as if I was cramping but the pain increased tremendously so then I thought it was a gas bubble. Within seconds I was bent over, pants un-buttoned, crying in severe pain. I was taken to the hospital and at first they thought I needed my appendix taken out but that was negative so they did many tests on me before I was sent home and saw that my small intestines was inflamed. I was sent to a GI doctor and found that I had the symptoms of Crohn's and after drinking Barium (the worst taste EVER!) and more tests I was then diagnosed with an early part of Crohn's. I am now taking Pentasa and Entocort EC and so far every once in awhile I get stomach pains and often soft stool but I'm still living life to the fullest.
Published: July 24
Pain started a week ago, and comes in waves, like labor pain, on righthand side, and deep where ovary used to be. I have nausea and weak legs. I am too scared now to eat at all. The pain goes round now to behind right hip. Loose bowels and the feeling that my insides are being twisted.
Published: July 23
My son was diagnosed 3 months ago, but he was sick for 6 months before. He complained with a stomach ache and I would take him to the doctor and he would say it's a virus and give him antibiotics. Soon he had missed so much school that I had to get something done. (He really does not like school so I thought he was faking at first.)He had diarrhea and abdominal pain but no fever, but the g.i. doctor did a CT scan for appendicitis and ended up with a diagnosis of Crohn's.
I was in my early 40s (now mid 60s) when I began to have a lot of diarrhea, which was getting me up in the middle of the night. I simply felt unwell with a low grade fever. I rarely had stomach aches, but I had so much pain in my groin that I couldn't walk. I was diagnosed by colonoscopy. I have never had surgery and tried almost every medication known to doctors. My most significant complaint, besides the frequent trips to the bathroom with loose stools, is joint pain, especially around my ribs, sternum and collar bone. Remicade was a miracle drug for those pains and the groin pain but it stopped working after a while: I would be barely able to walk into the hospital to get the infusion and would feel great leaving two hours later. I am thinking of going back onto Entocort because I have not been feeling well recently. I know my Crohn's path is unusual, but I hope this helps someone.
At the onset of the disease I had bloody stools, pain in my abdomen, fatigue and I craved ice. I was 11 years old when I was taken to the hospital and from that point on I was hospitalized each year for approx 20 days or more with relapse until I was 21. I am now 40 years old and since my surgery in 1989 I have pretty much been symptom free.
My wife and I went into the hospital for what we thought was her appendix. After her CT scan it showed she had a perforated small intestine. She was transferred to a different hospital to have a bowel resection done. They removed a total of 27 inches of her small intestine and also her appendix. She was then diagnosed with Crohn's. Before we went to hospital she had complained of stomach pains and had diarrhea. The doctor said by the severity of the Crohn's she had been sick for probably for over a year. Word of advice, if you have constant symptoms, please see your doctor immediately. For now my wife and I start our new journey with a new disease.
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Suggested Reading on Crohn's Disease by Our Doctors
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Gallstones are stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones (formed in the gallbladder) can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination. The majority of gallstones do not cause symptoms.
Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is redness or irritation of the conjunctivae, the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids and the membranes covering the whites of the eyes. These membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
Anal itching is the irritation of the skin at the exit of the rectum, known as the anus, accompanied by the desire to scratch. Causes include everything from irritating foods we eat, to certain disease and infections. Treatment options include local anesthetics, vasoconstrictors, protectants, astringents, antiseptics, keratolytics, analgesics, and corticosteroids. If condition persists, a doctor examination may be needed to identify an underlying cause.
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium, and is one of the most common causes of infection of the colon. C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. They can be found on bedpans, furniture, toilet seats, linens, telephones, stethoscopes, fingernails, rings, floors, infants' rooms, and diaper pails. They even can be carried by pets. Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. Treatment for C. difficile colitis hydration, replenishment of electrolyte deficiencies, discontinuing the antibiotic that caused the colitis, and using antibiotics to eradicate the C. difficile bacterium.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria (at least 100,000 bacteria per ml of fluid) are present in the small intestine and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestine. There are many conditions associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, to include: diabetes, scleroderma, Crohn's disease, and others. There is a striking similarity between the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and SIBO. It has been theorized that SIBO may be responsible for the symptoms of at least some patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of SIBO include: excess gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine. The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is genetically inherited.
Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that causes skin and joint inflammation. Symptoms include painful, stiff, and swollen joints, tendinitis, and organ inflammation. Treatment involves antiinflammatory medications and exercise.
Inflammation of the inner lining of the colon is referred to as colitis. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis.
Canker sore is a small ulcer crater in the lining of the mouth. Canker sores are one of the most
common problems that occur in the mouth. Canker sores typically last for
10-14 days and they heal without leaving a scar.
The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal complications of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis differ because of the characteristically dissimilar behaviors of the intestinal inflammation in these two diseases.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin, H. pylori infection, severe infections, burns, anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Gastritis is diagnosed with endoscopy, blood tests, or stool tests. Treatment depends upon the cause of gastritis.
Erythema nodosum is a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. Erythema nodosum can resolve on its own in 3 to 6 weeks, leaving a bruised area. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone by mouth or injection.
Corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone and prednisolone are commonly used to treat asthma, allergic reactions, RA, and IBD. Steroids such as these do have serious drawbacks such as steroid withdrawal symptoms such as: fatigue, weakness, decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Speak with your healthcare provider prior to tapering off steroid medications.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Bronchiectasis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes of the lung become damaged. Inflammation from infection or other causes destroys the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. Bronchiectasis is a form of COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). There are three primary types of bronchiectasis: 1) cylindrical bronchiectasis; 2) saccular bronchiectasis; and 3) cystic bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis may also be acquired or congenital. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis are recurrent cough and sputum production. There is no cure for bronchiectasis. Treatment is often geared toward controlling the symptoms of bronchiectasis.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive disease of the bile ducts that channel bile from the liver into the intestines. There is an association between primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis include abnormal liver blood tests, itching, fatigue, and jaundice. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is treated with medications and in some cases, liver transplant.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with rickets, cancer, cardiovascular disease, severe asthma in children and cognitive impairment in older adults. Causes include not ingesting enough of the vitamin over time, having limited exposure to sunlight, having dark skin, and obesity. Symptoms include bone pain and muscle weakness. Treatment for vitamin D deficiency involves obtaining more vitamin D through supplements, diet, or exposure to sunlight.
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that is related to the
bacterium that cause tetanus and botulism. The
C. difficile bacterium has two
forms, an active, infectious form that cannot survive in the environment for
prolonged periods, and a nonactive, "noninfectious" form, called a spore, that
can survive in the environment for prolonged periods. Although spores cannot
cause infection directly, when they are ingested they transform into the active,
infectious form.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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I was 18 years old and had extreme stomach pain. I went to my doctor and had a fever that I was unaware of. They sent me to the hospital to have my appendix removed. After the surgery the surgeon told my parents that he just removed a perfectly healthy appendix and that I had Crohn's disease. At that time they removed 18 inches of my intestine. I lost a tremendous amount of weight and have be thin since. My main problem since then, I am now 39 years old is the inability to move my bowels, just the opposite of what I have heard other patients have. I have been hospitalized since, thank god no more surgeries for Crohn's. I recently had a hernia removed, which I was told could have been from straining all these years. I was also in the hospital for five days for what was supposed to be an outpatient procedure because the hernia was so large and there were many lymph nodes that needed to be removed.
Related Reading: fever | Crohn's disease | hernia