Do i have Crohn's?

i went into the hospital because i had not gone the bathroom in 5 days. the doctor told me it was illeitus and proceded to do a colonoscopy. he said it looks like it but we'll have to see what the biopsy say's. the results were inconclusive... the thing that gets me is i dont get diahrea....ever.... but i do get abdominal pain every once in a while. i'm on mercaptopurine right now, it made me sick as a dog for over a month! but seems to be ok now. i just thought all crohns patient's had loose bowel movements....is this true?

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Crohn's diagnosis NEW
by: Annette

Hello,

I am sorry to hear that you are having a tough time and have recently been undergoing tests for Crohn's disease. It can be a very frustrating time sadly as you can have extreme abdominal pain and many other symptoms which can make you feel quite down and unwell.

You mention Ileitis which is an inflammation of the ileum and it's true that this is often caused by Crohn's disease but it can be caused by a variety of other diseases too. This is why it is absolutely important to get an accurate diagnosis.People with conditions such as: diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or celiac disease could also develop this illness.
As far as symptoms for Crohn's go, although diarrhea is often expected, it is not always the case.

The most common symptoms are abdominal pain and this is often in the right lower quadrant. You may experience rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss or loss of appetite. You may experience a few symptoms or only one symptom and they may be mild or severe. Sadly the disease can become very aggressive but equally it can suddenly seem to go into remission for weeks, months or even years.

Extreme fatigue is also a very common symptom. Some sufferers even struggle to get out of bed, reporting feelings of exhaustion whilst others only feel a little bit tired but specifically during flare-ups which is when the disease can aggressively recur.

The most important thing to remember is to listen to your body so you can work out what works for you. Watch your diet and keep it simple. You may find that something you are eating can be triggering off the abdominal pain. Keep foods as pain and as easy to digest as you possibly can and reduce fizzy drinks, alcohol or hard to digest foods such as nuts.

It's all about learning what is happening to you and you need an accurate diagnosis so that you can determine the best plan of action. I hope you have plenty of support around you at this time as it can be a frightening time if you are feeling a little isolated.

Do remember that although it can take a while to get the results and to be diagnosed officially, there are plenty of treatments that are available out there and I'm sure you will be able to get help soon.

I hope this helps?

Best wishes for a healthier future.

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