Is it Chron's or IBS?

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Is it Chron's or IBS?

by Kira
(Canada)

Hello! I am a 22 year old female, who weighs 115 pounds and is 5'3". I try to stay healthy and eat right. I avoid fatty, red meats, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and try to lead an active life. I work a full time job, and I go to the gym 3 times a week, and my main form of transportation is buses and walking.

Three years ago I began to exhibit symptoms such as: bloating, cramping, straining to go the bathroom, diarrhea, mucus in stool, pain so severe I would wake up in the night crying etc. My doctor (without performing any tests) concluded that I had IBS and prescribed me with 50mg of Dicetel 3 times a day with meals, as well as some antacid for some recurring acid reflux. After a few months my doctor increased my dosage of Dicetel to 100mg, which still seemed to have little to no affect on my symptoms, while also causing side effects like extreme nausea and vomiting. Eventually, I stopped taking Dicetel on my own, and began to self medicate with Imodium, Gas-X, and generic over the counter antacid for my acid reflux. I took and still take on nearly a daily basis Imodium for the diarrhea and cramps.

Three years later: and still no improvement in my symptoms. In fact, I would say they have worsened. I vomit in the morning between 1 and 3 times a week. The vomit is usually nothing but a sweet tasting, white mucus, and I usually wretch for a while until I can't throw up any longer. I wake up with severe cramping and diarrhea, which has me rushing to the bathroom the second I open my eyes. I have on a few occasions noticed dark red parts in my stool, but upon collection of a stool sample, my doctor found no blood. I have lessened my intake of imodium to 1 capsule a day and try not to take any on the days which I don't work, because I really do not want to become dependent on it. In addition to these symptoms, I am almost always extremely fatigued, and I suffer from a lot of muscle and joint pain in my knees, legs, wrists, and back. I also have dry patches of skin all over my body, and sometimes I get clear fluid filled bubbles on the inside of my mouth which get bigger until they burst on their own.

Currently, my doctor says that since Dicetel doesn't work, that there are no other treatment options available to me, and he does not have any reason to believe it is anything other than IBS so I can just "live with it." He refuses to refer me to a specialist, which I have asked for on multiple occasions, will not refer me to have a barium swallow tests or colonoscopy. He has done blood tests and taken stool samples, and nothing more. What could this be? And what could be done about it? It has been a plague on my life and I need some definite information!

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Is it Chron's or IBS?

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Oct 02, 2011

Get a new Dr. asap!!!
by: Anonymous

Then get checked for celiac disease as well. I went wheat gluten and dairy free 8 months ago. I am not on any more meds and have been in remission since April.

Jul 22, 2011

Change doctor
by: Helen

I agree with Marys comments, change your doctor NOW!!! also I find that fruit and some vegetables irritate me a lot, so avoid them where possible - I only eat fruit when I am constipated which unfortunately happens too - hope you get help very soon

Jun 08, 2011

Is it Chron's or IBS?
by: Anonymous

When I get mouth ulcers, it is a sign that I am deficient in one or more vitamins. It would do you no harm to take a vitamin-B complex tablet, supplementary vitamin C and fish oil for the fat-soluble vitamins.

The FDA has stated that over 3 g of fish oil a day can be harmful due to the mercury content.

The B vitamins and vitamin C are water soluble and it is difficult to overdose on them. If you can find a sublingual tablet or powder then the absorption is far better.

The joint pains may be due to B vitamin deficiency particularly B12 and mineral deficiencies, e.g. magnesium, copper and zinc. Joint pains may also indicate Crohn's extra-intestinal arthralgia or arthralgia associated with another disease (there are over 100).

When Crohn's is located in the terminal ileum, this can lead to deficiencies in vitamin B12 and the fat-soluble vitamins. This is where vitamin B12 is absorbed. However, vitamin B12 requires stomach acid and if you are taking PPIs (proton pump inhibitors - acid inhibitors) or similar for reflux you may end up deficient in vitamin B12, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D and zinc.

However, there is a phenomenon that is called backwash ileitis - where colon bacteria wash back into the ileum and cause inflammation in the terminal colon. Antibiotics can cause inflammation of the gut as can other medication.

The dry skin could indicate deficiency of the fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K). Here you have to be very careful because you can overdose easily and, in certain cases, too much can trigger certain cancers. Dry flaky skin can also indicate psoriasis, which is occasionally associated with Crohn's.

Doctors do not consider vitamin deficiencies because it is not something that happens in our part of the world. Unfortunately, I think that it is more frequent than they would like to believe. Cravings are a sign of undernourishment and a lot of obese patients are severely undernourished with respect to their vitamin and mineral intake.

The vomiting would indicate to me that you have frequent intestinal blockages. This happens in Crohn's, but also happens in other diseases such as Coeliac disease, cancer, etc. However, the Imodium and any opiate painkillers you are taking will cause severe blockages as do most street drugs.

Vomiting is also a sign of dehydration. Could you be overdosing on the Imodium - this will cause severe dehydration if you do not drink the required 1.5-2 litres water a day.

You need to keep a mood, food and symptoms diary (Google for support) and go armed with that to a new doctor. Use the CDAI as a guide to what information to collect: http://www.ibdjohn.com/cdai/

DL - see Part 2

Jun 08, 2011

Is it Crohn's or IBS?
by: Anonymous

Part 2

Also keep a record of what you drink and make sure that it is at least 1.5l a day. A word of warning coffee, aniseed, nettle, sugar, chocolate all exacerbate diarrhoea and/or reflux. Other foods are constipating - do your research here. You might have to start pureeing food to try to reduce the blockages and the resulting pain.

I suggest that you make appointments with a new gastroenterologist, a rheumatologist and a dermatologist. One of them must be able to help you. Take along the results from your diary. Taking vitamins and mineral supplements will not harm you if you are sensible about it (see above). Buy a medical copper bangle, which will supply you with copper - important for joint health.

Look up the side-effects and interactions of the medication and supplements that you are taking at www.drugs.com or www.rxlist.com

I can't answer your question, you need to see a team of doctors to obtain a proper diagnosis.

Be wary of treating yourself without medical supervision because the side-effects of medication can mimic a plethora of diseases or hide symptoms. Be completely upfront with the doctors and write everything down in a structured manner prior to the appointment.

DL

May 18, 2011

crohns
by: mary

my advice to you is to change your doctor, immeditly, what you have described, there, isnt normal, i have crohns, and i wouldnt tolarate, his behavior, not for a second, its your right to see another doctor, and make sure you do ,

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Is it Chron's or IBS?

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Is it Chron's or IBS?