Hi Marie,
You are asking a question that affects a great many people and I know that for some people it can take years to get a diagnosis.
My own mother was misdiagnosed - they said that she had ulcerative colitis. She was in a great deal of pain, had constant diarrhea, lost so much weight that her clothes used to hang off her and dreaded going out in case she needed the bathroom quickly. Having researched these types of conditions, we realised that a great many symptoms are similar to other conditions, so its not really surprising that doctors misdiagnose.
Eventually, we discovered that she had Crohn's disease and they found the right treatment for her.
I know other people too - since, who cannot get an exact diagnosis even though their symptoms seems fairly typical. Sometimes tests just come back negative.
The best thing that you can do is to make a note of everything that you eat or drink and to write down any reaction to the food that you have. By doing this on a daily basis, you may well be able to pick out potential triggers such as:
Spicy foods
Fizzy drinks
Dairy products
If a pattern emerges, go back to your doctor and show your food and drink diary and you may be able to help the doctor. Don't take no for an answer. If you need help, want answers or if your symptoms get worse, go back to the doctor immediately.
It is a frustrating time while waiting for diagnosis but eventually, you will get there. The more you can learn about these conditions in the meanwhile, the better you will be able to control the symptoms.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Annette
how long... by: Anonymous
I have had symptoms off and on since at least 6th or 7th grade.
Finally diagnosed a few years ago in my early 30s.
I never had severe D, so i think most of the docs I saw over the years ruled it out and never even suggested it to me.
Becky
How long? by: Isabelle
I was kind of lucky because I had the symptoms for maybe 2 months before going to the ER and after a coloscopy, BANG! I heard the results that would change my life forever.
thanks brenda by: Marie
Pill cam and colonoscopy came back good. Have had the problems most of life but last two years have been horrible. Steroids (entocort) seems to work the best. But they will not diagnose until you are in need of surgery or they find a spot that they can clearly define as crohn's on my intestines.
how long.. by: Brenda
I was getting sick about 3 years before I was diagnosed.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,
your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.