Is this Crohn's Disease?

by Roseann
(North Haven, CT USA)

My son is going for an upper GI and colonoscopy to test for Crohn's. I have three female cousins and their sons have Crohn's. He does not have the symptoms I've been reading about. Occasionally, he passes a little blood with mucus. Could this be Crohn's?

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Is this Crohn's Disease? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hello there,

Crohn's disease can be extremely difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often experienced with other conditions too.

Usually extreme fatigue, nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea or constipation are experienced but joint pain, rashes etc can also be experienced.

There is usually a trigger. It might be stress. Think about the circumstances. Are there outstanding problems that is causing problems? Stress was once considered to be the reason behind this condition although research has indicated that this is not the case. It is a known trigger though so stress should be avoided at all costs.

Other triggers are spicy foods, smoking, drinking fizzy drinks or alcohol. There will be something that affects the individual on a personal level so the hard part is figuring out what the trigger is.

Crohn's is a tough disease. The best way of dealing with it is to accept it, assuming that this is the diagnosis. Learning to adapt in life is important. It depends on personal circumstances if rest can be sought when there is a nasty bout of pain or if there are people around for support if things get tough.

Try to collate as much information about the disease because this will help the doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.

I hope this helps?

Best wishes,

Annette
Is this Crohn's Disease? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hello there,

Crohn's disease can be extremely difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often experienced with other conditions too.

Usually extreme fatigue, nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea or constipation are experienced but joint pain, rashes etc can also be experienced.

There is usually a trigger. It might be stress. Think about your circumstances. Are you particularly anxious? Do you have outstanding problems that are causing you problems? Stress was once considered to be the reason behind this condition although research has indicated that this is not the case. It is a known trigger though so stress should be avoided at all costs.

Other triggers are spicy foods, smoking, drinking fizzy drinks or alcohol. There will be something that affects you on a personal level so the hard part is figuring out what the trigger is.

Crohn's is a tough disease. The best way of dealing with it is to accept it, assuming that you receive the diagnosis. Learning to adapt your life is important. It depends on your own personal circumstances if you can rest when you get a nasty bout of pain or if you have people around you for support if things get tough.

Try to collate as much information about the disease and how it affects you because this will help your doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.

I hope this helps?

Best wishes,

Annette
????Crohn's????
by: Anonymous

There are only several ways to know for sure whether a person has crohn's or not...testing and history. Go through the testing and see what the results are. With no pain I would wonder but one never knows. Good luck with the upper GI and colonoscopy. IF they come back that he does have crohn's this is a wonderful link to keep in mind.

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having tests to determin what is wrong with me crohn's ?

hi i am a 32 year old women,i have been suffering with these symptoms for the last ten years, bloated stomach, constant visits to the toilet at least 10 to 15 times a day, constantly feeling tierd,swallon joints, constantly feeling sick, i wake up most nights in the most extreme pain followed by being sick, my gp thinks it maybe ibs i am currently seeing a specialist but they are taking a long time to get back to me with any answers, can anyone help please i am a mum to three children who cant leave the house with fear of this happening to me outside x

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Is this Crohn's?

by Trish
(Georgia, U.S.)

I am a mother two a wonderful little girl who I suspect has crohn's disease. It started at the age of five with her always complaining about her stomach hurting right at the belly button. Then I really noticed she seemed to get the stomach flu all the time once or twice a month. When she was six and a half she would get these bad stomach pains with a high fever so I would rush her to the emergency room thinking she had appendicitis. Well they would always find something else like strep throat, virus, kidney infection and even though I new better I listened and loaded her up on antibiotics which would calm things down. Three weeks after the kidney infection the pain came back I rushed her to the emergency room again. I told them she had appendicitis no they said her pain has lessened and that does not happen with appendicitis. She has a virus. I new that was bull but I went home. Next morning she woke up screaming again with a fever. I took her back this time they said well she could have this thing called c-diff cause of all the antibiotics. I said no it is appendicitis and I want a cat scan now!
Well she took one look at her and went for the scan. She had a RUPTURED appendix! I think it ruptured the night before at the hospital because her pain was relieved. Also her kidney was swelled twice its size hence the kidney infection 3 weeks before. Her appendix was so swollen it laid on the ureter to her kidney and swelled it up. She had surgery and was a very sick little girl for a while. I was so relieved that it was a over and she could resume her life. Fat Chance! It started again I thought at first the stomach flu. Then I got a clue and started with a pediatric gastro. Since then I started a journal (docs suggestion)of symptoms food and poop. What I really found out is she has crazy stools. Mostly diarrhea sometimes hard and some times normal sometimes a blob. They smell bad and she has lots of gas. They have done every test except a colonoscopy which will be done Oct.8th. Two weeks ago she had a very bad attack uncontrollable pain. Screaming when she went to the bathroom. She laid in bed all day (she normally bounces off the walls)completely fatigued and very pale. She lost five pounds in about a week. Then came these hot flashes and cold flashes. Then it just stopped. She was ok for 2 weeks I mean not a peep from her about her belly. This week she has had some pain and diarrhea. Then the other day there was a small amount of blood it had the consistency of mucus. I am afraid she has crohn's I am also afraid they can not tell me what is wrong with her. She is losing quality of life. The attacks seem to be getting worse. Help! I am frantic! Sorry for the graphic detail.

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Is this Crohn's?
by: Annette Young

Hi there,

I hope that you have managed to have a correct diagnosis made now and that your daughters symptoms are controlled. I know it must have been terrifying for you to have to watch her suffer so much and to go through a variety of painful symptoms.

If it is Crohn's disease, you will probably be aware that there is no quick fix. Crohn's sadly is for life once it occurs. The only way round it is to cope with it and to learn to live with it. More and more children seem to be getting Crohn's disease these days.

Symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea are common, so is abdominal pain, nausea and fatigue. Treatment is available to help control the symptoms but it is also vital that you determine what the triggers are, and by this I mean there may be something that she is eating and drinking that is causing her body to rebel. She needs easy to digest foods and certainly no fizzy drinks. When she is tired, she needs to rest. Although sleep can be impacted, it is important that she get plenty of rest.

Symptoms may come and go. Chronic periods followed by restful periods and for many people, remission where life can be normal.

I attach a link here which will offer more information in connection with children and Crohn's.

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-conditions/digestive-gastrointestinal-conditions/crohns-disease-treatment/

I hope that this helps and forms a starting point. Please do provide an update if possible.

Regards,

Annette
Trish
by: Anonymous

Hi

have you had any luck with your daughter, getting a diagnosis, getting any relief, etc.?

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Help is this crohn's?

by Trish
(Georgia, U.S.)

I am desperate! My almost 8 year old has been sick since she was five. It started with a vague stomach ache that turned into excruciating bouts of pain. I thought it was appendicitis but they kept finding other infections and would give her tons of antibiotics and she would be fine. The last bout i made them give her a cat scan it was appendicitis and it had ruptured. I thought ok we are fixed it was the appendix all along. No it started again right after she got better from the surgery and infection. This brought us to the pediatric gastro. Test after test has showed nothing she is scheduled for a colonoscopy next Monday. These are her symptoms terrible stomach pain that lortab wont take away, bouts of diarrhea that sometimes has no color, bouts of fatigue, she is either freezing or is having hot sweaty flashes, she had blood this week it was just a little but it had the consistency of mucous, she says her bowels feel like they are on fire and crampy. This last bout she lost five pounds and can't put it back on. I have to carry a bag of pain pills wherever we go cause you never know when it is going to hit. Could this be crohn's? I would appreciate any comments. Thank you for your time!

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response to help is this crohn's
by: Anonymous

My 11 year old son was diagnosed a year ago with Crohn's. He had the stomach cramps, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, etc... He had a colonoscopy and endoscopy a year ago and again recently. He is now getting remicade infusions because the oral medications weren't working for him. I knew little about the disease until he was diagnosed.
sounds like crohns
by: Anonymous

hi there it sounds like crohns. i have crohns too. i've had it for 7 years. i had really bad pains right side of my tummy. loss lots of blood, lost 50 pounds, puking, dizzing and very tired. they were able to find the diagonis with a barium enema and xrays. i hope your little girl will be ok. good luck
good for you
by: Kirsten

Trish,
Of course non of us are doctors and will never know whether your daughter has Crohn's unless it is shown in a colonoscopy but I just wanted to say good for you for doing everything you can to find out what it is. When I was a child I had much the same symptoms but my parents always thought I didn't want to go to school and they didn't believe me. I was also embaressed to tell them a lot of the things that were going on with me so they didn't know the full extent-just make sure to tell your daughter that she has to tell you the truth about all of her symptoms so that they can help her properly (ie if she is having rectal bleeding). I also agree that she should be tested for Celiac disease-my father has that and it has many of the symptoms you are talking about-good luck and please keep us posted!
Help is this Crohns
by: Anonymous

Hello,

When you did the blood test, was the c reactive high? You should ask the doctor about this. If the c reactive is high there is a chance it could be crohns. When you have the colonoscopy they will see if there is inflamation and do a biospy. The positive thing is that crohns can be treated and people can live a normal life. My daughther has crohns so i understand what you are going dealing with.
Dear Trish in Georgia...
by: Sharon

My daughter was diagnosed when she was 10. She started out with stomach aches and they just got progressively worse. We tried adding fiber to her diet, reducing gluten, etc and nothing worked. They finally did a colonoscopy and endoscopy and that's how they found it. She was full of ulcers. Get those tests done, they will show if your daughter has Crohn's. - Sharon, NJ
I am by no means a doctor
by: Rachel

But I do know that babies and young children can have severe digestive problems as a result of severe food allergies. I think the change in diet already suggested is a good idea, if for no other reason than to give your child's digestive system a break. I would think about cutting dairy, nuts (including soy) and gluten. But first I would run this by a doctor.
Could be Crohns
by: Anonymous

You should know more after the colonoscopy. I would love to know if it is or not. But doing that test should tell for sure. Have you tried changeing her diet?
Kids like fruit juice and you waht to give them healty veggies and snacks, but some of that will upset someone with IBS or Crohns.
Good Luck.
Celiac Disease associated condition
by: Marilyn

Hi! While you are having your daughter investigated for Crohn's disease please ensure she is also screened for Celiac Disease...97% of people with celiac disease remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed...celiac disease is known to be associated with Crohn's...the treatment is a strict change in diet for life...there are many symptoms as the patient is unable to absorb nutrients...google the disease and check out the symptoms...I have both Celiac disease and Crohn's disease...
crohns
by: Sal

I can understand what you are going through. My daughter who is 10 has experienced many of the same symptoms. I finally get fed up with never getting any answers from the doctors and took her to the emergency room at Chidrens Hospital in Long Beach Calif.They dianosed her with Crohnes and put her on predisone. We are now seeing a specailist at Ciders Sinai Med Center in LA. Although she is in remission and off predisone (we have yet to find the perfect maint med), we are still battling some stomach pain and rectal pain. My advice to you is to do reseach on finding a good caring GI doctor in your area and dont settle for anyone but the best, even if it means to take her to the emergency room where that doctor works out of. The kids have a graet chance to live a normal life but we as parents need to learn as much as we can about the desease and try to find the best doctor. Good luck, we all need it.

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Is This Crohns? Please help

by JoAnne
(Lake Charles, LA)

I have not had any problems in about 2 years. But I lost my insurance in July and can't afford my medication or go to the doctor. So I have been getting a lot of stomach pains and unable to eat without vomiting or hurting really bad. I am running a low grand fever 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I will be getting my insurance back in January. Is this the signs of my crohn's coming back or is it just the fact that I am out of my medication. I just need to know what this is since I haven't had any problems in a long time and after my last surgery things have been ok. Please if any one knows what is happening to my body.

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Is this Crohn's? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hi there,

I am so sorry to hear that you are having problems again and are worried that it might be your Crohn's disease returning.

To be honest it is impossible to make a diagnosis like this, but if you were already told you had Crohn's previously then it could easily be a flare-up. Those who have Crohn's disease should always be on medication, this is what keeps the disease under control and although you may still experience flare-ups depending on whether your circumstances change or external triggers have aggravated the situation, but primarily the medication keeps a balance of sorts.

I can understand that you are worried, but this is probably not helping. Stress is a huge trigger and even if you think that you are handling the symptoms and anxiety quite well, underneath the stress may still get to you. Ideally, you do need to go to see a doctor to ascertain the current status of the condition and to see whether it is becoming more aggressive.

Many people feel that their condition has gone into remission for a period of months and years and it can suddenly flare-up out of the blue. You do need medication and you do need medical advice, there is no way around this. I worry that your condition could get worse and you will be unable to control the symptoms and will feel very ill.

In the meanwhile there are things that you can do for yourself, firstly - take a long hard look at your diet to see whether there are foods that could be aggravating the digestive tract. If you are smoking or drinking alcohol, then it's time to stop. If you are eating foods that are hard to digest, then you may just be overloading your digestive system and putting pressure on it.

Obviously at the moment you don't know what's occurring inside, but, you could also try stress management techniques and learn how to relax your body, incorporating meditation into your daily regime too, because this can be really useful to help alleviate stress and anxieties, but it is not an overnight cure.

I would be tempted to contact the pharmaceutical companies and to tell them of your situation, I have heard other people who have lost their insurance to various reasons and the pharmaceutical companies have been able to help.

It may be a long shot but worth a try.

I hope this helps.

Best of luck,
Annette

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waiting for my results...is it Crohn's?

by Belle
(Melb.Australia)

Hi there, my name is Belle,i am 24 years old, for the past 3 years or so, i have had alot of tests,test after test after test... the only answers i got was that i just have a case of IBS, i knew deep down that IBS couldnt be causing me these problems,there must have been something else...
you know that feeling where there's something just not right with the answer you get,well that was me...
i just feel miserable at times, in pain, tired,sometimes i get the feeling of blacking out, where you start feeling deaf and things start going dark and then it goes away..and the embarressment of my toilet problems and the mucous(i even feel uncomfortable saying that in the forum where you all know where im coming from)...i have good days and i have bad days,he bad days are awful for me...
what did i do wrong for me to get this way,im not a party animal, i enjoy a quiet glass of wine with friends at home, i try to eat healthy, i dont do drugs, i try to excercise when i can....i dont get it!
i wake up a skinny person (average size 10)and then go to bed a bloated fat person,i dont even want to see my body at night...
some days i just want to cry from the annoying pain, especially after eating or having some wine,i just want to curl up and go to sleep in hope that i wake up feeling better and if possible normal again...
i have had 4 attacks of uveitis since may 31st, and recent blood results have come up that i am a little iron deficient( even though i have had iron deficiencies since a teen)also a deficiency in b12,but also my ESR results were very high. so 2 years after my last load of test it was time to have another lot done, in hope that i finally get an answer in what they now believe is Crohns, i had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy 2 weeks ago... and i had the pill cam last tuesday , and i get my final results on the 19th of December....
i just want to know, so that i can start trying to do all i can to help myself, even just a little, so that i can start trying to be the person i was before this all happend to me...
did i mention i have a husband and a 6 year old son, i want to start being better for them too, so that when my husband asks how my day is, i dont have to say how my tummy hurt so bad or how i dont feel well, i want to be able to say"i had a great day and i feel fantastic".... i hate this! i hate feeling helpless at time, when i really am strong...
thank you for listening for my story,im glad i stumbled across others who might feel as i do..Belle.x

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Hang in There
by: Anonymous

Belle, I was just diagnosised with crohns, and I think the things you are feeling well we are all feeling, this is part of the whole crohns disease. I just want you to know you did nothing wrong to deserve this. None of us did, unfortunatley all of this I believe is due to the Food industry and crap they put in stuff we eat. But of course they say there is no diet that they have found to help, but I am starting to watch what I am eating and I am noticing that when I eat bread, or sweets I get bloated right away, where meat does not bother me as much. I have been looking at the Specific Carbohydrate diet and I am going to try it out, it makes since when you read it. It will be hard but I do nto want to live my life on the meds, the Entocort they origanally wanted me to take (with my Ins) 945.00 per month. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING. so right now on prednisone and going to take Humira when they can get me help with the costs. I do not want to take anything but realize I have to get better. I am not going to give into this disease but rather look at it as a reason to learn more about my body and help others. Adversity is to help us becoem strong and to find new oppurtunities in life. I am going to stucdy as much as I can, get healthy and help others do the same.
me too!
by: Anonymous

I started having problems last year, had loads of tests and i'm still waiting for a colonoscopy. The doctors all really think its crohns and i'm trying to manage it the best i can with diet. I completely understand how frustrating it is to be in pain every morning and being bloated. I work in a large building and its very embarassing when i go to the toilet. All i can say is that i've been reading up and its really helped me to know that there are so many others that feel the same, and that it IS managable. I'm getting married this year and i'm determined to manage it for my big day!
hello
by: Anonymous

I have been in the same boat as you.My daughter who is six has been suffering since she was three years and still no diagnosis it is a nightmare.She is going to great ormond street soon to swollow the capsule hopefully they will be able to give some answers. She feels awful most of the time and to see her suffer is terrible.So I know what you must be going through.Hope you be ok. x x

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is this crohns disease

by betty singleton
(indiana)

my daughter has had bouts of sickness since she was 9 years old,she is 24 now.she will do fine for a while then she will get constipated,get kidney infection and bad stomache pains with nausea and vomiting,when they sent her to a gastroligist he did endoscopy that he said looked fine and then he called us back later to tell us her enzymes looked like she could have crohns disease and wants her to come back for a colonscopy,should she go?

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Is this Crohns Disease? NEW
by: Annette Young

hello Betty,

Thank you for your question. Your daughter should go and get further tests and a correct diagnosis because if it is Crohn's disease, it is vital that she gets the correct treatment. It sounds like she has been through a lot already and although it is scary to think that she might have a disease that is currently incurable, it is better than not knowing or leaving it to chance.

Forewarned is forearmed as they say, and once you know what you're dealing with, you can take positive steps forward to managing the condition. Although there are many symptoms that have become typical of Crohn's disease, it seems to affect individuals quite differently. Some experience a lot of pain and for others it is mild bouts.

Your daughter needs to start understanding Crohn's disease as it affects her personally and to take an intuitive approach. She can keep a food diary to ascertain if there are any triggers within her diet and try to ensure that her diet is easy to digest as well as very nutritious.

When she is on medication, it is likely that she will always be on medication because even if the disease goes into a remission period, coming off of medication can cause very nasty flareups. For me, once the Crohn's disease is stabilised (as much as it can be)it is about prevention. Your daughter can avoid doing the things that could cause an aggressive bout of Crohn's. So the more that she can learn about it, the better it will be to her.

I hope this helps,
Do let us know how she gets on.

Annette
do get her to have the test
by: Anonymous

Do get her to have the test, if i didnt have it i wouldnt have been aive today.
It saved my life
Hi there
by: Nicole

Hi there, you should take her to get the test done if i wouldnt have had it done i would still be living with the pain of not knowing i have crohns
Is this Crohns disease
by: Anonymous

Yes, you absolutely should get her to do the colonoscopy! If it weren't for that test, I would still be living in agony!

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I don't know if this is crohns

by Ss
(Manchester)

I've had severe diarrhoea for 10 weeks and cannot walk as severe leg pains especially around the ankles still waiting for an endoscopy could it be crohns?

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Crohn's-Joint pain and Diarrhea NEW
by: Annette

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having such a miserable time of it. I hope that you have now managed to have your diagnosis and that you are feeling better as a result. It can be a very frustrating and scary time when you feel so poorly and are not sure what is causing it. From what you have said, it could be crohn’s but there are other conditions that could also have similar symptoms and there is no doubt that it is important to wait for correct diagnosis.

Sadly, it seems to take a long time for this diagnosis to be made. Crohn’s sufferers certainly do suffer with extreme bouts of diarrhea and I am glad that you have taken medical advice as severe bouts will cause you to be malnourished if you are not able to absorb of any nutrients.

There are many symptoms of crohn’s disease, joint pain being one. I would suggest that you keep a diary of all of your symptoms including when the pain is worse, what you ate that day and whether you were experiencing additional stress at any time as these can all act as triggers. It will also help with future diagnosis, the more you can learn about how you feel, the better as you can avoid eating certain foods or drink that might aggravate the condition.

It is important to keep hydrated because when you have long bouts of diarrhea you lose water as well as nutrients. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol. You should also keep your diet as simple as possible – eliminate dairy and spicy foods and that may well help to settle your digestive tract. Your doctor may suggest you take extra supplements to help counteract any potential for malnourished but the doctor will certainly want to work at stopping the diarrhea. This will be the first stage of your learning to come to terms with the condition because it is impossible to cure it currently.

Do let us know how you are getting on.
spinal issue? NEW
by: Cure Crohns and Colitis Charity

Is the ankle pain in conjunction with inflammation in that area or is it more of a nerve pain?
If there is no inflammation present it is worth considering the possibility of trapped, damaged or otherwise impinged nerves from the sacral or lumbar region of the spine.
Both motor and sensory nerves to the leg and abdomen feed out from this area of the lower back and can, if disrupted, cause pain,organ disfunction and/or spasming.
Whatever the cause, it certainly won't hurt to address your vitamin/mineral intake as the previous commentor suggests, although if it IS Crohn's or Colitis I would be wary of the "T" section of the "BRAT" diet - Tea contains caffiene, which is a very bad idea for Crohns, and (debatably) Toast (bread) is in most cases wheat based, which many say is also to be avoided as a potential irritant to the gut.
For both Crohns and nerve issues, electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and sodium are highly beneficial - large quantities of these will have been lost from your system due to your prolonged diarrhoea (electrolyte defficiency in itself can cause temporary nerve issues like those mentioned).
There are electrolyte replacement compounds for just this purpose such as Diarrolyte, which also help to address the dehydration caused by diarrhoea, but these tate pretty vile. To be honest, store bought sport energy drinks such as powerade, lucozade sport or gatorade work just as well and are far more pallatable!
Good luck with your diagnosis, hopefully whatever the cause it is temporary, but if it is Crohn's you will find lots of great support from the many contributors here.
I don't know if this is crohns NEW
by: Lydia D.



While you are waiting for a diagnosis, I suggest that you discuss with your doctor the necessity of supplementing with various vitamins. The WHO recommend taking 20 mg zinc a day for cases of severe diarrhoea.

- 20 mg zinc
- 500-1000 mg calcium and vitamin D
- iron and vitamin C
- vitamin B-complex (8 B vitamins - 300% RDA for pregnant women)
- selenium
- fish oil capsules or oily fish
- oral rehydration solution for potassium and sodium

Do not take them all at once, but stagger them throughout the day. You are going to end up with anorexia and associated problems if the malabsorption is not addressed. This can lead to heart damage and eventually failure.

Crohn's patients with severe diarrhoea frequently end up with Crohn's anorexia if their doctors do not support them adequately. Anorexia or malabsorption can lead to depression. Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause depression.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-VitaminsMinerals

I suggest that you also discuss drinking Ensure, Fortisip or similar. You can buy oral rehydration sachets from your pharmacist. The contents will help towards preventing heart palpitations and potential long-term damage to the heart through mineral imbalances.

Swelling and pains in the extremities can be a sign of vitamin and mineral deficiency (malnutrition), which may or may not be attributable to Crohn's disease. http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/foot-leg-and-ankle-swelling

In the meantime base your diet on the BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple mousse, tea/toast). Avoid everything that exacerbates diarrhoea.

I refer you to the excellent dietary information here for patients with severe diarrhoea:
http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/digestive-health/nutrition-support-team/nutrition-articles/September2005.pdf

Good luck with the diagnosis.

Other references
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-VitaminsMinerals
http://rehydrate.org/zinc/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_therapy
http://www.ltspeed.com/bjblinder/anmeddis.htm
Possibly Crohns NEW
by: Anonymous

I originally woke up unable to put any pressure on my legs as my knees and ankles were swollen. I was misdiagnosed and treated for a year for another ailment before properly being diagnosed for Crohns.

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Is this crohns?

Just what is crohn's? I have had extremely impacted bowels, twice in the past year. Do not know what causes them. A weeks dose of miralax, corectal pills, and ememas with little results. contemplating going back to er. No insurance, Pain is extremely bad, have lortabs, but fear they may be part of the problem. Any suggestions out there?

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Is this Crohn's? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hello there,

Crohn's disease is a extremely chronic and life-impacting disease. It affects people very differently in terms of how much it impacts their lives and the amount of pain and discomfort experienced.

Your gastrointestinal tract processes all of the food that you eat and it importantly, absorbs all nutrients and then gets rid of the left-over waste.

When you have Crohn's disease, your immune system turns in on itself and starts to attack all your healthy cells within the gastrointestinal tract and this becomes inflamed as a result.

It most commonly affects a part of the small intestine which is called the ileum, but in actual found Crohn's disease can affect any part of this tract - starting from the mouth and down to your anus.

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition, which means you have it for life. However, sometimes your disease may be in remission, with no symptoms at all.

Flare-ups can be caused by:

Stress
Cigarettes
Food

But as their is no actual cure yet for Crohn's, it's all about managing it so that you get some respite from any pain and can continue to have as good a life as possible.

The important thing is to try to understand it, accept it, and to work out a way to manage it. Equally important however is asking for medical assistance as you would need regular medication to help keep it under control, although it may take a while to find the right medication for you.

Its' important to persevere and to push for help if you need it.

I hope this helps?

Best wishes,

Annette


It might be Crohns
by: Anonymous

It could be Crohn's. Most people have diarrea but I've had Crohn's for 15 years and I've taken mineral oil and Miralax to keep me going. I don't know why but my symptoms seemed to be the opposite of most
Impacted Bowels
by: Anonymous

Yes, there is a pill called Amitiza and it puts fluid in the bowels and softens the stools. Also, you have to drink "A LOT" of water. Most of us are walking around dehydrated and don't even know it. Skip bread, cheese, chocolate and milk. These foods tend to bulk up the stools. There is one other thing. MOVE. If you are sedentary and aren't moving around much the bowels are not moving around either and they can become impacted just because our body isn't doing anything! I have IBS and if I am not careful, I will end up with impacted bowels as well. There is also something called "mega-colon", where the colon just keeps stretching and stretching and the stool collects there instead of moving through a stretchy but firm bowel. Sorry about not having insurance that defininetly makes it tough. I quess the emergency is the only option if you can't keep things moving. Don't eat red meat for a little while, it will sit in your stomach, rot and then begin to go through your stools. A very safe and great way to help move things a long with a bit of fiber, which is very necessary to moving things, is Quaker Oats Oatmeal. Get the flavored kind and try each one or mix two together, my favorites are maple and brown sugar mixed with cinnamon and spice. This is gentle yet effective. It does contain a bit of sugar, but for future reference, sugar is the biggest NO NO of all. This bulks up the stool right along with white flour, white sugar and white rice. Start to eat right and you will see those bowels become more healthy. Walk up and down your stairs a couple of times a day. Or walk to the top of your block and back home. I really hope some of these things help you with your problem, but there really needs to be a diagnoses so that you can treat things properly. JUST A REMINDER, USING LAXATIVES AND ENEMAS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN THE LONG RUN, YOUR BODY BEGINS TO GET USED TO USING THESE PRODUCTS AND FORGETS HOW TO MOVE THINGS ALONG IN THE NATURAL WAY AND SOON YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF ONLY ABLE TO GO USING THESE THINGS. The trick is to get the bowels moving without artificial help, water, fiber, exercise, no white stuff or chocolate, although it sounds funny, do drink a cup of coffee, I dont' drink coffee, but I found an international coffee (foofoo)french vanilla and got decaf, regular is fine, too, I just don't do caffiene, it too adds to hard stools for me, it will get those bowels moving like no bodies business, it also dawned on me that, you may have such a soft stool that it is puddling-up before it can move and it is then too large to move past one or two spots that the intestine has been stretched or elasticized. You really need to find out what is wrong, but artificial means can leed to further permanent problems
Impacted Bowels
by: Anonymous

Yes, there is a pill called Amitiza and it puts fluid in the bowels and softens the stools. Also, you have to drink "A LOT" of water. Most of us are walking around dehydrated and don't even know it. Skip bread, cheese, chocolate and milk. These foods tend to bulk up the stools. There is one other thing. MOVE. If you are sedentary and aren't moving around much the bowels are not moving around either and they can become impacted just because our body isn't doing anything! I have IBS and if I am not careful, I will end up with impacted bowels as well. There is also something called "mega-colon", where the colon just keeps stretching and stretching and the stool collects there instead of moving through a stretchy but firm bowel. Sorry about not having insurance that defininetly makes it tough. I quess the emergency is the only option if you can't keep things moving. Don't eat red meat for a little while, it will sit in your stomach, rot and then begin to go through your stools. A very safe and great way to help move things a long with a bit of fiber, which is very necessary to moving things, is Quaker Oats Oatmeal. Get the flavored kind and try each one or mix two together, my favorites are maple and brown sugar mixed with cinnamon and spice. This is gentle yet effective. It does contain a bit of sugar, but for future reference, sugar is the biggest NO NO of all. This bulks up the stool right along with white flour, white sugar and white rice. Start to eat right and you will see those bowels become more healthy. Walk up and down your stairs a couple of times a day. Or walk to the top of your block and back home. I really hope some of these things help you with your problem, but there really needs to be a diagnoses so that you can treat things properly. JUST A REMINDER, USING LAXATIVES AND ENEMAS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN THE LONG RUN, YOUR BODY BEGINS TO GET USED TO USING THESE PRODUCTS AND FORGETS HOW TO MOVE THINGS ALONG IN THE NATURAL WAY AND SOON YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF ONLY ABLE TO GO USING THESE THINGS. The trick is to get the bowels moving without artificial help, water, fiber, exercise, no white stuff or chocolate, although it sounds funny, do drink a cup of coffee, I dont' drink coffee, but I found an international coffee (foofoo)french vanilla and got decaf, regular is fine, too, I just don't do caffiene, it too adds to hard stools for me, it will get those bowels moving like no bodies business, it also dawned on me that, you may have such a soft stool that it is puddling-up before it can move and it is then too large to move past one or two spots that the intestine has been stretched or elasticized. You really need to find out what is wrong, but artificial means can leed to further permanent problems

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Is this a change in my crohns disease?

by NIKKI
(Basingstoke England)

i have crohns disease and lupus, 4 months ago i suffered a functional stroke. i always used to have a real urgency when i needed to go to the loo. diorrhea more often than not, that was just me and has been for the last 8 years. Now since sept 09 i cannot go to the loo without the use of lactulose, and only go every two or three days, instead of atleast twice per day, WHY?

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question: Is this crohns?

by TCW
(CA)

Hello, I have had an endoscopy and colonoscopy as well as a CT scan. My major symptoms were severe anemia and intermittent bouts of diarrhea (painful, lasts several days or even a week or two of not necessarily frequent, but loose, urgent bowel movements) and almost chronic constipation. The diarrhea is a new (last six months) development. When it starts, I tend to get persistent headaches, burning eyes (sometimes), aching shoulders and hips (and sometimes hands), pain in the necks, inflammation throughout my whole digestive tract, etc. I also tend to get lots of mouth inflammation.

My doctor's GI report saw inflammation "consistent with celiac or Crohn's". He put me on a gluten-free diet and I did great for about about six weeks. No constipation for the first time I can remember, and normal BMs. The, suddenly, BAM! Started with full feeling for a few days, and some discomfort. Felt swollen inside -- (kept feeling I had to urinate, but no that much. I think it was just internal inflammation.) Then tons of watery D three days ago. Still suffering, sleepy, achy, depressed. Only things I can see I did differently: I started taking B complex and probiotics during the last week before this big flare up. I've also been under a tremendous amount of stress.

Does this sound like Crohn's? Since the GF diet helped, I guess it could coincide with gluten intolerance? I'm feeling so guilty...I keep hoping my family get a little twinge of a tummy ache so I can just assume I have stomach flu!!! (Not really, though.)

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need your help is it chrons

by shal
(london)

my elderly mum hasnt been able to empty her bowls for several months now she has dvt also lung disease also goes to out patince for breathing classes now she been admitted to hospital they wanted to open her up but wont they say tablets shes been taken for four years may be the prob,but also they say it cauld be chromes disease or tibulitus we are so worried as what they are going to say next

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Need your help is it Crohn's? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hello,
Thank you for writing in and I am so sorry to hear that your mother is experiencing so many health problems. It is important that she receives a correct diagnosis from her doctor so that she can start to receive treatment, rather than speculating here. Crohn's disease is an uncomfortable and often painful disease. If your mother is experiencing abdominal pains, is constipated, suffers with headaches and/or joint pain then she may well have Crohn's disease.

If she is under a lot of stress, then this would be enough to aggravate the symptoms. Similarly, certain foods can act as a trigger so she should be on a nutritious diet plan that makes digestion easier - takes the pressure off digesting certain foods. If constipation is continuing for long periods of time, then she may have a blockage, a narrowing of the intestinal walls that make it difficult for feces to pass by. An examination should be made so that they can see if this is the case. Sometimes surgery is the only option.

I can appreciate you must all be under a lot of stress at this time, but a full diagnosis is vital. Then she will be able to have medication which should ease the symptoms - if indeed it is Crohn's.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Annette

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Is it Crohn's?

by Ashley Haddix
(USA)

Hello everyone. I went to the ER on 4/24/10 because I was having pains in my lower stomach. I thought it was due to a UTI or something like that. The doctors gave me a CT scan of my stomach, bloodwork, and urine tests. The DR came to talk to me and said they were going to have to admit me because they found a few things wrong with me. 1 I had sists on my overies. 2 I had a UTI. And 3 My colon showed on the CT scan that it was swollen. Okay, so they addmitted me and I was there from Saturday-Tuesday. They came to the conclusion that I either had an infection or possible crohn's disease. They don't want to do the colonoscopy because they said when your colon is swollen, it will only make it worse. So they ran a test with my blood and they said it takes 10 days to come back. So now I'm waiting for the 10 days and they are going to to tell me if I have crohns or not. Since I've been out of the hospital, I've had really bad diariah, Im really weak fealing, an my stomach is sick fealing. It seems like the diariah is worse when I'm active and walking around. It doesn't bother me much when Im off my feet and laying down. Can anyone email me and tell me their thoughtd?? Please!! ashleyhaddix68@yahoo.com

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please help my son. is it chrons?

Hi,
My son is 10 years old.in about a year and half he had pain in his belly only for 2 to 3 days.he threw up the first day ,and than it will go .he ate nothing that time of pain.this was happening 4 times so we want to hospital.they found pancreatitis and ulcer on duadenum.patology said gastroenteritis.gi said chrons,because his iron 9 and albumin 2.8.lacteferrin in stool.He feel great for 3 month now just on fish oil vaitamin and pro biotic.I also got now serovera.Some doctors say that if he gain weight and grow and no pain than that is ok ,some said to give meds to avoid problem in future.i do not want to give meds since he gain 8 pounds since october and few inches grow and no pain.i am afraid they will scare me and forced me to give him.they are not even sure yet it is chrons.no pain in any other area,no stool problem ever,not any other stuff that look like chrons.Can anyone can help me?please ,

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Please help my son. Is it Crohn's? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hi there,
I am so sorry for you and your son. It is so difficult to know what to do in these circumstances.
At 10 years old, he is young to have Crohn's but i know that it affects children even younger so this does not mean that it is not Crohn's disease.

It is important to be guided by the doctors. I know that you need an official diagnosis but I think that as frustrating as it is, it is difficult for the doctors to make a definitive diagnosis. sometimes it can take years. There are other conditions that it could be.

It would be a good idea to keep a food journal at this stage. Write down all of his systems, whether he feels bad after eating certain foods or if he is drinking fizzy drinks,is he reacting within a day or so? I know that some Crohn's sufferers are lactose intolerant so it might be a good idea to reduce dairy products and to see if that makes him feel better.

Stress can also have a negative impact on any bowel problems. At one time, stress was considered to be the cause of Crohn's although this is not true. It can certainly make the symptoms worse. Stressors come wrapped in a number of different ways, bullying, fear about his own health, worried about his school grades etc, these concerns can all play a part in making his condition seem worse.

It may well be Crohn's but if you can keep a food and symptoms diary, reduce or stop him from having fizzy drinks, spicy foods or dairy products, you might get a better idea as to the cause.

I know many people who have stopped taking their medication and the disease suddenly seems to fight back with a vengeance. The doctors may have prescribed him something that will keep the symptoms under control.

I hope this helps?

Annette

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please help is this crohn's

by stacey
(perth australia)

i have had problems with my bowel for quite a few years
i have just had a flex sigmoidoscopy yesterday twice actually after an mri scan a few weeks earlier,
they found a polyp and took a biopsy and also found a abscess as i have had bad pain and leaking clear fluid from my bottom for the last few months my youngest daughter was just diagnosed with coeliac disease i have no serious weight loss could this all be crohn,s disease
any help would be great
thanks stacey

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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? NEW
by: Annette Young

Hello Kira,

Thank you for taking the time to write in.

I was appalled to read about the lack of interest and professionalism displayed by your doctor. You have every right to receive full medical support and if I were in your situation, I would find myself another doctor and get referred to a specialist.

You are not alone in receiving little help from the medical profession and it makes me very cross when I hear about such situations. At the end of the day you go to see a doctor because you are unwell and you shouldn't have to battle for support and guidance.

It sounds like you are doing all you can to have a healthy diet but of course until you receive an accurate diagnosis you're not quite sure what you're dealing with. I was diagnosed with IBS for many years myself and I tried every remedy under the sun without help because it was a misdiagnosis, sadly, doctors seem to diagnose IBS quite quickly but do not provide alternative tests to ascertain whether there are other causes such as Crohn's. I understand that the symptoms can be similar but having endured chronic pains in my teenage years, I can fully understand what you're going through.

If you have Crohn's for example, this is a very serious condition and it can be aggravated by intolerance to foods such as dairy, too much fibre, stress, smoking and alcohol. Even foods that you have been eating for years can certainly cause an acute attack which may result in feelings of nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pains.

I would keep a food Journal to see if certain foods are acting as triggers and I would make note of everything possible that relates to you on an individual level - including stressful situations, emotional or social pressures, because triggers are not just the foods that you eat and you have to tackle these types of conditions with an intuitive approach.

Mouth ulcers or sores within the mouth is often associated with undiagnosed Crohn's and you may be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. If you're able to go and see a nutritionist, they would be able to offer you a great deal of support and advice at this time. If you can find one who has a lot of experience with IBD, then this would be useful.

I hope this helps,
Annette
Some doctors are just useless NEW
by: Anonymous

You need to see a new doctor, and then a specialist. I can't believe your doctor won't do further testing or refer you to a specialist. This is unacceptable.
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.
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
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
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

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 Crohn's Disease?

I have burning in throat and on tongue and in my chest. When i eat it is because I force myself to do so, and regret it immediately. After I eat I get a really bad burning sensation. I feel weak due to lack of nutrition and am sick. I get a slight cough. My poop has mucus in it, and every time I have to go lately it is with urgency no matter if I am constipated or not. Yesterday I had lots of bright red blood with my poop, and it happened later that night when I had the runs. At night time my skin burns, my feet and hands turn red and itches and burns. My scalp is burning and itching too, and my eyes. Which has tiny bumps when I rub them. My skin is starting to look thicker and more like I can see every line in my body. I have some occasional red dots that come and go, but they are very small and painless and could be anything. Of course without the proper nutrition my mental state is worse, bad memory, some depression, etc.. last night my toes were swollen and burning and behind my big toe nail it burnt worse. Every time I swallow there is mucus. My throat feels a little swollen. I have a constant headache that goes from dull to migraine and back to dull again. Most mornings I wake feeling better with the symptoms getting worse at night, but today I woke up feeling like sht. Could this really be Crohns? I am on Medicaid and when I went in for an emergency appointment they told me I had seasonal allergies. WTF? Help me, what can I do. My symptoms are getting worse and I am just losing more and more weight.

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