Hello,
I never really had any problems that interfered so severely with my lifestyle up until a year and a half ago when my anal fistula ordeal began. I'm 23 years ago just for reference.
Bowel movements have been fairly soft since I was in high school but very grainy to liquidy when I was 20 years old. However, they didn't really bother me too much. At that time, I could eat any type of food without having any problems.
However, one day when I was 21 years old, I developed a fever and I had an upset stomach/nausea which caused me to throw up. I went to urgent care because I thought I had some kind of infection. They concluded with bloodwork that I had a slightly high white blood cell count and that's all. I had a stool sample which came back normal.
2-3 weeks pass then I had a bad diarrheal episode in which I felt a huge pain in my butt cheek. It felt like a wound. I thought maybe I was straining too hard. Then the pain started getting worse and worse, I waited a week until it became really swollen, and ultimately became and abscess. Had it lanced in the ER... A month later, had it lanced again... Then I've been having a fistula for the past year and a half.
Since the fistula, it seemed like I was having stomach cramps and bad diarrhea almost everyday for a year and half now until I realized that dairy was causing it. I should also note that only SOMETIMES when I have really bad diarrhea and cramps I get the chills and a mild fever. Ever since I went on a lactose free diet the diarrhea and stomach cramps stopped SIGNIFICANTLY.
*THEORY: I was suddenly totally lactose intolerant at age 21.
The reason why I'm suspicious of Crohn's is because of the anal fistula and the fact that I get diarrhea with (chills/fever). I had a seton placed in the fistula and it's been draining A LOT every day for six months. According to my colorectal surgeon, it shouldn't be draining anymore (or just little), and he's not sure why it still is. Could that be a sign of Crohn's??
BUT! I found that the diarrhea is caused by dairy. The chills/fever might be a result of an infected fistula.
I have no family history of Crohn's NOR Anal fistula, but I have a family history of rectal disorders like hemorrhoids, lactose intolerance, diarrhea. No one has really had any surgeries though.
ONE LAST NOTE: I do not have any digestive problems anymore as long as I don't consume dairy products. The only thing I'm desperate about is my anal fistula. It will not heal, and I don't know if it has anything to do with Crohn's.
I never really had any problems that interfered so severely with my lifestyle up until a year and a half ago when my anal fistula ordeal began. I'm 23 years ago just for reference.
Bowel movements have been fairly soft since I was in high school but very grainy to liquidy when I was 20 years old. However, they didn't really bother me too much. At that time, I could eat any type of food without having any problems.
However, one day when I was 21 years old, I developed a fever and I had an upset stomach/nausea which caused me to throw up. I went to urgent care because I thought I had some kind of infection. They concluded with bloodwork that I had a slightly high white blood cell count and that's all. I had a stool sample which came back normal.
2-3 weeks pass then I had a bad diarrheal episode in which I felt a huge pain in my butt cheek. It felt like a wound. I thought maybe I was straining too hard. Then the pain started getting worse and worse, I waited a week until it became really swollen, and ultimately became and abscess. Had it lanced in the ER... A month later, had it lanced again... Then I've been having a fistula for the past year and a half.
Since the fistula, it seemed like I was having stomach cramps and bad diarrhea almost everyday for a year and half now until I realized that dairy was causing it. I should also note that only SOMETIMES when I have really bad diarrhea and cramps I get the chills and a mild fever. Ever since I went on a lactose free diet the diarrhea and stomach cramps stopped SIGNIFICANTLY.
*THEORY: I was suddenly totally lactose intolerant at age 21.
The reason why I'm suspicious of Crohn's is because of the anal fistula and the fact that I get diarrhea with (chills/fever). I had a seton placed in the fistula and it's been draining A LOT every day for six months. According to my colorectal surgeon, it shouldn't be draining anymore (or just little), and he's not sure why it still is. Could that be a sign of Crohn's??
BUT! I found that the diarrhea is caused by dairy. The chills/fever might be a result of an infected fistula.
I have no family history of Crohn's NOR Anal fistula, but I have a family history of rectal disorders like hemorrhoids, lactose intolerance, diarrhea. No one has really had any surgeries though.
ONE LAST NOTE: I do not have any digestive problems anymore as long as I don't consume dairy products. The only thing I'm desperate about is my anal fistula. It will not heal, and I don't know if it has anything to do with Crohn's.
