First, this is an amazing forum. I want to tip my hat to all administrators and members here--very imformative and helpful community!
I was hoping to share my stomach issues/symptoms. I assume it is either crohns or IBS most likely. I haven't been officially diagnosed, and if it doesn't get better, I will go to the doc soon. But I would love to hear from people who know they have this for sure.
Okay, so this all started when I was around 17-18. I would notice that occasionally, I would get the most crazy stomach cramps while using the bathroom (or just before). I didn't get diahrrea all the time, but when I had these bad cramps, I usually had it. No blood though.
Around this time, I also developed a strange hives condition (called cholinergic urticaria). To make a long story short, I get prickly heat hives when I get hot, exercise, or anything that raises my temperature.
My stomach bothered me off/on, but not enough to go to the doc. It didn't hurt like that every day, but when it did hurt, it made my eyes water. I finally went to the doc about my hives, as I was having reactions daily and it was consuming my life.
I was given some type of steroid shot (don't know what). It seemed to send my hives into remission for about 2-3 years. I also noticed that my stomach issues seemed to vanish during this period.
About 2-3 years later, my hives came back. I also noticed my digestion seemed to get worse. I became lactose intolerant (and I never had issues with that before). I also got weird rashes on my body. My stomach would really hurt and cramp a lot, and I began getting bloated all the time and having occasional diarrhea. Even non-dairy food was starting to give me cramps, gas, and occasional diarrhea.
I also started to get eczema-like rashes for the first time ever. These disappeared when I removed milk and a few other things.
I have managed this for the past 4-5 years by eliminating all dairy, and avoiding processed foods as much as possible. I have had spurts where my stomach hurt and was upset, and spurts where it felt fine.
Lately, my hives are really acting up, and my stomach is too. Here are my current stomach issues:
1. Bloating--lots of bloating around the lower section of my abdomen (despite being fairly skinny)--and I don't drink beer. I get gas and bloating almost daily, even days when eating nothing but cooked rice! You would swear I ate beans.
2. Cramps--Occasional light cramps throughout the day (usually not much, but they are relieved by passing gas). If I eat something with dairy, or with a lot of junk in it, my stomach will cramp really bad before using the bathroom (it hurts mostly around and below my bellly button). This is very intense, and calms down when I am finished.
3. Bowel Movements--Once a day (usually), usually mushy. No traces of blood. I have diarrhea any time I eat a lot of sophisticated foods without taking a probiotic. As long as I eat rice, salmon, lean chicken, lean veggies, etc. I usually don't have diarrhea. Sometimes, the probiotic seems to stop working, and I have to totally stop eating bad foods and eat perfectly healthy for a few weeks.
4. I have tried probiotics w/lactase enzymes (helps, but doesn't stop it 100%). I have tried gluten free diet (helps, but other foods can upset me), have cut out dairy and other foods for the most part (helps but not cure).
====================
So my question is:
1. Have any of you had the itchy/prickly hives thing with your crohns?
2. Do my symptoms sound like what you have when you were first finding out about it? Or does it sound more like another issue (such as IBS or something)? Were your symptoms more severe?
3. At what point should I see a doctor and/or have some scope/tests done? If I spot blood? If I start getting diarrhea daily? Or what? I do have insurance, but a hefty deductible. So I am trying to hold off until it is 100% necessary.
It seems that as long as I eat like a monk, I am okay (aside from bloating). But when I go out to eat, or eat anything too processed, it really starts to bother me.
Thank so much to all!
I was hoping to share my stomach issues/symptoms. I assume it is either crohns or IBS most likely. I haven't been officially diagnosed, and if it doesn't get better, I will go to the doc soon. But I would love to hear from people who know they have this for sure.
Okay, so this all started when I was around 17-18. I would notice that occasionally, I would get the most crazy stomach cramps while using the bathroom (or just before). I didn't get diahrrea all the time, but when I had these bad cramps, I usually had it. No blood though.
Around this time, I also developed a strange hives condition (called cholinergic urticaria). To make a long story short, I get prickly heat hives when I get hot, exercise, or anything that raises my temperature.
My stomach bothered me off/on, but not enough to go to the doc. It didn't hurt like that every day, but when it did hurt, it made my eyes water. I finally went to the doc about my hives, as I was having reactions daily and it was consuming my life.
I was given some type of steroid shot (don't know what). It seemed to send my hives into remission for about 2-3 years. I also noticed that my stomach issues seemed to vanish during this period.
About 2-3 years later, my hives came back. I also noticed my digestion seemed to get worse. I became lactose intolerant (and I never had issues with that before). I also got weird rashes on my body. My stomach would really hurt and cramp a lot, and I began getting bloated all the time and having occasional diarrhea. Even non-dairy food was starting to give me cramps, gas, and occasional diarrhea.
I also started to get eczema-like rashes for the first time ever. These disappeared when I removed milk and a few other things.
I have managed this for the past 4-5 years by eliminating all dairy, and avoiding processed foods as much as possible. I have had spurts where my stomach hurt and was upset, and spurts where it felt fine.
Lately, my hives are really acting up, and my stomach is too. Here are my current stomach issues:
1. Bloating--lots of bloating around the lower section of my abdomen (despite being fairly skinny)--and I don't drink beer. I get gas and bloating almost daily, even days when eating nothing but cooked rice! You would swear I ate beans.
2. Cramps--Occasional light cramps throughout the day (usually not much, but they are relieved by passing gas). If I eat something with dairy, or with a lot of junk in it, my stomach will cramp really bad before using the bathroom (it hurts mostly around and below my bellly button). This is very intense, and calms down when I am finished.
3. Bowel Movements--Once a day (usually), usually mushy. No traces of blood. I have diarrhea any time I eat a lot of sophisticated foods without taking a probiotic. As long as I eat rice, salmon, lean chicken, lean veggies, etc. I usually don't have diarrhea. Sometimes, the probiotic seems to stop working, and I have to totally stop eating bad foods and eat perfectly healthy for a few weeks.
4. I have tried probiotics w/lactase enzymes (helps, but doesn't stop it 100%). I have tried gluten free diet (helps, but other foods can upset me), have cut out dairy and other foods for the most part (helps but not cure).
====================
So my question is:
1. Have any of you had the itchy/prickly hives thing with your crohns?
2. Do my symptoms sound like what you have when you were first finding out about it? Or does it sound more like another issue (such as IBS or something)? Were your symptoms more severe?
3. At what point should I see a doctor and/or have some scope/tests done? If I spot blood? If I start getting diarrhea daily? Or what? I do have insurance, but a hefty deductible. So I am trying to hold off until it is 100% necessary.
It seems that as long as I eat like a monk, I am okay (aside from bloating). But when I go out to eat, or eat anything too processed, it really starts to bother me.
Thank so much to all!
