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Recently diagnosed at 44

:yfaint:Hi, my name is Barbara. I am 44 and I have been diagnosed with crohns after a sbft, colonoscopy, blood test, and ct scan. I work in the medical field and was fortunate to get an accurate diagnosis, since I present very differently than most people with crohns.

I am gaining weight, constipated, stomach is bloated no matter what I eat, and I am always wanting to soothe my stomach with food, which does not work...I am currently taking pantasa, my GI specialist doesn't seem to understand the pain I am in, and now wants to schedule endoscopy. I am tapped out.. I want a diet I can follow, to have a bowel movement without having to take ducolax and run to the bathroom for hours...

I know I have a stricture in my ileum, is this is a flare up or does my bowel stay like this? Newbie
 
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Hopefully your symptoms are due to the stricture. I would try a low residue diet (info on the wiki), because the food is digested easier and means less bulk passing through the stricture. As for whether your bowel will stay like this depends, if it's inflamed it will get better once you are on the right treatment. If it's scarred, you might need to undergo a procedure or two (not necessarily surgery, they can try stretching it first). But they should be able to get you sorted one way or another!
 

Astra

Moderator
Hi Barbara
and welcome

Yes I agree with Rebecca about the diet.
I'm on Pentasa too, but this only works to maintain remission, like a prophylactic, a prevention, on it's own it's not much good, won't work if there's any inflammation already present. You shouldn't be in pain like this, speak to your doc, lots of meds out there, better than Pentasa. We'll help you with any questions, fire away!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx
 
Hi Barbara,

I have (had?) a stricture of the sigmoid colon & rectum. I believe in my case it's a combination of scarring (from >40 years of Crohns) and inflammation. If I can keep the inflammation to a minimum, it doesn't bother me too much.

So I don't think there's necessarily a one way or the other -- it can be a combination of things. So keep that in mind.

Good luck,
Sandy
 
Hey there sorry for the Dx but great that you can start to work on it. I third (?) the diet suggestion start simple and work your way up. Best of luck and welcome to the forums!
 
I would just like to let you know that I was recently diagnosed too and I had abdominal pain/cramps and constipation also so you aren't alone! I'm on Pentasa also but since it's been a short time I can't accurately say whether it's working or not. I'm a newbie also yay welcome to the club!
 
Thnx for the response

Thanks to everyone that responded, I did go to my general practitioner and she put me on predisone 20 mg for 2 weeks then 10 mg for one week and added bentyl 3x daily... I am feeling so much better but I am gaining weight ..my Dr. suggest not to be concerned about that but more general health and getting stricture to calm down...I am on the low residue diet (white rice) has become my cereal, filler, and pudding lol...thanks yall
 
On the support for crohns and ulcerative colitis page on facebook they are discussing a SCD diet, you may want to check that out as it may be helpful. Good luck

i also have stricture from scarring and have a 'stretch' of my anastimosis done via Colonoscopy done twice a year, my GI doc instert a balloon and literally stretches the affected area, this really helps food to pass easier.
 
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