I think I might have Crohn's. I have been having issues for years, but it's just recently starting to really concern me. Starting at about age 28, I began experiencing some rather bothersome diarrhea. It would only happen about once a month, but it would last for 4-8 days usually. I had mentioned it to my GP at the time, but he just blamed on my poor diet. (Lots of fast food). I never really worried about it after that. I would still have the occasional diarrhea spell, but it could usually be linked to fast food and a little Pepto would take care of it. Then when I was about 35, I had a blockage. Without being to graphic it took about 2 days to pass, and it was extremely painful. Since the blockage I have had a bunch of new symptoms. It started with seeing blood on my TP. At first I just thought it was a boil near the area. I have had issues with boils my whole life. Then I started to see what looked like red threads in my stool. I kept trying to blame it on something I ate so that I could just move on, but it was constantly in the back of my mind. That is just something you shouldn't be seeing. It would go away for 4-6 weeks, and then it would start again. Usually it was just diarrhea, but sometimes with some blood either in the stool or on the TP and lots of pain and discomfort.
Now it's seems be progressing even more. Some mornings I see what looks like little bits of red paper in the bowl. Not liquid, definitely something else. It usually happens by itself. No stool and first thing in the morning. Then a few weeks ago I had some intense pain in my chest. It felt like it was behind my heart, so I started looking online at issues with the spleen. After lots of research and self-diagnosis I narrowed it down to "splenic flexure". The website noted the splenic flexure was a common occurrence with some forms of IBD and Crohn's which led me here. My half sister has Crohns. She had to have her gal bladder removed as a teenager. I don’t know why I never considered it before. I guess I just didn’t know what Crohns really was.
I don’t have insurance, and I am afraid that I may have to let my house go just so that I can afford insurance to deal with this so I have a few questions. Obviously I need to go the doctor at some point, but what really can be done? Does medication help? How much does medication cost? Is there anything over the counter that can stop this? Can I just narrow down the foods that cause it and avoid them? Is surgery needed in most cases? I appreciate your help.
Now it's seems be progressing even more. Some mornings I see what looks like little bits of red paper in the bowl. Not liquid, definitely something else. It usually happens by itself. No stool and first thing in the morning. Then a few weeks ago I had some intense pain in my chest. It felt like it was behind my heart, so I started looking online at issues with the spleen. After lots of research and self-diagnosis I narrowed it down to "splenic flexure". The website noted the splenic flexure was a common occurrence with some forms of IBD and Crohn's which led me here. My half sister has Crohns. She had to have her gal bladder removed as a teenager. I don’t know why I never considered it before. I guess I just didn’t know what Crohns really was.
I don’t have insurance, and I am afraid that I may have to let my house go just so that I can afford insurance to deal with this so I have a few questions. Obviously I need to go the doctor at some point, but what really can be done? Does medication help? How much does medication cost? Is there anything over the counter that can stop this? Can I just narrow down the foods that cause it and avoid them? Is surgery needed in most cases? I appreciate your help.