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My battle...

Hello everybody...My name is Emily and I'm 21 years old. I'm currently dealing with a lot of stomach/bowel issues and currently awaiting further testing to diagnose whatever might be wrong with me! My doc thinks I have either Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis, personally in my pea brain I think it's Crohn's just due to the location of my pain (on my right side just under my belly button), but of course I'm no doctor so we will see I suppose.

This whole saga began in December of 2009 a couple of weeks before Christmas. I just had this pain in my stomach that would not go away for almost a week. I went to my doc who did some blood work and a x-ray of my abdomen and after that came back normal I was told it must be IBS and given some Bentyl to help with the pain. My pain eventually seemed to go away, but I was feeling very nauseated and just generally uncomfortable most of the time. The Bentyl did absolutely nothing, so I gave up on that after several weeks. I also tried making a food diary as suggested in an IBS book I read, but I couldn't seem to find any certain patterns as to what was causing my upset stomach.... So I gave up on that too, LOL...

So in the meantime my stomach is continuing to hurt, I feel like throwing up everyday of my life, etc... And then I start getting a lot of diarrhea.... At first it wasn't so bad, I was only going two or three times a day. But it started to get more and more frequent and I was getting a lot of this mucous like stuff in my stool and it was so painful to pass I would have all this gas and bloating. But still I just figured it was the IBS so I tried to just deal with it.

Then in January I got sick with a cold that wouldn't seem to go away so I went to see my doctor and he prescribed antibiotics and steroids to help me heal. So I took them and a few days later I notice, hmm, my stomach doesn't hurt! I don't have all the gas and frequent diarrhea like I did!!!! YAY!!! So being the hypochondriac I am I start google-ing and I'm thinking oh crap I have a serious bowel problem, why else would these medicines cure me! But I didn't want to be dramatic and still thinking its just IBS I tried to deal. Then in February I started getting more diarrhea where I would be going six or seven times a day and I couldn't take it anymore. So I went back to the doctor and he says he is pretty sure this is probably Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis....

So currently I'm taking more steriods to help in the time being and I'm also awaiting a referal to a specialist because he thinks I need a colonoscopy to diagnose this for sure. I wasn't really stressing or anything, but last night I had this horrible nightmare that it was so painful and I was screaming for the doctor to stop and he refused... I know in real life it won't be THAT terrible, but still it makes me nervous. I'm just very impatient and I want to know what is wrong with me so they can give me something to control this. I'm so sick of having all this pain in my stomach each and every day and feeling like throwing up all the time....

I have a wonderful supportive husband but its just so hard to deal with sometimes. I feel terrible all the time and never wanna get off the couch or out of my comfy pants, LOL. Going to work drains me, so by the time I come home I just want a nap :(

I look foward to this site and am glad to have somewhere to at least know I'm not the only person feeling like this! I realize I don't have a full diagnosis yet, so I hope nobody thinks I'm a fraud for being on here.... LOL

Sorry for such a long post-thanks for reading and God bless.
 
Welcome to the forum, Emily. :) I recently got diagnosed too and just started on treatment for Crohn's. I am blessed to having a very supportive husband as well, but this forum has helped me out so much with the extra support of people who know how I'm feeling. I was shortly hospitalized after returning home from Christmas and I remember we had just received a big flat screen TV and my husband was all excited and I was just dying on the couch and could have cared less, haha. But now I'm feeling a lot better (I had an abscess) and hopefully my treatment will put my disease into remission! I hope you find this forum helps you :) There are lots of great people on here!
 

Crohn's 35

Inactive Account
Hi Emily, you have come to the right place for answers. All of your symptoms do point out to Crohn's or Colitis, there are other IBD's as well but Crohn's and Colitis have no cure but control. It may take a while for a complete diagnosis, and to find the right treatment that helps control your symptoms. Feeling nauseated all the time isnt fun and we experience that from time to time if we are in flare. It is very good that you have a husband who is supportive because this disease requires, someone who is understanding and is there for you no matter what. Diet helps, less stress. Feel free to ask any questions, we aren't doctors but we know first hand what this disease entails and creates. Hope you get a colonscopy soon, keep us updated. WELCOME!
 
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Hello Emily and welcome to the Forum!

It does sound like it could be Crohn's or Colitis but let's wait for
the colonoscopy to confirm or rule that out okay?

Please don't fret about the procedure as you will probably sleep thought it
and will not remember a thing.
They give you wonderful amnesia type drugs for a scope now.

Please stay in touch and keep us posted.

Welcoming Hugs~Nancy
 

Astra

Moderator
Hi Emily
and welcome
You're not alone now, don't be afraid
No, we're not doctors but we have a wealth of experiences to share and some laughs too!
You will be ok with your scope, it doesn't hurt, I got to watch mine on the big screen! It was ace!
lotsa luv
Joan
xx
 
Welcome! I hope you get your answers soon. This site is wonderful to vent to , help others, and learn a lot.

Don't worry about the colonoscopy. The worst part is the prep the night before. Once you're there it goes by really fast and no pain at all.

Good luck!

Alex
 
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