Crohns, collitis or something else?

amother

OP ↓

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:25 pm

Okay, so here goes(looong..);
I am currently 9 weeks post c-section. During the last 4 months or so of the pregnancy I suffered from extreme diarrhea (think 8-10 times a day), which was often accompanied by a lot of blood in the toilet. I thought it was pregnancy related, as I had diarrhea in previous pregnancies, but never that bad and never with blood. One of the pregnancies it was caused by some vitamins I was taking, so I went off all vitamins now again, but it didnt help this time.
In my eight month I told my OB about my symptoms, and he got really worried, thinking it might be crohns or collitis. He referred me to the gastroenterologic department of the same hospital he works in. They did blood work, which seemed to be okay. They also wanted me to send in a stool sample, which I did, but apparently it got lost somewhere along the way!?
They also sheduled a colonoscopy for a about 6 weeks after the birth.
Well, I ended up with a c-section( my first) and I was very bloated and constipsted for a good few weeks. I also dont have any blood anymore when I go. So I cancelled the colonoscopy, telling them my symptoms are gone. But now the diarrhea started again, this time accompanied by weird pain in abdomen. Not terrible pain, but just very uncomfortable. Could it be because I carried to heavy things the day before?
I know I should call the dr and I will iy"h, but they are extremely hard to reach, so its likely gonna take a few days and I'd like to hear from other imas meanwhile...

Ps I was on Aspirin during the pregnancy and I think this might have caused the bleeding.

Pps I got some random fevers in my ninth month that appeared in the middle of the day and was gone after about 24 hours

Anyone experienced the same or simillar or got some clues?
I would be so gratefull for some anders.
And again, I will see a doctor iy"h

amother

Burgundy ↓

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:44 pm

You really need to get a full GI workup.
I can tell you that my daughter has crohns, and she experienced bloody diarrhea before being diagnosed.
BUT all of her bloodwork came back normal, so the GI assured us it wasnt crohns or colitis. It was only during a colonoscopy that her GI, completely surpriaed, told us she has full blown crohns all over her small and large intestine.
Even after being diagnosed and put on meds, her blood work comes back normal, but her fecal calprotectin (stool sample) is usually elevated.
Best thing is to do a colonoscopy.
If you feel the GI osnt being thorough enough (it happens), switch to another.
Hatzlacha

amother

Pearl

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 6:40 pm

crohns can start as an adult, or symptoms could have been mild and gotten worse.
You deffinitly need that colonoscopy!
I don't have crohns bH but I have really bad IBS-what my doctor called non-infectios colitis. And some close relatives have IBD (one crohns, one colitis, one other rare type that I can't remember name of)
Colonoscopy itself isn't uncomfortable, as you'll be asleep. The prep is pretty nasty, as it is made to give you tons of diarrea to empty you out. Everyone handles that differently. I got very irritated from it, but I know my brother said he was fine with it and didn't find it uncomfortable: just annoying to keep running to the bathroom.
I was also trying to avoid one, but once I did it I was happy to know what's wrong with me. Totally worth the clarity!
You can ask the doctor which prep you can do that is the least uncomfortable.

amother

↑ Burgundy

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 6:47 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Thanks so much for your reply. I'll brobably can't get around having a colonoscopy, I am just so scharf to have one. I imagine it to be very uncomfortable.
I just find it so hard to believe that I will suddenly get a chronic condition at age 35! Is that even possible?

You absolutely definitely can develop crohns or colitis as an adult. Its pretty common actually.
It doesnt mean you have it, but a colonoscopy is the only way you will truly know whats going on.
And if it helps, its REALLY not that bad. Before my daughter's, I was so nervous for her....I was making a mountain out of a molehill because I had always heard so many colonoscopy prep stories from coworkers etc.....its not thaaaat bad. Yes, you clean yourself out the day before, but its not auch a big deal. You go a few times, you do your business, you go the next morning to the place, and before you know it theyre waking you up that its over