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Posted 7/21/2008 2:17 PM (GMT -7)
My GI emailed me about my symptoms of constipation and very small thin stool output a few times a day.  The output seems very little compared to usual and the amount of food I am eating lately.  I have been very strict with my diet this last year and I don't eat salads, nuts alot of veggies or fruit just low fiber low residue.  He seemed to think my symptoms were more IBS than crohns.  Although I was diagnosed with these same symptoms.  He told me he called in a script for protofoam and canassa suppository. My crohns has always been in the termial ileum. I had a cat scan and pill cam after the intussusception around April of this year.  My CRP and all other inflammation markers are always normal with the exception of my WBC which is around 11,000.  My crohn's markers were all high positive for everything (unfortunately) and the test was completed a few times to make sure it wasn't a false positive.  I have never had IBS ever so how do I know what is what?  We are suppose to leave for Disney this Wed. to make up for the April trip we never took because of the hospitalization.  I am so confused.  Sorry for the long post.

Thanks

Chris

Posted 7/21/2008 5:28 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Chris I had lots of D with IBS although things are better now. With IBS I was told to go to the bathroom as soon as I felt a urge to go .That helped me from getting too many cramps as far as telling the difference I cain't answer that except to say I got a abcess and fistula's from the CD. I guess it depends if there is inflamation present. Wish I could be more helpful. lol gail
Posted 7/21/2008 5:37 PM (GMT -7)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is more of a mechanical issue than an inflammatory issue.  There are a number of theories as to what is going on in IBS, mostly about the ability of the colon to regulate the flow of waste.  The biggest difference between CD and IBS is inflammation.  With IBS, there is a lot of cramping going on and you either have diarreah or constipation or both, but there is no immune response going on.  IBS seems to be really tied to your emtional health and the foods you eat.  In the end, IBS does not leave physical scars on your anatomy like CD or UC.  It is uncomfortable (sometimes extremely uncomfortable) and embarrassing but not life threatening or dibilitating like CD and UC.
Posted 7/21/2008 6:24 PM (GMT -7)
So there isn't any way to really tell other than testing I guess. It certainly feels the same! I am not sure what to do and don't understand why this always happens when I am suppose to travel!!!
Posted 7/21/2008 8:07 PM (GMT -7)
I disagree with it not being debilitating, it very much can be for many, it's not necessarily common but some people with really severe IBS definitely fall into a debilitating catagory...

There is no bleeding (with the exception of a bleeding hemhorroid) or inflammation involoved with IBS which is the main difference between IBD and IBS symptom wise.

It is hard to put into words the differences of how one feels compared to the other when it comes to cramps, urgency and frequency issues though.

Here's a link from the CCFA about IBD and IBS but you'll have to copy and paste it into your search engine to get to it.

http://www.ccfa.org/about/news/ibsoribd

 

:)

Posted 7/21/2008 10:30 PM (GMT -7)

I am having the same symptoms as you right now with constipation feeling and small thin stool. For years I had severe painful D and they said I only had IBS. I think they just couldn't reach to see the spot in my TI to see the crohn's. Or maybe I have both? who knows. In the last 2 years since my diagnosis of CD the painful D has subsided and went to the small thin stool scenario. I had a bowel resection in Feb. and I had 3 narrowing in my TI so that explained the thin stool and painful partial blockage episodes. I was doing great,since surgery, normal size bm's etc and now in the last month back to the small thin stool? Still waiting for entocort to make a difference if it is going to?

What was the meds that your doc. prescribed? Are those suppositories to help inflammation in the rectum area?  I've been wondering if that is where I might also be inflammed?

I know how stressful it is travelling with all of this. We also went to Disneyland last October when I feeling like this before my surgery. I travelled fine and we had a great time. I hope the same for you....hopefully everything will just "coast" until you get back and try to resolve this.   Hug Mickey for me!

Shelley

Posted 7/22/2008 3:25 AM (GMT -7)
Shelley
How did you know you had narrowings? I have the narrowing at the terminal ileum. Last April I felt like I was only going to the bathroom a little bit (diarrhea back then) and had a pain and they did a cat scan and I was hospitalized for intussuception. This resolved with fluids and I missed having the area removed because it went back but they did a capsule and a colonoscopy and he said everything was fine and I was in remission. No one could explain why the intussuception happened. I am still on entocort and pentasa and the doctor called in canasa and protofoam to be used as a suppository but he said in an email to coat the suppository w/ the foam but I don't think I am doing it right. Hopefully he will call. Prior to your surgeries were you on any medicines for the crohns??
Thanks
Chris
Posted 7/22/2008 8:08 AM (GMT -7)
I realized after posting that IBS can be really dibilitating and that I'd used the wrong word, sorry. I was referring to the fact that IBS isn't going to cause you to need an ostomy or some other radical medical procedure.
Posted 7/22/2008 9:16 AM (GMT -7)

Hi Chris, I was on Pentasa when I was first dx and then also Entocort when the stricture pain started. A ct scan finally confirmed that I have CD and also showed the narrowing. The entocort got me thru the christmas season and then I had surgery in Feb.08.

How long ago did you have the capsule and colonoscopy done? How long have you been on pentasa and entocort?

These suppositories that he prescribed....are they an anti-inflammitory? Never heard of these, just curious?

Are you having alot of pain?

Thinking of you............Shelley

Posted 7/22/2008 10:30 AM (GMT -7)

Bonwilsky said...
I realized after posting that IBS can be really dibilitating and that I'd used the wrong word, sorry. I was referring to the fact that IBS isn't going to cause you to need an ostomy or some other radical medical procedure.

I totally agree with that...I have both crohn's and IBS so I visit the IBS forum here as well...you know it's bad for some when they want to get their colon taken out because their IBS is so debilitating symptom wise.  Of course it is worse to have IBD because of the many more health risks, surgeries, fistulas, heavy duty meds, ect, but symptoms wise it can be just as bad (for some worse) as having IBD...I know of someone with IBS-C who couldn't poop for well over a month, the pain from that alone I cannot and do not want to imagine.

:)

Posted 7/22/2008 12:01 PM (GMT -7)
pb4
You had mentioned what helped you was your fiber supplement. Did you get very bloated with it? How long did it take to kick in to where you noticed a huge difference? I don't understand I just had watery diarrhea when I woke up and now I had a tiny, tiny stool that was just pieces with mucus. I can't believe how each time it is so different. As soon as we get back I am going ot try a fiber supplement.
Thanks for your help
Chris
Posted 7/22/2008 2:52 PM (GMT -7)
Initially I got more bloated and extra gassy which for me lasted about 3 months but has been well worth it...it's almost 5 yrs later and I still take it daily...I can't remember exactly how long it took but it's not like it really "kicked in" so much as things started improving fairly quickly and continued to improve to a point of some relief...you have to remember I've also altered my diet, take bee propolis (helps tons) omegas 3-6-9 and probitoics as well, along with regular exercise.

Everyone is different but one thing's for sure, everyone needs some fibre in their diet daily regardless if it's via supplements, food or both.

Metamucil is similar to the Prodiem that I take, they both have psyllium and that's key.

:)
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