Need your opinion

I've been dealing with intestinal problems for the past 15 years (I'm a 48 year old male). Initially, my family doctor diagnosed me with Ulcerative Colitis. She performed a Sigmoidoscopy (sp?) back then and said she saw red sores in my intestine and put me on a medication, that I can't remember the name of it now, that was a large yellow tablet and it turned my urine bright yellow. The medicine was for the symptoms of UC. I was on it for about a year with not a lot of improvement. I finally went to a GI doctor who performed a Colonoscopy (sp? again) who saw nothing and said my problem was just IBS and told me to eat a lot of fiber which I did and it seemed to help.

Throughout the last several years, even though I've stopped taking the fiber supplement, I lived a fairly normal life in terms of somewhat normal bowel movements. There have been plenty of times, though, where I would go through bouts of abdominal cramping associated with diarrhea that I know was not associated with having the flu.

Lately, for about the last two weeks, I have had watery diarrhea. There is not a lot of cramping prior to the diarrhea, just a very sudden urge to relieve myself which means I need to get to a bathroom very fast. I get anywhere from 2-4 of these attacks per day. I went to the doctor last week and as he felt around I felt considerable pain in my lower left side of my abdomen (a little pain on my lower right side as well but mostly on the left side). The doctor thought it might be Diverticulitis and did a CT scan of my gut which came out negative.

I'm at a point where I don't know what to do. I was reading some of the symptoms of Crohn's Disease on the internet and realized I have been dealing with many of them over the years. Here are some of my symptoms and you tell me if you think if what I am dealing with is Crohn's:

- Watery diarrhea: (no blood that I can tell) for the past two weeks with 2-4 episodes per day. Over the counter medicines have not even phased it.

- Eye problems: Blurred vision. Light sensitivity. Sores in my eyes causing all of this that an ophthalmologist diagnosed 3 years ago as Thygeson's Disease/Superficial Punctate Keratitis. I have to use a steroid eye drop (FML Forte) daily to keep it in check.

- Rash: Red, itchy welt-like rashes around my waist area that manifest themselves usually in the cold weather months. My doctor diagnosed it as Eczema and I use a steroid cream to treat the affected areas. I had this problem for about 12 years.

- Joint pain in both knees: Especially the left knee. I only feel it every once in a while especially walking down stairs, but it's there and it's persistent. I've had this problem for about 10 years.

Does any of this fit into what might be deemed as symptoms of Crohn's Disease?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Gotta Go - I agree with JaSanne that you need further testing, specifically a colonoscopy preferrably performed by a gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists [GIs] are trained in performing the procedure and how to recognize the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. It is especially important given you were diagnosed with UC 15 years ago.

Please let us know how this goes.

First of all, welcome to Healing Well. You are in good company. There are wonderful people here are willing to listen, offer advice, support , whatever you need....whether you've been diagnosed or not.
I agree with everyone that there is cause for you to keep on testing and persist with your DR/GI. A lot of your symptoms do lend themselves to crohns disease.....for a lot of us , the diagnosis process was lengthy and frustrating at times. Hang in there....trust "your gut" as it were. Listen to your body...what is happening isn't normal and you need to get some answers. It took 13 years for me to be diagnosed.....but hopefully you live in an area with good medical resources and will get some answers quickly.
Good luck. Don't forget we are here for you.
Mary

Thank you all. I really appreciate your support and advice.

I am trying to get in to see a local GI here that will hopefully give me some clear direction on this. I'm 48 and I know that CD and UC can both increase a person's risk for cancer. I'd rather be proactive about all of this than reactive when it may be too late if there is something serious going on (like Cancer).