Colitis/Crohns?

[Flower2_]

Hi everyone, I am new here and seeking advice.

I have always had some sort of problem with my stomach/digestion. I first became aware of problems when I was around about 5 or 6. I am now 35 years old and female.

Basically, when I was around about that age I had a few bouts of vomiting during the night and sometimes these bouts were so bad they would continue for another day, resulting in me missing school. I did not have an eating disorder of any kind, I would always eat the meals given to me and these were mostly homemade so the vomiting seemed odd but not really raised as an issue. I guess my family figured it was just something that would pass. However, I was also prone to urinary tract infections, too - interstitial cystitis and urinary incontinence.

The years went by, and the next time I experienced problems was when I was 23 and this started very suddenly, where I would eat my breakfast around about 7am (usually consisting of orange juice and Scotch pancakes/toast and a cup of tea) and around about half an hour to up to an hour later I would get extremely horrendous stomach cramps and a heavy feeling in my gut. I would then go to the toilet and pass stools and this helped me feel better. Another time I had awful cramps in my gut which spread to my ribs. My partner spoke to NHS 111 and they told me to go to hospital because I was doubled over in pain. The doctor I saw there said it was likely from the fast food I ate earlier that day but I had eaten fast food like that before and never experienced any problems, so I was sent home after being reassurance and painkillers.

This then stopped after a few months and then around about when I was 25/26 it didn't matter whether I ate or drank anything soon after getting up, but I would get an uncontrollable urge to go to the toilet and pass stools. These were often always hard to pass and dark, sometimes they smelt offensive.

Now, the reason I have come here tonight, is because since yesterday I have been getting more concerning stomach issues. The urge to pass stools soon after drinking anything, including water, is still there - but what has now developed is stomach cramps soon after eating lunch, getting the urge to pass stools within half an hour to up to an hour of eating, the stool becoming extremely hard to pass where I am straining, and when I examine the stool it has become pale brown to yellow and smells very offensive. Also, an ulcerating, sore swelling has appeared on the corner of my top lip. I get cold sores due to Herpes Simplex but I always, always get cold sores due to Herpes Simplex on the bottom right of my lip, never the right hand corner of my top lip.

Usually I resolve the cold sores I tend to get regularly by supplementing folic acid which seems to calm it down within a couple of days and I tended to put the upper lip problems down to under-medicated hypothyroidism that is being treated and I take my thyroid hormone replacement medication regularly and consistently with no side effects.

My uncle has crohn's and diabetes, there is no other family history for anything crohn's related, however there is a long family history of endocrine issues so I am kind of at a loss as to next steps, or testing!

I am not a smoker and have never smoked in my life as I know this is considered an increased risk for developing crohn's, is that right? My weight fluctuates a lot, too and I am as some consultants of mine have said "remarkably slim", but this weight fluctuation has been ongoing since I was about 10 years old.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you x

[Noiram59]

As a coeliac, I would suggest getting tested for coeliac disease as well as checking all other possibilities with your doc. The pale stools and cold sores are ringing bells with me!