Possible IBD?

[farranccc]

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing okay. Sorry to be a pain but I’d love some thoughts and advice from you if possible, please.

I’m a 46 male with real worries about the possibility of Crohn’s disease and don’t seem to be able to move past it.

It started with a perianal abscess 10 months ago which turned into a fistula which was fixed in September and has fully healed.

During that period I was on a range of antibiotics which led to a bout of C Difficile (and then more and more antibiotics to resolve). I’ve always suffered with IBS-D but this was exacerbated since all the antibiotics and the doctor suggested it was post-infectious ibs. I continued to worry and began to convince myself it was more serious. I have spent days and weeks googling and reading about IBD and Crohn’s disease. I am lucky enough to have private health insurance and have had the following tests to look for signs of organic disease in the last few months:

1. 3 x fecal calprotectin <30 micrograms

2. A normal colonoscopy with biopsies to TI

3. A normal small bowel MR enterography

4. All normal bloods (CRP, B12, etc)

I have seen 2 colorectal surgeons and a gastroenterologist and they have all said they do not believe I have Crohn’s and that no more testing is required as they think it is just post-infectious ibs.

My current symptoms are frequent diarrhea, waking in the night with an extremely noisy stomach, intermittent lower right pain (near pelvis and hip) and occasional pain in small and large joints and a regular feeling of incomplete evacuation of my bowels. I have no family history of Crohn’s, no noticeable blood, and no weight loss or fatigue.

I know that people here are not doctors but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Apologies for such a long post.

[Jameshuh]

I can't provide a diagnosis but it doesn't sound like you do have IBD from what you say. It douse sound though like you are worried at the moment and that sort of stress can affect your guts. If you are a bit stressed out at the moment maybe go and see some about that (or do what you need to get any worries under control) and see if it resolves great, if not go back and see a gut specialist.

[farranccc in reply to Jameshuh]

Thanks Jameshuh, I think your recommendation is a good one. Definitely feel like I’m losing my mind with all.

[Jameshuh in reply to farranccc]

The gut affects the mind as many important molecules for the brain are produced in the gut. Do what you need to keep your stress levels low, get help, take a break, listen to music whatever works for you...good luck and don't hesitate to reach out if you feel you need to.

[Jonathanyeah]

Hi - have your doctors also checked for ulcerative colitis? I recently had a UC flare following covid and I had the noisy stomach symptoms. At the time I found alcohol and strenuous exercise made symptoms worse, so it might be worth ruling things out and seeing if that makes a difference? Also keeping a food diary as well as it could be a food intolerance.

Could be stress related too, worry about what’s going on can be a vicious circle which makes things worse as the gut is closely linked to the brain and nervous system. Might be worth looking into cognitive behavioural therapy.

Hope this helps anyway!

[jackdup]

With all of the antibiotics you have taken did you take any probiotics? I do have Crohns and after one of my flareups I had a lot of diarrhea. I started eating yogurt with a probiotic in it daily and after about 10 days or so my bowel movements were once again solid. It isn’t a cure for Crohns but certainly helped with my symptoms.