suzi47cmt

You poor dear,
I DO know how you feel. I have had Crohns for 30+ years. I am 47 years old. I was not, however, actually DIAGNOSED with Crohns until I was 20. I suffered through most of my high school years not knowing WHAT was wrong with me, due to the HORRID pain, AND diarrhea. Which was SO embarrassing at times. Back in the 70's it was a RARE disease/disorder. Now, sadly, it is MUCH more common. I wish we were able to give each other our email addresses, but that is not allowed here, due to safety issues. I just feel for you, and for anyone who suffers from this debilitating disease.

But, as you can see, I have had crohns for many, many years, and I'm still here.

I agree completely regarding not letting these symptoms you are having, go. See your doctor right away. You may just have a slight obstruction, or not, either way you do need to see a doctor. Your symptoms describe many of the things I have gone through, and they are not to be ignored. The symptom of vomiting up green, that is bile more than likely, so do not let this go on. Your electrolytes could be severely off, as this is a very common thing that happens to us with crohns. Any and all of these things really do deserve the attention of a doctor.

I know it is frustrating to continually have to seek out your doctor, but that is the best thing with crohns. It is a tricky, fast moving, fast changing, deceptive, painful, disease....BUT...it IS manageable to a point, and you CAN live a normal, active life. It takes time, patience, and a lot of trial and error, however. THat is the nature of the beast, AND of course, everyone IS different, and therefore slightly differently receptive to, or not receptive to, treatment methods.

I will say this. I am a very rare case of the "sterotypical" crohns patient. I am written up in the New England Medical Journal, from back in 1980-something, due to the fact that I have had EVERY immaginable side-effect, and symptom of this disease. I have had rheumatoid arthritis, I have had five ostomies, I have had my large bowel, rectum, and all but 13 feet of my small bowel removed. Yes, I only have 13 feet of small bowel remaining, with an ileostomy, and NOTHING below that. I am not telling you this to frighten you, quite the OPPOSITE. I am a VERY RARE case. Medications that typically work for crohns patients have NOT for me. I am in a slight "remission" for the past almost year or so. I have had kidney failure, due to malabsorption and dehydration (this is DUE to the shortened bowel mostly). AND I could go on and on. I also have no gallbladder or appendix. I have also had many unrelated surgeries as well. But the crohns is the one thing that NEVER goes away.

I recently went to "grand rounds" at a local medical center (I was invited), and listened to a doctor from University of Chicago Medical Center. He is doing VERY successful stem cell replacements(not from embryo's, but from the patient themselves!!!), and it was AMAZING what it has done for the crohns patients that have had it (only three of them have had it, but all three have gone TWO and a HALF YEARS now with NO symptoms of crohns). This, of course, is a VERY serious procedure, and is not something to be taken lightly, especially the older you are. These three patients were ages 21; 25 and 34 years of age. I only mention this because it is my ONLY hope now, as I am that rare type of crohns patient that nothing else has helped.

I am sorry to go on and on my dear. I am so eager to inform and help out ANYONE with crohns, that I tend to get carried away. However, if you just want a point of view on something to do with crohns, I would be happy any time, to help out here on the healthboards forum, at least with my own experiences that is.

Take care, and please get yourself to the doctor, I think you need to. Dont let yourself go on suffering, PLEASE.

God bless,
Suzi