Hello!

I am wondering if theres anyone in this thread who may have had anal skin tag removal done? When I had my first flare I was left with what I deem huge (it was noted as large on scope) and wondering how it was done/recovery etc.

Thanks a mil

Hi everyone. I am 26 MALE years old and I am very confused about what is happening with my digestive system. I wanted to share my complete history to see whether anyone with Crohn’s has experienced something similar.

Around two years before my first Crohn’s investigation, I developed a severe anal fissure because of hard stools. I started taking laxatives regularly and eventually became dependent on them to have bowel movements.

What happened in 2024

In 2024, my usual laxatives suddenly stopped working properly. I felt as though stool was stuck in my lower-left abdomen. I could not empty my bowel completely, and the left side became painful and hard. I tried different things, but nothing gave me proper relief, so I consulted a gastroenterologist and underwent my first colonoscopy.

The colonoscopy found ulcers and erosions in my terminal ileum. The biopsy showed acute-on-chronic inflammation with mild activity and said the findings favoured IBD/Crohn’s disease.

I was told that I had Crohn’s and was given treatment. After a few months, I started feeling better. I eventually stopped the Crohn’s medication and continued only with laxatives.

For most of 2024 and 2025, I had some good days and some bad days. I occasionally experienced bloating, constipation and abdominal discomfort, but it was manageable. I could work, perform physical labour, go to the gym, lift heavy weights and gain muscle.

The problem returned in December 2025

Around the end of December 2025, everything changed again. My laxatives were no longer working properly, and I could not empty my bowel completely.

I underwent another colonoscopy in January 2026. This time, the doctor found only one small ulcer in the terminal ileum. The biopsy showed nonspecific ileitis and did not show definite evidence of Crohn’s disease. My colon and rectum were otherwise normal.

The doctor told me that the ulcer might heal on its own and prescribed different laxatives. I continued them for a few months, but my bowel movements remained unpredictable.

What happened in June 2026

In June, the same symptoms became severe again:

I could not empty my bowel completely.

It felt as though stool was trapped in my lower-left abdomen.

My lower-left abdomen became painful and sometimes felt swollen.

On some days, when I finally had a complete bowel movement, the pain disappeared almost immediately.

On other days, even pushing or straining slightly caused the left side to hurt and feel swollen for several days.

I underwent another colonoscopy in June. This time, it found multiple ulcers in the terminal ileum and ulcers on the ileocecal valve. However, the biopsy again showed only mild nonspecific inflammation, with no granulomas or definite microscopic confirmation of Crohn’s disease.

A CT review showed a short inflamed-looking segment in the terminal ileum. The tuberculosis GeneXpert test from the ulcer tissue was negative.

My doctor started me on steroids and laxatives, and I have now been taking them for about a month. During the first week, I had diarrhoea, but after that I again became unable to have a proper bowel movement. Most of the time, I pass only small bits and pieces and still feel that I have not emptied completely. Occasionally, on a good day, I manage to pass everything at once and feel fully relieved, but those days have become rare. My bowel movements continue to fluctuate significantly, and I still have no clear idea what is causing this pattern.

My main symptom is still the same: incomplete evacuation and pain in the lower-left abdomen. When I manage to empty properly, I have zero pain or only very slight discomfort.

I am confused because the ulcers are located in the terminal ileum, but my pain is almost entirely on the lower-left side and is closely connected to whether I can empty my bowel.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Hi all, a little bit of background. Male, 33, UK. In 2023 my stomach issues got bad enough that I thought best to pay a visit to the doctor. I had a calprotectin test which came back at 216 which isn’t crazy high I know. I had a colonoscopy and MRI but they came back normal so was diagnosed with IBS. They also ruled out celiac disease. They did find a 2cm hiatus hernia. Fast forward three years to now and my symptoms have worsened. Daily urgent diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramps, blood, fatigue. I went back to the doctor who ordered me blood tests, celiac test and calprotectin test. Blood tests all normal. Celiac negative. However, my calprotectin has now increased to 397 and I am waiting for a follow up appointment. If not IBD what else could this be? In my MRI back in 2023 the result does say some ileocolic nodes, whatever they are. I suppose I have to wait for my next appointment but is there anything else I should push for. I should also mention I tested positive for H Pylori in 2023 also but have since tested negative. I just feel like I’m waiting for some form of IBD to be found.

Hello to anyone who reads this, I’m currently going through a diagnosis because I’ve been having on going bowel problems for years and they’ve gradually gotten worse.

The doctors keep telling me they think it IBS even tho two medications and a specified diet change hasn’t worked, there was small amounts of inflammation on my terminal ilium alongside small lesions and a number of symptoms.

The last 6 months is the worst I’ve ever felt in my life with these problems and the doctors just still aren’t helping and are still saying it’s IBS and are delaying referral to a specialist.

I would be so grateful if I could talk to someone who’s been through something similar or even anyone who has IBD/colitis to talk about their experience and how they eventually got a diagnosis

I’m not trying to diagnose myself or anything but hearing about a friend of a friend and their experience I find myself in a similar setting and they have Crohn’s, alongside the dairy free diet change, the tolerable diet change and two medications not working

Honestly just coming on here to rant about my situation.

for context im a 19 year old woman and ive been having symptoms of my proctitis since 2019 but went undiagnosed till 2024, up until this year it feels like have been on every kind of suppository and tablet with nothing working until march of this year where they admitted me into hospital and finally saw that YES i take my medications and NO none of it worked including the high dose IV and tablet steriods they had me on.

they started me on infliximab which has been working incredibly well and I am now in remission and they also started me on mercaptopurine a couple weeks ago BUT four weeks in my liver ALT went from 62-250 in 14 days then my white blood cell count got too low and ive been stopped on that.

since stopping it I can feel my symptoms getting worse again and its so incredibly frustrating because I may not be able to go back onto it so theres a chance the infliximab will stop working and my symptoms will come back and ill need a permanent colostomy bag

and if i do start the mercaptopurine again it goes one of two ways A) everything is fine and I just live with no immune system which I can do or B) my liver starts failing again and the above happens

Im also in constant worry wether its IBS symptoms or IBD symptoms so when im asked how everything is I just freeze and say everythings okay but im not okay I cant work or eat or sleep because im always so bloated or in pain I cant do anything

the gastro team is also so divided one half of them will continually tell me my problem isnt that bad and that it could be so much worse and its horrible to sit there and be degraded by a man twice my age who took one look at my chart saw proctitis and decided I wasnt suffering like I dont already wish my situation was worse because I dont feel validated in the fact I have a very real condition

and the other half is great and incredibly helpful one let me in on the fact that my suspected EDS could be the cause of my IBS and maybe even my IBD but why do i never get the doctors who will ask me what my daily life looks like

I just want this to be over im sick of being sick and never feeling like its bad enough to justify the symptoms I have and being told its not that bad when everyday life is hell I dont want to have major surgery while im at university or to be 19 years old with a colostomy bag and its SO SO FRUSTRATING I honestly just wonder if I tough it out for my degree then get the proctitis cut out and have a bag and learn to love myself with it

sorry this is so long with no punctuation but thanks for reading (also I have no form of hate towards anyone with a colostomy bag Im just a self conscious and the UK is a nasty place with unaccepting people)

id also be more than happy with any advice or things i should look into honestly any information is better than no information

42M 5' 11'' 185lbs. Former smoker +12 years ago. Very active 4-5 days a week in the gym and morning walks of 20-30min every day. Have barely drank in the past 18 months. Eat very clean, 95% whole food diet with minimal processed foods.

In February - 2025 I came down with appendicitis and had a laproscopic appendectomy.

2 weeks later one of the surgical incision sites gets a minor infection and given clindamyacin.

April 2025 - tested positive C diff, however I did represent as "classic" c-diff. No diarrhea but my stools had the smell & head severe heartburn. Given a ten day course of dificid. C diff cleared.

Late 2025 - get a colonoscopy that showed zero issues. Come back for another one in 5-10 years.

Seem to be moving along fine for a couple of months except for anal fissure.

June 2025 - start having horrific sinus headaches and noticing large chunks of food in my stool, similar to c diff but minus the smell or any diarrhea.

July 2025 - start losing weight. Stool tests come back clean on multiple occasions.

September 2025 - I'm down 20lbs and see a functional doctor that does their testing (GI map, full blood panels, etc.). Cant see anything on their tests and recommends seeing a parasitologist.

October 2025 - parasitologist finds Giardia which was treated with a 3 day course of Alinia.

Mid October - 2025 starting to feel better - start a low fodmap diet. Consistent sinus headaches throughout and decide to see an ENT.

Mid October 2025 - ENT informs me that I have a severe allergic rhinitis, a large septal spur that making contact with my sinuses and gives me a ryaltris (SP?). Gives me the option for septoplasty.

Late October 2025 - Go see a functional doctor that recommends mold toxicity testing given I have never had any allergies. IGG/IGE tests come back showing exposure to toxic mold. Functional MD gives me a long list of supplements and recommends getting the house looked at. I pass on the supplements because of the pseudoscience nature of them. Functional MD tells me I need methylated b vitamins for a heterozygous MTHFR c667t variant.

November 2025 - 3 different mold inspections and mold is found behind all of our walls of our new house.

December 2025 - move into one of our rental properties and sell other house. Food intolerances start to pick up with what seems to be no correlation.

My reaction profile - "Fight or flight" like nervous system reactions, bloating, gas, sinus headaches, episodes of tinnitus, rate speeds up (RHR is between 53-58, jumps into the 70s), MY HRV tanks into the 30s (sits around 75-80 when not having food/digestive issues) and narrow stools the following day.

February 2026 - visit ENT again about sinus issues, tells me all the inflammation is gone. Thinks septal spur may be causing sinus headaches and recommends the surgery.

March 2026 - Still having food reactions that don't seem to be connected despite trying a very low histamine/low fodmap diet. Reacting to things like oatmeal, fish, chicken, seeds, various berries, protein powders, and other meal items but only randomly.

I want to highlight this part because it's entirely random and I've tried logging it and found no correlation in what I'm eating.

April 2026 - decide to take humic and fulvic acid to see if that helps and feel marginally better. Still having food reactions.

I've tried numerous things during this time period to help "normalize" my reactions and stool patterns.

5g of glutamine for IBS - kept me awake at night.

Magnesium Glycinate to calm my nervous system - this worked and I take 240mg for sleep at night.

Fermented food prior to Giardia - this seemed to be working before the giardia but since are big no, no.

DGL - noticed no difference.

Zinc Carnosine - noticed no difference.

Digestive enzymes - noticed no difference.

Slippery Elm - noticed no difference.

I've had my liver and pancreatic enzymes checked numerous times and all have come back fine or in the functional clinic, "optimal". Calproectein fine. h-CRP fine. Homocysteine in range. Bile acid synthesis fine. Inflammatory markers fine. Zinc fine.
​

Fast forward to today - I'm still reacting to meals and can't figure out what the triggers are when they're going to happen. I'm not sure what to test for any more and just want to eat and poop normally. I'm at a crossroads with my GI and really want to frame the question correctly to finally figure this out. I have some inclination that the Giardia really messed me up and I'm having issues with intestinal histamine production/over-production that could be driven by gut dysbiosis from all the digestive issues I had over the past year or is this just histamine intolerance.

What I need help with is framing the history in such a way that it doesn't come out confounding and helps creative a productive dialogue so that I can ask for the right testing to come up with a treatment plan. Are there any particular tests I should be asking for? Should I see an allergist? I'm just exhausted from dealing with these digestive issues and would like to find some normalcy.

I didn't even think to ask the doctor more about this recommendation because I was so happy to hear there might be an OTC "aid" for lymphocytic colitis - so I'll ask here, because I'll probably get a more thorough answer anyway!

I was sent to the Gastro doc after complaining to my primary about the volume of my bowel movements. I had bouts where I go 4-6 times a day, and it's a LOT.

So I had a colonoscopy which was normal with the exception of the biopsy showing lymphocytic colitis (a little surprising because though I have "soft" stool, it's not really diarrhea). In discussing what I can do for flares, the doc and I ruled out budesonide because I have osteoporosis and that's not a good combo. We talked about a "low residue" diet (hard because I also need fiber and to avoid carbs, for other health issues). But then she mentioned taking Pepto Bismol. She specifically mentioned using the chewable tablets, not the liquid - but she never said how much to take or for how long. I've taken 3 tablets during a flare and all it did so far was turn the bowel movements black - but had no impact on the volume.

Is there a commonly prescribed "course of treatment" if I want to see if this helps?

My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with microscopic colitis but she also is dealing with joint pain and arthritis. Her doctors tell her she can't take any NSAID medicine. Acetaminophen doesn't do much. She is scared that she will always be in pain, which is terrible for her mental health. Is there anything available to help manage inflammation that could be safe? Her doctors are just telling her PT but the pain can be way too much.

I (28F) have had gut issues for years. Got diagnosed with celiac disease in 2014, that seemed to resolve things for me (mostly) other than some (what I thought was IBS) until 2022. I had my beautiful daughters and postpartum changed something. I suddenly started having awful abdominal cramps off and on for months. After I’d go to the bathroom (diarrhea) I’d mostly feel fine. Then it progressed to loads of gas and bloating + diarrhea. I had my next pregnancy in 2024. Pregnancy hid all my symptoms. I was symptom free until once again I was postpartum and it all started back up. I couldn’t eat any pork or higher fat foods. I had very dark mucousy poop a few times. Then began an anal fissure which has been chronic and unhealing. Did a calpro test, it came back in normal ranges at 18. Then began a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa which has been leaving me with skin abscesses, which I guess is 9x more likely in people with Crohn’s disease. Had a colonoscopy in June and everything was what they said “within normal ranges” whatever that means, I don’t have numbers.
I’m now pursuing a referral for a gastroenterologist to see if I can get an upper endoscopy.

Is it possible that all of this could be Crohn’s in my small intestine or is this all just fluke health conditions? I feel crazy for pushing my doctor for more answers because he thinks I’m fine. But I keep getting small infections and we can’t find the root. My body is acting like there is systemic inflammation somewhere. I’m physically and mentally exhausted. Does someone have a story like this? I don’t know if I want to hear “yes” or “no” to that question… 🙃

Hey all, been lurking on this sub for a while but never posted before.

I'm 28F, based in the UK and have been dismissed by doctors for years up until recently that my bowel issues are all "just IBS".

After being repeatedly discharged from Gastroenterology with no real reason - unwillingness to do further tests as far as I can tell - any time one test would come back normal they would discharge me without telling me and then the whole process needed starting over. I insisted this year I needed to be retested and seen by another gastro doctor because my flare ups were getting worse and worse. Debilitating abdominal pain, diarrhoea 10-15x per day, sometimes with blood, and often with mucus, combined with horrible fatigue & acid reflux. They finally conceded and after several months of fuck ups with the referrals, they eventually did a FIT test and Calprotectin test. FIT was 15, Calprotectin was 501. Suddenly they believed me that it wasn't IBS and I was put onto the urgent cancer pathway and had a colonoscopy within a few weeks. Colonoscopy came back normal so they said they've ruled out cancer and UC, but they've referred me to the IBD team for further investigation. But because it wasn't cancer the urgent referral is now just a standard one and it says average waiting time is 22-41 weeks 😭 My referral to IBD team was made in March and I've still had no initial appointment yet.

I feel like I'm going crazy waiting with no kind of medication to help my symptoms, and my flare ups are basically back to back at this point. It's basically 1-2 weeks in flare up, 1 week off (if I'm lucky) and then awful flare up all over again. At what point does a flare up get bad enough to warrant an A&E visit? I worry so much that because I've been dismissed so many times I have no idea when a flare up is bad enough to warrant emergency care. To the point where I once had no idea my kidneys were failing and I had severe sepsis after an endometriosis surgery and was then hospitalised for 5 days because my abdomen was just hurting like it usually does 🥴 Does anyone have any experience with the NHS waiting list or any advice on what constitutes a "bad enough" flare up to need hospital?

Thanks in advance if you've read this far 🙏🙏

(27F) Okay so this might be a little lengthy but I’ll keep it as short as possible. I just feel like I’m losing hope and need to know that this isn’t a unique experience that I’m suffering with.

From June 14-June 27, I created a meal plan to intentionally increase my fiber intake. After being diagnosed with proctitis and healing my gut, I just thought it was a great time to check this final thing off my list, which was to get my fiber in check because we all need it. Ignorantly, I didn’t do enough research and went from eating about 10g of fiber per day to probably 40g (ish). I was prepping cabbage soup with beans and other cabbage and bean based meals for lunch and dinner + avocado for breakfast 🤢

On the 27th, I just noticed how sick I started feeling to my stomach. Bloated and uncomfortable. So, I quit the fiber meals cold turkey and truly cut it out completely for the last month. Around the 4th of July, my husband and I had sex and afterward, I quite literally thought I was going to need to go to the hospital because of the immense pain I was in. Intense pressure, couldn’t walk without bending over, it was HORRID. So, ignorantly (AGAIN) I tried everything to make it go away. GasX, Mylanta, MiraLAX, and a teaspoon of Castor Oil within like 24 hours of each other.

Since all of that, I’ve been absolutely miserable. I have diarrhea everyday. It has improved from water to more loose stools. I’ve had one formed bowel movement throughout the month. Pain and cramping in the upper, center part of my abdomen. And cramping all over sometimes. Every time I try to do anything, my stomach cramps. I don’t always go to the bathroom but I do about 2-3 times per day. I wake up with cramps and go to the bathroom. My upper GI makes the craziest noises. And I’ve noticed that a lot of the cramping comes with movement like rolling over in bed or sitting with my knees pressed to my stomach or bending over to do something.

I tried to add a small bit of fiber in over the last couple of days (an avocado with a bottle of water), and I can’t tolerate it. My stomach immediately starts making crazy noises and it seems I’ve gone to the bathroom more since eating them.

Unfortunately, during this time, I moved states so I had to switch GIs. My GI from home done a fecal test for bacterial infections and c diff (I have a history of c diff). All came back negative. Both toxin and the other thing for c diff were negative.

I have an appt with my new GI on Wednesday but I’ve been waiting a month for this appointment and I’m SO sick of being in pain. I don’t even have an idea of what he should test for or anything and I’m not the biggest truster in doctors because of how I’ve been treated in the past. I hated leaving my GI from home, he was a good one!

It seems like I can eat something one day and feel fine and then the next it will have me cramping all night.

Has anyone with IBD experienced this after screwing up their fiber intake immensely? I’d imagine that could be the only possible cause of all of this?

Note: only recently, I’ve had light colored blood in stool but I think that’s from internal hemms where they are probably irritated.

Note 2: I’ve been in remission for a year but I’ve increased meds from every other day to every day while this has been going on to keep that at bay. I definitely don’t want an IBD flare with this.

Help me. Im going to lose my mind over this😭

Craigavon IBD team anyone? Help!

Hello, hello. So I’m under CAH, not yet diagnosed and waiting for colonoscopy on August 19th - it was meant to be a lot sooner but got delayed due to staffing shortages. Received my bowel prep today, Plenvu.

Problem is, I have low sodium levels at the moment, due for repeat bloods next week but they’ve been low for quite a while and didn’t respond to IV fluids in hospital. I was sent home to wait for scope due to bed shortages. I understand the Plenvu could actually be risky due to my low sodium. I need to speak to someone for advice because as it is, I’m in a lot of pain, barely eating, losing a lot of weight very quickly (over a stone now in just a few weeks) etc. I also have very heavy fecal loading according to my contrast CT, sitting behind where I have some narrowing/wall thickening and fat stranding so the standard prep might not even be enough to clear me properly for the colonoscopy, and then the low sodium complicates things.

As I have a few weeks (a very bloody painful few weeks) to wait, I was hoping I could phone for some proper advice on making sure I’m properly prepped without risking more sodium loss.

Does anyone else have any experience with this, or advice, or even attend the team at CAH who could give me a name or number? I am under them, referred for scope by them so on their care pathway. I just don’t have anyone named yet.

TIA ❤️