AboutMiranda Expertise I can answer most questions pertaining to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis) as well as the medications, surgeries and tests associated with it. I am not a doctor so please don't ask questions that aren't related to this specific area or close to it because it is not my area of expertise.
Experience I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease for over five years and have dealt with the disease since I was twelve years old. I have been through every medication, numerous exams as well as surgery. I have also worked at a camp for chronically ill children the past three summers and two of our sessions are Crohn's and Colitis so I am very familiar with both conditions.
Organizations Crohn's Colitis Foundation of America, IBD Campus Connection
Education/Credentials I will be finishing up my Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Biology this spring and I am currently applying to nursing schools to become a nurse practitioner.
Expert: Miranda Date: 6/17/2008 Subject: unknown stomach problems
Question I had an appendectomy at 13 yrs of age. I had my gall bladder removed when I was 17 years old. I continued to experience sharp pains but the doctors couldn't find anything. When I was about 19 it started to become scary to eat. Sometimes I could eat anything and not get an upset stomach. Then I would go through periods where anything I ate would upset my stomach. Even a bite of celery would upset my stomach. One time I got really weak when I ate a hamburger and had to sit down. Whenever I get these upset stomachs I get diarrhea. I'm 22years old now and continue to have these problems. Today I ate a breakfast burrito and I had black diarrhea. I went through a pregnancy and was asymptomatic. Now that I've had the baby, these stomach problems have returned. I'm trying to find a GI specialist but can you give me an idea what this might be?
Answer I am sorry that you are not feeling well. You may be having some intestinal issues as you have probably guessed, and it isn't uncommon for disorders/diseases such as IBS, Crohns and Colitis to go into a quiet period during a pregnancy. I am not saying that you have anything it is just an example. I encourage you to call your doc and get set up with a GI doc so that he/she can evaluate your symptoms and provide you with a diagnosis or advice. At this point try to eat foods that are easy on the stomach such as rice, toast, apple sauce, bananas, etc. Foods such as celery are very hard to digest so avoid foods that have roughage such as salads, celery, seedy fruits etc. Also make sure that you are drinking enough fluid throughout the day so that you dont become dehydrated. Focus not only on water, but drink some fluids with electrolytes such as gatorade (watered down so its less sugary) or pedialyte to keep the vitamins stable.
I hope that this helps a bit, but once again I encourage you to call your doc.
