4 Subtle Signs of Crohn's Disease

Have you been troubled by a variety of aches and pains but aren’t sure what to make of them? Early Crohn’s disease can present several seemingly unrelated symptoms, and if you don’t know what the early signs are, you may be misdiagnosed or be treated for a symptom and not the underlying cause of your distress. 

Our board-certified gastroenterologists at Desert Valley Gastroenterology treat many patients with Crohn’s disease and can help get your health back on track. The following are four subtle signs of Crohn’s disease that should prompt you to schedule an evaluation with our team.  

1. Chronic fatigue

You always feel tired these days. Perhaps you attribute it to an accumulation of normal stresses involved in daily life, whether it’s a long commute, a heavy workload, coordinating children’s schedules, or any number of tasks that you need to accomplish. 

Maybe you associate being extra fatigued with a condition like chronic fatigue syndrome. You may be surprised to learn that inflammatory bowel disease can result in chronic fatigue. The fact is that inflammation caused by Crohn’s disease can sap your energy.  

2. Weight loss or low appetite

When you’re feeling fatigued, it can be difficult to gather the energy to cook healthy meals. Meal preparation takes time and energy. Are you skipping meals because you’re just too tired to prepare them? 

In addition to feeling fatigued, perhaps you just don’t feel hungry. After all, because you feel tired, you may not be exercising regularly. You chalk up your loss of appetite to being more sedentary lately.

You may not be aware that recent weight loss, along with loss of appetite, can be an indication of Crohn’s disease. 

3. Feeling bloated and gassy

Do you feel full even though you haven’t eaten a full meal? The inflammatory nature of Crohn’s disease slows digestion and can result in the buildup of gas, so you feel full long after you’ve eaten. Regularly feeling bloated is another subtle sign of Crohn’s disease.

4. Canker sores 

Have you recently developed canker sores? These mouth sores can be painful and may be an early sign of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s limits your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins, iron, and zinc; canker sores can pop up because of the deficiency. 

When to seek care

Along with these subtle symptoms you may not associate with Crohn’s disease, diarrhea and abdominal pain are two of the most common distressing symptoms Crohn’s patients have.

Don’t wait to seek treatment until your symptoms are severe. Early treatment can save you from painful attacks. 

We diagnose and treat Crohn’s disease 

When you come in for a visit, a member of our team reviews your symptoms and may order certain tests to rule out other conditions and confirm a diagnosis.

Your Desert Valley Gastroenterology physician provides expert, compassionate treatment for Crohn’s disease. We prescribe medication to help ease your troubling symptoms and counsel you on dietary changes and nutrition. 

Once your body is back in balance, you’ll regain your quality of life. 

Call Desert Valley Gastroenterology for an appointment if you have unexplained digestive symptoms.