Gastroenterology/3 year old boy

Hello @elisabetha,

It must be quite worrisome to see your grandson go through this, and we are so glad that you've come to Connect for some answers.
It's still not clear whether Crohn's disease is genetic, but it does tend to cluster in families, and having an affected family member is a significant risk factor for the disease.

While I search for Connect members who may have some insight I would sincerely encourage you to view Mayo Clinic's IBD (Inflammatory bowel Disease), blog: http://ibdblog.mayoclinic.org.
If you type the word, "children" in the search column, you will see a number of videos and posts in which experts from Mayo Clinic talk about very early onset of bowel diseases, and various treatment paths.

@elisabetha, may I ask if the doctor has identified or explained what behavioral problems your grandson may have? Have you considered testing him for Crohn's?

@elisabetha, I also thought I'd let you know that we're hosting a live video Q&A session on Facebook:

Join us April 6 at 10 am CT for an #AsktheMayoMom Facebook Live session with Dr. Angela Mattke, Pediatrician, and Dr. Jeanne Tung, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, about inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.

You do not need a Facebook account, and can view the details as well as sign up here: http://mayocl.in/2nfD1lU

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response.  I feel optimistic that I may finally make some progress.  The behavioral problem was that Jude, my grandson, is a strong willed child, on the basis of 30 seconds into the visit.  Jude has never even had a temper tantrum and we've never noticed a sign of the terrible twos, this is my honest and unbiased experience.  No, no x/rays or other tests were performed.  The visit lasted 5 minutes, Jude got a lollipop for good behavior :-)!  I will immediately check the IBS site, thank you so much.Sincerely R. Elisabeth Scheu 

Hello @elisabetha and welcome. The symptomes you describe sund just like what my daughter went through 10 years ago. She was constapated almost from birth and always strained to have a movement. she was 2 1/2 years when she complained of belly pain and her stomach was hard and distended. The ER Doc determined it was "interseseption". This is when the colon turns itself inside out. It was esily treated and she was home playing within hours. I am not a a doctor so I wont diagnose but these symptoms can indicat a number of ailments that affect the bowels. I've never heard of behavior affecting the bowels but I don't rule anything out. With my daughter, she will be on a high fiber diet with fiber supliments and stool softeners for the rest of her life. I would recomend seeking another opinion. As far as the question of Auto-imune bowel problems being hereditary, in my family we have confirmed at least two people in each generation of the maternal side with one inflamitory bowel problem dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. It doesn't prove heredity but it is very sugestive to me. I wish you luck with the little one.

Thank you so much, ChefBrown. I have informed my kids, it sounds like this may bring us closer. I will join the April 6 discussion group, certainly seems like another promising way to make progress. <br><br>