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Crohn's and Vasovagal Syncope connection?


Sun, May 18, 2025 10:54 AM

I was 13 in 1958 when I 'officially' felt symptoms. I'd come home from school, do my homework and then go down from dinner feeling hungry. But once I had a couple of forkfuls of food I'd experience severe abdominal pain. The pediatrician diagnosed constipation but the enemas just exacerbated the symptoms. X-rays showed a mass - the immediate thought was cancer. I was admitted to a children's hospital where during surgery they discovered a real mess. They had to do a right hemicolectomy to rectify the situation and I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I have managed to live a full life with various symptoms over the years as well as two further local resections. For the first twenty years or so there wasn't a lot of information and I was told there was no treatment. I'd suffer the pain of partial obstructions but medication in those early days didn't help. I've managed better since my last local resection 25 years ago. The past couple of years I've started having new symptoms where I would pass out if I stood for too long resulting in traumatic brain injuries after hitting my head when I fell. I've undergone a number of CT scans of my brain and various thorough heart tests over the past 2-3 years. The diagnosis was vasovagal syncope (even when I fell without fainting). The last time I spoke to my primary caregiver a week or so ago, I mentioned how strange it was that no one has thought to check my gut. I've done a little investigating and apparently there can be a connection between Crohn's and Vasovagal Syncope. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

FPO Mishahu
Joined May 18, 2025

Mon, May 19, 2025 10:05 AM

Reply posted for Mishahu.

Thank you for posting your question and sharing your experience. It's very important to discuss these symptomatic concerns directly with your healthcare team, and your GI team. They can evaluate whether further gastrointestinal workup is warranted and help determine if your gut health may be playing a role in your symptomwhich may or may not be related to Crohn's, so best to get medical expertise. 


If you have additional questions or need further support, you can reach out to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s IBD Help Center (info@crohnscolitisfoundaiton.org) for expert guidance. Always consult your doctor for advice tailored to your specific health needs.



FPO administrator
Joined Oct 12, 2017

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