Advice needed new to this

[RichUK]

Hi My names Richard Im 31 yeras old from England

I have been suffering from abdo pains since december last yearand am really confussed at the moment.
At the moment Im taking tramadol for the pain.

I get pains under my ribs at both sides and in my back about the same height.
I also seem to get pains to the left nd right of my navel and when this happens I get really bad headaches as well and sometimes a raised temp.

I had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy 2 weeks ago where they took some biopsys but all results came back clear. My doc has now said it can't be crohns.

My question is: If you have a clear Colonoscopy and Endoscopy can crohns be rules out completey or is there still a chance that it could be somewhere in the small intestine but has not been picked up.

Sorry to bother you all with this question but I need to know my doctor is 100%correct as Im sick of been in pain and if he's missing something I would like to know

Thanks for your time in reading this

Richard

 

[Guest]

hi Richard & welcome.

well.. i would say that there is still a chance it could be Crohn's - it is possible for the scopes to not reach where the inflammation is and may require you to have further tests (maybe barium meal) to see if anything can be spotted. however, whether it's Crohn's or not, you need further diagnostic tests to determine exactly what's wrong and what meds you need. what have they said the next step is?

if you're not happy with your doctor, you can get a 2nd opinion.

 

[ChefShazzy]

Welcome to the forums... I am pretty new here as well, I'm sure that you will find everyone to be really understanding and willing to help wherever they can.

I thought (and the doctors thought) I had IBS for about 5 years, never had any tests or scans... Then, when things got real bad, I got all the scopes/tests/scans, and I was diagnosed with Crohn's...

You are already on the right track to finding the answers, I agree with ding, maybe go for a second opinion. Keep asking questions, and take care of yourself!

 

[RichUK]

The specialist just said to me its IBS and thats it now, so probaly will have to get a second opinion. Not sure I believe in the IBS term anyway think its just used when they cant be bothered to find the actually problem.
And dont want to just sit there and take pain killers for the rest of my life when there might actually be something there that needs treating.

 

[teeny5]

Go for a second opinion. Be very specific when you talk to your doctor about all symptoms you may be having even if they are not stomach related. For example I not only had stomach pains, but vomiting or feeling of fullness very quickly, anxiety, depression, night sweats, fevers, diarrhea, pain and skin issues.

Maybe it is Crohn's maybe it isn't but I feel the more info you give the doctor the more they can do to figure out what is going on in your body.

Good luck!

 

[Guest]

The specialist just said to me its IBS and thats it now, so probaly will have to get a second opinion. Not sure I believe in the IBS term anyway think its just used when they cant be bothered to find the actually problem.
And dont want to just sit there and take pain killers for the rest of my life when there might actually be something there that needs treating.

i totally agree with your thoughts on indefinite painkillers - for one thing long term use of painkillers will adversely affect your stomach, and could mask something else that needs attention.

but, on the subject of IBS - it isn't just a general term used for when doctors don't know the real problem. IBS is a real condition, it varies in severity but can be extremely debilitating, painful, and depressing.

did the doctor, having suggested you have IBS, offer anything in the way of treatment? typical treatment for IBS is diet related, antispasmodics, antacids.

if you feel he has just dismissed you and your symptoms then please, do go see someone else. you haven't got those symptoms for nothing

 

[RichUK]

I have tried lots of antispasmotics but they have no effect.
I also get shivers and raised temp when the pain starts.
All the doctor suggested was taking amitriptyline and basically to go away and deal with it. Im already taking Tramadol and Citalpram and he wants me to take this as well. If it is IBS there must be some cause for it, I've been tested for Cealiac and that was negative too. I ha d a CT scan to look at my Pancreas and other organs but didn't take any barium with this so my small intestine wasn't checked. Just feel so stuck like there is no end to this.

 

[Guest]

tramadol is an excellent high level painkiller - have been on it myself in the past, & probably gentler on your stomach than anti-inflammatories. i've also very recently been on amitriptyline. i was given this for acute chronic headaches, not anxiety/depression. amitryptyline has an added effect of blocking pain to our pain receptors, and i have to say, although i really didn't want to take it, it helped me enormously.

i know i'm repeating myself, but don't hesitate to look into getting on the books of another specialist - you're entitled to change consultants if you don't feel he has exhausted all the diagnostics on you, or has given you an incorrect diagnosis.

i notice you're in the UK - if you can afford a one-off private consultation with a BUPA or Nuffield registered specialist (around 100 pounds), then that is a good way to get on someone's books quickly... after that first consultation you can see them at an NHS hospital. just a thought..

 

[RichUK]

Will look into the private consultation thing.
Regarding the Amitryptyline, did it have any side effects on you, the amout I've been told to take is 25mg a day. Just don't like the sound of taking it with other meds that play with the brain (Tramadol, Citalapram)

When you took amitryptyline did it work enough so you didnt hve to take anyother pain meds

Regarding NSAIDs I seem to react badly to these and they make my symtoms worse. I was given Diclofenac back in december and it made everything about 10 times worse to the point were I was going to the toilet and passing mucas constantly.

Rich

 

[Guest]

i was taking 10mg, just one a day before i went to sleep. and yes it worked and stopped me needing any other pain meds because it broke the cycle of me waking up with awful headaches which lasted all day. i didn't have any side effects, apart from a good night's sleep. but i have to stress, i was only on it for a couple of weeks, and it was purely for the kind of headache i was suffering - the gp thinks it was a spasm of the muscles in my skull.

i'm not sure about the interactions of the meds you mentioned though - you could ask a pharmacist about this or call the NHS helpline, they're sometimes really good about giving medicine info over the phone.

 

[RichUK]

Thanks very much for the advice, feel a little more positive now towards things

Rich

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Regarding NSAIDs I seem to react badly to these and they make my symtoms worse.

Hi Rich - welcome to the forum.
Crohnie's should not take NSAIDs because they can cause intestinal bleeding. That means no Advil and no Aleve. Tylenol is a safe over the counter pain reliever (haha - too bad it doesn't work really well..)

I know it feels like there is no end to this - it sometimes takes a while to get a proper diagnosis, and then to find the right fit of meds to help you. Something will turn around for you soon.