Diagnosed IBS 2006 - currentyl undergoing testing for Crohns

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Leebie3

Leebie3

Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Messages
236
diagnosed IBS 2006 - currentyl undergoing testing for Crohns

Hi guys,

Have just gotten out of hospital for yet another bad flare up of IBS.. was dx approx 6 years ago with IBS despite that they couldn't see my entire gut with the colonoscopy.. When they inflated my bowel I was in IMMENSE pain despite being heavily sedated and that is why I was diagnosed with IBS. I get flare ups which start with a bout of diarrhoea (my usual symptom is constipation with occasional runs) and progresses to huge pain which lands me in hospital on morphine and exploratory abdominal surgery :-(. always the same process. except lately I am now getting mouth ulcers and rawness and/or itching around my anus before it starts and during. One of the doctors this hosp admission wants me to see a gastro doctor to have another colonoscopy (they won't do it as an emergency) to rule out Crohns.

Spoke to a locum GP (my new usual GP had no appts) about it today during my discharge check up and she laughed and said that the two conditions are SO dramatically different that I would have been diagnosed with Crohns right at the very start had it been that and that I would be very very ill with dramatic weight loss and other things... I am slightly anaemic with no explanation. before a flare up I have noticed I lose a kg or two during the first few days but usually don't lose weight otherwise (wish i COULD lose weight!).

What is the opinion of those that have these conditions? Is it possible to have Crohns so far up the gut they can't see it? Is colonoscopy the only diagnostic test? My GP says my symptoms fit.. right down to the mouth ulcers and the itchy/bleeding anus.. of course the pain and alternating runs and constipation match IBS though.. and those things can be caused by other things..

HELP. I am SO OVER THIS! I'm so confused and just want to get better.. I hate not even being able to pick my very small 3 year old up because of the pain :-( I also get very tired and usually need a nana nap during the day. Have been like that for years.

oh, while in hospital this time they had me on two different lots of ab's.. one was flagyl but i can't remember the other.. they said I didn't have any signs or symptoms of infection though so have NO idea why I was on ab's! I have come home on oxycodone :-( They did a CT scan while I was in hospital and said there was nothing really there and that my blood tests were fine so they sent me home in as much pain as when I was admitted..so I have no idea what's going on.. :-s

Waiting on the results of recent faecal occult blood x3 and the faecal calprotectin.. GP needs the results so he can send them to the specialist with my referal
 
also, my 14yr old son has ALWAYS had a sore belly.. He didn't eat orally for the first 4 years. he had a gastrostomy.. has always had the runs and has a lot of pain. He was diagnosed with severe GERD at 9months old and as no medication helped he had a Nissen Fundoplication which relieved the gerd but never any of the other symptoms.. The docs have said he probably has IBS like me but now I wonder.. the more i read about Crohns the more he fits the bill :-s
 
pps: I live in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland where everyday you get up knowing all you need is shorts and a tee :) It truly is paradise! even despite the cyclones lol
 
Hi and good luck

Stick in there seems to be what needs to be done to finally get answers.
In the meantime, at least you got the weather.:thumright:
 
and that weather sure is awesome! sure beats the -3 it was in Christchurch , New Zealand when we left to move here :-D
 
cyclones are AWESOME!!! at least they're better than earthquakes like Christchurch has had.. a tad more predictable LOL
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. It is worth having another colonoscopy to see if things have changed since your last one, biopsies really should be taken as well as these tend to be good for getting a definitive diagnosis, do you know if any were taken last time? Whilst this can be a good test to get a diagnosis the scope can only look so far and not much of the small bowel can be checked so it may also be worth asking about a pill cam so things further up can be checked.

I really hope you can get some answers soon, pls keep us updated on how you get on.

AB
xx
 
thanks angrybird :)

yep, the GP is referring me for a SBFT and/or pillcam and another colonoscopy because it's been 6 years since my last one but symptoms are worse.. I have an awesome GP now :)
 
Greetings and welcome to the forum! I'm so glad you joined :)

Leebie3 said:
Spoke to a locum GP (my new usual GP had no appts) about it today during my discharge check up and she laughed and said that the two conditions are SO dramatically different that I would have been diagnosed with Crohns right at the very start had it been that and that I would be very very ill with dramatic weight loss and other things... I am slightly anaemic with no explanation. before a flare up I have noticed I lose a kg or two during the first few days but usually don't lose weight otherwise (wish i COULD lose weight!).
Click to expand...
This doctor has no idea what they're talking about. I suggest you don't ever step foot in their office again.

Leebie3 said:
yep, the GP is referring me for a SBFT and/or pillcam and another colonoscopy because it's been 6 years since my last one but symptoms are worse.. I have an awesome GP now :)
Click to expand...
Excellent! Your GP has you on the right track :) I like them a lot.

I also suggest you get your vitamin B12 levels tested. I suspect that they may be low which could be the cause of your unexplained anemia. If you are deficient in B12, it would also be a clue as to what might be the real cause of what's going on with you (I don't think it's IBS).

Please keep us updated as to what is found. And we're here for you anytime :)
 
thanks David :)

I'm glad I found this forum.. knowledge is power as they say..

I had the dial a doc here last night and he's started me on sulfalazine and if no better by tomorrow evening I'm to call again and he will up the dose and/or start me on steroids.. Do you know if IV steroids work faster than oral?
 
There are numerous studies that showcase that oral and IV prednisone work just as well. I could see IV steroids working a bit faster but I don't know how much, sorry.
 
aw that's lovely of you Adam :)

Still in hosp, still waiting to see gastro doc. still serving me boiled, bland food, still on morphine and still trying not to throw up :-( I'm miserable
 
I hope you feel better. I'm seeing my gi tomorrow, probably to be told to chill out and wait for drugs to make things better. Its all so new that I am a bit turned upside.
 

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