Frustrated!

[guest 8791]

As some of you probably know, almost two weeks ago I was put on a regimen of antibiotics including Flagyl. For the past three or four days, my midday dose of Flagyl has been making me so sick - to the point where I've had a lot of nausea and even vomited a few times.

I just called my doctor's office, and left a message with the medical assistant that I was having nausea and vomiting, and that this round of antibiotics hasn't been doing a lot to help the pain I've been having on the right side of my stomach. They called me back almost immediately and told me to stop all my medicines and told me to go on a clear liquid diet until Friday, at which point I'm supposed to call them and tell them how I feel.

I know this may not be a big deal, but I am SO effing frustrated. No one knows what's wrong with me. I'm still having pain. The medicine is making me sick to my stomach. Now I can't eat for two days. Again. It feels like this mystery illness has taken over my life for the past month and a half and I'm just sick of it. I want to be able to eat food normally, not be in pain, run, be active, and just get back to life without constantly being exhausted and worried about my health.

UGH.

 

[traci0531]

Gosh. I can def feel your pain. I've had a terrible right side pain sine August. After an ER trip where they suspected appendicitis, it turns out I have Crohns! The pain I'm feeling on the right side, discovered by a ct with contrast, is an intrabdominal abscess. Have you had a ct done to rule that out? I've been on antibiotics pretty much since August in hopes to get the abscess to go away on its own. So far, no success. Abscess= no steroids per my dr. So, I've pretty much been suffering since August with the pain and all the issues of Crohns. Went for a ct again today. If it's still there, I will be seeing a surgeon for a resection! I totally get your frustration. It's like your life is on hold. Hang in there! Hopefully, you will start seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, try not to stress, follow your drs orders, and rest.

 

[guest 8791]

@traci0531 - I was in the hospital last month, so while I was there and right after, I had a couple of CT scans. The first one showed inflammation, the second one showed the inflammation had gone down, and then I had a totally clear colonoscopy a couple of weeks back. No one's sure what's going on with me. Thanks so much for your support!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

theseithakas, that just stinks. How are you feeling today, is the nausea any better at least? How is the liquid diet going?

As for the scans showing inflammation, where was it? If it was in the small intestine, it could have been easily missed by the colonoscopy, which can only see the very end of the small intestine. I would ask for more tests - an MRE (MRI of the intestines using contrast) or a pill cam should get a better picture of what's going on. Pill cam can see the entirety of the small intestine - it's literally a pill-sized camera that you swallow and it takes photos all the way through. And my understanding of CT vs MRI is, CT gets a good general picture and sees hard tissue like bone better than soft tissue, whereas MRI can get a good specific picture of something like one organ and sees soft tissue better than hard. Since the CT saw inflammation, an MRE might see better detail. When do you see the doctor again? What's the next step for you after the liquid diet? I hope you are doing okay and feeling better. Hang in there and I hope you can get some answers soon!

 

[guest 8791]

Thanks Cat. I am feeling better, and back to eating solid foods. The liquid diet was bearable, but certainly annoying. I was a little put off by my doctor's office - I called right when they opened in the morning yesterday, explaining that I was starving and still on the liquid diet, but that I felt well enough to eat. I didn't hear back from them until 5 PM, and the message they left me was basically like, "Okay, you can eat solid foods, bye." In the meanwhile, I had started to eat anyway, because I was starving. They said nothing about whether or not I should come in for my appointment on Monday, etc. etc. Very frustrating. I realize their practice isn't all about me, but I was really really hungry and waiting to hear back from them with some more instruction. Blah.

I don't know where my small intestine inflammation is. Is that bad, that it never really occurred to me to ask exactly where it was?

I do have a doctor's appointment on Monday which I'm going to keep. They told me I didn't have to come in if I felt completely well, but as I'm still having pain and the antibiotics made me pretty sick, it seems prudent to go check in. I'll see what they say about more tests. I sense that I may be nearing my wits' end with this doctor, but we'll see. I'll keep you guys updated, and thanks for your support.