GI appt. Update!

[Ihurt]

Ok , well I went to see the Gastro doc today. I told him how horrible I have been feeling with all the upper and lower intestinal pain and the ulcer like pain in my stomach. Well I thought for sure he was going to send me for tests, but he still says IBS. I have not had any tests to confirm this or rather any tests to rule crohns or other things out. He does not want me to go through tests at this point. He gave me a script for elavil and also told me to get this herbal stuff called Iberogast. He said it helps alot of different digestive ailments.

He said he seriously does NOT think I have crohns. I am not sure. I am in so much pain all the time, I just cannot believe that just IBS can cause such awful pain and nausea and soreness like this. He said IBS can be very severe for some people.

There are my symptoms right now: constant pain and soreness thoughout small and large intestines. Crampy feelings in upper and lower intestines. Nausea and pain that worsnes greatly after I eat anything. Bloating and alot of belching. My bowel movements are usually once every other day and they are usually formed but very soft with occasional mucus. I feel much worse after I have a BM for the whole day. The soreness and sick and crampy feelings stay all day. I also have been lately having burning in the upper stomach with pain and nausea. It is awful.

Can IBS really cause all this????? I guess I am going to try the elavil tonight and see if it helps. He said it can take a week to start working. He said it suppose to help with pain. I just do not know. I am going to see him again in about a month. If I am no better I think I will tell him I want to do some tests. He said he would repeat the blood work next time as well. I just do not know. I do not want to eat anything as it makes me feel so much worse. I am even in pain when I dont eat.

What do you all think??

 

[SarahBear]

Hmm. If I were you, I'd probably look for a second opinion. I don't know much about IBS, so I can't say for certain that it couldn't be that. However, if it is Crohn's, going untreated simply because your GI doesn't want to test for it could have serious long-term effects. Furthermore, not knowing can be very stressful, and taking away that stress would certainly benefit you - especially since these conditions are aggravated by it.

I saw your other post about the risks of colonoscopies, and I'd say that the benefits of having a diagnosis overrule any risks. If it helps, I've had two and had no issues with either.

 

[Keepingfaith]

Your symptoms sound very much like my mom's IBS. She has bloody bowel movements, constant diarrhea, pain after eating, urgency etc. She's had MULTIPLE scopes and blood tests and they know it's IBS. IBS can be this severe. Your GI shouldn't COMPLETELY exclude Crohn's either. Some people have NO symptoms & have Ccrohn's Disease.

When going through the diagnosis process, you have to try what the GI's offer. It can't hurt to try the medicine & herbal supplements he prescribed you. If you don't get better, he can always run blood tests & do a colonoscopy eventually.

Unfortunately, the cause of IBS is different for everyone. Most people with IBS don't get better with the medications offered. People with IBS usually see improvement in their symptoms once they exercise & eat healthier. I have Crohn's Disease & I know that Flexeril, which is a muscle relaxor, helps my cramping pain. Maybe you could mention that at the next visit?

I know it's tough now but just know you aren't alone! Finding out what's wrong is half the battle. Don't stress too much because stress can make Crohn's flares & IBS flares much worse! If you are in that much pain then maybe going to the ER will speed up the DX processes! I did that a lot & it was a win-win because most of my bloodwork showed high SED rates & CRPS. Even a few of the CT's showed inflammation(my Crohn's is notorious for being severe but only showing up on scopes, not tests).

Take care!

 

[Ihurt]

Thanks SarahBear for the reply. I am going to see the gastro again in less than a month and if I am still feeling this horrible I am going to insist he do the tests to check for it or rule it and other things out. Thanks again for the reply..

Hmm. If I were you, I'd probably look for a second opinion. I don't know much about IBS, so I can't say for certain that it couldn't be that. However, if it is Crohn's, going untreated simply because your GI doesn't want to test for it could have serious long-term effects. Furthermore, not knowing can be very stressful, and taking away that stress would certainly benefit you - especially since these conditions are aggravated by it.

I saw your other post about the risks of colonoscopies, and I'd say that the benefits of having a diagnosis overrule any risks. If it helps, I've had two and had no issues with either.

 

[Ihurt]

Keepingthefaith, thanks for your reply. Wow, I guess I have never known anyone to have IBS that is that bad. I always thought that it was food related. I do not have diareha at all as of yet. I have formed stools that are really soft. My main issue is Pain throughout the whole GI tract.

I am going to try the stuff he gave me to see if it helps. I see him again in less than a month and if I am still this bad I am sure he will want to do some checking or I will ask him to. I have had elevated sed rates and C-reactive proteins on and off for the last 9 years. I have other health issues as well. My latest sed rate was normal though and I was in pain at the time. When my sed rates were elevated in the past the doctor always told me that it was not really that high and that alot of things can cause it to raise. I also had an elevated ANA at one point as well, but that went back to normal as well. I do not hold alot of faith is blood work really.

I am suprised that they say your mom has IBS but she has bloody bowel movements. I thought IBS was not suppose to cause bleeding.

I know my diet has been very healthy for a long time due to my other health issues so I know it is not my diet. I do however also have interstitial cystitis and chronic UTI's . I have been taking a low dose antibitoic ( keflex) for the last 4 years. I also take probitoics as well, but I am wondering if the antibitoic has messed up my guts as well. I just do not know.

Anyhow, thanks for the reply. I just want some relief. I will see if the elavil and iberogast works. Thanks for the tip on the flexeril. I will ask my doctor for it. I also get awful menstrual cramps the first 2 days of my period and I am unable to take motrin or NSAIDS due to my stomach so maybe the flexeril will help that even. Thanks for the tip!

Your symptoms sound very much like my mom's IBS. She has bloody bowel movements, constant diarrhea, pain after eating, urgency etc. She's had MULTIPLE scopes and blood tests and they know it's IBS. IBS can be this severe. Your GI shouldn't COMPLETELY exclude Crohn's either. Some people have NO symptoms & have Ccrohn's Disease.

When going through the diagnosis process, you have to try what the GI's offer. It can't hurt to try the medicine & herbal supplements he prescribed you. If you don't get better, he can always run blood tests & do a colonoscopy eventually.

Unfortunately, the cause of IBS is different for everyone. Most people with IBS don't get better with the medications offered. People with IBS usually see improvement in their symptoms once they exercise & eat healthier. I have Crohn's Disease & I know that Flexeril, which is a muscle relaxor, helps my cramping pain. Maybe you could mention that at the next visit?

I know it's tough now but just know you aren't alone! Finding out what's wrong is half the battle. Don't stress too much because stress can make Crohn's flares & IBS flares much worse! If you are in that much pain then maybe going to the ER will speed up the DX processes! I did that a lot & it was a win-win because most of my bloodwork showed high SED rates & CRPS. Even a few of the CT's showed inflammation(my Crohn's is notorious for being severe but only showing up on scopes, not tests).

Take care!

 

[SarahBear]

I don't know if there is a connection, but I have UTI's very, very frequently, also (I hesitate to say chronic UTI's, because I haven't spoken with a doctor about it). I forgot to ask my GI about it, but the internet has suggested that there might be a connection between UTI's and Crohn's disease. I can't remember if IBS or other forms of IBD were included in that. Just thought it was interesting.

 

[Ihurt]

wow, could be a connection I suppose. I also was Dx with interstitial cystitis as well back in 2006. I have had my bladder scoped and biopsied. The scope is what dx the IC. The uro I saw said that many women have repeated UTI's, he said some are just prone to them. Also if you have diareha alot it can cause UTI'S. I actually have to shower down there after every BM I have to prevent the UTI's. This is why I pray I do not get diarhea as I am so prone to the infections. I have had to be on a low dose antibitoic for 4 years to help lessen them. It really sucks. Sorry you have to deal with them as well, that stinks. Women sure dont have it easy do they!! )

I don't know if there is a connection, but I have UTI's very, very frequently, also (I hesitate to say chronic UTI's, because I haven't spoken with a doctor about it). I forgot to ask my GI about it, but the internet has suggested that there might be a connection between UTI's and Crohn's disease. I can't remember if IBS or other forms of IBD were included in that. Just thought it was interesting.

 

[Keepingfaith]

My aunt has IC & Lyme's and she has a lot of bowel issues caused by all the antibiotic use. Antibiotic use in its self can cause inflammation of the colon. Which is probably what your GI is thinking since he hasn't even mentioned other tests. The most common symptom from an inflamed GI tract is diarrhea because the colon isn't absorbing water & the bile doesn't have time to mix with stools. If you had Crohn's in the upper GI, the symptos would be more along the lines of nausea, vomitting, black stools etc. etc.

IBS can cause bleeding, albeit rarely. Her bloody bowel movements are caused from fissures due to the constant diarrhea and hemmorrhoids.

I get a lot of UTI's from the constant diarrhea I get. The bactria just travels 'up there' I guess after BM's but you don't have the 'D' so I'm guessing it's from your IC? Stools are supposed to be soft, formed, and smooth so I don't think you have inflammation in the lower GI, if you had inflammation it would probably be farther up. I'm really surprised your GI hasn't given you any Prilosec/zantac/Pepcid? They don't really carry many risks & are extremely helpful for those with gastro issues from GERD to IBD.

Take care! If you don't feel good, make sure the doctor's run tests. YOU are paying THEM! Not vice versa!

 

[SarahBear]

That could explain the connection! I'll have to pay attention and see if the timing confirms that for me. Thanks!

 

[Ihurt]

Are you constantly taking full courses of antibitoics when you get the UTI's? I know when I was getting them constantly I was always on different antibitoics all the time. Then I got a UTI that would not go away and so I finally went to the urgent care becuase I was in so much agony in my bladder. Well the lady doctor there said I had to be on an antibitoic for at least 4 weeks full dose. Well after that I went to my doctor and she said I had to be on the low dose daily continually. She said for any woman who has frequent UTI's, it is better to be on a low dose antibitoic to prevent them as to being on rounds and rounds of antibiotics every time you get a UTI. She said that taking antibiotics periodically for frequent UTI's causes antibitoic resistance and allergies to the antibitoics themselves and eventually they will not work for you anymore.

That is another reason I was told by the uro to shower down there and bottle wash after every single BM and not to get diareha( yeah, like people can control that right???). I also have heard that repeat UTI's cause the Interstitial cystitis in some women. It so sucks!

But yeah, I agree, antibiotics can mess the whole gut up from top to bottom, that is for sure.

My aunt has IC & Lyme's and she has a lot of bowel issues caused by all the antibiotic use. Antibiotic use in its self can cause inflammation of the colon. Which is probably what your GI is thinking since he hasn't even mentioned other tests. The most common symptom from an inflamed GI tract is diarrhea because the colon isn't absorbing water & the bile doesn't have time to mix with stools. If you had Crohn's in the upper GI, the symptos would be more along the lines of nausea, vomitting, black stools etc. etc.

IBS can cause bleeding, albeit rarely. Her bloody bowel movements are caused from fissures due to the constant diarrhea and hemmorrhoids.

I get a lot of UTI's from the constant diarrhea I get. The bactria just travels 'up there' I guess after BM's but you don't have the 'D' so I'm guessing it's from your IC? Stools are supposed to be soft, formed, and smooth so I don't think you have inflammation in the lower GI, if you had inflammation it would probably be farther up. I'm really surprised your GI hasn't given you any Prilosec/zantac/Pepcid? They don't really carry many risks & are extremely helpful for those with gastro issues from GERD to IBD.

Take care! If you don't feel good, make sure the doctor's run tests. YOU are paying THEM! Not vice versa!

 

[Keepingfaith]

Nope! I don't take a lot of antibiotics & am only taking them now to close up a fistula. I'm not fond of using antibiotics & my UTI's just 'flare' whenever my Crohn's is really active in the GI. I had to see a gyno with my rectovaginal fistula & he said it was very common for Crohn's patients to get UTI's due to the constant diarrhea. The fistula its self causes UTI's due to feces leaking out.

From what my family member told me, the IC is sometimes worse than the Lyme's and se is in constant pain from it. I can't imagine how it must feel.