Hyoscyamine & Crohns + GI doc seemed to want to change diagnosis to IBS -_-

[Crohns2015]

Well. I finally got into see a new GI doctor. It took me 4 trips to the ER this past month (2 of them were ambulenced) in order for my primary doctor to crack down and find me one that takes my insurance. They had previously diagnosed me with Crohn's due to intestinal inflammation, joint pain, severe rectal bleeding, extreme abdominal pain, vomiting / nausea ect ect you get the point. And I know for a fact my GI problems are due to at least a form of IBD but this new GI I saw (whom everyone seems to say is "the best in the state" **rolling eyes**) barely listened to my complaints, noticed I had mental disabilities (PTSD being one of them) and straight away began to just treat me as though I just have IBS. It seemed very descrimative & possibly sexist (I'm a 24 year old women & I've noticed that doctors tend to take men more seriously when it comes to their health problems & pain than women. Maybe it's just the state I live in or maybe I'm just "imagining things"). Either way, since I've had severe GI problems for the past 2 years and have seen a numerous amount of doctors, I don't take their s#1+ anymore. I demanded him to do a blood test for IBD and also to perform another colonoscopy to see if my ulcers have healed or not / check up on my tumors & hemorrhoids / take as many biopsies as possible to test for IBD (Crohn's). The doctor seemed very annoyed & honestly I found it amusing. Doctors should help us who are in pain, not just tell us it's all in our head. I highly doubt I have IBS because this GI condition I have has basically ruined my way of living. I'm scared to eat / drink, constantly in pain, constantly tired, and I pass out / black out due to the weakness and joint pain and dehydration from consistent vomiting and diarrhea. My bowel movements are rarely ever normal, they're always either NON EXISTANT, hard & covered in mucous, black tarry and loose, bloody, or straight liquid.

**end of cr@ppy doctor rant**

Anyways. I was wondering if any of you who have Crohn's or any other form of IBD has experience with the medication hyoscyamine? I begged the doctor to switch me off the norco's I've been on for 2 weeks now because 1.) pain meds make me just WEIRD / crazy 2.) they constipate me really bad and 3.) they're addictive. The doctor said that hyoscyamine will help with the abdominal cramping but unfortunately not that severe joint pain I have (that is the worst in my legs). I started it last night & it made me extremely tired & I zonked out so that's a good sign I guess. Usually I don't get sleep at night due to GI disturbances. Only side effect I have is a sore throat.

I would really like to know your experience with this medication because I honestly question this doctor's professionalism considering he immediately wanted to diagnose me with IBS.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi, welcome to the forum. First of all, it sounds like that doctor is awful and I hope you can find another GI who takes your insurance. With all of your symptoms, it's certainly more than IBS. You don't get things like joint pain, blood in the stool, dehydration, etc with IBS.

I tried hyoscyamine for a short time a couple years ago, and I had a bad reaction to it - it made me much worse. I think I'm in the minority, but I got a side effect of severe nausea and vomiting from it. Even after I stopped taking it, the nausea lingered for weeks and I could barely eat anything for awhile, it was miserable. That's just my experience, of course. My GI tried me on it because he had hoped it would "calm" my guts. Apparently it's mainly an IBS med, so it might not do much for you, and it's correct that it isn't going to do anything for joint pain or other extra-intestinal symptoms. It's maybe worth a try, but it sounds to me ilke this doctor is just trying to brush you off with an IBS med. Definitely start looking for a new doc to get a second opinion. Good luck and hang in there!

 

[2thFairy]

Hyoscyamine helps with cramping for some people. Because I couldn't afford to take narcotics while I was on the job, but needed SOMETHING, I used hyoscyamine to help take the edge off. It is a mild drug and most people do not have adverse reactions to it. (Sorry you had such trouble, Cat!) It's worth a try to see if it will help you.

 

[Ihurt]

Geez, it seems like doctors are very quick to diagnose IBS. What is really messed up is that you have prior records and tests that have shown ulcers in your intestines. That alone should be enough for this GI doc to diagnose you with IBD. I mean IBS does not cause blood in stools, he should know this. I have been sick since 2003 with many health issues so I have seen many doctors ( more bad ones than good ones sadly). I sounds like this doctor is obviously not very knowledgeable about GI issues if he just skipped over the fact that you had already had confirmed tests showing inflammation in your intestines. I would search for another GI doc. I don't even know if I would trust him to do tests on you. He seems incompetent from how you described him. I am sorry you are dealing with this. I hope you feel better soon.