I am a new member....

[Catarific]

Hi my name is Sue aka Catarific and I have had some sort of Gastrointestinal problem since September of 2010. So far, I do not have a diagnosis :stinks:

I underwent an endoscopy and colonoscopy and both were clear. I have a few biopsies I am waiting on the results - for celiac and microscopic colitis - but somehow I do not feel it will be either of these. For years I was diagnosed with IBS C and only on very, very rare occasions had D. But this has changed 360 degrees. Now I basically have D and it seems I have malabsorbtion and many food intolerances that I never had before. For some reason, I no longer can eat fruit, dairy products, rice, gatoraid, potatoes, grains, chocolate, too much sugar, sugar substitutes, too much carbohydrates, etc. I sometimes can tolerate grains if I do not eat too much. I even have problems with Almond Milk - I think due to the sugar content.

Now, here is the weird part. When I had a bad sinus infection and was put on Ampicillin, 500 mgs 3x daily for two week, I could eat anything - even cole slaw with no problems. But once the antibiotics wore off, I unfortunately returned back to not being able to eat the foods mentioned above :depressed:

I have lost a lot of weight (thankfully I am small to begin with and I wanted to lose some) but not as much as I have. I really do miss eating the foods I enjoyed and am hoping when I finally see the doctor in the next two weeks he may have some answers to help me resolve some of these issues.

Enough complaining!

Nice to meet all of you:kiss:

 

[Nytefyre]

Welcome Sue aka Catarific!

So glad you found us! It definitely sucks that you don't have a diagnosis. Hang in there, though. Things have a way of working themselves out!

In the meantime, there is a lot of info on CF, and a lot of friendly people. Pull up a chair, put on some comfy pj's, and enjoy!

I lost a lot of weight recently(due to c diff) but have started to put some of it back on(boo!). I kind of got used to my skinny self...

Anyway, welcome to the CF! See ya on the boards!

 

[ameslouise]

Hi Sue and welcome!

You may want to look into the Specific Carbohydrate diet. It has helped a lot of people, and based on those things that are giving you trouble, it might suit you well.

Have you had any upper gi tests or a pill cam? If your issues are in your small intestine, a colonoscopy and endoscopy will come out clear.

Good luck getting a dx. In the meantime, you will find lots of good info and knowledgeable people her on the forum!

- Amy

 

[xJillx]

Welcome, Sue! I was going to suggest the same as Amy - It sounds like investigation of the small intestine is in order, especially with your malabsorbtion issues. I recently did the pill cam, and though the prep was tough, the test was the easiest one yet!

I hope your doctor will be able to figure out what is going on soon and get you well. Good luck!

 

[Ataraxia]

Welcome, Sue!

 

[David]

Hiya Sue,

Welcome, I'm glad you were able to find us. I have a form of microscopic colitis called Chronic Lymphocytic Colitis and, well, yes, it sucks but it's certainly not the end of the world. My doctor was quite surprised that my biopsy came back positive (he thought I had IBS). So I hope your biopsy comes back negative

That is indeed weird about the antibiotics. *scratches chin* I assume you told your doctor about that? While you were sick, did you change your diet much?

 

[Catarific]

When I had the sinus infection, I had no diarrhea whatsoever, in fact I was constipated (just like I always had been my whole life). I then found I could eat anything - although I did not try my luck with gluten foods. But I ate sweets, potatoes, coleslaw, fresh fruit, gluten free candy, chocolate, decafinated coffee - with no problems. But once the antibiotics wore off - I was back to where I started months ago - diarrhea - food intolerances, etc.

 

[shamrock15]

Lots of possibilities for bowel overgrowth too - and it would fit with the fact you were on antibiotics. Any other meds before the antibiotics? Some are known to kill off the good bowel bugs. Probiotics could possibly help restore some balance.

The pill cam is pretty cool - I loved it except for the fact that I had mine get stuck due to a stricture. Otherwise it's not a problem at all (you've been scoped recently, likely wouldn't be a problem at all).

 

[PnaG]

just wanted to say welcome how are you feeling ??

 

[Catarific]

Thanks for the welcome Today I go back to the doctor hopefully with some answers....

You know, each time I eat at night - I have no idea what will happen. Last night, I said what the heck and ate some gluten free, 40% fat free Cape Cod Potatoe Chips - since no matter what I eat - I tend to get sick. Well, I slept until 5:30 A.M. (which sure beats 1 A.M., 2 A.M., or 3 A.M., the time I usually awake with having to go) and only had to go twice today as compared to other days. It is like a "crap" shoot - parden the pun - but I just never know what to expect.

 

[allieinwonder]

Welcome Sue!

Wow, while reading your entry I felt like I was reading my own. I have had the same issues for 6 years. I was diagnosed with IBS-C at 17 (I am 21 now), but about a year ago it turned 360 like you with 8-12 D a day, extreme abdominal pain, and in the past 6 months I have lost tons of hair and have had other malabsorption issues.

I have had TONS of tests with no results: endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, CT scans, ultrasounds, biopsies. Nothing out of the ordinary, so my doctor said it must now be severe IBS-D. I was also hospitalized about a week ago (GI told me to go, extreme pain, swelling, and fever), but they repeated tests and sent me on my way still very sick (their infusions did help though). I am currently in the fight of my life trying to get them to see it is not IBS before I get worse.

I agree with the others, this sounds like a pill cam situation. I have been recommended for this test and I have a GI appointment to get the referral next week (I feel like I will have to convince him though). I have a medical journal on pill cams and why they help diagnose crohn's of the small bowel if you would like it!

I definitely am going to be following your journey! I hope they find what is wrong soon!

Allie

 

[ameslouise]

Last night, I said what the heck and ate some gluten free, 40% fat free Cape Cod Potatoe Chips - since no matter what I eat - I tend to get sick. Well, I slept until 5:30 A.M. (which sure beats 1 A.M., 2 A.M., or 3 A.M., the time I usually awake with having to go) and only had to go twice today as compared to other days. It is like a "crap" shoot - parden the pun - but I just never know what to expect.

See?! There is a God - potato chips are healthy!

Glad you had a good night!

 

[Catarific]

Allie - I so wish you good luck with the pill cam - please let me know how it goes for you. Thanks AmesLouise - those potatoe chips were sure good, too!

Here is the latest part of my journey to wellness ha ha

I just got back from the doctor and all my biopsies were negative (sigh), no diagnosis. I told him that I need something - I am down to 98 lbs and I cannot afford to lose any more weight. He did give me a prescription for Questran and asked to see me in a week. He still calls my condition IBS since he can not find any clinical evidence of anything else so far. Same as you, Allie.

Oh and here is a funny one - the nurse took my weight - which was 100 lbs and she wrote down 150 lbs. When I told him I was 98 - he said huh? It says here 150 - gee doesn't anyone have any common sense - if he took the time to look at me, he should have known I am definitely not 150 lbs......

Have any of you tried Questran - and if so - any relief??

Oh and I did request to join the undiagnosed club hee hee - hoping my request is approved - see thread here:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=13113

 

[shamrock15]

Questran - tried it early in my Crohn's. Can't say that it really helped me too much. Almost anything that was to work in the colon never really worked for me. It's probably worth a shot though - doesn't have the side effects of pred!

 

[soretum]

Hi Catalin,

I'm at the beginning of this diagnosis process too, haven't had a specialists appt yet but have had many of the symptoms you describe, especially the food intolerance, weight loss and constant diarrhoea, from my blood work it looks like i have an absorbtion problem as well.
And I can so very much appreciate that odd night when you wake in the morning to find you have slept thru....a rare and beautiful thing! Something I think may be helping me at the moment is fish oil capsules, have you given them a go?

Anna