I see a GI doc tomorrow.

[tropez]

I've been out of the hospital since 11/23 and pretty much feel the same. Low appetite, tender/pinchy/crampy(at times), weight loss, ****** mood. I hope the GI doc tomorrow gives me a bit of hope I don't have to live like this forever.

 

[Terriernut]

Hope the GI can get you back to feeling healthy again.

 

[Polaris]

hope you feel better and get some answers

 

[David]

Hi there and welcome to the community. I'm so sorry to hear you're having a tough time of it

Where specifically is the pain? And how long has this been going on?

Please let us know what the GI says!

 

[tropez]

The last CT scan showed the following...

--

Procedure: CT enterography of the abdomen and pelvis ll/23/2012 using
Volumen contrast p.o. and 130 Cc Omnipaque»-300 contrast intravenously.
Postprooessing is performed, and images are reformatted in multiple
planes . MIP images are generated.

Clinical data: Abdominal and pelvic pain.

Findings: There is chronic appearing bilateral Lá spondylolysis with
mild grade 1 spondylclisthesis of L4 anteriorly on L5'. This is unchanged
since ll/19/2012,. Y

Again noted is diffuse thickening of the distal ileum and terminal ileum
with stranding in the adjacent fat. The thickening is not definitely
changed. Again noted is a tiny extraenterìc gas bubble in the mid pelvis
anterior and to the right of this abnormal ileum. The amount of
stranding and associated fluid appears slightly decreased since
11/19/2012. This is obviously an inflammatory process outside the ileum,
but there is no frank abscess formation. There are several borderline
and mildly enlarged lymph nodes in the adjacent mesentery, particularly
in the right lower quadrant. These findings could be inflammatory bowel
disease with mesenteric adenitis or infectious ileitis with reactive
lyrnphadenopathy. There is no bowel obstruction. A few diverticula are
identified from the colon. There is no CT evidence of diverticulitie.

Lung bases are clear. The liver, Spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands, and
kidneys are normal. The gallbladder and bile ducts are within normal
limits.

--

The pain is in my gut in general, most all of my stomach feels a bit achy. I get light pinching up to cramping which varies throughout the day. The cramps last a minute or so. Energy levels are still low, so is appetite, I've lost about 14lbs since 11/19, mostly due to lack of eating I think.

 

[Terriernut]

I'm no Dr, but that sounds like classic Crohn's. The reason being is Crohns can affect the exterior of the bowel as well.

I am curious what your GI has to say and what he/she suggests.

 

[David]

Thanks for posting the CTE results. Your GI is going to schedule you for a colonoscopy and maybe an endoscopy. I think you'll have some definitive answers soon.

*hugs*

 

[tropez]

I just got back from seeing the doc. He was very helpful, very informative, helped explain the entire process (even though I won't be able to repeat it), he truly gave me a good feeling that he knew what he was talking about.

The colonoscopy is scheduled for the day after Christmas. Merry Christmas to me! All liquid diet Christmas day. Then after that he plans to use a camera pill that I swallow and it takes pictures for 6 hours as it travels through my body (quite amazing).

No drugs for right now. He went through the entire list, from the mild, to the "nuclear" stuff, he thinks if anything I would be on the mild end, but no pills yet.

 

[tropez]

He did find it odd that throughout this process, from all of the bloodwork done during the week of 11/19, my white blood count has never been high. He thought that was interesting.

 

[Terriernut]

Quite a few people on here have 'normal' bloodwork even when they are flaring away.

Sorry about xmas being liquid only. Perhaps you could 'move up' xmas dinner a day or two?

 

[David]

I'm glad you feel comfortable with the GI. Too bad about the liquid diet on Christmas though

Please keep us updated as to how you're doing! We're here for you anytime you need us.

 

[tropez]

The nice thing is I have very little appetite now, so going 1 day without food won't be a big deal. It wasn't like I was going to throw down on Christmas or anything, I would have picked at a few things though.

I will share what I learn.