Is this a diagnosis??

[madollimore]

Hi there! I have had years of symptoms, that have been put off as IBS. Abdominal distention, pain, tenderness and cramps. Alternating diarreha and constipation. I have frequent bowel movements after eating, and in the morning, urgency to go and pain and stiffness in my joints. I've also experienced unexplainable hives, and a rash on my legs and very dry swollen eyes. I'm exhausted all the time and now i'm experiencing bloody mucous in my stools and low B12 (113)

February of this year, I went to hospital with severe abdominal pain, nausous, and vomiting. Ct scan showed scattered diverticula of the descending colon. Inflammation of the mid-descending colon, and a small amount of fluid and thickening of the lateral conal fascia and gerota's fascia.

I was admitted for acute diverticulitis, put on meropenum (iv) and a cocktail of strong pain meds (hydromorphone) etc After 2 weeks, and a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in my arm, my symptoms return!

Back to the colorectal surgeon who admitted me to the hospital. He schedules me for a colonoscopy which i had last tuesday. Sorry this is so long. I go to see me gp today whom has the partial results from the scope. They state that there was sigmoid and left colon diverticula. And on inspection of the rectum there was some inflammation and bleeding, which was biopsied.

Now after years of my gp telling me its IBS, he turns and says i'm sorry i think you have IBD and i think its ulcerative colits. Holy Crap!! This doc never wanted to look past IBS!! He even told me to go home and google it, but he thinks my history, symptoms and results lead him to believe thats what i have. Now could I possibly have ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis??.....ggeeezzz

So now I wait until may 9 to see the colorectal surgeon for the biopsie results. And my gp said he wants to wait and see if the surgeon refers me to a gastro doc, and if not he will. GP also ordered a round of blood work.

CBC w/diff
iron
folate
ESR
CRP
vitamin B12
vitamin D
Liver function

So i "think" thats kinda sorta a diagnosis of IBD? I just WANT a diagnosis so that we can start treating it!...I am on absolutely nothing for my symptoms and suffer daily. I was told NOT to take Nsaids either, great no relief for my joint pain either. Tylenol doesn't touch the pain!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I know a little bit about UC, not much though. I was always told that with UC you bleed and with Crohn's you may or may not bleed. I tend not to bleed so UC has been ruled out for me. But anyway, I did read that with UC, the inflammation is worst at the end (anus/rectum) and gradually lessens the further up you go into the colon. You mentioned that they found some inflammation and bleeding in your rectum so that would be consistent with UC. Biopsies should provide you with more answers, hopefully, and the blood tests may or may not reveal something as well (not everyone with IBD will show raised inflammation markers in their blood work, so blood work alone is not super reliable). Good luck!

And I feel for you, I have either arthritis or bursitis (they can't decide which) in my hip and Tylenol does nothing for me either. Sometimes putting my heating pad on it helps, and I would imagine an ice pack might help too. I tried putting a cream on it but that didn't do anything either. Physical therapy did help, though, so if you are diagnosed with arthritis or if you get diagnosed with arthritis, definitely ask about PT. They can help you gently stretch and strengthen the affected area and surrounding muscles without causing more pain. I "graduated" from PT and now I stretch and do strength exercises on my own and I rarely have hip pain nowadays, and when I do have pain it's not as bad as it was back before I went through PT.

 

[madollimore]

Thanks cat! And the last bloodwork about a month ago my ESR was 34 (elevated) so we will see what its at now. And after this is all said and done, I will def look into PT.

 

[Gculk]

Hi there! I have had years of symptoms, that have been put off as IBS. Abdominal distention, pain, tenderness and cramps. Alternating diarreha and constipation. I have frequent bowel movements after eating, and in the morning, urgency to go and pain and stiffness in my joints.

Hello!

Do I hear ya. I thought I was reading my own writing up till frequent bowel movements.

Glad to hear you have things moving.

 

[2thFairy]

Diverticulitis is possible by itself and in combination with other bowel conditions. The older you get, the more common it is to see diverticulosis/diverticulitis.

I truly hope you do not have UC. You definitely should not take NSAIDs with UC or Crohn's....which, as you know, is misery if you have joint issues.

Best of luck to you!

 

[dannysmom]

Thanks for sharing. Certainly sounds like IBD ... and I am so sorry you were not referred to a GI sooner. Hope you get relief. Please keep us posted.

 

[madollimore]

Just a quick update: Got results from colorectal surgeon, The biopsy results came back that I have chronic proctitis, and I've been referred to a gastro beginning of september.(Does this mean either crohn's or colitis caused the proctitis?) Side note i've read up on proctitis....i don't do any funky sexual stuff and I don't have any STD"s or infections either. Just sayin lol Thank god. It also showed focal ischemic process such as mucosal prolapse. Anyone have (rectal prolapse?) I am currently not on any meds for the bowel issues, although I am currently on I.V. antibiotics and steriods for tracheitis. It seems like when I get sick...i get really really sick. I am receiving home care, not in the hospital. So I was beginning a flare when I came down with tracheitis and about 3 days on the iv i started to feel my symptoms of proctitis improving, not completely gone but getting better....could this be the result of the iv steriods? Are steriods a drug they would prescribe for proctitis? Sorry for so many questions, but I do appreciate the feedback from anyone at this point.

 

[2thFairy]

Could be ulcerative colitis, though Crohn's can show up there as well. Your GI will probably treat you for ulcerative colitis unless you show other suspicious signs that point to Crohn's. The IV steroids could very well be the reason you were starting to feel better from the proctitis.

Steroids never helped me with my UC, but they help the majority of people that have taken them.

Good luck with your appt. with the GI. May you find relief soon!!!

 

[dannysmom]

Oh gee ... i really donot have any answers for you, sorry. But do help you feel better soon!!

 

[tots]

Steroids do not help IBS but it does help IBD. And rather quickly. I was on IV prednisone for a week before my upper GI and the Radiologist said that the steroid would have greatly reduced my swelling in 24-48 hours. So the fact that he could still see the swelling/inflamation- I was in pretty bad shape.

I would say your symptoms sound like IBD.

Hope you feel better soon!


Lauren
:hippy:

 

[allieinwonder]

I just wanted to pop in and say hello and that I hope everything works itself out soon! As tots said, steriods do NOT help IBS, because there is no inflammation to treat with IBS. So, the steriods helping your gastro sypmtoms definitively point you towards IBD.

Goodness, it sounds like you are really going through the ringer!

On your question of, "is this a diagnosis?", I'm pretty sure for it to be an official diagnosis you are going to want it written in a letter from your doctor. It sounds like he has changed the course of your diagnosis, but it isn't a solid diagnosis yet.

Hang in there, it sounds like you are on the right road! And we are all here to talk to when ya need it.

 

[Trysha]

Hello Madollimor
I have numerous diverticula, IBS and also Crohns in the left colon.
My initial symptoms were left side pain and bleeding in stools.
I was fortunate to have an excellent GI right from the beginning and he did the initial diagnosis and follow up.
He prescribed cortifoam, (steroid enema) and this worked very well for me.
Proctitis can be one of the symptoms of Crohns especially when located in the sigmoid area.
The diagnosis has to be made in view of the diverticula but the GI has said there is no diverticulitis present when he did the colonoscopies.
Currently I am at a crossroads with regard to treatment with one of the biologicals, which I am reluctant to do, but fear I may have to agree to the treatment.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha