I started having chronic diarrhea and stomach pains while I was deployed in the Middle East. I went for 6 months without really getting anything done, the dr didn't take it seriously, suggested I not complain because I would have to be flown to Germany for evaluation and that would cause me all sorts of hell.
So after returning home I was referred to a GI. He did a colonoscopy, found inflammation and diagnosed me with UC. He started me on Apriso (Mesalamine) and sent me on my business. I felt like I couldn't get through to the GI, he wouldn't do anything when my symptoms were getting severe not going away.
I ended up going to get a second opinion from another 'hotshot' GI in another town. By this time my symptoms had finally subsided. This was a cocky young Dr, he did a colonoscopy and told me he didn't find anything, it was just IBS. I saw him about 3 times and he actually laughed that the first dr had diagnosed UC. He never took my flare-ups seriously, I booked appt's to see him, he didn't want to bother with seeing me.
Symptoms came back two-fold and I was referred to see the first guy again. My dr wanted me to see the GI in town. So we did a quick colonoscopy, upper and lower endoscopies. He found lots of inflammation and ulcers in my colon and duodenum, which I guess is from reflux. The biopsies came back and they were positive for Chrohn's.
So I was kicked out of the Air Force for my first diagnosis of UC. It wasn't all bad though, I went through the military's new medical board process and they decided on permanent medical retirement. So I'm now out and we've got full benefits and health insurance for me and my family.
I just got notified today when my GI called me about the Crohn's diagnosis. So now I'm finally moving into the right direction. Hopefully I'll get some help and we can get over these issues.
So after returning home I was referred to a GI. He did a colonoscopy, found inflammation and diagnosed me with UC. He started me on Apriso (Mesalamine) and sent me on my business. I felt like I couldn't get through to the GI, he wouldn't do anything when my symptoms were getting severe not going away.
I ended up going to get a second opinion from another 'hotshot' GI in another town. By this time my symptoms had finally subsided. This was a cocky young Dr, he did a colonoscopy and told me he didn't find anything, it was just IBS. I saw him about 3 times and he actually laughed that the first dr had diagnosed UC. He never took my flare-ups seriously, I booked appt's to see him, he didn't want to bother with seeing me.
Symptoms came back two-fold and I was referred to see the first guy again. My dr wanted me to see the GI in town. So we did a quick colonoscopy, upper and lower endoscopies. He found lots of inflammation and ulcers in my colon and duodenum, which I guess is from reflux. The biopsies came back and they were positive for Chrohn's.
So I was kicked out of the Air Force for my first diagnosis of UC. It wasn't all bad though, I went through the military's new medical board process and they decided on permanent medical retirement. So I'm now out and we've got full benefits and health insurance for me and my family.
I just got notified today when my GI called me about the Crohn's diagnosis. So now I'm finally moving into the right direction. Hopefully I'll get some help and we can get over these issues.
