HI again
Well, I met my new GI this morning, and...I think I love him! :ylol:
Don't get me wrong...I still don't know what the heck is wrong with me...but he listened to me and he asked me more questions than any other doctor ever has! And then he listened some more.
I felt like an idiot from the beginning because as soon as he said "Tell me why you're here today", the last 15 years of being sick and feeling so defeated flashed through my head and all I could say to him was (as I started to cry) "I'm just so tired of being sick and feeling like no one believes me".
Ugghh....don't cha just hate it when your emotions won't hide !! LOL.
Anyhow, he was so kind, handed me tissues, said he understands and then he waited for me to pull myself together.
So, we went over pretty much everything I could think of, and even things I didn't want to "bother" him with (such as arthritis pain, major migraines, extreme fatigue). He asked for details about those things...I couldn't believe it.
After we went through all of the symptoms in detail, and all 8 of my surgeries (I made sure to tell him that every single one of my surgeries have all stemmed from these same symptoms all these years) he gave me his opinions and course of action to begin.
Now don't get offended or mad my fellow "undiagnosed" when I tell you his first speculation LOL ... The first thing he started explaining was the infamous IBS ! While I do firmly agree that most IBS diagnosed is used as a "catch all" when the doctors don't know what is wrong, I also believe that is is a real condition/functional disorder. And, I would be more than happy to have that as a diagnosis if and only if, they (doctors) can prove to me that there is nothing else wrong. It seems to me from talking to him that this is exactly what he is going to do. He did say that from first glance he does think that I may "just" have IBS, however, he is not willing to just leave it at that and he can not ignore the fact that my daughter has severe Crohn's. In fact he was very interested in hearing all about her disease, process of diagnosis, and prognosis. So I told him everything. I probably talked more in detail about her disease and symptoms and treatment then I did my own history haha.
Anyhow...I'm rambling...
He is moving quickly for me thank goodness.
I am already scheduled for a colonoscopy on Monday morning first thing! (I have to do the dreaded MoviPrep! ugghh) He said that he is looking for Microscopic Colitis (David if you're reading this I instantly thought of you! LOL) And also he said the main reason he wants to do this is to look for Crohn's. I questioned him on how far into my small intestines he would be able to see; he said just past the terminal ileum where Crohn's is usually found. He said if nothing shows, then we can discuss other tests afterwards.
And also I am scheduled for first thing Tuesday morning to have a Hydrogen Breath Test. He said this is used to look for bacterial overgrowth in my intestines. He wants to do this because of my recent surgery and the finding of the severe adhesions I had. They said to be prepared to be there between and hour and a half to possibly 3 hours. This test should be pretty simple since all I have to do is breath a little heavy LOL.
After the tests are complete and the results are in he is planning on prescribing Amitriptyline to me and see if it helps. He said even if it doesn't help with the diarrhea issues, then it will at least help with the pain, and better yet with my severe migraines. So, I am more than willing to give this med a try, especially since I have heard such great things about it from others on here.
So I have a little hope again today even if I don't feel any better yet!
I am pretty excited about this new doctor...especially since all of this came about and he doesn't even have his hands on my past medical records yet. I just signed the release for them this morning !
Wish me luck please everyone ! I just want to feel semi-normal again ~ I know we all do! :ghug:
(I apologize this is so lengthy !) :shifty-t: