Hi,
I've been having so much trouble with a diagnosis lately. I've been having symptoms for almost three years now- never actually went to a doctor until July though. My boyfriend has crohn's, and I told him I had symptoms just like him, so he kept pushing me to go to a doctor. I have severe cramps (lower abdomen- I should mention that they are not menstrual cramps, got that resolved at the ob/gyn and feel much better on the medicine he prescribed), diahrrea, nausea, weight loss, severe pain in my left knee, (heard joint pain is also common with crohn's? Also. Have no idea why it started to hurt-just kind of started out of no where about a month ago) loss of appetite, and I am exhausted all the time, despite lots of sleep. Usually go Around 1-5 times a day in average.. I guess I should aslo mention my mother has crohn's as well... Finally was able to schedule an appointment July 16th ish. I got blood work done, and stool samples... she thought I had a parasite; despite the fact that I have family history of crohn's. Blood work didn't have any markers, and stool samples were negative as well... then went back about a month later, and was issued a colonoscopy and endoscopy. I was to get that done a little over a week after the second visit. Prep was just awful. Absolutely awful. Although the mag citrate wasn't bad at first, it caused some issues. I was about half way done with prep when I started bleeding (from the butt of course) and heaving, but never vomited. My My mom said I shouldn't finish the second bottle and take the second laxative. I ended up drinking 1/4 of the second bottle. That was a mistake. Bled quite a bit... I was so raw down there that I was in tears everytime I went. And of course it burned! It felt like I was on fire. Ouch. Also, never again will I eat blue jello during a prep. Never. Lol. Went to get the procedure done the next morning, and as expected, I was anxious. They put in my IV, and took me into the room and put me under.
Woke up, and the first thing they tell my mom is that they found ulceration in the Terminal ileum... same exact place she has it. Found some other weird stuff here and there that they didn't recognize, so they biopsied it. Doc said she was certain I have crohn's. Got the call from the pathologists about 14 days later, and biopsy was negative. What? I was very confused. I was looking forward to actually being able to fix whatever I had, but my gastro (not the one who performed the colo/endo) said she doesn't want to do anything when the biopsy is negative. Called her about a month later after the procedure, and she said, "I don't kow what it is and I really don't know what to do about it. Come back in three months and we'll do another colo/endo and some more test." Really? My mom doesn't want to put me through that again since I'm so young, and she was very upset that we did all of that just for her to say, "come back in a few and we'll do it all over again". Upsetting. Here we are, 4 months after she called... still have same symptoms- some are actually worse.
When I went to my primary today, she asked if I had IBS. (I initally went to her when I had the symptoms, then she said she wanted me to go to the GI specialists) I told her I don't know, and my GI never diagnosed me. Apparently on the medical records, she wrote down "Most likely IBS". That's weird, because the GI never told me ANYTHING about that. She said I might have IBS BEFORE any procedures were done, but NOT AFTER... Kind of sketchy... I just feel so lost. Anyone have similar experience? One doctor says yes, the other says I have no clue. I would appreciate any help... thank you guys.
P.s., not many docs are in the area I live that are within our insurance- closest one (first GI) is 32 miles away. I'm seeing a new one about 60 miles away... almost double! :/ still need to schedule the appointment though.
And sorry this is so lengthy! I'm just so cofused about my situation.
Thanks again guys.
-Sarah
I've been having so much trouble with a diagnosis lately. I've been having symptoms for almost three years now- never actually went to a doctor until July though. My boyfriend has crohn's, and I told him I had symptoms just like him, so he kept pushing me to go to a doctor. I have severe cramps (lower abdomen- I should mention that they are not menstrual cramps, got that resolved at the ob/gyn and feel much better on the medicine he prescribed), diahrrea, nausea, weight loss, severe pain in my left knee, (heard joint pain is also common with crohn's? Also. Have no idea why it started to hurt-just kind of started out of no where about a month ago) loss of appetite, and I am exhausted all the time, despite lots of sleep. Usually go Around 1-5 times a day in average.. I guess I should aslo mention my mother has crohn's as well... Finally was able to schedule an appointment July 16th ish. I got blood work done, and stool samples... she thought I had a parasite; despite the fact that I have family history of crohn's. Blood work didn't have any markers, and stool samples were negative as well... then went back about a month later, and was issued a colonoscopy and endoscopy. I was to get that done a little over a week after the second visit. Prep was just awful. Absolutely awful. Although the mag citrate wasn't bad at first, it caused some issues. I was about half way done with prep when I started bleeding (from the butt of course) and heaving, but never vomited. My My mom said I shouldn't finish the second bottle and take the second laxative. I ended up drinking 1/4 of the second bottle. That was a mistake. Bled quite a bit... I was so raw down there that I was in tears everytime I went. And of course it burned! It felt like I was on fire. Ouch. Also, never again will I eat blue jello during a prep. Never. Lol. Went to get the procedure done the next morning, and as expected, I was anxious. They put in my IV, and took me into the room and put me under.
Woke up, and the first thing they tell my mom is that they found ulceration in the Terminal ileum... same exact place she has it. Found some other weird stuff here and there that they didn't recognize, so they biopsied it. Doc said she was certain I have crohn's. Got the call from the pathologists about 14 days later, and biopsy was negative. What? I was very confused. I was looking forward to actually being able to fix whatever I had, but my gastro (not the one who performed the colo/endo) said she doesn't want to do anything when the biopsy is negative. Called her about a month later after the procedure, and she said, "I don't kow what it is and I really don't know what to do about it. Come back in three months and we'll do another colo/endo and some more test." Really? My mom doesn't want to put me through that again since I'm so young, and she was very upset that we did all of that just for her to say, "come back in a few and we'll do it all over again". Upsetting. Here we are, 4 months after she called... still have same symptoms- some are actually worse.
When I went to my primary today, she asked if I had IBS. (I initally went to her when I had the symptoms, then she said she wanted me to go to the GI specialists) I told her I don't know, and my GI never diagnosed me. Apparently on the medical records, she wrote down "Most likely IBS". That's weird, because the GI never told me ANYTHING about that. She said I might have IBS BEFORE any procedures were done, but NOT AFTER... Kind of sketchy... I just feel so lost. Anyone have similar experience? One doctor says yes, the other says I have no clue. I would appreciate any help... thank you guys.
P.s., not many docs are in the area I live that are within our insurance- closest one (first GI) is 32 miles away. I'm seeing a new one about 60 miles away... almost double! :/ still need to schedule the appointment though.
And sorry this is so lengthy! I'm just so cofused about my situation.
Thanks again guys.
-Sarah
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