New and a little nervous...

[firedrake13]

Hi all...I've been lurking around the forum for awhile now, and its made me feel a lot better about what's been going on with me. I've always thought I had a sensitive digestive system but when things started to get kinda bad in my late teens about 18 I figured it was college and my bad eating habits and just kept Imodium on me and fixed my diet and it got better. It flared up again when I went away to art school at 23 again I thought it was dorm food and eating out all the time and stress and just never did anything about it. Even though I had terrible abdominal pain and diarrhea a few times a week every week. I'm now 29 and I'd actually not had these issues for quite awhile then I got injured at work with a tibial plateau fracture and have been home for three months on workers comp, since then its been constant diarrhea, every day... I finally went to a walk-in over a week or so ago which all but gave me a brush off but did ask me to get them a specimen which they apparently didn't find anything since I've not heard anything since I dropped it off. I was also referred to see a GI which I have an appointment on Friday this week. I'm pretty nervous about everything since I just don't know what's going on with myself.

 

[Angrybird]

Hello and welcome to the forum

I would take this time before the appt to right down all you can remember about previous problems with the tum and all the symptoms you get now, this will help you give the doc a full history in this area. Have you had any blood tests done yet? Are you currently on any medications at all?

Wishing you all the best for the appt tomorrow, pls keep us updated on how you get on.

AB
xx

 

[firedrake13]

I've not had any blood tests done regarding this. Only the specimen that I've heard nothing about. As I said I got the blow off from the walk-in clinic, I feel like they didn't really want to even try and help me just send me to my regular dr and not have to deal with me. While he's great it's a pain to get an appointment to see him quickly.

I'm on a few meds, for depression and anxiety, lexapro 20 mg, topamax 100 mg which is also for migrains, imitrex 100 mg, all of which I've been on either for over a year or for less than 2 months. I've not been on any antibiotics other than the last two weeks for a possible uti in over a year.

 

[firedrake13]

Well I saw the GI this morning. She was frustrated that the clinic had not run blood work but, had some drawn and said I will have the earliest results from it by Monday. She said she looked at the results from the specimen I gave the clinic and it was normal. She said it could be something as simple as a food allergy, but based on what I was telling her she was going to order an endoscopy once the blood work was in and possibly a colonoscopy.

I know I'm on the right track to figuring out what's going on, but its frustrating not having any answers. I hate being scared to leave my house, because I might have to "go". Heck I never thought I'd be online posting to a forum about my poo either lol.

 

[Angrybird]

Unfortunately it can take a little while to get an answer, I am pleased with the tests the doc is considering though - this would mean they will be able to have a good look at what is happening inside. Have you made an changes diet wise and if so does this help with symptoms at all?

 

[firedrake13]

I figured this would be the start of a process, and I'd prepared myself after lurking here for awhile, but gosh I sure wish I'd had walked out with less questions than more.

I'm a bit of a foodie and I tend to actually eat healthy, up until I got injured at work, and then I got a bit lazy and fell into a fast food diet. Thinking that had something to do with this issue I quickly went back to my home cooked meals, which did nothing for me. The only other change in diet was I was no longer eating meals at work. Due to how my job works we eat meals usually once a day provided by the company (3 days out of the week) and twice one day a week) but after being away from work for over three months I doubt that would be something that would be an issue. I'd also considered I wasn't getting enough fiber and tried adding more to my diet which just gave me terrible pain and bloating.

 

[Angrybird]

Sometimes it helps to go on a bland, low residue diet to help with symptoms.

 

[David]

Hi there and welcome to the community

Hopefully it is just a food allergy but I'm glad your GI is being thorough and likely going to scope you.

Please keep us updated as to what they find and let us know if you have any questions.

All my best to you.

 

[firedrake13]

Well I heard back about my blood tests. I guess they all back normal. My GI decided that I should have a colonoscopy to see what's going on because of the constant diarrhea. So I've got that scheduled for next week Wednesday, I'm pretty nervous about it.

 

[Angrybird]

Wishing you lots of luck with this hun, it isn't the nicest of things to have done but may be able get you some answers. Do keep us updated on how you get on.

 

[David]

It's understandable that you're nervous, but you'll be fine. I was definitely nervous for my first one.

Best of luck and let us know what the results are!

 

[firedrake13]

Well yesterday was the colonoscopy...like everyone told me the prep was the worst part. Which funny enough it was till the morning of the colonoscopy that it got bad. I had been worried about being able to keep it down or it making me feel sick, but I didn't have a problem with it. Till I had to wake up in the morning to finish the prep that morning suddenly I had awful awful cramps unlike during the rest of the prep, and began getting dizzy like I was about to pass out. I was able to hold out long enough to get off the toilet and lay down on the floor till I felt better, and got a little Gatorade to drink before the cramps started all over again. Needless to say I was a not feeling well at all. I guess my blood pressure tanked but thankfully I didn't pass out or anything and made it though ok.

The colonoscopy went well, and everything looked normal, the doctor took biopsies which I should have results to in a few weeks. I've also been told to go gluten free for a few weeks and start taking probiotics.

 

[Angrybird]

Will be fingers crossed these will help with tum for you, please keep us updated on how things go with both this and the appt for the results.

 

[firedrake13]

Thanks. It's really been nice just to look forward to posting my results here...even though I feel so relieved and yet disappointed that nothing's been found...it makes me feel like I'm going crazy or something.

And tonight I feel a bit awful, probably from the biopsies I'm sure but I'm sore and crampy...and boy it hurt quite a bit after I ate dinner. It's better now, and I know if it gets really bad to go to the hospital...ugh I guess I'm just miserable tonight and needed a rant.