I'm Undiagnosed...doctor suspect's Crohn's, but isn't sure.
I've been suffering from GI issues since I was a teen. I've been told I have IBS and have had a history of upper GI issues in my stomach. In 2007, I underwent an upper endoscopy and they found several ulcers and scaring in my stomach. That developed into an infection. I was given antibiotics and told to take an antacid.
About two and a half years ago, I drove myself to the emergency room, because I had severe abdominal pain. This was below my stomach and didn't feel like the same stomach pain I had experienced before. They were unable to make a definitive diagnosis and sent me home with pain medication.
About 2 years ago, I started long distance running. I would occasionally get the "runners trots" from running long distances. However, I would go to the bathroom and be fine after that.
About a month and a half ago, my "runners trots" went out of control. I was unable to stop having bowel movements and it turned into severe diarrhea. I took a few days off and tried running again. But I had no luck.
I read online, stories about "runners colitis." This seemed similar to what I was experiencing, but the problem continued. I stopped running completely and the diarrhea and several abdominal pain continued. I had bloody stool, which scared me. I went to the emergency room. They performed a CT scan and found signs of inflammation in my colon. The radiologist said he believed it was "some type of colitis." However, no definitive diagnosis was made and I was told it could be either bacteria or a virus. I was told to follow up later with my primary care physician.
About two weeks later, I made an appt. to see my primary care doctor, because the abdominal pain had continued and intensified. I continued to have diarrhea and would also experience bloating. I started to develop severe night sweats and would wake up several times a night, drenched in sweat.
My primary care doctor evaluated me and recommended doing blood work and a stool sample. I provided both a stool sample and blood. No infections were found in my blood or stool. However, my liver enzymes were highly elevated. I was told this usually means fatty liver. However, my liver was normal on my CT scan. I was referred to a GI specialist the following day.
The GI specialist told me he suspected either UC or Crohn's. I had a colonoscopy the following week. I was told my colonoscopy was normal, but they found a large area of clumping/bumpy tissue near my terminal ileum. The doctor told me it was probably nothing to be worried about and that he had seen it before. Biopsies were sent to pathology.
I received a phone call two days ago from my GI specialist's medical assistant. She told me they received the pathology report back. She said the doctor suspected it was either a bacterial infection or Crohn's disease. But again, no diagnosis was made. He gave me antibiotics to try and they offered no additional information on where I go from here.
I continue to have abdominal pain, loose or water stools, discomfort, night sweats, irritated eyes, and occasional joint pain.
I reviewed my pathology report...here is what it said...
1. Terminal ileum, nodular mucosa, biopsy:
Small bowel mucosa with chronic architectural distortion,
including villous blunting, active inflammation with healing
ulcers, and prominent lymphoid infiltrates, favor reactive (see
comment).
Immunohistochemical stain for CMV is negative for viral
inclusions.
No granuloma or dysplasia identified.
2. Colon, entire, biopsy:
Focal active colitis (see comment).
No granuloma, chronic architectural distortion, or dysplasia
identified.
Comment: No fungal organisms are identified on GMS stain (slide 1A7),
performed with appropriate positive control. Differential diagnosis of
chronic active enteritis and focal active colitis includes infectious
colitis, medication-associated mucosal injury, and evolving
inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical-pathologic correlation is
recommended.
I am frustrated that I am not getting answers. I have good days and bad days, but most of them are bad days.
The worst part of my illness is having to go to work. I am a law enforcement officer and can't always be near a bathroom. It makes it really difficult to perform my job duties. I've had to call in sick several times, when things are really bad.
Has anyone else experienced a similar situation? Any help or support would be helpful. Thank You!
I've been suffering from GI issues since I was a teen. I've been told I have IBS and have had a history of upper GI issues in my stomach. In 2007, I underwent an upper endoscopy and they found several ulcers and scaring in my stomach. That developed into an infection. I was given antibiotics and told to take an antacid.
About two and a half years ago, I drove myself to the emergency room, because I had severe abdominal pain. This was below my stomach and didn't feel like the same stomach pain I had experienced before. They were unable to make a definitive diagnosis and sent me home with pain medication.
About 2 years ago, I started long distance running. I would occasionally get the "runners trots" from running long distances. However, I would go to the bathroom and be fine after that.
About a month and a half ago, my "runners trots" went out of control. I was unable to stop having bowel movements and it turned into severe diarrhea. I took a few days off and tried running again. But I had no luck.
I read online, stories about "runners colitis." This seemed similar to what I was experiencing, but the problem continued. I stopped running completely and the diarrhea and several abdominal pain continued. I had bloody stool, which scared me. I went to the emergency room. They performed a CT scan and found signs of inflammation in my colon. The radiologist said he believed it was "some type of colitis." However, no definitive diagnosis was made and I was told it could be either bacteria or a virus. I was told to follow up later with my primary care physician.
About two weeks later, I made an appt. to see my primary care doctor, because the abdominal pain had continued and intensified. I continued to have diarrhea and would also experience bloating. I started to develop severe night sweats and would wake up several times a night, drenched in sweat.
My primary care doctor evaluated me and recommended doing blood work and a stool sample. I provided both a stool sample and blood. No infections were found in my blood or stool. However, my liver enzymes were highly elevated. I was told this usually means fatty liver. However, my liver was normal on my CT scan. I was referred to a GI specialist the following day.
The GI specialist told me he suspected either UC or Crohn's. I had a colonoscopy the following week. I was told my colonoscopy was normal, but they found a large area of clumping/bumpy tissue near my terminal ileum. The doctor told me it was probably nothing to be worried about and that he had seen it before. Biopsies were sent to pathology.
I received a phone call two days ago from my GI specialist's medical assistant. She told me they received the pathology report back. She said the doctor suspected it was either a bacterial infection or Crohn's disease. But again, no diagnosis was made. He gave me antibiotics to try and they offered no additional information on where I go from here.
I continue to have abdominal pain, loose or water stools, discomfort, night sweats, irritated eyes, and occasional joint pain.
I reviewed my pathology report...here is what it said...
1. Terminal ileum, nodular mucosa, biopsy:
Small bowel mucosa with chronic architectural distortion,
including villous blunting, active inflammation with healing
ulcers, and prominent lymphoid infiltrates, favor reactive (see
comment).
Immunohistochemical stain for CMV is negative for viral
inclusions.
No granuloma or dysplasia identified.
2. Colon, entire, biopsy:
Focal active colitis (see comment).
No granuloma, chronic architectural distortion, or dysplasia
identified.
Comment: No fungal organisms are identified on GMS stain (slide 1A7),
performed with appropriate positive control. Differential diagnosis of
chronic active enteritis and focal active colitis includes infectious
colitis, medication-associated mucosal injury, and evolving
inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical-pathologic correlation is
recommended.
I am frustrated that I am not getting answers. I have good days and bad days, but most of them are bad days.
The worst part of my illness is having to go to work. I am a law enforcement officer and can't always be near a bathroom. It makes it really difficult to perform my job duties. I've had to call in sick several times, when things are really bad.
Has anyone else experienced a similar situation? Any help or support would be helpful. Thank You!