Not diagnosed YET

[flamewolf6]

I know this is supposed to be a place for people diagnosed with Crohn's but i may very well have it.

It all started in December of 09 when i started having severe abdominal pain and nausea. It got so bad I ended up having my dad who could drive at night take me to the ER. Doctor's said it was just my gallbladder acting up and not to worry.I had another attack not long before my dog passed away in february. and it would pretty much continue to happen every couple of months until August when i had three episodes in a month. The last one had me in the hospital for two days due to inflammation in the small bowel and my White Blood Cells were up dramatically. I spent two days being poked and prodded to find out it was just an infection they said. They put me on Flagyl and Ciprofloxin,which cured my symptoms for nearly two months running...until Thursday morning the 28th...I had another attack...the same kind i had right before i was in the hospital. Doctor told me Thursday afternoon that it was definately NOT an infection and wants a barium X-ray to see if he can see narrowing in the small bowel. Guys im scared, I do not know what to do so i turn to a support group,you guys for help. PLEASE help me accept that i may have this.

 

[lynx]

First things first. Get a professional assessment of your symptoms and an opinion as to what you may have going on. That is important as then you can receive the treatment that you need to find a bit of relief. Second thing is that because Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, the two main IBD, have similar symptoms they also have similar treatments. Why I say this is because I was originally diagnosed with UC in 2006 and for the last four years I thought that was what I was dealing with. September of this year I find myself in the hospital and extremely weak and completely out of it, for most of the month. Now, I have been diagnosed with (they say it is POSITIVE...i still do not know what to believe) Crohn's disease, this is four years later...and all the while I have been on treatment for the disease too. SO in a nut shell stay calm, there are treatments out there and help is available and this place is a great place to come and read and know that you are not alone, get good information about the disease and treatment and maybe have a few laughs. Hopefully you will get some answers after you get some tests run. Best thing to do is to get a colonoscopy by a GI in my opinion if you are presenting all the common symptoms of either disease.

 

[flamewolf6]

The GI doc was wanting to do a Colonoscopy but here is the thing lynx, I have no insurance. My dad had to pay my way for thursday because I cannot work because every bit of stress sents me off.

 

[DustyKat]

Hi flamewolf and :welcome:

Of course you are welcome here!!! You'll find wonderful information and support here and you certainly won't be alone in dealing and coming terms with your diagnosis. We have heard it all and nothing is TMI.

We have an Undiagnosed Club here and I'm sure you can relate to many of the feelings of fear and frustration that people express there.............

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=13113

Once they narrow down what is going on you will be able to start appropriate treatment and hopefully knock it into remission if it is IBD. My daughter has ileal Crohns which is the area they are looking to with you and although she was an extreme case that required surgery she has been in remission since then and is living away at university. I know it's scary and it's hard to think beyond that but it will be okay, we are here for you and anything you want know just ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question.

So is the doctor you have a Gastroenterologist? If not I would get a referral to one because you definitely have something going on. Good luck with your test and let us know how it goes. I hope you start to feel better soon. Welcome aboard!

Take care, :hug:
Dusty

 

[flamewolf6]

yes the doc i have currently is a gastro doc. The hospital in august referred me to him. Im STILL sore from thursday's attack....gah.

 

[afman]

stress is bad for any dease let alone IBD. my doc thinks i have crohn;s since my sympton point to it and my blood keeps showing inflammation and they taught i was have gallbladder attacks but the ultrasound came neg and hydiascan came back with a normal funiction of the gallbladder. i cant eat anything to greasy or fatty. does you attack happen within a short amount of time of eating something you shouldnt? if so it might be the gallbladder. my surgon wrote me a script for robinonal which is a relaxant that keeps the gallbladder going into spasm after you eat which have saved me alot lately

 

[flamewolf6]

I had a gall bladder function test and it was perectly fine

 

[lynx]

I am sorry that you don't have insurance, I am in the same boat because I applied for but was denied because of pre existing conditions (when i supposedly had Ulcerative Colitis). I am in the process of applying for insurance and that seems to be a huge process. I would, if I were you, contact as soon as possible your social services office and apply for insurance.
When i got my recent colonoscopy done it was after I was admitted to the hospital after going to the ER. Unfortunately I think going into the ER may be the only way to get that type of test done without insurance.
I hope you get relief soon. Hang in there!

 

[Dexky]

There is no such thing as a dumb question.
Dusty

Hmmm, that's not what she told me Flame!!

Anyway, welcome! User GutlessWonder has given great advice before about help for the uninsured. I'll try to find it and post a link. In the meantime, get the test and don't stress over money. I know that's easier said than done but your health comes first!!

 

[Astra]

Hi flame
and welcome

Yeah I agree, get the tests and scope done, then worry about the money later, there is defo something going on, sounds like an IBD!
Even if you don't get your dx, you're still very welcome here!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[flamewolf6]

See...I did some research the othr night guys. I was on Flagyl and Ciprofloxin for a supposed infection. I was pain free for almost two months.

 

[Dexky]

Hey again Flame!! Here's the post GW made sometime back....

If you go to the hospital's billing office, ask for an uncompensated care form. (I use to do medical billing for 4 yrs. at a local hospital so this is how I know this stuff). You will need to provide documentation verifying your ID, address, W2, etc. Based upon a sliding fee scale, you will be responsible for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or none of the bills incurred at the hospital. It's good for an entire year. Doctors offices have these forms as well. You just need to contact their billing offices as well.

Another helpful hint, Do NOT pay off your hospital bills with a credit card as you will be paying interest on that bill for a long time. Instead, just ask if you can set up a payment plan according to what you can afford. They do not add interest at all because they just want the money and want to work with you. Once the payment plan is set up, wait for the bill to come in the mail and then send in the payment.

If you find that you can not pay the set amt. for that month due to an emergency (ex-sudden illness, accident) call the billing office right away and tell them so the account doesn't get turned over to collection. That way it will be notated on the computer and it can be reset.

If you can not afford the set amount for a good reason (loss of job, serious illness etc.) and it needs to be reduced, again call right away so something can be worked out. You do not want to wait until the last notice otherwise it will get turned over to collections and then it's out of the billing dept.'s hands. By working with the hospital's accounting department, you avoid having to deal with collections and the extra money that sometimes gets added to the bill on their end as well as the frustration it may cause you.

Hope this helps. ~Gutless Wonderwoman

......Like she said the first time...Hope this helps!!

 

[flamewolf6]

Oh wow...REALLY? Thank you so much for helping me out guys...ill have to see about that wendsday when i go in for testing.

 

[TMos]

contact your state's dept. of insurance. you can get a policy now with no pre-existing conditions exclusion if you've been uninsured for six months. In Missouri it's a high deductible HSA plan but it's MUCH better than being uninsured.

 

[MADiMarc]

Flamewolf,
I do not know if this applies to you. My husbands company just went through a big insurance deal because they are a large company and handle goverment contracts. His insurance now must cover any child until age 26. I do not believe it is effective until January however.

GW and TMOS have more immediate solutions.

I know what it is like to be under such horrible financial obligations.

Good luck to you,
Michele