Stool, blood, and colonoscopy tests normal but still have abdominal pain

[calmygal]

Ok so i have had my stool tested my blood tested and a horrible colonoscopy and they were all normal i am just waiting on the biopsies but other than that they were all normal. So that doesn't help the up to 15 bouts of diarrhea a day the pain in my stomach the tiredness the pain and swelling in my knees the anal skin tag amongst other things. I am worn out and now have no help with why i am worn out. So i guess my question is now what do they do if all those test are normal do they do any other tests?? Or is there anything else they can do?? Or should i just go on like i have been which is what i feel like doing...

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I can relate, I've been there & done that and I'm still undiagnosed too. I have had colonoscopy & endoscopy (both with biopsies), CT scan, many blood & stool tests, etc... and they all came back totally normal. Fortunately I have a decent GI, who knows that my pain is real and that there is something serious going on with me, we just need to find out what. Sometimes every test will come back normal and it's so frustrating. But I'm not giving up, even though it's hard not to mention expensive, I need answers and I know I can't live like this forever. I'm having a pill cam done in a few weeks, and if that doesn't give me answers, I'll fight to have another kind of test done.

My advice is to not give up, you know you can't go on like this forever, being miserable a lot of the time. You need answers and appopriate treatment, and you have to fight for it and become your own best advocate. Call your doctors, ask what the next step is, pursue further testing, ask what medications would be appropriate, etc. I know it's so frustrating and incredibly depressing when you're in tons of pain and having many symptoms, and the tests say you're fine. You know that something is wrong, and you have to get answers for yourself and your family's sanity. If your doctors give you the brush off or say that you're crazy/depressed/have IBS/it's all in your head, find better doctors and get second opinions. You can do it, you just have to keep fighting, even if it's easier to give up.

 

[dustydshook]

Don't give up! Just like cat said. I am also having a pill cam done although I do have a definate diagnosis. I had surgery in may to remove my terminal illeum which is the last part of your smalll intestines where it meets the large. Now I am having another flare and the colonoscopy showed no reaccurance so now they are saying either adhesions or up farther in my small bowel hence the pill cam. My stomache looks like I am 8 mo. prego I actually got congratulated over the weekend! It took them a long time to get me a def. diagnosis but the GI was treating as if it were Crohns because that is what all the signs pointed to and it is hard to diagnose. They call it assumed Crohns. Keep a journal every day of how many times you go your pain level what you eat and any other symptoms you have no matter how small or insignificant you may think it is such as painful joints, mouth sores, hair loss...ect. It can all be related to Crohns it rears its ugly head in funky ways some times.

 

[calmygal]

thanks for the posts!! I was thinking about asking for the pillcam is there anything specific that you have to qualify for first before you can have that test or can you just ask for it. I would rather just ask for that test and jump right to it and find out cause i know that one can see a lot of things other tests can't. I have not had a CT Scan done for this purpose yet or an MRI for this purpose yet put if they don't suspect any inflammation would they do any of these tests?? Also i just had my colonoscopy today and i am still going to the bathroom bad do you know how long that goes for because its waring me out and making me sick to my stomach. Having a bad feeling this is going to be a long road for me not that it hasn't already i have been dealing with these symptoms for probably 7 years already. Was just hoping for an answer and it doesn't look like i got one huh...

 

[gypsigirl28]

I agree with both on this one. I am right along with them with all the testing colonoscopy, endoscopy, and all are normal, except high white blood count in stools. I however do not have a good GI and he makes me feel like it is all in my head. I am getting my records and trying to find another GI. Probably wont have much luck unless I go out of the area to one.

Keep at it and dont give up!!!!

 

[Mayflower537]

I was thinking about asking for the pillcam is there anything specific that you have to qualify for first before you can have that test or can you just ask for it.

I don't know - I guess it depends on your insurance and your doc. I had an IBD Serology panel that came back positive for Crohns. So I know that's how my GI justified getting the pillcam to the insurance. At the time, I was having to pay the negotiated rate out of pocket, but it went towards my deductible, so they accepted his rationale. I would think if he thinks that something is wrong with you then he could get it through your insurance, if that is what you are worried about. If he is a good GI he must know that a negative c-scope doesn't necessarily rule out IBD.

 

[calmygal]

yeah i am def going to say something to my dr about a pillcam and see what she says!!