Ugh!!! doctors dont even know anymore

[brycross33]

So I'm 21 now and ive had Crohns Disease since I was 7. I recently moved out of state from my original hometown and had to find a doctor. I was in remission for four hears from CD but it seems to have come back as of November of 2012. So I found my new doctor and got my colonoscopy. Results came back saying that I have some small inflammation in my sigmoid colon but it wasn't enough to cause my symptoms. Which is diahreah with vomiting and a lot of pain. Well they took a sample of the inflamed tissue and turns out that the inflammation is nonspecified. So they dont know what is causing it and they want to do a barrium test and I really don't know what good that is going to do. I'm getting really frustrated about this and I don't have any meds to help me get through the pain. Now I'm a full time nursing student and I really cant have anything interfering with my studies.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

hi bry,

as a patient, you are entitled to be made to feel comfortable if you are in that much pain. IF your GI won't help, call your primary MD and see him. ASK for some relief. that is your RIGHT.

I've had Crohn's since the age of 12 and was always given something for pain when flaring until my illness got into remission.

Give the GI's office a call first and then talk to your primary MD to get his take and ask for something. Don't wait until the pain gets so bad that you are doubled over in pain.

And ask why the barium swallow is being done and what the MD is looking for.

feel better. RNs RULE!!

 

[brycross33]

You are right I should feel comfortable the thing is I don't have a primary Md here since I moved I probably should ask why it is necessary and if there are alternatives to it.
and yes RNs rule!!!

 

[LisaL]

HI brycross, Gutless is right...If you need pain relief while you wait for more tests to give more specific answers you need to ask. I know that it is generally frowned on but, in desperation I have used Motrin for temporary pain relief. Now, I do not have bleeding as a symptom, and my Crohns was/is mostly located in my TI. My GI doctor knows i do it, and he has given me the talk, but he has given me a provisional "fine, just be careful".

Also, interestingly enough, I found myself intolerant of stronger pain medication when i was hospitalized for bowel resection surgery. I had intolerable abdominal pain with Morphine, Dilaudid and two others. The medicine I tolerated best was technically an anti-inflammatory. My GI, the surgeon and pain management team allowed the medicine after trying so many other meds.

I hope you find relief soon!
-Lisa

 

[Ihurt]

I am guessing they want you to drink the barium so they can see the small intestines. The colonoscopy cannot see the small bowel. Maybe they are looking for strictures or narrowing.

You ars right, they should be doing something more for your pain. You should not be left in pain. That is so wrong. I really HATE the whole medical community. They treat people with chronic illnesses like Crap it seems.. So sorry you are going through this.

So I'm 21 now and ive had Crohns Disease since I was 7. I recently moved out of state from my original hometown and had to find a doctor. I was in remission for four hears from CD but it seems to have come back as of November of 2012. So I found my new doctor and got my colonoscopy. Results came back saying that I have some small inflammation in my sigmoid colon but it wasn't enough to cause my symptoms. Which is diahreah with vomiting and a lot of pain. Well they took a sample of the inflamed tissue and turns out that the inflammation is nonspecified. So they dont know what is causing it and they want to do a barrium test and I really don't know what good that is going to do. I'm getting really frustrated about this and I don't have any meds to help me get through the pain. Now I'm a full time nursing student and I really cant have anything interfering with my studies.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

most barium drinks aren't that bad tasting anymore as they add flavor packets to them.

it depends on the facility though.

 

[LisaL]

Barium is nasty. No way around it. But, tests using barium allow doctors to see narrowing where a scope cannot. The alternative is an abdominal MRI, but it involves drinking nasty stuff too. I've done both...Can't say i prefer one over the other. I think the drink for the MRI tasted less nasty than barium, but it game me terrible diarrhea while I was drinking it, and for much of the day. Good luck!

 

[Ihurt]

I would definitely go for the thick chalky barium rather than that nasty stuff you drink before the MRE/MRI's. That stuff also gave me Nasty Diarreha too. I found out why too, there is tons of sugar substitutes in that stuff. Ughh, those are poision and they inflamme my whole gut. If I ever have to have another MRI, I will NOT drink that crap as it really messed me up since I cannot tolerate any types of fake sugars. Wonder if they could use something else instead?? Anyhow, the thick barium in Not that bad( I'd do that rather than that MRE crap they have you drink anyday). I had to drink the regular thick chalky barium years ago and it was not bad at all. You just have to psych yourself out and you will be fine.

Barium is nasty. No way around it. But, tests using barium allow doctors to see narrowing where a scope cannot. The alternative is an abdominal MRI, but it involves drinking nasty stuff too. I've done both...Can't say i prefer one over the other. I think the drink for the MRI tasted less nasty than barium, but it game me terrible diarrhea while I was drinking it, and for much of the day. Good luck!

 

[itsme2]

xx

 

[Ihurt]

Wow, that is amazing! I am so happy to know this about the rice milk! So they were able to see your scan perfectly with you drinking the rice milk?? Hmm, was it them that brought up the idea of your drinking the rice milk or did you come up with it? Because I also am going to have to use something else as I did not tolerate that stuff they make you drink. It totally inflammed my whole gut. I also had a lot of kidney pain afterwards as well.. I will never drink that crap again.








QUOTE=itsme2;610492]I'm allergic to the stuff they give for MRI's and the radiologist found out by accident that because I drank rice milk before the test I lit up so maybe that's an alternative to the nasty drink. Now when I need an MRI I have to bring rice milk with me to drink and seems to work.
Wishing you luck and well wishes Bry and hoping that you get relief soon and find out the cause of your pain so you can get your nursing degree. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful compassionate nurse.[/QUOTE]

 

[itsme2]

xx

 

[Ihurt]

I have tried a few different meds ( my gastro keeps thinking that I have IBS), but nothing is helping me. I feel so awful. I have constant pain in my intestines( lower). And I get that feeling like cramping and feeling like I always gotta go. I also get sharp pains in my intestines that are random. I mean Iliterally sit with a heating pad ALL day just to get some pain relief. I think because I do not have tha diarreha, the gastro does not think I could have crohns! I just know this is NOT IBS. I dont know what it is, but it is awful as I have no life because of it. I also have other health issues too so that makes matters worse. I have done some tests( MRE small bowel, CT scan, stool test, blood test). I still have not had the colonoscopy. My gastro just thinks that it will complicate matters. I have IC bladder and get UTI's very easily and when I get diarrhea, I get UTI's. So he thinks the whole prep would worsen my bladder and my gut. I just dont know. I think I am going to have to have it done though as I am in so much pain and need to see what is going on. I also think becuase I have had to be on low dose antibitoics for years now due to the nasty UTIs I get, well I think maybe even that antibiotic can be messing up my intestines. I mean I have heard that a lot of people on here claim that their crohns were caused by antibiotics. My gastro says he does not think antibiotics can cause crohns, but then why do so many get crohns after they have taken them?? I just dont know.

Thanks for that tip on the rice milk. You know, I was actually told by my friends husband ( he is a doctor) that the stuff they make you drink is Not really needed, they can actually get a good picture without it and read it. He said it is just that by drinking that stuff it just makes the person that reads it job easier. I guess when you dont drink the stuff the doctor reading the scan has to take more time, but if he or she is a good radiologist, they should be able to see and read it without that a person having to drink that junk. That is what I was told that the drink is to basically make the radiologist's job easier... Isn't that sad?? I mean why drink that poison if you really dont have too?? I wonder what my gastro would say if I have to ever have another MRI and I asked if I could drink rice milk.. That would be a way better alternative and much safer without the chemicals and stuff..