Not sure where to post this. Help with Stomach/Colon probs

jktin008

Hello,

Sorry, this will be a bit long. I am a 32 year old female.10 weeks ago, I started feeling very ill, vomiting and had to use the bathroom 8-14 times a day (diarrhea). At first I was thinking it was just a stomach bug, so just did the best I could to stay hydrated and try to eat when I felt up to it and ate foods on the bland diet. After about 2 weeks, the symptoms seemed to be getting worse and I started to notice some blood and cramping in the lower left side of my stomach. My husband said "hey, maybe you are pregnant?!" I was thinking, yeah maybe! So, we go out and get several tests. I take my urine the next morning to take the tests, and noticed my urine was an amber color. None of the tests were positive, but I decided I need to go to my regular doctor. I called to make an appointment and they asked why I was coming in, then the receptionist put me through to the nurse who started talking to the doctor. My doctor then told me to go to the ER because I am very dehydrated. My doctor was right, I was dehydrated and needed a lot of fluids. After being hydrated with IV fluids and given antibiotics (still don't know why they gave me those because they told me my labs seemed overall ok and no infection seemed to be present), I was released. They did not run any other tests other than blood and pregnancy. They tried to get a fecal test from me, but at this point I did not trust them so I chose not to provide one because I did not already trust the people caring for me and it was gross. I know, I should have complied and I am stupid not to, but I wanted to get out of the hospital. They were not very nice to me and they told me I had a stomach bug.They told me to take 2 days off, gave me two more very strong antibiotics (Flagyl and Cipro)-but I still don't know why when they told me I did not have an infection and would not answer me when I asked, Bentyl (for stomach cramps) and Zofran for vomiting. They also told me if I was not better in a week to go see a Gastroenterologist (GI doctor).

Regardless of my objections, I took all the medicine they prescribed. Two weeks later, still not better, but I did not trust the ER assessment. So, I go to my regular doctor and run some tests. I have blood in my stool and the same symptoms. By this time I have now lost 25 lbs on top of being in pain a lot of the time. He tells me this is not a stomach bug (gastroenteritis) and that I need to be seen by a GI doctor because it looks like I may have something more serious. Colon cancer and Irritable Bowl Diease/IBS also run on both sides of my family. My grandfather is a two-time survivor of colon cancer and my mom has had cancerous/pre-cancerous polyps removed in her 40s.

To ensure that I go to a GI doctor, my doctor said he will not give me any more Bentyl (the pain medicine I am now reliant on to eat anything because now everything I eat makes me instantly use the bathroom or vomit and be in pain without it) and made a referral to a GI doctor for me and has his office call for me to be seen as soon as possible because my doctor is recommending I get a colonoscopy asap. Because GI doctors are VERY booked up around where I live (booked for months in advance), I have not been able to get in to one yet and I have been deal with these issues for 10 weeks. Even my doctor's office has been trying to get me in earlier, with no luck. On top of all my symptoms, I am now more weak and exhausted all of the time. I have also now lost 45 pounds too.

Though I still have most of the same symptoms, I have noticed today that my pain is not as bad and I am able to eat a little bit more. For the first time, I also did not have to take Bentyl to eat. And though I still have diarrhea and vomiting, it is not has much (only about 6 times a day). I do still notice some blood, but not as much.

If this all goes away, do I still need to go to GI doctor for colonoscopy? I just don't want to waste my time/limited funds and be treated like I am a crazy fool (like they treated me in the ER) or be poked on with an anal probe when I don't really need it.

Thanks

jktin008

Would you still go to GI doctor, even if symptoms are improving? Thanks

bauer1971

With your family history, I would 100% still go to the GI. What if there is something there and you let it go so long that its too late to do anything about it? or it does major damage that could have been prevented? We all only have one chance on this planet. No do-overs.
Good luck! I hope you feel better soon.

sodakat

I would absolutely still go to the GI and get a colonoscopy (and an endoscopy if the GI suggests). The procedure is not lengthy and is not painful. You will be lightly sedated with an IV and the colonoscopy takes maybe 15 - 30 minutes. Because you are sedated you won't feel pain and most likely you won't remember much if any of the procedure. You will lie on your side in your hospital gown with a sheet over you with only a portion of your rear end exposed to the physician performing the procedure. The scope is small and made for this procedure. The physician will view the inside of your colon on a screen and the scope has a tiny tool attached that can not only capture images but also remove polyps if found.

The prep for the colonoscopy requires you to empty your colon as the procedure is not effective if there is waste in the colon. Because you have been recently dehydrated you will want to consume a lot of liquids in the days before you have the procedure and prior to starting the "purge" on the prep day before the procedure. As much water as possible.

There is absolutely a benefit to finding out what is causing the problems. Removing polyps often remove symptoms. Then you can help prevent recurrence by eating a more fibrous diet, both soluble and non-soluble fibers, btw.

CarolinkaCjj

Go to the doctor. Not something you should mess around with. Colonoscopies are not a picnic but they are not that bad and it is better than going undiagnosed with something that could be treated until it is too late.

Fuzzipeg

Please, why are you hesitating. Should there prove to be anything wrong surely the sooner you find out the sooner something can be done to stop the pain and other issues. Would you hesitate if you were advised to have a smear. We go for smears, and breast screening which is worse, This is something which is just as important.

Hope you come back later with your outcome and I happen to be on line to support you after.

All the very best

beckyjeanleemaddox

I just went thru a bout with stomach problems and became very anemic from bleeding in the stomach. Mine was hidden bleeding and slow so I became anemic very slowly. I had to have an infusion in December. After an endoscopy and a colonoscopy I was diagnosed with a para esophageal hiatel hernia. I had to go thru add'l test and long story short I have it repaired. I'm recovering now. I vomited daily but didn't have the weight loss that you did. Yes in my opinion you definitely need to get the colonoscopy ASAP.I'm also a nurse. Good luck to you

knra_grl

Would you still go to GI doctor, even if symptoms are improving? Thanks

yes - better to be safe than sorry - you didn't trust the ER docs, but you trust your own doc right?

jktin008

Thanks to all that replied! And thank you all for talking some sense into me. My more immediate concern was I just don't want to be treated poorly again and on my dime for a whole lot of nothing, especially if the symptoms are reducing/going away.

Regardless of my comparatively petty concern, I suppose it IS worth finding out what is going on because it may be something more serious- as my regular doctor suggested. I will hopefully be going to the GI very soon. My doctor referred me and set me up an appointment to a locally very well known and skilled GI doctor (in GI issues and oncology both) on May 21 but is trying desperately to get me in sooner or with someone else. I guess I will try to put more effort into getting on a waiting list too.

Thanks to all again and I will post again once I have the results of the colonoscopy/biopsy I have been advised to have.

@knra-grl- You are right. Though I did not trust the ER, I do trust MY doctor. He has never steered me wrong and has my best health interest in mind. Thank you

@beckyjeanleem-Wow! I am sorry to hear you got so sick! But I am happy to hear that you are on the mend. I pray you continue to recover and I am so happy they figured out what was wrong!

@Fuzzipeg- You are right! I just didn't want to go through all of this and it be a big waste of money and be treated like I am a crazy person again. But I should do this, because I don't know what is wrong still and my symptoms could return. If they return and I don't go now to GI doctor, I will have to wait months to get in again because of my age (so I have been told by my insurance company) and availability of GIs in general in my area. Thanks

@CarolinkaCjj- I now agree with you. Thank you

@sodakat-Thank you for your response I have heard the prep is the worse part and I appreciate you telling me the procedure
I am very glad to know the instruments used are very small too! I have found eating a lot of any kind of fiber seems to make me vomit/use the bathroom more right now, but I do need fiber. Yet another reason I NEED to go, huh?