Looking for advice & insight...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2005
Looking for advice & insight...
6
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 10:29am

Hi - I'm new to iVillage... I'm 22 & here's a shortened version of my story...

I've had "bathroom" problems for as long as I can remember (mostly constipation) but for at least the last 7-8 months I've had nothing but diarreha. The mornings are the worst & it wakes me up at night (generally 4-8 times a day). I have a churning, twisting, crampy feeling on the lower right side of my abdomen almost all of the time. So in January I went to a GI. He sent me for a colonscopy which showed inflammation so they did biopsies but found nothing conclusive. I also went for lots of bloodwork (including that test that shows IBDs, not sure of the name) which came back negative. I've lost 15lbs since january. Because of not getting any answers and feeling worse, I tried another GI in april. He did an Upper Gi/small bowel follow-thru which came back normal, as well as an endoscopy which came back normal. My bloodwork shows highly deficient in B12 & iron. I'm on 12 Asacol a day, weened down to 1 Entocort a day (it didn't seem to be helping), approx. 4 Lomotil a day and Folic Acid. I go this friday for a CAT scan and go back to my GI on july 1st. So far he's said it looks like Crohns but because of the negative test results, he is confused. I'm frustrated and worn out physically and emotionally. I want to feel better!! Sorry this got long, but i promise it is the shortened version :) Has anyone had similar results or experiences?? Any responses will be appreciated.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 1:33pm

Hi and Welcome to iVillage and to this board,


Ok

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2005
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 1:42pm
I do keep a daily diary of diet, weight & BMs. However, I already have to eat carefully becuase I also have Interstitial Cystitis so the majority of the foods I eat are soft, bland foods (chicken, rice, etc.) There has been no correlation between foods and the way I feel, so far, since I have just been feeling bad all around since at least January. Alcohol, however, does make a noticable difference, but I very rarely drink.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 1:52pm
How do you feel when you do use the Alcohol?

~~Wren, ~~

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 1:59pm
Interstitial cystitis

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2005
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 3:11pm

Thank you for the info - I'm very aware of those tips.

Alcohol makes my bladder feel awful and it also gives me diarreha fairly quickly after drinking.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 06-22-2005 - 9:29pm

Hi Meliskiss,


Welcome to the board.