So I went to my GP yesterday...what do you think?

shelly1979

Regular Member

Joined : May 2006

Posts : 164

Posted 9/29/2007 4:30 AM (GMT -7)

Okay, so I went to my GP yesterday. I figured I needed to check in with him because I really have never seen him since the chronic diarrhea started. I say the nurse practicioner which referred me to 2 GI specialist so those are the only 2 Dr.'s that I have seen. I figured it wouldn't hurt to go see my regular Dr. to inform him of "what's going on".

H was baffled by all fo the tests that I have had. He was very thurough and asked me many questions about my "poopie problem". In fact, he was with me for an entire hour, trying to figure this out. He thinks that it sounds like I DON't have IBS-D, but rather something going on with my pancreas or possibly an IBD, like Chron's. (What the....?!)

I explained that I do not see blood in my stools, just tons of mucus mixed with the stool (to the point where stools are VERY jelly-like), and he said that sometimes, it doesn't matter if there is blood or not, I could still possibly have an IBD.

SO...he ordered 9 more blood tests that is testing the thyroid, testing for inflammation, etc, and a stool test that will testing for fat in stools. If I have too much fat in the stool, he said that I may have a pancreas problem. Does this sound familiar to anybody? He said that if I do have too much fat in my stools that I may have to be put on Pancreatic enzymes.

I have a nasty taste in my mouth all of the time and it is dry a lot...I am always thirsty too...he said tht that sounds like something is going on either with pancreatic enzymes or an IBD...not IBS-D.

What are your thoughts on this?? DOes any of this sound familiar to any of you??

Shelly

dbab

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2004

Posts : 4151

Posted 10/2/2007 6:11 AM (GMT -7)

Shelly,

I sure hope your doctor can get to the bottom of things (no pun intended

Actually the bathroom symptoms besides the blood thing of IBS and IBD are so hard to determine either way. What have your tests shown so far? I'm glad that your doc is checking everything out including your thyroid and your pancreas. Nasty taste in your mouth could be from a bacterial problem that would cause diarrhea as well. A full workup on the possibilities sounds like its in order and I hope you and your docs can get some answers.

Take Care

_{_{_"Des"
_{Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum &}_{Co-Moderator ~ Lupus Forum}
_{Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, Idiopathic Acute Colitis 2006, UCTD 2007}_{Meds: Plaquenil 400mg, Chlorzoxazone 500mg, Lyrica 50mg, Protonix 40mg, Lodine XL 1000mg, Klonopin PRN, Miralax 17g, Supplements}
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SnowyLynne

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2004

Posts : 1539

Posted 10/2/2007 7:46 AM (GMT -7)

Have you not had a Colonoscopy??

SnowyLynne

shelly1979

Regular Member

Joined : May 2006

Posts : 164

Posted 10/3/2007 9:02 AM (GMT -7)

Yes, I had a colonoscopy in April of 2006 (about 2 months after my chronic diarrhea started). This is month 19 with chronic diarrhea. Seriously, 19 months straight with diarrhea everyday. The GI specialist said that it was unremarkable...No problems found with the colonoscopy. Yet, I still have this huge overload of mucus in stools. That is what the Dr. can't figure out. I am just so tired of having to live like this. Sometimes I just want to give up because I think I've tried everything I can imagine. I've had TONS of tests, blood tests, stool colutres, upper/lower GI x-rays, EGD, colonoscopy, hida scan, ultrasounds, CT scan, etc.

How do you test for bacterial overgrowth? I have been reading about it and maybe it has something to do with my mpouth symptoms....bad taste, always thirsty, dry, tongue feels "thick", etc.

Shelly

jlc13248

New Member

Joined : Oct 2007

Posts : 1

Posted 10/3/2007 4:22 PM (GMT -7)

Ask your Dr. about the test. I am having it done Tuesday the 9th. I have to drink something and wait a couple of hours and then breathe into a machine. They will be able tell from my breath if I have a bacterial overgrowth. At least it's painless, but I hate to think how my breath will be! (yuck) Also, I have used a probiotic blend (Floral-Q) recommended to me by my Dr and it has helped a lot during this last year. This is my first major flare up in six months, that's how much it has helped me maintain.

Also-----Does anyone with IBS that alternates between C and D know anything about trying Amitiza? I was given samples by my GI and I am scared to try them. I have read some bad things. My main issues are that I have a lot of migrating pain and cramping plus massive bloating, gas and gurgling. I have had all the tests.....colonoscpoy, MRI, checked for Celiac, etc. I just have plain ole' IBS that waxes and wanes. Since I alternate in BM consistency, will Amitiza give me more D or will it help the consistency/texture of my movements? Pardon the pun, but my gut tells me Amitiza might be problematic.

Any advice? I can't seem to win with this. I am either scoping out all the potties in town or looking at them longingly wishing I needed to use them! Where is the happy medium?????

gutastrophe

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2007

Posts : 319

Posted 10/3/2007 10:38 PM (GMT -7)

jlc13248 said...

Also-----Does anyone with IBS that alternates between C and D know anything about trying Amitiza? I was given samples by my GI and I am scared to try them. I have read some bad things. My main issues are that I have a lot of migrating pain and cramping plus massive bloating, gas and gurgling. I have had all the tests.....colonoscpoy, MRI, checked for Celiac, etc. I just have plain ole' IBS that waxes and wanes. Since I alternate in BM consistency, will Amitiza give me more D or will it help the consistency/texture of my movements? Pardon the pun, but my gut tells me Amitiza might be problematic.

Any advice? I can't seem to win with this. I am either scoping out all the potties in town or looking at them longingly wishing I needed to use them! Where is the happy medium?????

You sound just like me!

I haven't tried Amitiza because, like you, I have read and heard some terrifying stories. Even the success stories seem short lived and are fraught with so many nasty side effects (nausea is not welcomed, thank you!). As with the nasty Zelnorm, the other "miracle" drug for IBS, I ended up with viscous and brutal D that led to some extremely embarrassing situations, if you get my drift. I believe it has taken me a year to recover from the 2 months of taking that drug.

Because of the IBS alternating, I avoid all the drugs to treat one or the other (except for magnesium citrate when I'm really bound up). I wouldn't touch immodium, even if my D keeps me housebound because the side effects (complete C) would be crippling.

There are a few threads on this board about Amitiza. Some have found great relief with it. But like you, I fear that with my symptoms being all over the board, I might end up in Depends if I try it!

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