5 Months on...

Andy I agree with desingergirl... don't self diagnose stop reading what it could be and just stay focussed on your appointment on Friday as that will tell straight away if it is any of your above fears....

With regards to loose stools, I had that for the 4 months that I had swollen stomach (all my tests come back clear), anxiety and worry can cause constant upset stomach the mind is an amazing thing and worry can cause all sorts on your body! If you specialist thought any of your systems related to something serious they would of got you in straight away.

I had to do 2 x stool samples for my specialist and even though they were constantly loose they came back all clear!

Please I know its easier said than done but stop reading on line and just hold tight for Friday, it will be hear before you know it

Hey guys, me again

BIG update, like HUGE

My stomach ache that lasted me 5 months is gone! Its been gone now for about 4 weeks I'm very happy about it. It strangely just, disappeared, I don't know what to make of it.

Also my Colitis has gone into remission. For the past 2/3 weeks I've enjoyed nice solid bowel movements & my bodies gotten back into the routine of going once a day, some days I won't need to go at all

I finally finished my course of Prednisolone steroids last Friday, I'm glad to be off them.

I had my Endoscope and Colonoscopy done the week after I last spoke to you guys I think. The Colonoscopy revealed that I had been experiencing total Pancolitis where my whole Big Intestine had been inflamed. The biopsy confirmed that I do in fact just have Colitis not Crohn's like I was worried about, so I got some peace of mind with that finally.

Unfortunately I didn't cope very well with the Endoscope, even though I had the works done, a large amount of throat spray & an extra helping of the sedation through my hand I ended up panicking somewhat It didn't hurt or anything, the whole situation was just quite unpleasant. For some reason I couldn't help but keep swallowing. I could feel the camera in my throat & I actually thought that it was having trouble getting anywhere. So when the lovely nurse looking after me said "If you want us to stop sweetheart just raise your hand" I did so without thinking. I later learned that the scope had actually reached my stomach when they stopped. If I'd known that at the time I might have been a bit braver & let it go on 'til the end. Oh well hindsights great isn't it.

I had to have a Barium swallow test to make up for the failed endoscope test, that was about 2 weeks ago now & I haven't heard from the X-ray department, so I hope I can assume that means things are ok..? The Barium was an interesting experience, getting on the Robo-Bed as the nurses called it. The radiologist was the spits of Jim Broadbent & the assistant nurses he had were these 2 camp guys who were pleasantly chatty with me They had a report from my failed endoscopy test & they were able to tell me that my oesophagus looked normal, which was nice to know.

When I had a meeting with a dietician at my clinic she had ALL kinds of info on her computer about me, every single blood test and stool test result from seemingly forever. So as she was showing me my iron levels and such I jumped on the opportunity to ask about H. Pylori yet again & guess what? It HAS been detected in my stool samples. So THATS the reason for my 5 month stomach ache, it was the little b*stard bacteria all along.

I've got a meeting with the head of the gastro department on Friday this week, he's gonna put me on a week long course of triple therapy antibiotics and stuff to treat the H Pylori, I can't wait to kill the little bugger. The gastro surgeon who performed the Colonoscopy on me said that I would be put on a stronger medicine for my Colitis. I can't remember the name since at the time he was kind of bombarding me with Science as I was still recovering from the effects of the sedation. Hopefully it'll just be some tablets with no unwanted side effects.

For the last 4 weeks I've been seeing a Councillor in town at this "life centre" we've got at the town hall. I was referred through the NHS so he knows all about my Colitis & how ill I've been since last year. He's a cool guy (& he doesn't afraid of nuthin') lol sorry, he's really mellow & things. He's slowly helping me reshape how I think about stuff & I feel like I've made a couple baby steps to getting over my depression.

I've been on these anti-depressants for about a month now & I can't tell if they're doing anything. I mean I've felt a little more positive since all my big procedures are done with and that nothing extreme was found. And I've felt more happy since I've been eating properly again & feeling better in general, but I don't know if that's coz of the anti-depressants or not..?

Anyway if you guys have read all this then nice one I really do appreciate the fact that you guys responded in the 1st place & you've been very kind & reassuring even though we don't know eachother, so thanks

My god, Andy, you have been through the war and back! I am so glad that you have found the reason for your illness. I know that being able to give something a name is akin to 'knowing thine enemy' which makes half the battle easier.

Just a quick question, now that you know what is wrong, do you need those anti depressants as to get off them early is to avoid all sorts of nasty stuff.

I went through hell and back last urpear but refused to take them as I find we all have inner reserves we can call on. Use them as the very last resort would be my advice.

Well done to you though, and if am so glad you are on the road to recovery. Xx

that's really great news Andy, I am so pleased you are sorted.

Unbelievable that it was H Pylori all along! Oh well least you can start moving forward now

Hi Andy, has this been properly diagnosed now? I can understandwhy you are unhappy and angry, think anyone would be with all of these different versions. But at 22 it would be very unlikely that you have an ulcer.

Hi I know how you feel I have been going through hall for three and a half years now in absolute agony. although they have done tests they in my opinion have not done them in the right place. You could ask for a second opinion although I feel that all consultants know each other and are reluctant to go against each other and that’s no matter how far away you go because they know one and other from seminars they attend nationwide. My case is I have seen one consultant he is the bees knees so no one else doubts him so it’s his decision what I have got and that’s that every other doctor is afraid to open his or her mouth but I know my body and the symptoms don’t match what they or he says, as I say a second opinion but in my case it got me nowhere I am now taking my case to my m.p. oh this wonderful N.H.S and they think they are wonderful