Colonoscopy worry and stress
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Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar position. Long story short... ish
September 2015 I got sent to hospital with suspected appendicitis (pain in my lower right stomach) night in Hospital and a few blood tests and ultrasounds later I was sent home with no diagnosis. Boxing Day 2015 exact pains again taken to hospital suspected appendicitis, even though I knew it wasn’t, spent 3/4 days in Hospital and lots of blood tests and ultra sounds later was sent home with no diagnosis.
Eventually got sick of not getting anywhere so did my own research and pin pointed it down to Endometriosis so went to my doctor who sent me to see a Gynaecologist. Through them I had a laparoscopy which came back completely clear. By here I’m heartbroken that I still have no diagnosis.
Then I was sent to see a Gastroenterologist who sent me for a colonoscopy which I’ve just had. Went fine, after the colonoscopy I was asked if I smoked or regularly tooked NSAIDS which I said no and he looked and sound very confused. My discharge letter says ‘Terminal Ileum - Inflamed Mucosa’ and also ‘found few aphthous ulcers in the terminal ileum of uncertain significance, denies smoking or NSAID use’ so now I’m panicking why was he so adamant that I must be a smoker or take anti inflammatorys? I googled what was said on my discharge letter (I know terrible idea) and crohns comes up but I don’t really have any of the symptoms.
I have a follow up in 4 weeks but can anyone help me or just help me feel a bit better about what might be happening? After 3 years of being undiagnosed continuously I’m getting so fed up and it’s really getting to me.
0 likes, 2 replies
marlene88784 graceef
Posted
I don’t have any answers for you, but I can hear your distress in your words, which totally makes sense based on what you’ve been through.
My health history after extensive back surgery, included a 1 month bout with diarrhea. My husband finally took me to emergency, at a hospital here in Central Calif. I was in the hospital for four days... in isolation and had blood drawn everyday as well as undergoing a colonoscopy ordered by a Gastroenterolgist from the hospital. Two days later, I had one of the worst bouts of diarrhea I had experienced and told the hospitalist Dr., that it had been a horrendous morning. 3 hours later I was discharged from this hospital, sicker than when I had come in.
I was finally able to get into another Gastroenterolgist. As many of us know now, getting into a referred specialist doesn’t come quickly. This Gastroenterolgist, looked at my MRI, ordered an endoscopy and put me on meds, and the diarrhea was controlled! I had an ulcer.
My point is that, you may need to see another Gastroenterolgist or other specialist who will be able to not only report on your medical problems but possibly also give you relief of some sort- through meds or whatever is done to help patients with your medical condition.
Good luck to you! We might have different medical issues, but I do understand.
Guest graceef
Posted
This is an abstract of research carried out in 2014. It might explain the questions you were asked, even though it doesn't give answers. 40% of patients in the study didn't get a diagnosis!
Background
With an increasing number of ileal intubations, isolated terminal ileal ulcers (ITIU) are frequently found during colonoscopies. The present study aimed at studying the etiology and clinical significance of these ulcers in patients having gastrointestinal symptoms.
Methods
This was a prospective observational study performed on consecutive patients who underwent ileocolonoscopy for various gastrointestinal symptoms between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014.?Clinical, endoscopic, and histological findings of patients with ITIUs were assessed to determine the etiology and they were treated accordingly. Symptom resolution was assessed within 3?–?6 months of initial diagnosis, and colonoscopy was repeated for consenting patients.
Results
Among 74 (4.9?%) of 1497 patients who had ITIUs on ileocolonoscopy, 41 (55.4?%) had specific etiologies on initial testing. After 3?–?6 months follow-up, definitive diagnosis was ascertained in 44 (59.5?%) patients [Crohn’s disease (CD): 19 (25.7?%), NSAID-induced ulcers: 11 (14.9?%), intestinal tuberculosis (ITB): 9 (12.2?%), and eosinophilic enteritis: 5 (6.8?%)], and 30 patients (40.5?%) had nonspecific ulcers. After treatment, symptomatic and endoscopic resolution were noted in 55/60 patients (91.7?%) and 28/36 patients (77.8?%), respectively. Of 5/60 patients who remained symptomatic, three were initially diagnosed with nonspecific ulcers and two with CD, and they were finally diagnosed with CD and ITB respectively, and treated accordingly.
Conclusions
In patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, more than half of the ITIUs have specific etiologies, and timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent serious complications. Nonspecific ulcers can be managed with symptomatic treatment, but need close monitoring and re-evaluation in the case of persistence of symptoms.