New Member, feeling bummed.

Hello all, over the last few weeks I've been lurking around trying to find information. After my phone call today with my GI specialist I decided I should join. I guess I'll start with what is going on.

I'm a recently turned 36 yo male, 5'9" and 200 lbs, no family history whatsoever of IBD. I eat a good balanced diet, exercise regularly (cycle 3k+ miles/year, our winters keep that number lower than I'd like), have never smoked, and get a good 7-9 hours of sleep per night. I've never had any GI problems and can eat and drink whatever I like without issue. No history of diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss, etc. I was diagnosed a few years back with Keratoconus (degenerative corneal disease) that hasn't progressed much in the last few years.

A few weeks ago I developed severe diarrhea (I was going in excess of 25 times per day), the diarrhea was the only symptom until complications from dehydration set in. I was admitted to the hospital where I spent 3.5 days with a constant IV. The only drugs I was administered in the hospital were flagyl and levaquin. Once I was discharged I had another week of oral flagyl and levaquin. I have been 100% fine since, and to this day the only issue was the diarrhea.

I've had a bunch of work done and now have a colonoscopy scheduled for next week. After talking with my GI's nurse on the phone today here is why they are going in.

-Obviously the extreme nature of my hospital stay.
-I'm slightly anemic
-C Reactive Protein 0.75
-ASCA Antibody Equivocal
-CT showed some thickening and a slight skipping pattern

Thoughts? Help? Encouragement?

I can't imagine needing or taking a med everyday, especially with some of the nasty side effects that I've been reading. More so since I feel fine and (other than the 1 visit to the hospital) have lived my entire life without so much of a GI issue.

Hello, welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to hear of your recent difficulties.

With what you are describing, it is certainly possible that you are suffering with some form of IBD, illnesses like this can be sneaky, often showing little or no symptoms , which means that they can be undetected for some time.

A colonoscopy will give you a much better chance of a clear diagnosis, and can rule out major problems, if you do have IBD then it is best to catch it now .

I know it is difficult to imagine going from being healthy and active to having to take medications and having a chronic health condition. But if you are diagnosed with IBD you will need to start some form of treatment. This can include diet and gentler medications like pentasa which have very few side effects so it does not always mean going straight to the bigger, scarier medications. The consequences of untreated IBD can be far worse than the side effects of the medicines, and if it is well controlled you can leave a relatively normal life.

Hello and welcome, you definitely came to the right place lots of support and advise on here. Like Nicola said the colonoscopy will help in giving you a diagnosis. Keep us posted on what the Dr says.

Hi and :welcome:

Hoping you get some answers soon. Sounds like you may have diverticular disease (I have it) which would show as the "skips" in the intestinal wall. Basically diverticulosis are pockets in the wall of the intestine. A good way to describe what it actually looks like is to take a balloon and blow it up as big as you can then deflate it. The pockets will look like diverticulosis does. If you have been fine since, then you may have had a bout with diverticultis which can be treated with antibiotics. That is when these pockets get inflammed and infected. This is what my doctor thought I had at first, but with 3 courses of antibiotics I still really hurt.
The colonoscopy will hopefully show if there are any more problems Lots of hugs, hope you get answers

Well I had my colonoscopy yesterday. As a side, I've not had one symptom whatsoever since my hospital stay, and other than eliminating caffeine haven't changed my diet.

Anyways the Dr. said he was pleased that it looked clear, other than 1 seemingly ok polyp that he removed. So I guess now we will wait for the biopsy and the polyp biopsy...

Glad all is well, keep us posted on your results.

The Flagyl you had in the hospital may have cleared up any infection or parasite that could have caused the diarrhea. It's a good sign that the colonoscopy was clear.

I'm glad to hear the colonoscopy went well hopefully the biopsies will give you clarification .