Ok. I can honestly say that, after weeks of internet searches, I have not found anything that would help diagnose what I have. My hope now relies on you..(and on the exams I am still going through...!)
I am in my 30's and, unitl 12 months ago, the most serious thing I've ever had was a flu. It all started a yr ago when I was rushed to the ER with unbelievable intestinal cramps. CT scan showed a intestinal obstruction and exploratory surgery was done. Nothing was found. No tumor, no scar tissue (no previous surgeries), no bands, no inflamation, nothing. The surgeon simply ran her hands through my bowels and the obstruction relieved itself... He diagnosis was "hmm interesting..."
Since then, I have "episodes" roughly once a month. They include: severe cramps, extremelly noisy sounds, lots of air. It usually passes after 1-2 days, but sometimes it may take a week. Most of the time it is followed by the big D, but not always. I had a serious one last month, went to the hospital and CT revealed another partial intestinal obstruction. This time they did not operate and it went away. Pain was unbelievable and morphine was needed.
I have seen a GI and have done blood tests, colonoscopy and small bowel series. All normal. The GI is puzzled, so am I. Here are the possibilities:
IBS: Symptoms are similar, although i don't necessarily go to the bathroom several times a day like IBS patients usually do. In fact, 90% of the time i do not have D or C. Plus, IBS does not cause intestinal blackage, or abnormal CTs
CROHN's: My problems flare up like crohn's, so it could be an inflamatory condition that could also cause the obstruction. The problem is: I get no fever, no bleeding in the stool, no pain in the joints, no rushing to the bathromm, etc... and the colonoscopy and small bowel series were normal. another factor is that Crohn's usually develop in the teens and I am 36.
TUMOR, INTUSSUSCEPTION, ETC...: The radiologist and my GI insist in saying that my small intestine was partially obstructed both times, but CT scan, SB series and colonoscopy revealed no growth or mechanical obstruction. Plus, during the exploratory surgery, nothing was found.
So... What do I have? My next test is the pill cam, where you swallow a camera that takes pics of your small intestines. I am scared to death to do this and have the pill get stuck. I no not have any symptoms now, but how knows... Should I do it? I am scared, but would like to knwo what I have once and for all
I am being careful with what I eat, since the episodes usually happen after a night meal and cause INTENSE overnight abdominal pains. Pains are usually located right below the stomack, always above the belly button. I am taking bentyl for the cramping plus peppermint teas and anything I can find to soothe the bowels. I recently cut dairy, wheat, sodas and alcohol. Can't seem to pinpoint a particular food I ate that caused an episode. However, I can alwasy see it coming when one is iminent (bloating, noisy intestines and cramping.) sometimes it goes away with a hot bath or hot compress, sometimes I am in the ER wiht a partial obstruction.
Sooo... I have read a few threads here and am amazed at your resilience! Keep up the good fight. heck, I may be joining your fight as of today. In teh meantime, any insights form your wealth of knowledge would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks to all!
Marc
I am in my 30's and, unitl 12 months ago, the most serious thing I've ever had was a flu. It all started a yr ago when I was rushed to the ER with unbelievable intestinal cramps. CT scan showed a intestinal obstruction and exploratory surgery was done. Nothing was found. No tumor, no scar tissue (no previous surgeries), no bands, no inflamation, nothing. The surgeon simply ran her hands through my bowels and the obstruction relieved itself... He diagnosis was "hmm interesting..."
Since then, I have "episodes" roughly once a month. They include: severe cramps, extremelly noisy sounds, lots of air. It usually passes after 1-2 days, but sometimes it may take a week. Most of the time it is followed by the big D, but not always. I had a serious one last month, went to the hospital and CT revealed another partial intestinal obstruction. This time they did not operate and it went away. Pain was unbelievable and morphine was needed.
I have seen a GI and have done blood tests, colonoscopy and small bowel series. All normal. The GI is puzzled, so am I. Here are the possibilities:
IBS: Symptoms are similar, although i don't necessarily go to the bathroom several times a day like IBS patients usually do. In fact, 90% of the time i do not have D or C. Plus, IBS does not cause intestinal blackage, or abnormal CTs
CROHN's: My problems flare up like crohn's, so it could be an inflamatory condition that could also cause the obstruction. The problem is: I get no fever, no bleeding in the stool, no pain in the joints, no rushing to the bathromm, etc... and the colonoscopy and small bowel series were normal. another factor is that Crohn's usually develop in the teens and I am 36.
TUMOR, INTUSSUSCEPTION, ETC...: The radiologist and my GI insist in saying that my small intestine was partially obstructed both times, but CT scan, SB series and colonoscopy revealed no growth or mechanical obstruction. Plus, during the exploratory surgery, nothing was found.
So... What do I have? My next test is the pill cam, where you swallow a camera that takes pics of your small intestines. I am scared to death to do this and have the pill get stuck. I no not have any symptoms now, but how knows... Should I do it? I am scared, but would like to knwo what I have once and for all
I am being careful with what I eat, since the episodes usually happen after a night meal and cause INTENSE overnight abdominal pains. Pains are usually located right below the stomack, always above the belly button. I am taking bentyl for the cramping plus peppermint teas and anything I can find to soothe the bowels. I recently cut dairy, wheat, sodas and alcohol. Can't seem to pinpoint a particular food I ate that caused an episode. However, I can alwasy see it coming when one is iminent (bloating, noisy intestines and cramping.) sometimes it goes away with a hot bath or hot compress, sometimes I am in the ER wiht a partial obstruction.
Sooo... I have read a few threads here and am amazed at your resilience! Keep up the good fight. heck, I may be joining your fight as of today. In teh meantime, any insights form your wealth of knowledge would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks to all!
Marc