:confused2:
Hi Everyone
I've had 'IBS' for years now (had to cut out several foods to control it inc. dairy, all cereals, processed sugar...although I still have a little sugar because I'm cheeky) and also have Ehlers-Danlos Type III.
December 2012 I started suffering from an inflamed stomach (they had a look with a camera) and had no diagnosis as to the cause (I was offered hypnotherapy to help cope with the pain...no thanks) and then last week after a couple of weeks with a swollen achey gut I had blood, quite a lot of blood, fresh and red with maroon red stools. I went to the dr and they did a blood test (normal) and a stool sample (not had result back yet) and examined me (said blood from colon, colon v.swollen). By Friday I was back with a lot more pain and older looking bood (but much less). Stools switch from normal to thin and soft, with varying blood from hardly any to saturated. I had a very fun conversation with the dr's receptionist on Friday:
Bear: Could I have a phone appointment with the Dr please?
R: We have none left today
Bear: Could I have an emergency one please?
R: What makes you think it's an emergency?
Bear: Well, I've been bleeding from my colon for 3 days...
R: oh, you've been bleeding from your colon for 3 days? How do you know you've been bleeding from your colon for 3 days? (sarcastic tone)
Bear: (resisting urge to reply "well, the blood was my first clue...") I saw the dr on Wednesday
R: I'm sorry, your blood test was normal so it isn't an emergency
I had to stop myself telling her she was wasted in a receptionist role what with her medical degree... (eventually saw Dr 6.30pm Friday eve and his jaw dropped at that story)
Over this weekend things settled (aka if I don't eat I feel almost OK) and then yesterday a bit more blood and back to thin stools. Today I'm normal again with the strong pain. Waiting on a colonoscopy, and found out my cousin died of complications from Crohns aged 42 (fairly rare I understand).
Other things I've noticed this last week:
I can't drink enough water. Constantly thirsty
gums went white and I was really drowsy (had iron supplement and recovered)
suffering intermittent hot flushes and sweating (on days when bleeding)
I'm an olympic weightlifter and if I can get past the initial pain and sweats, training seems to take blood away from my gut into my legs and gives me some relief
I went through the stages of grief with this over about 3 hrs and have hit acceptance pretty quickly (not going to lie, there were tears around hr 1), but I am still feeling a bit lost. I am ashamed to admit I hope it is Crohns, because then I have an answer and an action plan moving forward and won't have ridiculous conversations with receptionists. I will be ill anyway, so I'd rather know and not feel so blind.
This forum looks like somewhere I belong. Any comments, advice, guidance, anything - very much appreciated. I hope I can help contribute in future too
Bear x
Hi Everyone
I've had 'IBS' for years now (had to cut out several foods to control it inc. dairy, all cereals, processed sugar...although I still have a little sugar because I'm cheeky) and also have Ehlers-Danlos Type III.
December 2012 I started suffering from an inflamed stomach (they had a look with a camera) and had no diagnosis as to the cause (I was offered hypnotherapy to help cope with the pain...no thanks) and then last week after a couple of weeks with a swollen achey gut I had blood, quite a lot of blood, fresh and red with maroon red stools. I went to the dr and they did a blood test (normal) and a stool sample (not had result back yet) and examined me (said blood from colon, colon v.swollen). By Friday I was back with a lot more pain and older looking bood (but much less). Stools switch from normal to thin and soft, with varying blood from hardly any to saturated. I had a very fun conversation with the dr's receptionist on Friday:
Bear: Could I have a phone appointment with the Dr please?
R: We have none left today
Bear: Could I have an emergency one please?
R: What makes you think it's an emergency?
Bear: Well, I've been bleeding from my colon for 3 days...
R: oh, you've been bleeding from your colon for 3 days? How do you know you've been bleeding from your colon for 3 days? (sarcastic tone)
Bear: (resisting urge to reply "well, the blood was my first clue...") I saw the dr on Wednesday
R: I'm sorry, your blood test was normal so it isn't an emergency
I had to stop myself telling her she was wasted in a receptionist role what with her medical degree... (eventually saw Dr 6.30pm Friday eve and his jaw dropped at that story)
Over this weekend things settled (aka if I don't eat I feel almost OK) and then yesterday a bit more blood and back to thin stools. Today I'm normal again with the strong pain. Waiting on a colonoscopy, and found out my cousin died of complications from Crohns aged 42 (fairly rare I understand).
Other things I've noticed this last week:
I can't drink enough water. Constantly thirsty
gums went white and I was really drowsy (had iron supplement and recovered)
suffering intermittent hot flushes and sweating (on days when bleeding)
I'm an olympic weightlifter and if I can get past the initial pain and sweats, training seems to take blood away from my gut into my legs and gives me some relief
I went through the stages of grief with this over about 3 hrs and have hit acceptance pretty quickly (not going to lie, there were tears around hr 1), but I am still feeling a bit lost. I am ashamed to admit I hope it is Crohns, because then I have an answer and an action plan moving forward and won't have ridiculous conversations with receptionists. I will be ill anyway, so I'd rather know and not feel so blind.
This forum looks like somewhere I belong. Any comments, advice, guidance, anything - very much appreciated. I hope I can help contribute in future too
Bear x