feeling defeated.

well I called back even though I said I wouldn't. I guess I had a little bit of fight in me, but now it's officially gone. I talked to the nurse again, who didn't even remember talking to me not even 20 min ago. I tried to give her my symptoms and give her an idea how long this was going on and she wouldn't even let me talk. just kept cutting me off. I told her I had never even met the guy before the colonoscopy and she still didn't care. just kept cutting me off and told me she'd tell him the immodium didn't really work for me. so if I wasn't feeling defeated before I definitely am now. she didn't even write down anything I was saying. I honestly want to cry. she didn't even give me a chance to ask her what the doc thought I had. I'm assuming there wasn't a diagnosis on there or else she would've told me. :-(

It took over a year and 5 surgeries before I found a doc that would properly diagnose me, so I totally feel your pain! You have to find a better GI than the one you've got. You need one who will sit down with you, LISTEN, and THEN do a scope, and some biopsies, and anything else he deems necessary. You can't rely on one of those "fast-track" scope places with crappy docs! I know it's easier said than done, but find a better GI! For your own sanity as much as for your health.

Closure,

I am SO SORRY you have to go through this. SO FRUSTRATING! Maybe they should do a capsule endoscopy? Could your problems be in your small intestine? It took a capsule endoscopy to confirm that I had Crohn's. In the past the disease was pretty active in my large intestine, and the colonoscopy showed that but when they did the capsule endoscopy it showed activity in my small intestines too! They def wouldn't have known this had they not done the capsule endoscopy. So I'm thinking that if your colonoscopy came back "normal" (ARG) that maybe you have lots of activity in your small bowel?

Also, maybe you should go to another doc. This guy sounds like a loser who doesn't care about his patients. ARG!

Take care and please let us know how you are doing!!

turbo is right..next doctor...:)

I've been thinking about switching doctor's, but here's my issues. First, there are only 2 practices in my area for colon/rectal. I'm obviously at one so there's only one left. No problem with that, but now I'm paranoid they might be the same way. Second issue...the doc seemed nice during the colonoscopy so maybe it's his ignorant nurse giving off the vibe that he doesn't care. He said during the colonoscopy that he would recommend the endoscopy if nothing showed up so that's what I was expecting...not take immodium and live with it. Maybe their patients are just numbers though and he doesn't remember talking to me? Like I said I couldn't even get a list of my symptoms or questions out with this stupid nurse...she just kept cutting me off. I don't know. I mean I think having diarrhea for over 4 years plus having it become severe for the past 3 months should be a big deal. Especially since I haven't really even been able to leave the house lately. Then there's the bleeding I've had off and on for years which also just recently got worse, but went away in the month it took me to even get my colonoscopy. The first time I went to the ER they wanted me to get a colonoscopy scheduled ASAP. when they called me to see if I scheduled it they, the hospital, called to see if it could be moved up because of how urgent they thought it was...obviously that's not in my chart though. anyway...I guess the rash and mouth sores I've been getting for over 2 years are nothing too. just take immodium and ignore the problems. she even told me maybe if I take the immodium for awhile and I stop it maybe the diarrhea will have gone away. I'm just so fed up.

If they didn't see any piles on the scope then it is almost certainly Chrohn's or Cealic Disease in my opinion. Obviously it isn't UC as there is no colon involvement. The best thing to do is go to the other practice for a 2nd opinion and take it from there - let them know what you have had and what you need is someone to look at your small bowel.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I think we are trying to give you some of our fight, so please use it to get a second opinion. An endoscopy is a good start, but you should also try for a capsule endoscopy, it can see further in and possibly find out what is going on. There are also other diagnostic tests that can be beneficial if those fail. A colonoscopy isn't the only thing out there. Please keep looking for an answer. I went 10 years undiagnosed because the doctor told me I was lactose intolerant, and I will never know how much damage that did to me. I do know I ended up with 3 resections in very quick succession after finally being diagnosed correctly.

Why see a colo-rectal surgeon? Why not see a gastroenterologist instead. I would be finding me a good gastro ASAP. If it will make you feel better, call and make an appt and go in and see this guy and tell him everything you have told us. You are going to have to get over being mad and take care of business instead of dwelling on what some idiot nurse told you. Remember, you are the one in charge of your health, not some nurse. Sitting and fuming and doing nothing will not get you anywhere except put your gut in an uproar. Good luck. Susie

You are going through quite a lot at the moment. Make a list of eveything you have gone through symptom wise for your appointment and thrust that under the doctors nose and dont leave until he has addressed your concerns. If all else fails do get a second opinion, you shouldnt have to suffer so.
Prayers and hugs for you closure - Jo

thanks again for the encouragment and advice. you have no idea how much it has helped me to come here and see people who know what I'm going through and understand completely. I don't know how many of you also suffer from mental issues, but today totally screwed me up. I mean I think I had a right to be upset with that stupid nurse and the whole situation. I've just been in a depressive phase in my bipolar lately and this along with all the other crap in my life pushed me over the edge. Here I am over 12 hours later and I'm still dwelling on things and still stressed/depressed. because of my mood I totally ruined the day for my boyfriend which of course has made me feel worse. it's like a never ending cycle. with being sick all the time physically and mentally, my family drama, money troubles...the list goes on...I've gotten into quite a funk. I would stay in bed all day if I could...unfortunately my butt's attached to that toliet so I can't mope in bed for long. usually if I just took a day to soak everything in and stuff I would get over it a lot easier. but with being sick with these stomach problems and the fact that I have so much stuff to take care of at the moment I have to push things aside and eventually I just lose it.

anyway I'll stop rambling. I'm going to try and be optimistic about my appt at the end of the month and assume it was just a bad nurse I got today. if I'm still in the frame of mind I was in today and the doc blows me off I don't know what I'll do. I don't know how willing I'll be to keep going with this illness. meaning I don't know if I'll be able to fight with another doc to fix me. I'd probably have to go through the whole colonoscopy thing again plus whatever else they might want to do to me and I'm struggling now to keep up. I'm just trying to have the strength to fight because I know there's something wrong...something immodium is not going to fix. if anything that crap will just make it worse. I don't know who I told today, but if I start bleeding again I'm going to take a picture of the toliet. the ER doc saw the blood by examining me when it was at it's worse, but apparently that's not good enough. I have pics of the rash I keep getting, but when I met with the physician's assistant to schedule my colonoscopy he wasn't interested in them. I offered to show him and he said he was just more concerned about the diarrhea and bleeding. then the only thing he writes on that stupid note for my actual doc who I only met the day of the colonoscopy..."recent change in bowel movement, some rectal bleeding." what about the mouth sores, the rash, how long the diarrhea and bleeding have been going on and the severity, the back pain, joint pain, etc.

I'm just so frustrated. sometimes I feel they see my bipolar or the meds I'm on and automatically think mental case. oh well. now I'm done rambling.

I do not believe if you got a 2nd opinion you would have to re-do the c-scope. Just get a copy of your records and take them to a new doc. Closure you really need to stay strong and fight! No one can help you get the care you need but you. Continue to fight and try to get answers, don't let a few ignorant nurses or doctors stop you from getting the answers you deserve. Good luck!

Well, if we all on here have Crohns Disease I think we can all also relate. I discovered this wonderful disease way back 23 years ago. I will never forget the very first attack.

I was sitting eating dinner with my then husband. I even remember the food we were eating....pork chops, mashed potatoes and peas. After dinner, I got what I thought was just a stomach ache. That stomach ache lasted for almost two weeks. Ah those were the days.... it would come, and then go weeks, or months. It came without warning and left the same way. Not anymore, I AM CRONIC.... is that a death sentence? NAH

I went to the doc, and was told I had what the medical profession called " A nervous stomach" What the heck is that??????

After six months of crap, and as tenacious as I was and am, I made the MEDICAL PROFESSION do something about it.

I was told I had a disease. My knees went weak, I could almost see my life flash before my eyes. I had just had a baby one year earlier, I thought......will I see him grow up???

Talk about backwards, what a terrible thing for a specialist to say it like that. How about, " You have a condition known as Crohns Disease, it is not fatal, and with the proper diet and management, you will be fine.

Well........ this is what management meant....... I became a pharmacutical junkie! Percocet, Codiene, Ativan, sleeping pills, Demerol, zopiclone ( more sleeping pills) Then came Prednisone, of which I had every side effect it came with, so that was ruled out. I have tried Remicade, allergic, stemitil ( anti-nausient) sulfa drugs, bial-salts, the list is so long, I need to think. I have been on every drug and then some for crohns. I was heavily addicted to Percocet, took it for 7 years, had to have meth med to help me kick my habit. ( my doctor was my pusher, my connection ) I could and can walk in there, and ask for whatever I want. And he pulls out his pen and starts writting

I have been in clynical trials for crohns, a human guinea pig if you will. Nothing

I have had 6 bowel resections

3 fistula opperations I AM NOW WHAT IS CALLED CRONIC ( live with it every day )

over 100 tests.And after all that? I am not better off than before, except I have way less bowel, can't digest food well, skinny, have had anemia many times, potassium deficiency I could go on and on

And here I am today, there is no success story, I live this life, its all I have known for the past 23 years, I don't know what its like to have a solid bm. I don't know what its like to eat, and feel great after the meal. I have been bitter, had pity partys for myself every month, and continue down the road. Its not a great road, lots of bumps and potholes, but what else is there? Here I am. I want to talk to someone who has been though the ringer like me, just to know, that others go through that imbarrasment, running for the bathroom after a meal, having accidents in their pants like me. I am healthy looking on the outside, but man........you should see my insides.......