Colonoscopy normal, but still bleeding and such...

Hi everyone -

So, I decided to just copy this from my other post "New to the Forum" to get opinions from others...

Well, turns out that my biopsies were only taken from my colon and not my TI, as previously thought... and those came back normal. I go back to my GI Friday morning to try and get this all figured out. I'm just SO frustrated. He prescribed Dicyclomine to try and help with whatever... that's a medicine used for IBS, isn't it? He said he just isn't sure what's going on yet. My guess is that it has something to do with my small intestine. If my colon looks fine... then, something must be up in the small intestine... right? I know this can't be IBS because I'm having bleeding with pretty much every bowel movement. It's mostly only mucus coming out now... but, it's got blood in it every time. And, might be getting to be too much info, but, has anyone experienced a fishy odor with mucus or BMs???? I didn't think I have an infection (mostly because Flagyl did not do anything for me), but I've heard that it COULD be indicative of an infection. I'm not jumping to conclusions, though. Going along the lines of the bleeding... I don't have any fissures or hemorrhoids (external or internal) - so, that isn't causing the bleeding.

When I talked to his clinical assistant on Friday and was told that everything was normal from the colonoscopy, I felt defeated and cried for a good couple of hours. This is exhausting - I thought for sure, I went through that stupid prep for an answer... lone-behold: nothing. I was doing some research... as all of us probably have at some point in time and, of course, I am taking things at face value and not looking further into them or self-diagnosing. But, I wanted to see what other options or forms of CD there are. Has anybody had experience with CD in just the jejunum? It seems to be the least common form... but, as of now, I think it may be the only explanation for the constant D, feeling sick, an un-explainable fever, nausea, bloody-mucus, etc. etc.

@HabsHockeyFan: Student health on campus prescribed me this cream for the rash. She said she doesn't think it's connected, but wanted to try and help me out in any way she possibly can. I have seen a slight diminish, after a week, in the appearance/redness... but, it's burning more and more and still showing up on other parts of my arms. Not sure what to think. The cream is called: Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Diproprionate and I use it 2x/day for 2 weeks. It is a corticosteroid and an anti-fungal. I'm still gonna give it a 'go' for the next week...but, I think it's just taking the edge off... minus the fact that the burning is worse :/ Have you had anything that has helped?

Jade

Thanks, ep49. It's nice to have had SOMEONE respond out of the 60 something people who viewed. I've been keeping a 'diary' thing to log what has been going on. I got some time away from campus yesterday and dropped off what I had. Since the 19th, I've lost about 8 or 9 lbs. I go to the bathroom roughly around 9 times a day. I don't eat but maybe 500 calories a day, sometimes none at all... but, my BMs pretty much always have lots of undigested food (even if it's not a rush to get to the bathroom). I dropped off the diary thing (that stated what I just said and, of course, lots more) around 10:30 am yesterday and got a call from him around 11:05 that said I needed to do another course of flagyl (I'm reluctant - been on it 3 times since this summer and no difference) and go to the lab at the hospital for stool tests (c-diff, WBC, culture, and one or two other things that I can't remember). He said during my follow up on Friday, he may end up prescribing me some prednisone, because, in the past when I've had to take it for other things (spontaneous neuropathy with a heel fracture due to osteopenia, and a back injury), I've noticed a change (good) in my bowel habits. I would completely welcome prednisone.

Again, thanks for responding! It makes me feel a whole lot better... and a whole lot less crazy!!!

Jade

If your doctor is suspecting C-diff and the flagyl isn't doing anything maybe ask for vancomycin. Just a thought. Wish I had other ideas but I do agree with ep49. Bleeding is not normal especially since you have no hemmies or fissures.

@scifigal2k: I wasn't trying to be 'snippy' through that comment. I just mean that it is reassuring that at least one person out of so many was able to relate/could contribute in such a way.

Thanks for the suggestion about the vancomycin! I will DEFINITELY ask him about it Friday morning when I go (that is, if my stool tests come back inconclusive or something).

Kazbern - thanks for telling me about the calprotectin test. I think that I read about that briefly last night. It wasn't on my lab slip; however, I guess depending on the results from the specimen I turned in today, I may suggest that test to him. I am a medicaid patient and, at least for NC, those with medicaid who are under 21 years of age, qualify for any necessary tests/treatments that are necessary to 'correct' any issue discovered/diagnosed. So, that is something on my side.

Truly am thankful for the suggestions. I feel as though I am walking into this blindly because this is the first time I've actually decided to do anything (mostly because I'm super sick... but also because I'm FINALLY insured for the first time in a longggg time). So, it's all a new experience.

I have to say, the stool sample thing was SO unpleasant. I mean, it's one thing to examine, but it's another thing to HAVE to dig around - AND - it's a whole new ballpark when you have to hand it over to some stranger. I got out of that lab area faster than the lady (and attractive, male lab-tech) could say thank you. It was embarrassing, but at least I will (hopefully) never have to see them again!

I was really nauseous and could barely eat when I had c-diff too. Sorry you are going through all of this in college! If you can't afford the VSL 3 you might try Florastor probiotics. They seemed to help me and I am still taking them...still expensive but cheaper than VSL.

That's fine; I understand completely.

I'm anxious to see what else they may have found in the stool cultures, etc.
Now that I'm more hydrated... I'm obviously urinating more and now I'm noticing the pain from the kidney/bladder infection.

I ate for the first time today in like 4 or so days and... it stayed down!!!! Now, it's just not coming out and it feels bad. But, I'm guessing that my gut is just 'waking up' from the rest period.

I'm a bit worried about this whole c-diff thing because I've had it since August (at least, I've been sick since the beginning of August) and I've been on flagyl twice since. I am now on it for the third time and no difference so far. They said I could try vancomycin if nothing else... but, we shall see.

Hi everybody I am new to this site. I have suffered on and off for 16 years, one doctor telling me that I have Diverticular Disease, only to be told 5 years ago that I actually had Crohn's and Diverticular Disease. I was rushed into hospital again last week with bleeding and extreme stomach cramp and, of wanting to go to the toilet all the time, but all that came out was blood and so much pain in my stomach. I have had Sigmoidoscopies, Barium Enema's and now two colonsoscopies because nobody can get to the bottom of it. Everytime I go in my T cell's are up, yet they say well they still can't figure it out. Two years ago, yet again I was rushed in and was told that I have Crohn's again and two years before that was rushed in, each time bleeding and being sick. There is so much that I cannot eat and things that set it off, although I am very careful, but now and then I might buy something that has got what I can't eat in it and I make a mistake and suffer for it. They kept mentioning Colitis in the hospital this time and, then said oh no youve not got Crohns... lol They have sent me home after 8 days and im none the wiser. Anybody on here got any suggestions? Thanks for listening.

Hello jk5493 and ep49,

I find your post/reply interesting. I have had the same experience. The first two times I bled a lot after consuming alcohol. I saw a lot of dark red blood in the stool and I was freaked out. I rushed to the hospital the next day. I was admitted to the emergency ward. My hemoglobin level was 6.0 gm/DL (Normal 13.8 - 17.2 gm/DL). The following day doctors conducted the upper and lower GI colonoscopy and yet could not find a bleeding spot. Not even the signs of inflammation or scars. They investigated every single inch of the intestine, stomach, esophagus etc. I was diagnosed with anemia and discharged. I again started eating crap and bled for the third time. The could find an inflammation in the TI and diagnosed me with CD.

It has been one of the unsolved mysteries to me. I worry more about why they could not find anything the first two times rather than my CD. Have your intestine, stomach, rectum, esophagus etc. been thoroughly examined?

I could draw a conclusion that I bled in the TI the first two times too. It might be possible that the healing was so quick which had not left any signs of inflammation or bleeding spot.

Sorry! I'm unable to answer your question, as I myself don't have an answer for my question. You might sooner or later be diagnosed with IBD. Please take care of your health. I wish you speedy recovery.