The Saga continues

This is probably another rant, more than needing answers to specific questions. So, about three weeks ago, I went into a flare with fever, D and tachycardia. My bloodwork showed anemia, but not severe, and my GI didn't think that my level of anemia was sufficient to explain the tachycardia. So before he would do other GI testing, he wanted me to see my internist to make sure my heart was ok. My GI is a great guy, but I am very disappointed in the internist. He first, just listened with a stethoscope and told me my heart is fine, and when I pushed him he ordered an EKG and holter monitor. Despite my calling the office and repeated nagging, it took over a week to get the stupid results, and then all I got was a nurse from his office, saying that "your heart is fine. You didn't notice the PVC's, which is good." I don't know what that means....I only wrote down chest pains and when I was doing activities, not every time my heart was racing. Anyway, I'll assume my heart is fine. He also scheduled a stress echo for next week. Meanwhile, they tested my stool for occult blood which is positive so I'm still bleeding.

I talked to my GI and he is scheduling the pill cam soon, so I can finally get some attention and move forward. In 2007, I had a bleeding ulcer in my small intestine, that they couldn't see with upper GI or colonoscopy...the pill cam is the only way to get to it, and I suspect that is the case again.

I'm just sooooooo frustrated with the length of time it takes to get treatment!!! We already KNOW I have Crohn's disease. I felt like my internist treated me like I just have anxiety....it makes me so mad. My brother in law is a cardiologist in Vegas. I'm going to call him tonight....I suspect that I really don't need the stress echo.....this heart stuff is just wasting my time while I'm trying to get treatment for the Crohn's. On another note, I'm losing faith in Pentasa. I suspect we will add Prednisone again, but we may have to have the big talk about biologics. Thanks for listening....just tired and wanting my healthy self back again!!!

Hi Gumby. ((hugs))

Hang in there! You are finally getting people to notice that you are suffering, even though your numbers are only slightly off. Hopefully this means you'll get relief soon.

I also agree that your heart is probably a distractor right now. When my husband had a bad flare his resting heart rate was 100-120 bpm. I think inflammation in the body, plus dehydration can do that.

Get the pill cam done ASAP, and hopefully the pred will knock back the inflammation, and you'll start feeling on solid ground again.

PV

Well, I have my pill cam on now. They have sure come a long way since I had the pill cam in 2007. Back then, I felt like a suicide bomber....there were so many wires and leads. Now, you just wear a simple belt and transmitter...much easier. The pill seemed smaller too, but I'm used to my giant 500 mg Pentasa pills:) So I'm starting Prednisone tomorrow while waiting for results.

I talked to my cardiologist brother in law. He still thinks I should do the stress echo next week. He doubts there is anything wrong, but thinks this issue may come up again every time I get anemic, so we may as well make sure everything is fine. I thought for sure he would tell me to cancel it, but, I totally trust him, so I guess I'll do it.

I really hate Prednisone, but I'm glad to finally be doing something to try to stop this flare. It's getting close to a month that I've been struggling and I've had quite enough! Thanks to everyone for your support. I'll let you know what I find out.

Ha gumby! I lol'd a bit when I read your comment about being hooked up for the pillcam. I thought the same thing when I had mine done last fall, as I had my first one done in 2006.

My GI has mentioned having a stress test done too, although more recently she's said that if my chest pain doesn't go away, she'd like me to have a sonogram done of my heart, which, if I remember correctly, would be able to detect if there was any inflammation in my chest wall. When I went to urgent care six weeks ago for chest pain, my EKG and chest x-ray came back fine, at least in terms of my heart (my lungs are a different matter). My GP has been against me having any workups done, but that's largely because I'm so young and don't have a family history of early-onset heart issues.

Hey Gumby! I did the stress test and the echo last fall after a holter monitor. Same thing as kazbern said, PVCs that were knocking me down...but mine were during the day. My stress came out clean as a whistle (odd phrase because we all know what junk must get blown into a whistle!). I think you are right to do it just in case...it took a lot of stress off of me ironically.
Please keep us up to date as I am considering trying the pill cam for the first time and would like to know what they found for you (you have strikingly similar symptoms to what I am trying to resolve right now).

Hello. I really need help. Maybe you can help me. I'm not sure if it's because I have a sinus infection but I really am reaching out to help. I need you to help me. Please this would mean a lot. I have been really sick over the past week or so. I went to the urgency care with a sore throat, runny nose, and common cold symptoms. He looked in my ears as I told him they hurt. He did a strep culture but it came out negative. He gave me penicillin to take one pill 3 times a day. Penicillin didn't do much for me. My throat was the worse full of puss and so swollen. So I went back to the urgency care telling him that I am doing much worse. I told I hadn't got better at all. He put me on amoxicillin. It's been kicking it and my throat isn't as bad anymore. I still do have a runny nose but my ears ache all the time. This morning I woke up and had such a bad taste in the back of my throat. It was disgusting. It made me want to throw up. I was gaging. It was so disgusting. I brushed my teeth and used mouth wash hoping it was a sign of really bad breathe or something. I looked in the mirror and noticed the back of my tongue was full of this yellow-ish type of white stuff. I rapidly started cleaning my tongue with the back of my tooth brush. I used mouth was again and prayed that it would work. I took a shower. Got back in bed and went to go blow my nose and I tasted that terrible taste again. When I breathe in I can taste it. It's disgusting. I really don't know what to do. But it's really terrible because I cannot eat. My food begins to taste like that terrible taste. This taste is in the back of my throat and just will not go away. I really need you're help. It would mean a lot. I am so confused on what's happening. Please right back soon and tell me what I should do or what you think? Thank you so much!