Colonoscopy-Endoscopy coming up...

Hi,

I just thought I would get your thoughts on my issues, because I just don't know what to think about the colonoscopy/endoscopy my doctor wants me to have!

I've had random stomach pain since I was little. When I was in 3rd grade I had pain so bad I was curled in a ball and throwing up, and when my Mom took me to the ER, they said I was so constipated my intestines were starting to twist. They gave me an enema and I was fine.

I've had that same horrific pain just a handful of times over my life, always in the middle of the night, and it always ends with me curled in a ball by the toilet because I ultimately throw up, have a bowel movement, and am instantly better.

Last month, I had the same thing, except I couldn't throw up...I felt like I wanted to, but I couldn't. Nor could I have a BM. I ended up going in to the ER because I was worried there was a blockage. I've never had one, but this wasn't ending like it normally did. They did a CT scan and an X-ray, and all they found was a "slight thickening of the bowel wall" which they said could be something, or could be nothing. They also did an enema which really didn't help. But the stomach pain had subsided by the time I was at the ER and never came back.

They referred me to a GI specialist because they didn't want to be the ones to tell me it was nothing just in case - which I respect. The GI ran blood tests for Celiac which came back negative, and because all I could say was "unspecified abdominal pain' (it doesn't really come from a certain place) ... he wants to do a colon/endo so he can really look at my entire digestive tract.

I'll be 30 in a few months, I eat well and exercise, and I feel completely fine other than the handful of times in my entire life I've gotten these pains. I do randomly get bloated but not from any specific foods I can ID. I wouldn't have even gone to the ER if I hadn't panicked a little...I just feel like maybe these tests are unnecessary right now. (I have insurance, but even still I'm looking at a couple grand...)

I've always operated under the assumption that I had mild IBS ... What do you think?

Thank you :)

Thanks, I'll ask about both those things. I'm pretty sure they did the full panel of tests for Celiac, and that is another reason why they want to do the colon/endo, to visually rule it out.

They also prescribed the laxative prep (Go Lytely?) which terrifies me...the few times I've used laxatives they have brought on the same pain that I'm having all these tests done for! I can't imagine drinking a gallon of the stuff!