HELP!! I need help, I am really sick!!

Hi all, I haven't been on lately due to being in the hospital and to sore and sick to sit at P.C. But I really need you all's help. Am Confused!! I went in the hospital on May 19, not because of U.C. but my heart. I had 2 stents put in. My heart is fine now, except I have gas from my acid reflux build in my chest and it scares me. They put me on Plavix, 2 baby aspirin, cholestrol meds, they said it might irritate the U.C. But I have to take it. But what is really scary is this, Sunday I felt sick to the stomach, no energy, just laid around. In the middle of the night I woke up not being able to control my BM. It is Bright Bright yellow, runny as water, no blood mixed with it til yesterday. Stomach cramps so severe, in one day I took 4 bentyl's, 3 Canasa's, A entire bottle of Pepto-Bismol, 9 Colasal, 2 probiotics and still no control. Went to G.I. today and she said I am in a moderate to severe flare-up. I hate to think about what a severe one is like. My P.P. said she thought it was a intestinal virus, but wasn't sure and gave me some pills for the cramps. I iust want to know if anyone else has had these symptoms and what did your G.I do to help. I start tonight on Rowasa enemas and she said if I am not better by Monday, she might have to put me back in the hosp or start me on predisone. She put me back on percoset and I hate feeling doped up. I have lost 10 pounds since Sunday. Am a little bit dehydrated, but am drinking alot of water which goes straight thru. Please, if anyone could give me a little advice or just share some conversation with me. I would appreciate it. Please !!!!Angel

It sounds like a flare to me.

While I don't have any experience with your heart medications, I would make sure your GI is working with your cardiologist to get all of that figured out. Are they communicating about your situation? Each disease can't be monitored in a vaccuum... they have to be managed in conjunction with each other, if at all possible.

Hi Expecting, no they are not communicating. When I first went in the hospital they were arguing over was it my heart or Acid Reflux. One G.I. Dr. that is in the group with my G.I. insulted and embassed me so bad, it was awful. He wanted to send me home but my Cardio said no way, something wasn't right. I passed all their heart tests, I do not know how. Except the old push around EKG and it would come back showing something wrong. Had two arteries almost blocked, one 95% The other one 70%. I was having small heart attacks and their machines wasn't catching it. When we questioned this they said those test were only 85% right, meaning 15% are allowed to walk away. I am so thankful I do have excellent cardio's. Thanks for caring and keep in touch. Feels good to talk about it. Angel

Hi Judy, I am doing fine from the angio, its the meds I think that is causing all this flare up. But I am one sick puppy right now. I am hungry and can not eat, because it hurts so bad. I have no control over BM and am having to wear depends for accidents. My G.I. is in such a hurry, you are right she doesn't talk to you that much. I have already spoken with my PCP about another one and I am going to call in the morning and get a second opinion. I go to my cardio tuesday and he listens to me, I think Alot of him. I am going to talk with him. What is C. Diff. infection? thanks for caring and talking. Angel

Bellski, Thank you so very much for caring, and please keep me in your Prayers, they do work. I got to do that rowasa enema tonight and I just wonder how and if it will make me sicker. Guess I am getting scared of meds. Angel

Get to a new Gastro, as quickly as you can. You sound like you are in a serious flare. There are other med's they should be considering, but they have to be done in conjunction with your heart issues. Sounds like you should be in the hospital with an IV, and quickly.
Stay connected and keep seeking answers. Hang tough, K

Elephantlover, c. diff. is a bacteria, the mind-bending name is clostridium dificil. When we're sick or having a flare, or when we're on antibiotics it will tend to grow and infect our colons. It is the big new concern in hospitals, because a lot of people pick it up there, most likely because they're sick and it's around in other patients. Because the normal, "good" bacteria tend to get wiped out by UC, it leaves a wide-open door for it to infect us.

The reason I thought of it is that it tends to cause watery diarrhea and very severe cramping. UC flares can also do this, and the only way to be sure is to have a stool culture done. Thus, my suggestion about the stool culture.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Elephantlover,

I was going along fine until I took aspirin over a two day course I think that is what cause me to flare up and now I am @ 40mg of pred and it is finally helping my flare.

HTH!

Hi EL,

Sorry about your situation. I have gone throught the heart/uc combo, I had a quadruple bypass. When I was struggling to stablize from a flare my cardio doc let me drop the aspirin. When I was stable I added the aspirin back in. Ask him if you can do that and then ease back in with 1 a day for some time before you add the second. Ask if maybe you can stay on one a day. I assume they are the 81mg.

Good luck  

Angel, I've been thinking about you.  I hope you are starting to get better.  How are you feeling today?  Lori (Bellski)

I'll continue to pray for you. You might want to keep a journal of what's been going on to tell the doctor in case you forget things. When you are so sick, it's hard to focus sometimes. Keep us posted, Lori (Bellski)

EL - are you on Colazal? I had very yellow stools while on it for a few months back in '03.

I hope you're continuing to feel better!

I understand the feelings - like your guts have been trampled and are RAW. Losing that much weight is tough on the body. I'm concerned that you're not getting enough nutrients. Are you able to get down Gatorade or Powerade? Chicken broth? Keep foods simple and REST when you can.

Let us know how you're doing.