(LONG POST!!)
I joined the forum back in '07 after my UP dignosis in late '06. It wasn't until mid '07 that, after an 18 or so month flare did i finally acheive remission. For years, I'd always had "issues" that, by the time I would actually get in to see a GI specialist, would 'go away'.
Currently I am in another flare, without a GP/PCP (my GP "up and left" the practice he was at, took my files (they are 'his' property') and went to another practice. I have NO desire what-so-ever to follow him to his new practice, so, I am (for lack of a better term) doctor shopping. I did manage to convince a doctor at a walk-in clinic to send off a referral to the GI Clinic - now I am waiting for an appointment. I also had that same doctor write me a script for 5ASA, Salofalk supps and Buscopan for the spasms.
Lately I have been pretty much lurking the forum taking in as much information as I can absorb. My flare would be considered mild to moderate, les than 10 bm/day with no nocturnal bm. However, over the last few days, when passing gas, I am also passing mucous and blood. I should be taking the Asacol 3 times a day, but, I can't tolerate that much (4800mg/day) so I am only taking it twice a day. When I do take the higher dose, I find I feel worse with it than without it.
I did manage to get copies of the letters from the GI clinic I was diagnosed at (across the country), and, I'm hoping you knowledgable folks will be able to shed some light on things for me.
Jan/07
"...histopathlogy reveals inflammatory changes consistent with idiopathic IBD. Given the sigmoidoscopic appearance, this is most likely to be ulcerative proctitis but given the fact that there was a granuloma identified, the possibility remains that this will eventually prove to be Crohn's disese"
Apr/07
"...sigmoidoscopy reveals moderate to severe proctitis, which gradually improves in the distal sigmoid....there are multiple discrete erythmatous areas, not a patter typical of UC. This raises the possibility to Crohn's disease"
Do you think that, given the above comments, I fall into the "indeterminate colitis" category?
I guess my reason for posting all of this is - is I'd like to know what your intpretation is. I'm just trying to inform myself a bit more before I actually get into see a GI doc.
McGut - if you don't mind me asking, where in NS are you and do you see someone at the GI clinic in Halifax?
Thanks for your time everyone.
Michelle