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C diff reoccurrence, colonoscopy next week

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/11/2014 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
I've been trying to taper off vanco for the c diff since Jan and I just so happen to be getting symptoms back at the same time as I'm scheduled for a Colonoscopy next week. I have I have a colonoscopy every 2 years now since I've had colitis for 12+ yrs.

Anyhow, I don't think it's a flare, but who knows. Do you think of it's the c diff and not the flare that they will tell by looking at it next week during the procedure? I think that's really only done by a stool sample. Of which I won't have any bc they will clean me out.

Also I'm kinda irritated that they changed my appt time from 10am until 12:30 pm arrival and a 1:30 procedure time. That means I'm going to be super super hungry! I hate that! Why do they do that! I'll be almost 48 hours with no food. It makes me so mad. Like I know I don't need a freaking colonoscopy- and you (the doc) knows it too....so why do I have to go thru this stuff every few years? It's a huge amt of money and I'm just plain old annoyed that they pushed it back in the day even further. Did I mention I have to drive over an hour to get to the surgical center!? I'm annoyed and I feel like it's going to be a waste. I haven't had a flare since 2006.
Posted 6/11/2014 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Don't know what country are you in. Can you just cancel and reschedule? I would at least ask you GI about doing a colonoscopy with possible C-Diff. There's no law that says you can't delay the whole thing a couple of weeks or a month unless you are in a country where it isn't easy to do that.
Posted 6/11/2014 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in the US. Yea, I could postpone, but I already postponed from last year. I guess I'm just annoyed...like why do we have to get one every two years once we've had the disease for so long. I mean, can't they just treat the symptoms?

My vanco is up next week, the day I'm doing the colonoscopy. I guess I wonder what they hope to achieve. They can't tell if I have c diff that day, so why would they have me stop the vanco that day...as if they are expecting a concrete answer the day of the procedure. I know that isn't going to happen. So then what..go cold turkey off the vanco that day and not have a reoccurrence of the c diff ?

I'm so confused.
Posted 6/12/2014 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
I was just told by my GI that there is no way to tell the difference between a UC flare and c-diff by means of colonoscopy (I am currently flaring (UC) and have c-diff). It is my understanding that only a stool sample will tell you that you have c-diff. But if you are also flaring, you cannot determine one from the other symptom-wise, as they are very similar.
Posted 6/12/2014 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Once you've have UC for about 10 years you should get yearly colonoscopies to check for colon cancer. Journalist and White House spokesperson Tony Snow had UC, got regular colonoscopies, but they must have missed something one year. The next year they found colon cancer and took out his colon. Unfortunately it spread to his liver and he died soon after. His story can be found on the internet. Once you have had UC for those ten years colonoscopies become more and more important. They are working on some promising things to detect colon cancers without colonoscopies and it sounds like they might start being available in the next few years. Don't fool around with the big C. I would reschedule yours to a time that was more convenient to you. That's ridiculous what they are doing to you.
Posted 6/12/2014 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with garylouisville. It's your body and the scheduler in your GI's office doesn't have your comfort in mind. She's (assuming it's a female) working for the dr and wants to meet his (assuming its a male) schedule. So, call her and schedule your procedure to your comfort. Also, FYI when I had cdiff, they did a fecal transplant and the cdiff was gone in 2 days...not pretty and requires a hospital procedure, but it's faster than vancomiacin.

If I've learned anything thru this illness it's that I must be my own patient advocate and speak up because nobody cares about my body more than I do. Others may think I'm a B...., but they're not up several times at night going to the bathroom; or carrying a small supply of incontinence diapers when I have to go to a dr appt.

Good luck.
Posted 6/12/2014 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Yep. Everyone has to remember that you are the employer and the doctor and his office are your employees. You are the boss and you pay them to do work for you, or your insurance company who you pay premiums to pays them to do work for you, or a combination of the two. The doctor is not the boss nor God and you are in charge. If you don't like something you let them know or fire them and hire a new employee who understands that you are helping them to make their yacht payment.
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