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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/22/2014 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
My PCP has referred me to a GI doctor and the appointment isn't until November 13. I called today to see about getting in sooner and unfortunately since I am a "new patient" that is the wait time. If you recall I presented to the ER with cramping and diarrhea over a month ago. Their dx was UC. Then had stool testing ordered by PCP and they found nothing alarming there. He sent me home with another kit for more testing, got home with it and the bowl didn't have a lid. GEESH. Since I have appointment with GI doctor I think I'm not even going to bother with the 2nd stool test and PCP appointment. He's given me the referral to the GI doctor and I'm assuming he doesn't know what else to do. I still have not had normal stool since all of this began almost 2 months ago. Thankfully the cramping that sent me to the ER has gone away but it does return when I need to go and then it's gone.
What are the things I can expect from this first GI visit?? I know they will be scheduling me for my first colonoscopy. Am wondering if she'll have to get the issues I already have under control before that? Around here the people I know that have had colonoscopy don't even meet the doctor before.

Thanks!
Posted 8/22/2014 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
I would assume your first GI visit will be a consultation, where you describe your symptoms. He/she will schedule a colonoscopy at the local hospital to investigate/confirm uc (and likely stool tests to take before it). November is an awful long time to wait. Do you have any choice in which GI you see? Perhaps try another GI office or doctor who can see you sooner? Usually my GI has emergency spots open in his schedule, to allow for unexpected patients with emergencies who need to see him right away...
Posted 8/22/2014 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with iPoop. They will just consult with you but you should see if you can get in to see someone else. Waiting until November is very difficult when you're sick with UC symptoms.
Posted 8/22/2014 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Did your PCP prescribe any meds for you?
Posted 8/22/2014 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
The referral was from my doctor, I don't know much about the GI doctors around here. She didn't even offer an "If we have a cancellation"... It just kind of surprised me that a referral from a doctor that they couldn't get me in a tad bit sooner, and the doctor arranged the appointment. So they had to KNOW it wasn't just for a colonoscopy that I was in need of.
There was no medicine prescribed other than what they gave me at the ER and it's in another post just 14 days worth of 2 meds.
I'm not really suffering that much though. I guess if I get the unbearable cramping I'll go back to the ER. Seeing how some of you are suffering, I feel like a whiny baby.
Posted 8/22/2014 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
It's ridiculous to be diagnosed with UC and given 14 days of meds and an appointment with a GI three MONTHS down the road. Where are you from? What meds did the ER prescribe? I'm sorry, but it is really stupid to just sit around with no meds waiting for another trip to the ER because no doctor anywhere will at least give you a three month prescription for anything to get by until then. I hate to see you turn from a whiny baby into having much worse problems just because no one seems to give a shiit how you do over the next three months. This is a disease where you need to jump on it before it gets bad because it is harder to treat the worse it gets.
Posted 8/23/2014 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I had to go back and look at my first post to the group!

I was sent home from the ER with cipro and flagyl and as needed zofran, I took all of them but the zofran I just needed them a few times. The UC was the dx at the ER (after ct scan) , my PCP (he ordered xrays) never said, but the stool sample came back normal. I do seem to be doing better than I was at the start of all of this. Outside of getting so sleepy through the day, lucky I don't work outside the home and can rest when I need to. I'm a bit worried about the GI visit. I live in Kentucky
Posted 8/23/2014 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I was having symptoms and went to my PCP who scheduled a colonoscopy. The results showed UC and my PCP gave me a prescription for Asacol and referred me to a GI for an appointment a couple of months down the road. The prescription lasted until my GI appointment, who eventually kept me on the Asacol. I think you should contact your doctor and see if they will write a prescription for some form of oral mesalamine such as Asacol. There's really no reason for them not to do this. Antibiotics rarely work for UC and can often make you worse. They are mostly for if you have C-Diff, which you apparently didn't. Mesalamines are usually very safe meds to take in most people and the GI will probably put you on one anyway. You should really jump on this before it gets worse because it gets harder to treat the worse it gets. Three months without meds is a loooooooooooong time.
Posted 8/23/2014 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I guess it depends on how severe your symptoms are. I refused to just sit around and wait for my GI referral two months away. I went to the ER again and demanded that this time I see the GI on call....not just the ER docs who had previously given me an iv for the dehydration and some buscopan and t3 for the pain/cramping. Within five minutes of speaking with the GI at the hospital he agreed I was in need of an emergency c scope and he scheduled one for me with him the following day. I was pooping 10+ times a day! had lost about 30 pounds in less than two months and having accidents. He said its ridiculous for anyone to expect me to wait two months for a GI consult. Anyway, long story short, if you're in rough shape fight for treatment NOW! If you can't go the ER route and get a GI on call then call your GIs office daily, schmooze the gals on the phone, be super nice to them but very persistent. When they have a cancellation you want the first name they think of to be yours.
Posted 8/28/2014 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
I got the lab kit from the hospital for the 2nd stool test. Got it home and there was no lid for the bowl BUT there were several bottles and the bowl. I was not going to worry about going to the PCP again (mid Sept appt with him scheduled) yesterday I went ahead and collected the stool (STILL loose) and just poured it from the bowl to the bottle and took it to the lab for testing, hopefully when I go back to him he'll give me something to help me. I got up this morning and was watching for the bus for my teen daughter and it hit me and I made a mess before I got to the bathroom. I have diarrhea meds here at home that I have yet to take. Since I have nothing else what is your thought on taking these meds?? Doing my research I also see that what I call diarrhea and they call diarrhea are 2 totally different things....with me I have "loose stools" and frequency rather that a LOT of stool (which I see from what I've read is what they consider diarrhea). It's weird sometimes I can feel it coming ahead of times other times like this morning it hits me and I don't make it to the bathroom unless I am already there. It seems the urgency ones happen mostly in the morning upon wakening (although once or twice I've woken up in the middle of the night to go). The cramping that took me to the ER is not a problem any more, although I do still have the cramping but not persistent like it was when I went to the ER.
My question is until the doctor visit can I take the OTC diarrhea medicine to see if that helps?? When I see that the lab results from yesterday are posted into my chart on the computer I may just call the doctor and see about getting an earlier appointment. I'm not a demanding person most of the time, and I'm wondering if all these test that the PCP is doing is all for naught and if the GI doctor will put me through the same thing only to wait longer for the meds.
Posted 8/28/2014 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
I would ask for an earlier gi appointment. Yeah many use Imodium or other anti-diarrhea meds. The stool tests are to look for bacterial causes to your uc-like symptoms (e.g., cdiff).
Posted 8/28/2014 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
C diff already done it was negative...
Posted 8/28/2014 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
go ahead and take the meds
Posted 8/28/2014 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
What else is there to look for in the stool that the doctor ordered another one?? Can't they run ALL the test there is at one time or do they start with the most likely cause and go from there. I'm so tired of delivering poop! LOL I am too surprised my test results are still not available on mychart on the hospital website, the first one was available within 24 hrs.
Posted 8/28/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Multiple stool tests are run, as one may 1st test negative and then the 2nd test positive. It is just to make absolute sure that bacteria are not the cause before proceeding. They did the same to me, and yeah it was annoying to do that multiple times.
Posted 8/29/2014 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
I took it to the lab on Tuesday and online in my chart the other showed up within 24 hours......the results of this one still aren't there. Not sure what that means. 2 weeks and I have another appointment with my PCP. It's not been a good morning so far, many visits to the bathroom. I've been trying to keep an eye and things to figure out what the triggers are. Seems to me that waking in the AM I wouldn't be having the urgency like that. It's weird, mine hits first thing in the morning most times as soon as my feet hit the floor. I'll be glad to get all these test done and appointments done since I still don't have a final for sure diagnosis. I'm assuming the colonoscopy will tell them everything. Since the last stool wasn't in the usual bowl since they left the lid out, I put it in one of the bottles that were in the kit. I hope they didn't mishandle it and unable to do the tests.
I have the utmost compassion for all of you, especially having to work outside the home. I'm very thankful that I don't work outside the home when the flares come.
Posted 9/21/2014 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
On Sunday 9/14 I saw blood in the toilet bowl.....bright red watery. That was the first and only time I experienced that and it happened twice in that hour, then it was gone. That day I still experienced the frequent visits to the bathroom but the stool was back to the way it has been since I started this journey. At the PCP appointment this past Tuesday when I told him this he contacted the GI doctor I NOW have appointment TOMORROW with her. I think the worrying about the appointment has aggravated my symptoms. It being within a month since the 2nd stool test I'm hoping I don't have to do those again.
I've made some notes as to my history since this started, remembering how I'd run to the bathroom soon after eating a meal. But thinking back I realize I've had this off and on for quite sometime. BUT before this bout things WERE improved and it'd been awhile since I had that. At the ER I KNEW I had a UTI, that was why the antibiotics were given. Is it normal to get UTI's during flare ups?? When I feel as though one is coming on I cut out all liquids and drink nothing but water, and that seems to help me.
I am so relieved but a bit scared for this GI appointment. I haven't really figured out what my actual triggers are because it seems I have symptoms no matter what I eat/drink. I'm thinking I'll NEVER have a normal bowel movement again :( After tomorrow's appointment I'll probably have to come back here to pick a few brains. I don't think there is a better teacher than those of you that suffer it as well. I'll let ya know.

Sheree
Posted 9/22/2014 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you are able to see the GI sooner. They will probably schedule you for a scope. Hopefully they will prescribe something that will help in the meantime but I know mine did not. I had to spend a few more months struggling before I could have the scope. What a pain.
Posted 9/22/2014 10:20 AM (GMT 0)
Today's the day and I'm kind f nervous for it. Not till 3PM. I'm ready for it to be over, although it's actually just starting. THANKS.
Posted 9/23/2014 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
I was so nervous today. I LOVED the GI doctor.......no pain today but when she pushed she saw me whinch.....because of the pain...colonoscopy scheduled ...mid Oct. Way better than the mid Nov initial appointment huh?? No meds given just the prep stuff and yet another stool and blood work.........hopefully NOW I will get answers!
Posted 9/23/2014 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hang in there until the colonoscopy. It's just a few weeks away. The prep is the worst part. The procedure you'll be under sedation for, so you feel no pain or discomfort. After my colonoscopy they prescribed meds and knew it was uc. Biopsies are taken during the colonoscopy as well, worst case scenario is they might wait a few days for those results.
Posted 9/23/2014 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there. Hopefully the time will go by fast for you. So glad your getting all this done sooner rather than later.
Posted 10/11/2014 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
I had my colonoscopy yesterday. As everyone knows the before was the worst! I'll never drink Gatorade again!! LOL
Anyway colonoscopy findings: Your colonoscopy showed hemorrhoids, hypertrophy Anal papilla. I was also given a printable about Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis.

Appears there was no colitis there. Biopsy results available in 5-7 days and a follow up with the GI doctor. Can someone explain what the finding really mean?? Is that a polyp or what?? With my bathroom issues to begin with the prep wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be, I must have been cleaned out already. I chose not to be fully put to sleep but apparently I went sound to sleep. I remember nothing!! LOL I didn't have me common sence to even ask questions!! LOL
Thank each of you for your replies and your knowledge that you shared with me.

Sheree

Post Edited (Teletubby) : 10/11/2014 6:10:48 AM (GMT-6)

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