Do these symptoms sound like colitis?

Hey everyone,

I've always had 'IBS' symptoms since 2011. They're mild to moderate usually, and though I had softer looser stools, it was nothing like the recent bouts I've had. A couple of months back I had a strange turn where I suddenly got bad diarrhea out of the blue, along with some bad cramp, nausea. It went on for 6 days before it seemed to clear up (the watery stools anyway, I've always had looser stools).
Doctor assumed gastroenteritis but a few weeks later stool sample came back with high calprotectin. They referred me to see a gastroenterologist just in case but the first appt wasn't until December. Because my symptoms had calmed for the most part I decided it'd be okay to wait. Tests came back neg for bacteria.

Fast forward to this weekend just gone where I had the most intense cramps I've ever had in my life that landed me in the emergency room. I had almost fainted the day before and so wasn't feeling too hot, having a fever of 38.5C but the cramps made my whole body feel rotten and I constantly felt like I was going to be sick. I was also super dehydrated due to loss of appetite because of the pain and so on, which spun me in a vicious cycle. However, the watery explosive diarrhea hadnt started at this point. I had loose-ish soft foul smelling stools but figured it might have been something I ate and was hoping it would pass. Well they loosely assumed it might be gastritis for some reason and sent me on my merry way. They did mention my CRP was high tho.

As soon as I got home I ate after hours of being at hospital and the explosive diarrhea started that same night. And overnight the cramps kicked in worse and then I could barely function.

I've been like it since on and off, it seems to hit me and then calms down even though my abdomen is super tender. I also feel super nauseous when the pain and diarrhea kick in more and have resorted to sickness tablets.

Today I ate a banana and it just absolutely sent me running to the toilet shaking feeling like I was gonna throw it all up, bad diarrhea and all. However, the symptoms eased off in the evening and I ate some smoked salmon on bread and a baked potato without skin and it didn't seem to affect me. I'm still feeling twinges of discomfort and very tender but those rolling cramps have settled. For now.

So despite being puzzled I made a sooner appointment through private medical care because I don't think I could wait until December. I'll see the consultant Thursday.

I'm curious though, do these symptoms really sound like UC? My brother has UC but I've not really talked to him about his symptoms. And I know it's common for family members to get.

My other thought was that it could be c diff as I'd had a course of abx a few months before the first bout of problems I had. What triggered that thought was the foul smelling stools because I don't know if they're really common in UC. I'll bring it up as everything will probably be covered but I was just hoping to see if other people had an opinion on what it seemed like.

I'll hopefully keep everyone updated as I go along. I'kk probably end up having a colonoscopy at this stage. I'm actually terrified as I've only had a sigmoidoscopy before, but it's the prep I'm scared of!

Sorry for the long wall of text and thanks for reading. I hope someone can give me some insight on what it sounds like I'm suffering with. I guess the symptoms might be too broad though.

Ah, also, regardless of whether it's colitis or something else I have barely eaten anything in 4 days now and am wary about what to go for. I usually start plain but the BRAT diet doesn't really work wonders for me haha. I also don't know what you'd eat in a flare. I don't want to make things worse for myself like the banana lol. Thanks for any advice

Post Edited (LuSmith) : 9/11/2018 7:30:05 PM (GMT-6)

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like c diff to me. I'd request another stool test for possible infectious causes to your symptoms. That test is known for false-negatives, so I'd request a second stool test to see what you get. A high CRP could be from C diff, an infectious-colitis, an IBD/UC or something else. A fecal calprotectin stool test is intestinal-specific inflammation, where as a CRP is anywhere within the body.

UC often involves blood in stool, blood when wiping with toilet paper, and you do not mention those.

Ultimately a colonoscopy is needed to diagnose an IBD. There's likely one in your near future. An UC is not impossible, especially with a family history. However, tests are needed to prove or disprove it.

Ah, I should have elaborated a little with the symptoms haha. I do suffer from frequency, at the onset of my condition years ago I would go up to 10 times a day. I didn't get urgency so bad before but now I have been having lots of urgency and rushing to the toilet. Tenesmus seems to be a thing for me too but it always has been. I do have small spots of blood on the tissue but usually assume its from hemmorhoids. Oh and there's generally always mucus in my stool sadly.
My brother has UC and had the bloody diarrhea and the works.

I mentioned the nausea and cramping first because the cramping was so intense I couldn't do anything but lie in bed. I don't do well with pain and am sure the nausea is due to the pain.

They tested the stool for bacteria I think but not c diff. I've got another sample pot to send a sample to get checked for c diff now, so hopefully I'll have an answer one way or another.

Yeah, I do think a colonoscopy is in my near future (absolutely terrified of the prep tho!) Am seeing my GI tomorrow so will probably have bloods taken and whatever else and we'll go from there.

Still got moderate cramping, urgency and loose stools atm (like a 6 on the stool chart lol). Had to eat something as can't starve forever but hate the results of it.

Will likely update on what the GI decides to do further

Please let us know how it goes. Your latest post makes me understand further what you've been dealing with, and it is sounding more like it could be IBD. It might not be though. With the family history, that really worries me, but you never know until you have the scope with pathology.

I know prepping is the worst, but you will get through it. it's worth it if it gets you to a diagnosis, and options. Maybe the diagnosis is something simple, and curable, that would be fantastic. Think positive.

If you need tips on prepping, people will give advice. just start a thread when your'e ready. i think one tip i've seen, that makes a lot of sense, is to start eating light the day before you start prepping. Less exiting makes it a lot easier. it sounds like you're already eating light though. I am sorry. I've been there.