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Bratcat's brother is having issues

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/15/2008 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Bratcat's older brother (19 years old) complained a few weeks ago about having an irritation "down below". He tried to look at it with a mirror and said he really didn't see anything. We just brushed it off as an irritation from his clothes. He doesn't complain much so whenever I asked about it, he would say it was just "still annoying". He came home from school yesterday early and asked if I could get him in to see the doctor (already I knew something wasn't right because he never, ever says that). Took him to the pediatrician last night (yes he still sees them since he usually is never sick and they don't mind keeping him there). We figured maybe it was a hemorrhoid. I wait outside while the doctor checks him. They call me back in and the doctor thinks it could be a fistula! He wants him to see a GI ASAP. He also says it looks like this isn't the first time there has been something has been happening there.

I did call Bratcat's pediatric GI this morning. Unfortunately, (1) he is on vacation and (2) he won't take her brother because of his age. I did ask for the nurse practioner to call me with a name of someone that they would recommend. Also the regular pediatrician's office is supposed to call me with a referral this morning. Hopefully he will be able to get in to see someone. The doctor last night even said that if he can't get in to see someone very soon, he would suggest putting him in the hospital so he would have to be seen. This will be a very last resort for us.

So here I sit, waiting for someone to call. I'll give it another 30 minutes and get back on the phone. I'm trying to stay calm but it's not easy.

By the way, Bratcat is doing well. The 6-mp seems to be working. Her liver levels are still a bit high (a concern but not a big one for the doctor). He has been adjusting her meds slightly and she is getting bloodwork regularly. But overall, she is feeling good.

I'll keep you posted.

Posted 2/15/2008 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, Bennie, I'm sorry to hear this! I so hope it's not IBD or anything else serious. Sometimes life is just not fair. <3
Posted 2/15/2008 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Bennie, oh my gosh! I don't know what to say :( I, of course, will pray that it is not an IBD - wow, what a scary time for you and I bet your son!
Posted 2/15/2008 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear that Bennie, I'll keep my fingers crossed for him that it's something minor
James
Posted 2/15/2008 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I finally got him an appointment this afternoon. I got 2 different names from the 2 offices. I wanted to see if the ped GI office had heard of the GI that the regular ped office recommended. After waiting for what seemed like forever (OK so it was only about an hour), I spoke with the ped GI office. They hadn't heard of the other doctor (and he is associated with the hospital they are associated with). I decided to go with the practice that the ped GI recommended. Of course the 2 doctors they recommend are on vacation (how dare they). There are 2 other doctors in the practice. One is available this afternoon. The receptionist on the phone was extremely pleasant and friendly. She knows my concerns, fears, etc. She even had me laughing at the end. She did say this doctor is young, takes his time with his patients, etc. Hopefully he will be good.

Posted 2/15/2008 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Oh gosh Bennie, just know I'll be thinking about your family. This is rough, but you are a great Mom and a strong lady, and they are so lucky to have you.
Posted 2/15/2008 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hope your son gets back on track real soon w/o any IBD diagnosis. For sure, this is a nail-biting time for you & we all empathize. At the same time, it's great to read that Bratcat is making good progress on 6 MP. Brava! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

Posted 2/15/2008 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Please let us know what they say! I too have a youngish GI. Let me tell you....if he takes 2 hours he will sit w/ me and write down every single thing I say and ask questions about them.

I'm glad to hear Bratcat is doing well.
Posted 2/15/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bennie...It's good, however, that your son told you and that you're able to get to a GI so soon..that's absolutely awesome!

You have knowledge, and with him just starting out with the possiblilty of UC or CD, I hope that the doc doesn't suggest pred.

I'm happy to hear bratcat is doing well on the 6MP.

Keep us posted.
quincy

Posted 2/15/2008 10:28 PM (GMT 0)

We're back from the doctor appointment. The doctor seems nice. I stepped out for the "drop your drawers" exam. When I asked my son how he liked the doctor, he answered "I'm not keen on dropping my pants for anyone but he was OK considering what he had to do".  It's weird because there is a big difference between a pediatric GI (even for a teenager) and an adult GI. Also, since he is 19 and considered an adult, my son still wants me to take care of things like this (questions, appointments, etc). And I want to also. He did sign a waiver saying that I can get the information for him as needed. I told my son that it is up to him to decide what he wants to handle on his own and what he still wants me to handle.

Anyway, the doctor did not do any probing (yet). He says it definitely looks like a fistula. He couldn't say exactly where it was from. It could be from the rectum or it could be from the glands down there. It is definitely acute and it is not the first time it has happened. My son acknowledged that he has seen some blood/mucous from that area in the past (never told me). But this time it got too bad to deal with. The doctor put him on Flagyl and Levaquin for 2 weeks. He has to go back next Friday. The doctor said that he would be seeing him quite a bit in the future (scopes, probes, who knows what else). He did say if the antibiotics don't work, he would have to send him to a surgeon to have the fistula drained. He gave a brief explanation about what they might do. Yum!! Not!! The doctor said he could try soaking in epsom salts but he understands that it is hard to make the time to just sit in a tub.

So hopefully through the weekend he will see a change for the positive. It is becoming harder to stand, walk, sit, etc.

Thanks again to all for your good thoughts. It's wonderful to have this support group to turn to.

Posted 2/15/2008 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Oh geez...that SUCKS!!! Its bad enough you daughter has it...
Keep up posted!!
Posted 2/16/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Make sure he drinks plenty of water to keep flushing the Flagyl out. It can give a nasty metallic taste to everything after 3-4 days on it. Best wishes to all at your house. / Old Hat
Posted 2/16/2008 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Oh boy! Positive thoughts headed your way! Hang in there bratcat's brother :)

Glad to hear bratcat is doing well.
Posted 2/16/2008 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bennie, I'm glad your son is letting you in on the info. I'm 30 years old, and when I was diagnosed my mom went to all my appointments, it's just good to have 2 sets of ears and 2 brains focused on the dr. You can be in a real fog when you're sick/nervous and going to the dr, so having someone else with you is really helpful. Sometimes you even forget some of the things the dr. said and so it's good to be able to ask what mom remembers him saying :)
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