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Think it's Ulcerative Colitis but not diagnosed yet.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/14/2008 3:00 AM (GMT 0)

I'm new at this forum thing.....   I posted this in the "diet" area then realized I should have put my info here.  Oops!!

I've read just about all the posts on Colitis & Ulcerative Colitis, and I am totally shocked by the many people, young & old, who have this disease!

One month ago, my 19 year old grandson started having severe diarrhea with red blood in it, was very fatiged, achey all over & was having headaches.  He saw his family doctor who examined his rectum (no instruments used) and asked for a stool sample, told him to go home and rest ......   

Three weeks later (having not heard back from the doctor) his symptoms had gotten much worse and now include very sore ulcers in the back of his throat. 

He made a 2nd appointment with the doctor who asked for another stool sample.  This time the doctor scheduled him for blood test on Monday & a colonoscopy sometime within the next two weeks ..........

He has had to book off work.  He is not well at all.  The throat ulcers are making swallowing very painful so he's not eating much.   These ulcers are twice the size this morning than they were last night!!!   He has lost a substancial amount of weight which he can ill-afford (he is 6 feet tall and very slight build).

This morning he awoke with sharp pains in his upperback every time he took a breath.  All these problems continue.....  without any medication or treatment at this time.

I don't know how much sicker he has to get before he needs to be hospitalize?  How far do they let these symptoms go before the doctor gets concerned enough to act immediately? 

Can any of you suggest ways he can cope with this ordeal until definite diagnosis and treatment starts?  IE:  Is there ANYTHING he can take orally, or eat that will help him  to deal with the diarrhea, bowel inflammation, the throat pain and the malnutrition? 

He has never been sick & being the curious person he is, he has been researching this disease in all its forms, over the internet.....    

What he reads is scaring the heck out of him - and me!

Posted 12/14/2008 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Ulcers in the throat are not something that really coincide with UC, more along the lines of crohn's (CD), UC is limited to the colon/rectom, yes UCers can get mouth ulcers, but those are NOT the same as ulcers in the back of the throat...he should have upper GI tests done as well.

He could start on a good probiotic (one I use is called Primadophilus Reuteri made by natures way) daily and indefinitely if it turns out he has an IBD (either CD or UC), he can also cut out processed foods/beverages, fast foods, refined sugar, animal fats and caffeine and see how that works, granted changing diet won't likely show results the next day but it's a step in the right direction.

He should also try not to stress about his health (or other things) or at least not let it get the gest of him as that won't make things any better either.

:)
Posted 12/14/2008 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with pb4. It sounds like it might be related more to crohn's. My friend who has Crohn's went on a trip overseas and was sent back early cuz she was throwing up blood. I'll be praying that a test gets done ASAP, sounds like something needs to get done soon.
Posted 12/14/2008 6:04 AM (GMT 0)

Thank you for you input.  Much appreciated.

It is 10pm our time here and my daughter just called for an ambulance.  My grandson's breathing is laboured so don't know what is going on.   Hopefully he will be received and looked at by a specialist within a reasonable time at the hospital emergency.

His family physician stated he thought my grandson had Ulcerated Colitis???  But, guess we'll find out in the very near future.

Will post again when I have more info.  Thanks to both of you who replied.  God bless.

Posted 12/14/2008 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad he went to the hospital. I was going to suggest that he get in touch with his doctor ASAP, there is no excuse for anyone to remain sick like that while waiting for tests. It's good that he'll be treated in the hospital. Keep us posted on how he's doing.
Posted 12/15/2008 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Worrywart,

     I would be worried too!  I had a friend who suffered from Crohn's and I have UC.  She never had any bleeding and I do.  I also develop ulcers in my mouth preceding a flare, but never down my throat. 

     It's the best to have him hospitalized so they can get to the bottom of his illness.

     Please keep us informed.

Posted 12/15/2008 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
I am glad that your grandson went to the emergency room, he's been suffering for awhile now, and hopefully he will get an answer to his problems soon. I had the heart palpatations when I was dehydrated, I hope his problem is nothing serious.
Posted 12/16/2008 2:40 AM (GMT 0)

A quick update on my grandson ....  

He was admitted to the hospital, had blood tests taken (showed viral infection);  next day he was "scoped" which showed his entire colon, upper and lower bowel are inflammed, bleeding and ulcerated, as is his throat;  biopsy was taken.  He is on IV antibiotics, steroids, and a drug starting with Me.....?? (he can't remember at this point in time).  He was extremely dehydrated (the cause of his laboured breathing).

The GI Specialist who is attending him feels my gson has CD or UC - one or the other.  He is waiting for the results from the biopsy before diagnosing. 

My gson IS feeling a little better with all the fluids, the pain medication, etc. 

While he was still home we started him on "Activia" Yogert for Probiotics, fruit & vegetable drinks;  he has always been on a 1-a-day multi-vitamin.  If there is enough fish oil in a can of "tuna" per day, then he has been taking the required amount.   He lives on tuna sandwiches.

I have a million questions going through my mind these last couple of days but I don't want to "jump ahead" of the diagnosis.  

However, I am curious about the cost of prescribed medications for UC & CD.....  we live in Canada and pay a percentage of our "prescription drugs" based on our earned income - the more you earn the more you pay.  Just how expensive are these drugs?  And, how long do you have to be on them to keep UC or CD under control?   

Wow!   I have been reading more of the "posts" for UC and for CD to get better educated.   I hurt for all of you as I read about your suffering.  You are all very courageous people and I admire the lot of you.  

We should know within a few days what the diagnosis is, and I'll let you all know as soon as I'm told. 

God bless!


Post Edited (WorrywartNana) : 12/15/2008 7:44:25 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/16/2008 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Well if both his large and small intestines along with his throat are inflammed then it's a pretty safe bet that it's CD...I think the doc waiting for the tests to confirm is probably just his routine, at least I'm hoping he knows IBD well enough to know the differences between CD and UC.

I'm in Canada as well, my hubby's insurance covers 80% of RX, though the only RX I take from time to time is rectal meds when my CD is affecting my rectom (proctitis), otherwise I use naturals because I'm either allergic or non-responsive to traditional oral RX.

:)
Posted 12/16/2008 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
U never know, I was so inflamed when I was first diagnosed, it took a couple months to actually establish that I had UC. It kept switching from Crohn's to UC. Wasn't until I was under control to finally figure it out.
Posted 12/16/2008 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
when there's inflammation in the small intestine, it is always crohn's never UC, it's as simple as that, regardless of how totally inflammed your colon and rectom are, if it's UC it will not affect your small intestines, let alone the back of your throat with ulcers, which also does not concure with UC.

:)
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