Little background, I apologize for the length and hope you read on:
I am 25 years old. In 2005 I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia by my GI via an endoscopy in New York, where I am from. After a month or two of treatment (mostly Nexium), my symptoms all but disappeared. (I am not sure if this is relevant but it is another GI issue).
In 2006 the same doctor having given a colonoscopy, diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis after I suffered from consistently urgent, bloody stools and abdominal pain for a month or so. He prescribed 2 pills of 400 mg Asacol which I'd take 3 times a day. After about
a week my symptoms had just about
gone away. After a month I was in nearly full remission. Within 6 months my symptoms had all disappeared. No more blood, regular bowel movements. I received another colonoscopy in early 2007 to see if everything was okay. The doctor said that I was in full remission, and in fact, it looked as if the colitis had become so minor that it may never affect me again. He told me that I no longer needed to take the Asacol and for the next three years I was completely regular with little to no blood or diarrhea again.
In late 2008 to early 2009 I had started feeling a lot of tightness in my chest. My GI did another endoscopy, found the hiatal hernia again, but suggested that I was simply feeling GERD and prescribed Librium and Omeprazole which I still take (albeit at lower doses) today. A few months after this I move to California.
Fast forward to early Spring, 2010. I start feeling as if my bowel movements are not complete and start seeing a slight amount of blood, though no diarrhea. At this point I no longer have health insurance, living in a new state, so I called my GI in New York to see if he thought it was colitis related and if he can renew my Asacol prescript
ion from a few years earlier. I am not able to speak to the doctor himself, but his receptionist/nurse informs me that it may be related but he cannot prescribe Asacol without taking a look. Since I am out of state without insurance, she recommends going to a clinic and seeing if they can prescribe an anti-spasmodic to curb my symptoms for a period of time. I do just that, and the DO suggests I am not experiencing colitis symptoms because of the lack of diarrhea, it is more likely IBS. He prescribed Dicyclomine which worked for the most part, however the treatment was for only 10 days. He suggested that I get a colonoscopy at some point, just to see if the colitis is still okay. He also recommended that I cut out different potential trigger foods like wheat, dairy, etc to see if they are causing any of my symptoms. I realized that I am experiencing lactose intolerance and cut out dairy completely. When I test dairy about
a month later, I become very gassy, my stools much looser, the constipation much worse and I often become nauseous and throw up. It gets to the point where I cannot consume dairy without throwing up.
I receive health insurance from my job on July 1. I immediately go to my primary MD who refers me to a nearby Gastroenterologist, along with suggesting I try "Super Colon Cleanse" to make my bowel movements more complete and regular. The supplement works perfectly, almost completely eliminating my constipation and helping me feel much healthier.
I then visit the gastroenterologist, and this is where things start to get wacky. I explain my entire history as I've detailed above to him. More than anything, I am just hoping that he will prescribe Asacol again. He immediately says that I should not be taking Librium. I tell him that it greatly helps my GERD and has never caused problems. He told me that I don't need it, to up the Omeprazole if necessary but completely cut out the Librium (after a few days I disregarded this and continued the Librium, as my symptoms returned) He laid me down on the examining table, listened to my stomach with a stethoscope and after about
30 seconds, declares "you need a colonoscopy." He sends me to get blood work and says that he will be in touch about
scheduling the colonoscopy. After a week, I call his office and ask if there has been any update. The doctor seems to have completely forgotten about
me and is reluctant to schedule a colonoscopy until I plead. He schedules the colonoscopy for today (Friday, July 23).
In my preparation for the colonoscopy, the doctor informs me that I must take 2 50 mg Ducolax, 1 bottle of Magnesium Citrate as well as the normal gallon of Polyethylene glycol. With my New York doctor I was only required to take the gallon drink, but I didn't mind an extra cleanse. Unfortunately for me, the mangesium citrate gave me intense stomach cramps that made me almost completely debilitated for hours. By the time I go to bed my body is completely devoid of any food and I feel terribly light headed and weak.
Today, I had the colonoscopy. My whole motivation for this was to gain another prescription for Asacol which had been immensely helpful in the past when my symptoms were much worse. I mention that to the doctor, who talks to me for about a minute before the procedure, concluding that I "could have just come into the office to get samples if that's all you needed." I figure it couldn't hurt to be examined and am sedated with the idea that I will wake up with my prescription and be on my way.
When I wake up, a nurse informs me that the doctor has decided I need to be in the hospital for the next 2-3 days. I am stunned. My symptoms were completely minor compared to my first bout with colitis and I cannot accept this. She summons the doctor who says that I have colitis in my rectum and cecum (which internet research reveals is pancolitis) and that he is going to prescribe 5 different medications, including 2 suppositories and 2 anti-bacterials on top of the Asacol. He feels as though I am better off introducing these medications through IV drip. I tell him I'd prefer not to, if it doesn't make a huge difference, and his response is "Okay. It's your decision. Come see me next week," and leaves without explaining anything else.
I am prescribed: Asacol (800 mg), Canasa (suppository, 1000 mg), Levaquin, Flagyl (500 mg) and Cortenema (which no pharmacy I've tried carries). I call the doctor after taking all of this in and ask for an explanation as to why I am prescribed with so much medication when my symptoms are much less severe than the first flare up that was helped by Asacol alone. He angrily snaps "I told you everything. You didn't want to stay at the hospital, that's up to you." I ask about
why I was able to feel better with more severe symptoms and less treatment in the past and he replies "I don't know anything about
your past." We schedule a follow up appointment for this Wednesday.
I realize that a second opinion is a good route. I also realize that I may have been able to follow my new doctor's advice and stay in the hospital, but honestly, I don't feel sick and do not think it is necessary. I have taken all of the medication (save for the suppository because it freaks me out and the Cortenema because I can't find it) and feel as if my symptoms are starting to be controlled. I am fairly confident that the Asacol alone could have remedied this whole issue, but I don't want to play doctor. I honestly did not feel very sick, at least not to the extent of my first flare up in 2006, and cannot believe that my symptoms are worse than they were back then. My hope is that I can get in touch with my first doctor, have him look at the colonoscopy results and give me his second opinion.
I guess this whole long post is a way of asking if anyone has experience with pancolitis, whether my symptoms are similar and if I'm under or overreacting here? I'd really appreciate any feedback, as I've never posted on a forum like this and am kind of freaking out right now. Post Edited (sfc425) : 7/24/2010 12:35:41 AM (GMT-6)