I am 34 years old and have been dealing with various GI problems for the last ten years. All started with some serious stomach cramping after a night of heavy drinking on my bday. Went to my family doctor, he noted elevated liver enzyme levels and told me to quit drinking. I quit drinking for 3 months, went back in and the levels were higher. Started drinking again, remember this was college. Anyway, kept monitoring the enzyme levels, they would hover right around the bottom of the High range, sometimes more, sometime less. Last year, I finally had a liver biposy to check for fatty liver or other issues, and everything came back clear.
During that time we also found gall stones, the doc recommended we remove my gall bladder before it became an emergency situation. That was about 7 years ago. Since then, I would almost always have an immediate urgency for a BM after eating my first large meal of the day, which was usually lunch. I also commonly fought with loose stool/diaharrea, but just thought that was how my body worked.
about a year ago I went for maybe a month with frequent BMs that were bloody and mucus-y. I didn't see the doctor, figured it was hemmorroids (based on intrnet research), and it went away. It came back about 2 months ago. I went to the doctor, a new GI doc this time, after a month. He ordered a colonoscopy and saw slight inflammation. He diagnosed me with proctosigmoiditis. He prescribed a nightly mesalamine enema and pentasa, 4 500 mg cpsules in the morning, 4 in the evening. Since I have started the meds, the blood is much less, if any, but i am still going 3 times a day, up from usually once a day. I go back for a follow up in 2 months.
So that is the background. I have a few questions:
1. Does this sound like anyone elses experience? do things start out slow and get progressively more difficult?
2. Has anyone heard of UC being linked to elevated liver enzyme levels?
3. Is anyone diagonosed with proctosigmoiditis specifically? The research I have done lumps it in with all forms of UC. Maybe that is fine, I just don't know.
4. Any trick or suggestions on dietary changes? Should i try lactaid? i have never been able to pinpoint any food issues other than spicy food gives me fiery diaharrea. does the multiple small meals approach help?
At this point, i don't feel this problem is really affecting my day to day life, I would just like to know what to expect and to be educated on it, as many of you suggest in the other posts. I really appreciate any input you may have.
Thanks.