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Uc, now IBS too or could it be ...?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/30/2011 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I trust you guys/gals as much as the GI's, so here goes.
Daughter had 2 recents serious intestionalbouts. Both followed infections with antibiotic use. Shortly after infections subsided(mono,pneumonia sinus), stabbing abdominal pains,nausea(lots, caused dehydration and an ER visit both times), D, with no blood. She describes Twisty intestines. Upper GI clear, second time Cat scan clear, except for thickening of intestines. No colonosocpy in 2 yes, as Remi has kept this at bay.
New doc at college diagnosed IBS. Bentyl added to mix seemed to help. Pain still not gone, nausea less, not gone. She's added probiotics back in to rebuild flora.
Question..how do we know it isn't Pancolitis or Crohns? Inflammation not high per blood work, but symptoms making her miserable. Maybe I just answered my own question.IBS just seemed like an easy throwaway line. With her complicated UC history, did I miss a logical test or other diagnosis? Maybe the lable just doesn't matter, when treating symptoms.
all thoughts appreciated.
Posted 10/30/2011 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Here's my take:doctors prescribe meds for medical conditions that can be quantified by biopsy or colonoscopy or stool test or blood test. Your daughter has a diagnosis of UC. If you think that diagnosis has changed to something else you can request a colonoscopy to determine that which may result in different meds.

The IBS label is kindof a catchall for symptoms that don't show up on any test or scope IMO. Bentyl will help the cramps and abdominal pains as you found out. Has she tried over-the-counter things like Immodium and PeptoBismol? Both of those help D and nausea and my doctor says take them when needed. I also up the amount of probiotic when my colon is upset and it helps.

You should also investigate whether certain foods might be the culprit by keeping a food diary and seeing if there is a pattern.

Good luck. It takes real detective work to figure out what makes our colons unhappy.
Posted 10/30/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
I am in the same situation as your daughter.
i have had uc 11 years now and in the past 12 months have also been told i have ibs and uc. i cant figure it out.
My symptoms stay the same but its like if they dont know or you crp etc arnt elevated they blame it on something else.
Ive been told that ibs will cause pain and that uc over time will cause little pain. Also was told that ibs wont have any blood in the stool where uc will. BUT when they tell me i have an ibs flair i still have blood and they then blame it on hemmroids.
So i dont agree that you can have ibs ontop of uc but thats just my opinion im not a doctor am just telling you what i am feeling as they always say you know your own body.

Good luck i hope they get it all sorted out for your daughter.
Posted 10/31/2011 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
So how long has it been since she finished her antibiotics? Those meds can wreak havoc in a healthy bowel, so an IBD patient is bound to have a worse experience. I just finished a 7-day course of bactrim for staph, and it completely upset my belly. While I was on the meds I became totally constipated (not what I expected!) and then the week following the bactrim I was miserable with nausea, cramps, frequent bms (well, I had a lot of catching up to do) and poor appetite. I'm hoping for a better week coming up.

I think you need to give her at least a couple of weeks off the antibiotics and actively rebuilding her gut flora with yogurt and probiotics before thinking about a UC flare.
Posted 10/31/2011 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Yes you can have IBS in addition to Uc. I am living proof of that. A few years ago, I had the perfect scope - best my GI has ever seen with me; but yet I was still having D, mucous and severe abdominal cramping. He suggested that I may have IBS, to increase my fiber intake via supplements and diet. This helped except for when I would eat foods that would trigger it again - so it was basically trial and error to find what foods irritate me.

But I was under the impression that thickening of the intestines is a sign of inflammation? If so, than that would suggest that not all is well in her colon.

I agree that perhaps you should give her more time to build up the good flora in her intestine, especially after all the antibiotics she was on. Has she ever had her stool tested for C. Diff? If not, you should have her do this because that can cause those symptoms as well.
Posted 10/31/2011 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, all.
She did have a C-diff test, and was neg.. She recently stopped her Colazal, and I wonder if it IS inflammation in a broader part of her colon if the 5 ASA's would be helpful again. The Bentyl is really helping the pain. Will give this a few weeks before more invasive testing. What leads Doc's to conclude IBS in general? I am pretty sure it was not food related, but eating well is always a good idea.
The antibiotics were given the first wk of Oct. for pneumonia. Poor kid can't catch a break-she tested positive for Mono too. Going to college could be rougher than I thought.
Appreciate your insights
Posted 10/31/2011 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Why did she stop her Colazal?
Posted 10/31/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
New GI at college thought it was overkill with the Remi still higher that std. dosing, and still on the 6mp. Wondering if that was a mistake now.... Dosing was just 2 pills per day. Does Colazal, or Asacol help IBS too?
Posted 10/31/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
No, it helps keep inflammation down associated with IBD. I am on all 3 as well - 6mp, Remi and Colazal.
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