It can't be the only way to know what's going on...My doctor said most insurance plans don't cover it because it's considered experimental and most people are diagnosed by small bowel follow through,...
Hi guys, I have an update: My insurance won't cover the pillcam without a small bowel follow-through first, an ECG, and a colonoscopy. I opted to proceed just with the small bowel follow-through,...
Yes - it is possible to have UC or Chrons AND IBS. I think I have IBS too. Some common symptoms of IBS: stomach grumbling or gurgling (even after you have ate), BMs immediately after eating,...
Thanks guys for all the support - I'll let you know what the pillcam reveals. Regardless of what I really have, I don't regret the surgery, as I have noticed dramatic improvement and I can begin...
Thanks - I'm scheduled for a capsule endoscopy next week so that should help. I really think this one Prometheus test is an aberration. I'm 80 percent better post surgery - less bms - about 5-6 a day...
Another reason why I'm inclined to think I have UC rather than Chron's is because I no longer have any bleeding, which I had before my surgery (despite still having my rectum intact). Isn't bleeding...
Thanks David - I'm going for the pill cam. That should provide some definite conclusions. Like I said, based on my small bowel CT scan (which concluded that I had no ulceration in the small intestine...
I checked with some on the Chrons forum and they said a pill cam test (for small intestine examination) would be the best method to determine Chrons. I'm still perplexed at these results - I had a CT...
Thanks for the info - I'll push for the pill cam test. My CT scan showed no inflammation in my small intestine, but that was done almost a year ago - last January. Also, biopsies showed that the...
I've never had any those additional symptoms (eye, throat, stomach inflammation) or arthritis. I don't know if I have small bowel or stomach inflammation at all. I guess I'm somewhat skeptical since...
Hey guys, This is my first time posting on the Crohns forum - I usually post over at the UC forum. I was diagnosed via colonoscopy and biopsy with UC in Nov. 2008. I had surgery (ileorectal...
Levi - is there any other test to substantiate/verify small bowel chrons? I've never had any test specifically for the small bowel, that I'm aware of, other than a CT scan which should have detected...
Killcolitis - there was no recommendation to run this test. I requested it myself because I'm paranoid I'll end up being one of those cases with Chrons instead of UC! But none of my past tests...
Hey guys, I had surgery (ileorectal anastomosis) about 4 months ago and have been recorvering (improvements every day but I know it's a slow process). Well, I had some blood tests done recently just...
Probiotic - I've heard the 90 percent number, but I've also heard from some GIs that the failure rate can be as high as 25-30 percent, so I'm not sure what to believe. As you said, it's still not the...
The other thing - I still notice mucus in my stools from time to time, but I attribute that to the remaining inflammation I do have and the recovery of my intestines from surgery. Does that sound...
Hi everyone - For those of you who recall my postings, I had ileorectal anastomosis surgery on 7/13 after 2 years of suffering with no relief except from predinosone (mesalamine had no effect and I...
Update: I went to a different hospital, different wound doc, and he packed my wound with something called Oasis (new technology that heals faster and becomes part of the wound). Since that day about...
Hi guys, this past July I had colon surgery - all of my colon removed and my small intestine connected to my rectum. Besides my wound infection (which is healing very well), I've noticed remarkable...
Thanks for the comments--the last time I was on pred was about 6-8 weeks before surgery. I intentionally stopped the pred early on so it wouldn't be a factor. I feel it's healing--I no longer have...
As most of you know, I recently had colon surgery and suffered from an infection at the site of the incision. A culture was done and based on the results, I was put on a 14-day course of amoxicilin....
Does anyone know which probiotic strains are most effective in which parts of the colon? After having colon surgery (my colon removed and my small intestine re-connected to my rectum). I'm looking...
Yes--my GI was of no help. Never recommended anything, just told me to go online if I had questions or wanted to try something. And he knew nothing about probiotics--when I brought them up, he told...
Hi Quincy-- No, I've used hydrocortisone suppositories in the past, but my GI never recommended anything. In fact, when I first proposed the idea of rectal meds, my GI literally said "that's gross,...
Hi guys, As you know, I had surgical removal of my colon two weeks ago (ileorectal anastomosis), in which I had my small bowel connected to my rectum. I've also been dealing with a wound infection. I...
Hi guys-- An update: I've had a minor setback: after being released from the hospital, I started having nausea and vomiting after eating and became dehydrated. The surgeon reviewed my wounds and...
Hi guys, I don't post on here often, but I do post every once in a while. I've suffered from UC since 11/2008 and the last year and a half have been pure hell. I've been on sulfasalazine and...
I've been in a flare for 1.5 years now with a lot of up and downs (sometimes blood, 10+ bms a day, other times more formed stool, 2-3 BMs a day). Most recently, I've noticed that instead of diahrrea,...
Contrary to what some have said on here, resection is done for UC patients, and I myself am considering surgery and a few surgeons have recommended it as an alternative. UC can come back to any part...
There is always the possibility of a cure or advancement, which is the challenge I face as well and why I'm hesitant to rush into surgery. I do think there is a cure--I think it's inaccurate to claim...
Heather--thanks for the info. I always wondered if it was better to take them on an empty stomach or with food. I've heard conflicting statements on this. jb2--which probiotic did you try that...
Ok, I have this same issue with standard UC medication as well. How long should I take a particular strain of probiotics to see if it is making a difference? How long do they typically take to work?...
Thanks for the advice-- I've only been taking it for 2 weeks, so I'll stay on it for a few weeks more. Also, I've been at a very low dose (lower than what is recommended for UC) mainly because I...
Do some people have a reaction to VSL3? Can it induce symptoms similar to UC? Just wondering since I've been on it about 2 weeks now--no blood, but bloating which hasn't really relented,...
Hi all, I just went in for my first colonoscopy since I was diagnosed in 11/2008, although I've had some flex sigmoidoscopys since then. When I was diagnosed initially, 2/3 of of my colon was...
Vivita-- How many bowel movements a day do you have now compared to before? And I take it that you no longer have urgency? That sounds like an attractive option compared to j-pouch. How long were you...
Hey everyone-- Thanks for the feedback--it does ease my mind. I've been told it's likely I have kidney stones, so we'll see. Like I said, I don't have any visible blood in my urine when I go, but the...
I'm 24 and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in Nov. 2008. As if that wasn't enough, I recently went for some routine blood work and a urinalysis, and the urine sample results showed blood in my...
I'm going to disagree with most everyone else here on this thread. I talked to my surgeon and he does partial colon removal. Just because UC can come back in another part of the colon doesn't mean it...
I'm a 24 year old recent college graduate, always healthy until I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis exactly one year ago. I'm considering j-pouch surgery at this point because standard drug...
I recently started taking the generic form of Colazal--I've been on it for 10 days but have seen little improvement. Anyone here use it? How long does it usually take to kick in? I'm taking 3 750 mg...
A new study shows that having your appendix taken out can cure ulcerative colitis or lessen symptoms. A study done on 30 UC patients resulted in a cure in 40 percent, reduced symptoms in 50 percent,...
Probiotic--where are you having the fecal infusions performed? I've been searching for a clinic so far to have this procedure done and I haven't had any luck....
I just began taking VSL#3 a few days ago and have had severe bloating, stomach grumbling, and more diahrrea and indigestion then usual. Is this normal? Is this usually just a result of your...
Subdued-- Who did you find to do the fecal transplantation? I know some doctors will do it for c.diff, but I'm having troubling finding a U.S. doctor who will do it for those of us who suffer from UC....
There is a clinic in Australia that performs this procedure for ulcerative colitis patients and has great success. Does anyone know of a doctor or clinic in the U.S that will do it? I know a few...
A couple months ago, I noticed I started having diahrrea--In fact, I first became sick after attending a state fair, which led me to think I had food poisoning. But then I noticed I was having...