Going to do do another colonoscopy.

lisa15601 · Post by **lisa15601** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:10 am

Sorry havent been on here for a while, but Ive been trying to control my symptoms and not go online reading about them so much. I ended up in the hospital last month for 2 days and doc put me on sulfasalazine 500mg, 3 x a day. It seemed to work at first along with my buspar and valium for anxiety. Last week I had a horrible week again, I dont know if it was nerves. But anyhow, I had my orginal colonoscopy done in Boston and as you guys know I had a horrible reaction to Entocort. Also come to find out out she took 8 biopsies and only one came back with slight LC. My Gastro in my area wants to repeat the colonoscopy, because he is not convinced I have LC. He thinks its just a bad case of IBS. Anyone have an opinion on this.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:22 am

I don't believe IBS exists. I believe IBS a garbage can diagnosis doctor's use when they can't find an explanation for somenone's GI symptoms, so they pick one that has a tendency to blame the patient. I do understand why someone with MILD symptoms might say they have IBS, but once you enter into chronic diarrhea territory, something else is going on, not just IBS. When you say you had a horrible week, was it D or pain or both?? Have they ruled out endometriosis?

jmayk8 · Post by **jmayk8** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:28 am

I have endometriosis and had a laporoscopy years ago to get rid of it. But my symptoms were constant stomach pains and VERY frequent visits to the bathroom. Seeing you OB GYN is def a good idea.
I have been put on birth control and advised to consistently stay on it and only give myself my period a few times a year. I have done this for the past 5 years. Now in some way, i feel like the birth control is giving my all my problems...

Post by **tex** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:51 pm

Jenny wrote:Now in some way, i feel like the birth control is giving my all my problems...

It might be. Many members here react to BC treatment, even when administered by patch.

Lisa,

I agree with Zizzle - your doctor doesn't know what he's doing. If a pathologist diagnosed your LC by analyzing your biopsy samples under a microscope, then you have LC, whether your current GI doc realizes it or not. One slide with positive results is sufficient for a reliable diagnosis, no matter how many other samples might have been negative.

Tex

lisa15601 · Post by **lisa15601** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:39 pm

Now I wonder if If it could even be endometrosis on my bowel. But that wouldnt show up as LC right.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:51 pm

Unfortunately, many autoimmune diseases seem to be tied to female hormone activity, particularly progesterone and estrogen. Being on the pill gives you large doses of both, and perhaps not in an ideal ratio, so that *might* add to MC activity. I took the pill for 10 years before having kids. I don't dare go in it again for fear of messing with my balance of hormones. But if it's the only way to stop the growth and spread of endometriosis, it may just be a necessary trade off.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:07 pm

Hi Lisa,

I totally agree that IBS is a garbage can term and if a pathologist said you have LC from reading a biopsy how could you believe a doctor that doesn't believe that. Go for a new colonoscopy if that is what you feel you have to do but please explain, as Zizzle said, what constitutes a bad week?

Why in heavens would you think Endometriosis?

Maggie

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:17 pm

I brought it up because I recall an earlier discussion of possible endometriosis with Lisa. I'm sorry if I'm mistaken and just brought up a totally unrelated issue!

lisa15601 · Post by **lisa15601** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:35 pm

It actually makes sense Im going to mention the endometriosis to my OB.

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:28 pm

Lisa,

Agree with the others that IBS is not a "true" a diagnosis. I know it follows the "Rome Criteria" but I can make up a list of vague symptoms, that I cannot verify via pathology, and call it a syndrome. In my business (fire investigation), we call this Negative Corpus. Basically, negative corpus means that if one rules out all "possible" ignition sources in a building, the fire must have been started by human hand (arson). It precludes the possibility that the cause of the fire cannot be determined, and simply jumps to an unproven cause, just like IBS. Many innocent people have been accused of arson with this approach to fire investigation. Scary.

I think Endo is possible, especially if you have history of it. It is not out of the realm of possibility that you have a couple issues to deal with. I feel that is that case with me. I also wonder about adhesions in me. It is rarer in men, but still possible.

Good luck to u!

Rich

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:50 pm

jmayk8,

How did the endo cause the frequent bathroom visits? Or, in hindsight, was that really the MC causing this?

Rich

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:57 pm

Hi Lisa, while the colonoscopy is no fun, they are a good diagnostic tool. I know you have been struggling for some time with this and hope you can find a cause and treatment for your discomfort soon. If you decide to go with another colonoscopy be sure to ask the doctor to take a significant number of biopsies.

With both LC and CC there are regions in the colon where the LC or CC may not be present. The best way to make sure the test is accurate is to make sure a significant number of samples are taken. I have seen studies suggesting that at least 4 biopsies from each of the 4 sections of the large bowel are needed to get an accurate histological picture.

Good luck Lisa I hope you are able to find some relief soon

--Joe

jmayk8 · Post by **jmayk8** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:20 pm

I had symptoms of endometriosis about 10 years ago. I had menstrual cycles that would last over a week, would bleed very badly and have very severe cramping that I would miss days of school bc I couldn't get out of bed. I then started to have constant bowel movements. I would eat something and then have to run to the bathroom. My OB suggested to do a laparoscopy and while doing so found a lot of endometrial implants and used a laser to burn the endometrial cysts and to cut away the adhesions. From then on, i was to stay on birth control and allow myself to have my period only a few times a year. I was around 20 years old then and have been fine ever since. It wasnt until 3 years ago that i had more stomach issues and i found out i had celiac. I have learned to deal with it, and live a complete gluten free life. Then a few months ago, I started the 'loose stools' again and had another colonoscopy last week to confirm my LC. Long story short, I dont think the LC caused the endo, well actually these days I don't seem to know anything!

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:40 pm

I can identify with you, imayk8. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with how little I know, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed with how little others around me know.

Lisa, I agree with Joe. My GI took about 25 biopsies from four or five different sections of my colon.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:52 pm

After Polly's experience, I would be extremely reluctant to have another colonoscopy. You already have a diagnosis of LC. IBS is simply improperly diagnosed MC. I told my GI that he'd better not give me a diagnosis of IBS because it was a non-diagnosis. I agree with Tex; your GI doesn't know what he's doing. No GI should give a diagnosis of IBS once MC has been determined.

Gloria