Colitis, not sure of diagnosis...

[buffygirl]

Hi all,

I'm posting to find out if anyone else has "experience" with colitis. I spent the weekend in the hospital with what was first diagnosed as appendicitis. Thank goodness they did a CAT scan before cutting on me:o

The doctors in the hospital have found from the CAT scan that the area around my secum is inflamed so the diagnosis was colitis. I now have to get a colonoscopy to find out what is causing the colitis. Among the several causes are Crohn's disease, Inflamatory Bowel Disease, the C word... The weird thing is that when I look at all of the symptoms of colitis and its causes, I don't have any of them except the inflamation, extreme pain in my right side and inflated white cell count.

I guess I'm just scared. I will see my regular GI doctor late today.

I'm not looking for sympathy:o I'm just curious if anyone else has been through something similar.

Thanks
Kim

[bobmark226]

Kim, I had it, but many, many years ago. It's really very hard to answer you without knowing the causes, of course, because treatments will vary wildly, especially since mine was caused by none of those you mentioned, but was psychological/stress-related in nature, which a psychiatrist helped me clear up very nicely, thank you, but not until I'd been through all kinds of humiliating tests and treatments.

I'm sorry you're going through this. It's a terrible, restricting thing, a condition I thought I was going to have to live with my entire life that now seems like a very distant nightmare. I hope they can get a clear picture of what's going on very quickly for you.

Bob

[beacooker]

I'm a bit confused by the term 'colitis', I think. My DH was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a few years ago, but I'm not sure if that is really the same thing as just colitis, as there isn't any cause for ulcerative colitis, it is an illness on its own (similar to Crohn's, but in the large intestine rather than the small intestine).

So, not sure if I have anything helpful to add, just that I know how scary this all can be. But if you have specific questions, I would be happy to try to answer.

[bobmark226]

I'm a bit confused by the term 'colitis', I think. My DH was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a few years ago, but I'm not sure if that is really the same thing as just colitis, as there isn't any cause for ulcerative colitis, it is an illness on its own (similar to Crohn's, but in the large intestine rather than the small intestine).


http://www.emedicinehealth.com/colitis/article_em.htm

[beacooker]

Yeah, that just talks about ulcerative colitis, which is a diagnosis, not a symptom. So, since buffygirl's drs are talking about figuring out the cause of her colitis, I'm still confused. :)

[bobmark226]

Yeah, that just talks about ulcerative colitis, which is a diagnosis, not a symptom.


You couldn't possibly have read through all of that and said what you just did.

Enough already. :rolleyes:

Bob

[buffygirl]

Bob, thanks for the website link, there is lots of great info there.

Warning:TMI below.

The confusing part of this is that when I read about colitis (ulcerative or otherwise:) ), Crohn's, IBD,etc. one of the main symptoms is diahrrea, which I don't have at all. It is really just inflamation (seen on CAT scan), side pain and white cell count elevated. No fever. It's just strange.

I know that no one hear can diagnose me...The doctors did tell me that if I have another of these unexplainable incidents that the appendix is definitely coming out. They said it was possible not to see an inflamed appendix, but still have appendicitis...It's so confusing! Nothing with my health is ever cut and dry.:(

Kim

[mbrogier]

There's also a website called www.eatingforibs.com that has a lot of articles and info on diets. I have a friend that has Crohns and another with ulcerative colitis and found that website.

I hope you feel better soon. I've had IBS and know how bad that can be, but I can't imagine how bad you're feeling. (((Buffygirl))) Bob is right about the stress. If you can take a few days off and do nothing but veg on the sofa and rest, do it. Your body is screaming for you to slow down. Please listen.

I know what I'm talking about with that. I have had heart issues since I was a teen, and they got bad in college. I was taking 18 credits my senior year to graduate on time. I kept getting sicker and sicker, but I just kept plugging along. My parents begged me to come home and rest, but I was stubborn and didn't see the big picture. I finished the school year but had to drop a few classes and had abysmal grades. I got married the next month and promptly got so sick. I've been dealing with auto immune illnesses ever since and can't work at all. I wish I could take that year back and do some things differently.

[ClaraB]

Sorry you're going through this, Kim. I have ulcerative colitis (in remission), and I agree, if you don't have any diarrhea, you do not have UC. Bloody diarrhea is classic for UC. Also, you said only your cecum was inflamed, and with UC, the inflammation generally starts at the other end of the colon and works its way back - it doesn't start at the cecum. The cecum is very close to your appendix, though, and your symptoms do sound like appendicitis - you should keep pressing until you get some answers - maybe have the CT scan reread, or see a gastroenterologist. Hope you find out what's going on soon.

BTW, Bob, that website you posted equates "colitis" with "ulcerative colitis", something that's commonly done. It sounds like Kim's doctors are not necessarily talking about UC, but rather going by the strict definition of colitis, which is inflammation of the colon. I don't know why you dissed beacooker like that, because she did have a point.

[sage]

Hi---

I don't know anything about colitis---however, I had a friend that had a bad appendix that took a long time to get diagnosed. She never had all the "classic" appendicitis symptoms. She'd have these boughts of intense pain and get hospitalized then it would go away for months. They thought it was her ovaries---but that didn't check out---they finally put her in the Diagnositc hospital in Houston because no one could figure it out. Finally they decided it was her appendix after all---took it out and she was good to go.

Guess what I'm saying is that although appendicitis seems like it should be straighforward---I don't think it presents the same way in everyone. Like Clara said---make sure they don't completely blow off the appendicitis angle.

Hope you get some answers soon. Feel better.

[MrsReber]

My future BIL has (had, really) Colitis. He was fine, an athlete who routinely entered triathlons. One day, he wound up in the hospital and that was just the beginning. He didn't have any symptoms prior to this and had no idea that he had such a problem. He went through medications, surgery, hospital stays, had just about all of his colon removed, and he is finally (after about 2 years) back on track in school and with his life. He was told it is potentially hereditary, unfortunately. I know there's all sorts of information out there, but just because you don't have the classic symptoms doesn't mean you don't have it.

By the way, I hope that whatever the diagnosis is, that it's not too bad!! My future BIL, I think, was an extreme case. Good luck with everything.

[SaraInWisc]

Kim,
Hi, I have Crohn's Dx and hope I can help I can. I was diagnosed about 17 years ago. I had pain, weight loss, and "other stuff. I'm more familiar with CD. It can affect anywhere in the digestive track, from start to end. In UC which is just the surface CD can cause fistulas involving the entire wall and causing "leaks" which can be anywhere. I hope I'm not freaking you out like when I heard that and it's not all cases. Sad to say, I've been told it can be put into remission but it's something for life.
Here are some web sites that may help, ccfa.org, healingwell.com, and crohnsandme.com.
The prep for the colonscopy is gross but bearable. If you get get drugs during the procedure you may not remember anything during it all.
I live with it and have good and bad times but found it something I can live with while taking medication.
I hope this helps and if I can answer any questions or just need someone whose been there PM me.
Sara

[Paula H]

I know there's all sorts of information out there, but just because you don't have the classic symptoms doesn't mean you don't have it.

Exactly what I was about to say. The problem with people (and disease) is that we're all individuals with individual responses and symptom patterns. I say this as someone who had Crohn's that didn't really seem to fit the symptom "picture" properly until I was properly diagnosed and retrospectively we could see the symptoms were there.

Get yourself a diagnosis and then you'll know which questions to ask.

Good luck.

[buffygirl]

Just a quick update and a thanks to everyone who responded...it helps knowing others are in the same boat.

I saw my normal GI dr yesterday and he pretty much agreed with ER drs. The diagnosis for now is colitis, but he wants to do further testing to get to a more concrete diagnosis. I will do that in 4 weeks once my system is calmed down. He did say that if I have a flair up between now and then that the appendix needs to come out. It is possible that it really is the cause, but is not showing up on the CAT scan...

Thankfully, I am feeling quite well this week.:)

Thanks again,
Kim

[Jalapeno]

Just a quick update and a thanks to everyone who responded...it helps knowing others are in the same boat.

I saw my normal GI dr yesterday and he pretty much agreed with ER drs. The diagnosis for now is colitis, but he wants to do further testing to get to a more concrete diagnosis. I will do that in 4 weeks once my system is calmed down. He did say that if I have a flair up between now and then that the appendix needs to come out. It is possible that it really is the cause, but is not showing up on the CAT scan...

Thankfully, I am feeling quite well this week.:)

Thanks again,
Kim

I had my appendix out when I was 5 it was ruptured but didn't show up on ANY test they did on me! I was hours away from dying when a Dr. did exploratory surgery on me knowing what he was going to find...yup he did! Now I have the cutest little scar...my little worm. I had a plastic surgeon try to remove it but I said no.....I like my little worm. As weird as it sounds I love my little scar. BTW when it ruptured I was SOOOO sick so don't let my story scare you..if it ruptures you'll know.