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621217 tn?1289009087

Could use some advice. Do I REALLY need a colonoscopy? 33/f

Long story shot. On October 11th I woke up and thought I had some sort of stomach bug.  I was more nauseous then I have ever been in my life. This continued on for months. I was vomiting a few times a week through till the end of December. I have since been on an upswing and feeling much better still have days were I don't feel great and I never feel quite normal, but I'm eating again and I'm about to get out of bed.

My GI set me up to do a Colonoscopy tomorrow. She wanted to rule out Crohns, but I have none of the typical symptoms of crohns. After doing some extensive research it really seemed unnecessary and, although the risk is very low, could possibly do more harm then good.  I can't take antibiotics so even getting something simple to treat like C-diff, a UTI, or yeast infection would not be an easy fix. She wanted me to do an MR Enterography IF the colonoscopy came back clear, but for some reason the nurse scheduled it for last Monday, the results for my stomach, small bowel and colon, "appear unremarkable."  And "There is no abnormal bowel wall enhancement, thickening or evidence of bowel obstruction."

I have also had a bunch of other testing done for this:  
Gallbladder ultrasound
HIDA scan
Upper endoscopy
CT scan with IV contrast
MR Enterography with oral and IV contrast
A LOT of blood work and repeated blood work
Urinalysis multiple times.
Extensive stool analysis for blood, bacteria, parasites, yeast, beneficial bacteria etc...
Pelvic ultra sound
STI testing
Pap smear
      
I feel like doing the colonoscopy won't show anything and I wan't to know what you guys think.  And what other avenues I might consider perusing?  I have an appointment with an OB/Gyn on the 31st just to see if she has anything to add.  I will talk to my GI when I get a chance and she can better explain to me why she thinks the benefits out weigh the risk.  I'm disappointed that she didn't even discuss them with me to begin with.    

Thanks in advance!
6 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi,  thank you for replying.

I hope you feel better soon too

x
Helpful - 0
621217 tn?1289009087
I asked my doc about the pill cam. She didn't want to do it. I don't know why.
Helpful - 0
621217 tn?1289009087
It was back in 2009.  I suffered for almost 2 years before it cleared up on its own. My western medical dr's say that antibiotics don't make people sick like that. I had a alternative medicine dr tell me she thinks that the antibiotics did something to me back then. But she dosent think what I'm going through now is related to that.
Probiotics didn't help me but you could try taking them. I hope you feel better soon!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello

Sorry to hear you are not getting any clear answers.

I see you may have had antibiotic associated diahorrea.

Did the doctors confirm this?  Its just I took antibiotics in the new year and my bowels are not back to normal.  My doctor said any diahorrea would have stopped quickly.

Im so lost.

Kind Regards, Liz x
Helpful - 0
6543835 tn?1468844035
there is the camera pill that is an alternative to the colonoscopy. You still have to go thru the same prep as a colonoscopy. and lets face it, the prep is by far the worst part of the whole ordeal.
Helpful - 0
621217 tn?1289009087
Ps.  I did have a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy in 2009 for an unrelated problem thay were both fine.  I am now pretty sure I was stuck with antibiotic associated diarrhea for 2 years.  
Helpful - 0
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