What the Colitis is that?

So, moving away a little from the Ankylosing Spondylitis to a different part of my body here. Do you remember a few weeks ago I had a very invasive procedure known as a Colonoscopy? Well, at the time they said they couldn’t see any indication of any problems causing what was happening, but took some biopsies to find out if there was any underlying issues there. A few weeks went by and I hadn’t heard anything from them so I waited. Then a letter arrived. Rather than them sending me the results through the post they had booked me an appointment with the specialist who did the procedure. Instant panic stations triggered inside my already paranoid mind wondering what they had found.
Eventually my appointment came round and I sat in the hospital waiting room. The specialist came out, Dr Mackenzie, a lovely man who remembered our conversation about him having the same name as my son. I went into the room with him and sat down. Feeling nervous. He explained about why they took the biopsies and what they had found. He said I had a condition called Microscopic Colitis. A kind of inflammation which is what is causing the diarrhoea. I asked about the bleeding and he told me that there was no indication of that in the Colonoscopy so it’s being caused somewhere else. Something I will have to go back to the GP about. He prescribed me some steroids to bring the inflammation down and hopefully get rid of the diarrhoea all together. It’s only a three month course and I see him again in four so we will see if they have worked come January when we meet again. Fingers crossed! Otherwise it’s back to the drawing board…

Still None The Wiser…

It’s been four days since my Colonoscopy and I’m still none the wiser as to what is going wrong with my internal digestive system. There wasn’t anything visible on the examination but they have taken biopsies to “further investigate any underlining problems”. I am currently awaiting those results as they said they would write to me and my doctor (here’s hoping they send it to the correct address!) That’s what I have to laugh at…underlining problems. Of course there are else I would not be going through what I go through everytime I eat a meal! Now tell me this, did they bother to read my notes because they suggested to try Imodium. If you read the instructions on said suggested remedy, by hospital doctors, it states “DO NOT TAKE IF THERE IS BLOOD” and considering that was the whole point of having this procedure to start with (all they kept talking about was the diarrhoea, no mention of the bleeding. The fact that I’m losing about a cup full of blood everytime I have that massive evacuation when I can’t even finish my meal didn’t even come into the conversation. Back to the drawing board.
I have a blood test to do with headaches and tingling feet on the 15th then I don’t see my GP again until the 29th! He’s very in demand it seems. I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens then.

Not for the faint hearted…Invasive Procedure Ahead

As I briefly mentioned in my about page, I have been having some major issues with my derrière area. It doesn’t help when your mother suffers from diverticulosis, your aunt has Crohn’s Disease and your other aunt has IBS. Doesn’t really hold much hope for you with regards to your posterior! It’s a known fact that Crohn’s is linked to Ankylosing Spondylitis anyway so chances of me having that are more likely than the rest. However, and I hope you have a strong stomach while reading this post and haven’t eaten yet, why is it that no matter what I eat it plays havoc with my digestive system?
In the morning after my boy has polished off his weetabix I will have one Belvita Breakfast Biscuit for my brekkie, and bang! My stomach starts growling at me and I have to dash off to the toilet. I have even tried varying it with custard creams or just a plain yoghurt, still the same affect. When I have to go, it’s like an explosion and black tarry mixed with almost a cup full of blood it seems. Throughout the day I get blood spots on my underwear, and no it’s not “that time” because I don’t get them since having my boy, the pill stops that. One little monster is enough thank you very much! My evening meal, don’t get me started on that! It really does not matter what it is – roast, pasta, curry, stir fry, omelette, soup – anything and I’m stuck on the toilet for at least half an hour. Sometimes I can’t even finish a meal, others it’s seconds after, occasionally it’s after a couple of bites.
I have been to the doctor about it and have an appointment for a Colonoscopy this Friday (9th) which I am very nervous about, because other than the aforementioned conditions, they also mentioned about looking for the big C. Will keep you posted about that. Thankfully I’ll be sedated so won’t be too aware of what’s going on. Still doesn’t sound pleasant and it’s very invasive.