Re: Recent testing

[Guest guest]

good luck with the results suzanne. i have asked my rheumi to look at things.

some things they just don't know, but don't be afraid to ask. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Dear Suzanne,

As someone who has had colon surgery, I know it wasn't

fun. I hope that your results come back with

encouraging news. I am glad that it isn't Crohn's

disease because that is a very difficult disease to

live with (like the ones we have are not?).

Take care, Iris

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Iris,

I knew I spelled it wrong!! I knew there was an h in there somewhere, just

couldn't figure out where. Thanks for the correct spelling. I had some

recent dealings at work with a Crohn's patient. I learned first hard how

terrible this disease can be, my first thought when the doctor asked me if I

knew what it was was, " Oh no, not Crohn's Disease! " when he said, " Well, you

don't have it " , I thought, " That wasn't very funny, why did you say it? "

Who knows. I'll try to figure out where the spot of irritation is that he

has marked, could it be at the top opening to the stomach?

Suzanne

Re: [ ] Recent testing

> Dear Suzanne,

>

> As someone who has had colon surgery, I know it wasn't

> fun. I hope that your results come back with

> encouraging news. I am glad that it isn't Crohn's

> disease because that is a very difficult disease to

> live with (like the ones we have are not?).

> Take care, Iris

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Suzanne...I think we all know that drs have a

strange sense of humor. My sister-in-law had Crohn's

disease and was very sick at first and then with

several serious bouts. She has had several surgeries

but has been well now for a number of years. Usually

when they look at your stomach, they have you swallow

something like alka seltzer and shoot the xrays while

it is going down. To begin a look at your colon they

have to go through your descending colon on to the

transverse colon and through the ascending colon and

then on to your small intestines. After that is the

duodenum into your stomach.

I had about 24 " of my colon taken out due to

diverticulitis. I was very sick all of the time. It

got to where I couldn't go anywhere because I never

knew when the pain and sweats would start up. I had

several drs who didn't explore the situation because

they thought I was too young to be having

diverticulitis and just called it IBS. I was getting

worse and worse and finally found a GP who knew that

what was happening was not just IBS. Thank goodness

for him. I did not realize how sick I was until after

the surgery when I began to feel good. My dr has a

bit of the god complex but he never stops looking

until he has the correct diagnosis. He is also not

one of them that follows the good ole boy club because

he warned me away from a surgeon that the gastro doc

sent me to by saying things happen to this guys

patients. I had already decided not to use this

surgeon because when I interviewed him he had filthy

fingernails that looked like there was grease under

them. But it was nice to know that my GP has the guts

to stand up and not let you make a mistake. Anyway,

it is 5 years later and I still do not have any of

those type of problems even though I now have about 3

of the pockets in my colon again. I must say that it

was rough surgery but worth it.

Anyway, I am glad that you are having it all checked

out. You definitely should always have anything wrong

with your digestive system checked out. Let us know

what the report says. Iris

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Iris,

What an interesting story!

You have a very thorough knowledge of how one tests the colon and stomach.

(LOL). Somehow I suspect it did not come without a cost... You've actually

told me far more than I ever wanted to know :-) . I hung on every word

though. These many days later (10 days?) I still don't have a report from

the GI doctor. I called my pcp Friday to see if they had received a report

yet. The receptionist suggested I call the GI doctor's office, which I did.

It appears the GI doctor is waiting for a report from a pathologist before

he writes his report.

Is it customary for someone doing a colonoscopy to take a biopsy?

My medical friend is having a fit. She swears I am never having another

test/surgery in my town, but going to her town where she insists the medical

care is better. I do have to admit I sometimes thinks she is right.

Your observation of the potential physician's nails is interesting. When I

went to a surgeon several years ago before some thyroid surgery, I took my

medical friend with me. She commented after the visit that she liked his

hands, they were small and he wouldn't have to make a large incision. I

would have never thought to look at something like that!

There's something quite repellent about a surgeon having dirty fingernails

in an office environment. I wonder what his patients' level of complications

are after surgery?

I'm sure you know how lucky you are to have such an honest and caring

physician looking after you.

Here's an interesting side effect after the colonoscopy: most of my

arthritis pain abated! Weird, huh? I thought it might be because of the

demerol. Breaking the chain of pain or something. My rheumy thinks it might

be because of the colon cleanse. He said colon cleanses are an old-timey

arthritis treatment. Whatever the reason, 10 or so days later I still feel

much improved. I haven't needed to supplement the mtx and Vioxx with any

arthritis strength Tylenol. I run up and down the stairs without much

thought (well, maybe not run, but you know what I mean.) and the pain in my

right shoulder is down to mostly a twinge. Consequently, my next appt with

him is not for 3 months. Hope I keep feeling this good!

Suzanne

> Dear Suzanne...I think we all know that drs have a

> strange sense of humor. My sister-in-law had Crohn's

> disease and was very sick at first and then with

> several serious bouts. She has had several surgeries

> but has been well now for a number of years. Usually

> when they look at your stomach, they have you swallow

> something like alka seltzer and shoot the xrays while

> it is going down. To begin a look at your colon they

> have to go through your descending colon on to the

> transverse colon and through the ascending colon and

> then on to your small intestines. After that is the

> duodenum into your stomach.

>

> I had about 24 " of my colon taken out due to

> diverticulitis. I was very sick all of the time. It

> got to where I couldn't go anywhere because I never

> knew when the pain and sweats would start up. I had

> several drs who didn't explore the situation because

> they thought I was too young to be having

> diverticulitis and just called it IBS. I was getting

> worse and worse and finally found a GP who knew that

> what was happening was not just IBS. Thank goodness

> for him. I did not realize how sick I was until after

> the surgery when I began to feel good. My dr has a

> bit of the god complex but he never stops looking

> until he has the correct diagnosis. He is also not

> one of them that follows the good ole boy club because

> he warned me away from a surgeon that the gastro doc

> sent me to by saying things happen to this guys

> patients. I had already decided not to use this

> surgeon because when I interviewed him he had filthy

> fingernails that looked like there was grease under

> them. But it was nice to know that my GP has the guts

> to stand up and not let you make a mistake. Anyway,

> it is 5 years later and I still do not have any of

> those type of problems even though I now have about 3

> of the pockets in my colon again. I must say that it

> was rough surgery but worth it.

>

> Anyway, I am glad that you are having it all checked

> out. You definitely should always have anything wrong

> with your digestive system checked out. Let us know

> what the report says. Iris

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, Suzanne! That's really interesting to me about the improvement in your

arthritis symptoms after the colonoscopy. I've read so much about the

possible correlation between arthritis and a " leaky gut " . In a nutshell,

they say that the arthritis is caused by your immune system attacking large

particles of food that seep through the wall of the colon.

I hope you hear good news from the GI doctor, and I hope your joints

continue to feel good.

Love and hugs,

Carol

Re: [ ] Recent testing

Hi Iris,

What an interesting story!

You have a very thorough knowledge of how one tests the colon and stomach.

(LOL). Somehow I suspect it did not come without a cost... You've actually

told me far more than I ever wanted to know :-) . I hung on every word

though. These many days later (10 days?) I still don't have a report from

the GI doctor. I called my pcp Friday to see if they had received a report

yet. The receptionist suggested I call the GI doctor's office, which I did.

It appears the GI doctor is waiting for a report from a pathologist before

he writes his report.

Is it customary for someone doing a colonoscopy to take a biopsy?

My medical friend is having a fit. She swears I am never having another

test/surgery in my town, but going to her town where she insists the medical

care is better. I do have to admit I sometimes thinks she is right.

Your observation of the potential physician's nails is interesting. When I

went to a surgeon several years ago before some thyroid surgery, I took my

medical friend with me. She commented after the visit that she liked his

hands, they were small and he wouldn't have to make a large incision. I

would have never thought to look at something like that!

There's something quite repellent about a surgeon having dirty fingernails

in an office environment. I wonder what his patients' level of complications

are after surgery?

I'm sure you know how lucky you are to have such an honest and caring

physician looking after you.

Here's an interesting side effect after the colonoscopy: most of my

arthritis pain abated! Weird, huh? I thought it might be because of the

demerol. Breaking the chain of pain or something. My rheumy thinks it might

be because of the colon cleanse. He said colon cleanses are an old-timey

arthritis treatment. Whatever the reason, 10 or so days later I still feel

much improved. I haven't needed to supplement the mtx and Vioxx with any

arthritis strength Tylenol. I run up and down the stairs without much

thought (well, maybe not run, but you know what I mean.) and the pain in my

right shoulder is down to mostly a twinge. Consequently, my next appt with

him is not for 3 months. Hope I keep feeling this good!

Suzanne

> Dear Suzanne...I think we all know that drs have a

> strange sense of humor. My sister-in-law had Crohn's

> disease and was very sick at first and then with

> several serious bouts. She has had several surgeries

> but has been well now for a number of years. Usually

> when they look at your stomach, they have you swallow

> something like alka seltzer and shoot the xrays while

> it is going down. To begin a look at your colon they

> have to go through your descending colon on to the

> transverse colon and through the ascending colon and

> then on to your small intestines. After that is the

> duodenum into your stomach.

>

> I had about 24 " of my colon taken out due to

> diverticulitis. I was very sick all of the time. It

> got to where I couldn't go anywhere because I never

> knew when the pain and sweats would start up. I had

> several drs who didn't explore the situation because

> they thought I was too young to be having

> diverticulitis and just called it IBS. I was getting

> worse and worse and finally found a GP who knew that

> what was happening was not just IBS. Thank goodness

> for him. I did not realize how sick I was until after

> the surgery when I began to feel good. My dr has a

> bit of the god complex but he never stops looking

> until he has the correct diagnosis. He is also not

> one of them that follows the good ole boy club because

> he warned me away from a surgeon that the gastro doc

> sent me to by saying things happen to this guys

> patients. I had already decided not to use this

> surgeon because when I interviewed him he had filthy

> fingernails that looked like there was grease under

> them. But it was nice to know that my GP has the guts

> to stand up and not let you make a mistake. Anyway,

> it is 5 years later and I still do not have any of

> those type of problems even though I now have about 3

> of the pockets in my colon again. I must say that it

> was rough surgery but worth it.

>

> Anyway, I am glad that you are having it all checked

> out. You definitely should always have anything wrong

> with your digestive system checked out. Let us know

> what the report says. Iris

>

> __________________________________________________

>