I got brave ... went to the doc today!!
#42095 - 01/30/04 01:17 PM
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Kali
Reged: 01/28/04
Posts: 17
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Well, I did it ... I finally got brave and called my doctor this morning. They asked me to come in immediately, and so I had an appointment today. She looked through my chart, and we discovered that I've actually been having similar / related problems off an on since June ... I was thinking that this was totally different. After doing a medical history and an exam, her thought is that it's probably IBS ... but could be diverticulitis. (After reading about both, I'm - sadly - really hoping that it's IBS.) I had a few tests today - bloodwork, urinalysis, and a stool culture (Yuck!!   ) and I'm supposed to do stool samples at home (Double Yuck!! ) She also put me on antibiotics for diverticulitis, just in case that's what it is. I go back in two weeks (on my b-day no less!) and if I'm not 100% better, she's planning to schedule me for a CT and possibly a colonoscopy.  I'm really dreading the whole ordeal, but looking SO forward to possibly getting to feel better!! 
Thank you all for all your support!!!!!
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Good for you!! I applaud your courage and taking care of yourself. YAY, YOU!!! 
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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GREAT News!
#42106 - 01/30/04 01:40 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Kali, this is terrific news! And hold on there -- if it's diverticulitis, they can get rid of the infection with a simple course of antibiotics. It's only when the infection keeps recurring that they need to go in and remove that portion of your colon that has all the "pockets" that get infected. Don't even think about that now. With the colonoscopy, though, they can find those little pockets and then tell you how many there are and where they're located.
My diverticulosis is under control -- I never eat nuts or seeds -- and I haven't had a diverticulitis attack in well over a year now. So don't freak out over it, PLEASE!
The catscan found my diverticulitis. It was a snap. What was awful was the pain killer they gave me in the hospital -- it was a shot in my arm -- my body SOOOO did not like that, and I spent the rest of my stay in the bathroom, hanging over the toilet, with all kinds of disgusting stuff coming out of both ends of me.
This isn't helping much, is it?
You DO want that colonoscopy. It's real important to rule out all kinds of stuff. Having IBS really sucks, but it could be worse.
Yeah, I remember that stool culture stuff. Playing with your poop is really gross. What's the most difficult is getting it out of your mind once it's done and over with. YUK.
Just remember, at about age 80, EVERYONE in America -- that's 100% of the population -- gets diverticulosis. Those little pockets just pop out as we age! The trick is to not get them infected.
Keep us posted!
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Bev,
Thanks so much for clearing up the diverticulitis stuff for me. I guess I got so freaked out reading that stuff that I thought that you just automatically had to have surgery to remove parts of your colon. You calmed me down a ton!!!
I'll keep you posted.
Kali
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Yay! Good for you!! Funny, I had to have my Upper GI endoscopy on my birthday! I guess this is just the year for us.
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Good for you! I know the tests are nasty, but it's critical that you get a proper diagnosis. Knowing is half the battle. If it turns out to be IBS, you're in good hands here - pull up a chair and get busy printing out recipes! Hang in there - hopefully you'll get to the "bottom" of it all (teehee) and be feeling better soon.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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