Technically, it doesn't *replace* a colonoscopy ... but, it can see into places that the endoscopy/colonoscopy can't. That's the reason I had one -- I'd gotten both scopes done, but several months later I was still having a lot of problems and the GI thought for awhile that I had Crohn's. And it's very possible that you can have Crohn's but the damage it does is only in places that can't be seen via colonoscopy.
I understand your doctor frustration -- my symptoms definitely aren't as aggressive as yours, but I have a lot of different problems, only some of which have been figured out, and I've seen a lot of doctors and had a lot of tests and bloodwork done over the last several months. It's like as soon as I get one problem diagnosed and I start thinking, "Okay, maybe I can move on with my life" then something else starts acting up. I feel like everything in my body is failing. Urrgghhh! It just doesn't seem to be ending.
But, on the other hand, if you *don't* continue to see doctors and get tests done -- it's unlikely you're going to figure anything out. Sometimes you just need a break, though.
What I don't understand is why the doctors suddenly switched from thinking you had serum-negative RA to having Crohn's. Is it just because your D is so awful? Didn't you say that your internist didn't believe you had Crohn's, either?
I know it seems a little drastic, but have you thought about having an explaratory laparoscopy? I mean, on occasion you just can't find some stuff without actually going in.
Another thing ... I know you've had your gallbladder out. I've been doing some reading on this today (my doctor thinks mine is bad ), and there are lots of people who had their gallbladder out, were great for quite awhile, and then suddenly they were having non-stop watery D. Have you thought about at least trying a med like Questran to see if that helps at all?
Just some thoughts...
By the way, you mentioned not too long ago the possibility of going to Mayo. I don't want to discourage you, but I went to Mayo because I was really sick and I felt like I might have multiple problems and I hated my local doctors. I ended up getting no help whatsoever from them. However, I went to gynecology/reproductive endocrinology -- maybe their other departments are better. I also wish I would have done it differently -- I think it might've gone a little better if I hadn't gone straight to gynecology and if I'd asked for some kind of complete generic work-up by maybe an internist or someone like that first.
-------------------- jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
Posts
capsule endoscopy
), and there are lots of people who had their gallbladder out, were great for quite awhile, and then suddenly they were having non-stop watery D. Have you thought about at least trying a med like Questran to see if that helps at all?
