First an update: I went through another colonscopy to determine whether I did in fact have microscopic colitis. The doctor took a ton of biopsies and all showed no sign of inflammation. I must have had a false positive or else a temporary inflammation that healed on its own.
We decided to move forward with lotronex. I promised my doctor I wouldn't start taking lotronex until I heard back from him re: my intestinal xrays. I am the first patient he's rx'd it to since it was pulled off the market and I think he's hypersensitive to the bad rap the drug got. He xrayed me as a final precautionary measure to ensure I am not constipated before I began taking it. I assured him I have zero constipation issues. I purposely have to stop myself up with handfuls of immodium or lomotil to just get my gut to calm down and lead a relatively normal life.
For some reason he is hung on on this idea that I may just be constipated and that is why I have diarrhea..essentially it's the only thing that can make it around the stool in my colon. Valid concern, but I have suffered from the hallmark IBS symptoms for 8 years now and nothing has ever helped me. I seriously went through the roof because he called me tonight and left a message saying the xrays show there is a lot of stool in my intestines and he wants me to try a laxative therapy and conduct more testing? What other testing is left? I mean seriously!!
I am so incredibly irate, frustrated...at my wit's end over all this! I have been through mountains of testing in the last couple of months, did another colonoscopy, tried more treatments to no avail, suffered emotional exhaustion, had to deal with this and my job, AND he even already gave me the rx for lotronex. How can he do so and then say, oh sorry I think you're really constipated. I don't even know what constipation would feel like! I've never had issues with going!
I refuse to try a laxative! I can just imagine the amount of pain and misery I'd be in! I feel so miserable I can't even make my own doctor understand that I have to purposely "stop myself up" just to leave the house everyday, to get my gut to calm down, to just be able to work and socialize. Yes, I probably do have more stool than normal in my bowels, but it's because I have to go through this cycle of cramming anti-diarrheals down my throat in order to function. No matter how much I take, I still go at least 3-4 times every morning. And my BMs are all accompanied by pain, urgency, cramping, etc.
Has anyone else had to fight this in order to get the doctor to believe you? Thanks for letting me vent. I just want my life back. I just want someone to believe that this is not all in my head, that I'm not exaggerating, that there are people out there like me who can eat the healthiest, safest diet and do everything else right and still suffer intensely from this disease. I am tired of justifying it to everyone and even to myself.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
Are there any doctors out there who don't make you feel like you're crazy?
