I finally got a g-d referral to GI specialist

[malibu]

I have been complaining about my stomach issues - either poop or lack thereof related, heartburn, and nausea to my doctors for years. Fricking YEARS. I've finally now gotten a referral to a GI specialist and likely have a colonoscopy in my future at the ripe old age of 34. So, anyone know what I can expect other than a camera shoved up in a place that no camera should be going? I feel like I should be more nervous about this but I'm so tired of feeling sick all the time that I'm really not overly anxious about it.

[laurenh]

Just saw this on the app. If it makes you feel better, my first colonoscopy was at the ripe old age of 23. Honestly it was no where near as bad as I had worked it up to be. You'll likely be on a limited diet the day before until about 5pm, things like broth, jello, etc. were okay as long as there was no red food dye. Sometime that evening you'll start prepping, which for my prep involved drinking a gigantic amount of liquid in regular intervals. I was okay for a few hours and then it started working. Plan to have easy access to the bathroom for the rest of the night/overnight. The procedure itself was pretty quick and I don't remember a thing. My stomach felt a little off afterwards still, but they let me leave as soon as I farted.

All in all, it was totally worth it to get a diagnosis. Hope you're able to get one too and start feeling better!

[beefjerky]

Ahh yes, the good ol' colonoscopy. I was 29 when I had my first one, good times. The procedure was easy as could be. Prep wasn't great but not as terrible as I expected to be honest. I alternated between drinking chicken bouillon and eating lemon water ice the whole day before while prepping. Recovery was super easy too, I was able to go after the farts. Good luck

[polarbearfans]

I've had 3 this year. It's not so bad. Usually the day of I am starving,. I prefer the Gatorade/miralax prep to the trylite prep

[panicked]

I've had one. It's the prep that isn't fun. The procedure itself is easy peasy. You're knocked out, you wake up, it's done.

I have a question though. I, too, suffered from your symptoms. I had an endoscopy done to rule out an ulcer and when they went past the stomach, they saw that my villi were flat as a pancake. Dx? Celiac's. No family history, no nothing. Since being GF, I feel almost back to normal. I would strongly urge your GI doc to test for this. If you're already having a colonoscopy, it will be insanely easy for them to do an endo while you are out.

[greenscreen]

I have had many colonoscopies thanks to Crohn's Disease. The prep is the worst part. I usually put it in a those squeeze water bottles, chill it, flavor it with Lemon Crystal Light, and wear nose plugs when I can't stand the taste anymore.

There is also stool test that can rule out IBD (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis). It measures stool calprotectin. Your doctor might suggest that before a colonoscopy.

[katespade]

Aug 8, 2014 20:14:56 GMT -5 greenscreen said:

I have had many colonoscopies thanks to Crohn's Disease. The prep is the worst part. I usually put it in a those squeeze water bottles, chill it, flavor it with Lemon Crystal Light, and wear nose plugs when I can't stand the taste anymore.

There is also stool test that can rule out IBD (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis). It measures stool calprotectin. Your doctor might suggest that before a colonoscopy.

I have never heard of this or had a GI recommend it. Do you know what the test is called? I have an appointment coming up, and I would really like to have that done before moving on a colonoscopy if it's an option.

[greenscreen]

Aug 8, 2014 21:17:58 GMT -5 katespade said:

Aug 8, 2014 20:14:56 GMT -5 greenscreen said:

There is also stool test that can rule out IBD (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis). It measures stool calprotectin. Your doctor might suggest that before a colonoscopy.

I have never heard of this or had a GI recommend it. Do you know what the test is called? I have an appointment coming up, and I would really like to have that done before moving on a colonoscopy if it's an option.

I think it's just called a stool calprotectin test. From what I understand, it is fairly new. It can rule out bowel inflammation. I copied the link, but I'm not sure if I had the 'branded' test or not. It did just help me avoid another colonoscopy.

www.calprotectintest.com/english/calprotectin_in_stool.html

[katespade]

Aug 8, 2014 21:55:40 GMT -5 greenscreen said:

Aug 8, 2014 21:17:58 GMT -5 katespade said:

I have never heard of this or had a GI recommend it. Do you know what the test is called? I have an appointment coming up, and I would really like to have that done before moving on a colonoscopy if it's an option.

I think it's just called a stool calprotectin test. From what I understand, it is fairly new. It can rule out bowel inflammation. I copied the link, but I'm not sure if I had the 'branded' test or not. It did just help me avoid another colonoscopy.

www.calprotectintest.com/english/calprotectin_in_stool.html

You are a lifesaver. I'm printing that out and taking it to my GI. I know that I can't avoid a colonoscopy forever, but this could save me for a little while longer!

[greenscreen]

You are very welcome katespade!

[christy082]

I had my first colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy at 31. The worst part of the whole thing was drinking the prep (the taste got to me after a while, plus I had to drink the second part of it really early in the morning before my appointment). The result of the prep was actually not bad, pretty gentle. They had me use Suprep. All I remember is being wheeled into the procedure room and being told they were going to give me the drugs to make me sleepy, and then waking up in the recovery area. It was no big deal, thankfully, and I was just a little tired for a few hours afterwards.

Good luck with your appointment. Hope you get some answers!

[malibu]

Thanks guys.

I would be interested to see if what panicked said was true. I had the blood test done for Celiac's done which came back negative. I did a gluten elimination diet (as well as dairy a few months before that) but it didn't really make any difference.

Ulcers seem to run in my family, and I have a sneaking suspicion it may be something like that. I get frequent heartburn, too. My paternal grandmother had chronic diverticulitis, and my maternal grandmother has had several bouts with twisted/necrotic bowel as well as ulcers. I don't know if any of those are genetic; if so, I have a pretty good chance of having something wrong. Which for me would be a good thing - at least I'd finally know why I feel like ass all the time.

[katie]

Aug 8, 2014 15:36:22 GMT -5 malibu said:

I have been complaining about my stomach issues - either poop or lack thereof related, heartburn, and nausea to my doctors for years. Fricking YEARS. I've finally now gotten a referral to a GI specialist and likely have a colonoscopy in my future at the ripe old age of 34. So, anyone know what I can expect other than a camera shoved up in a place that no camera should be going? I feel like I should be more nervous about this but I'm so tired of feeling sick all the time that I'm really not overly anxious about it.

How are you doing? I've had the same symptoms for years as well. I was told GERD and meds help some but it's gotten worse. I've had an endoscopy 5 years ago, showed nothing unusual. 

[malibu]

Still the same. My appointment is finally this Friday. I guess they were "backed up". Ha

[panicked]

Sept 10, 2014 12:38:44 GMT -5 malibu said:

Still the same. My appointment is finally this Friday. I guess they were "backed up". Ha

Hope it's a good appointment!

[malibu]

Well, I'm going for a colonoscopy (oh YAY!) and an upper GI endoscopy Sept. 25th. I suppose it sounds weird to hope they find something, but I do, if only so they can treat it. I don't want the IBS/IBD diagnosis knowing there's not much they can do for it other than for me to figure out my triggers (I've been trying to do that for over ten years, and I still haven't figured it out).

[christy082]

malibu, good luck! Hope you get some answers!

[moonlight]

How did it go?

I'm late to the party but I've had like 20 of these. My first one was around age 10. They were traumatizing as a kid but no big deal at all as a adult. I prefer to chug the prep and chase it with something to get the taste out of my mouth.

Aug 8, 2014 18:35:19 GMT -5 panicked said:

I've had one. It's the prep that isn't fun. The procedure itself is easy peasy. You're knocked out, you wake up, it's done.

I have a question though. I, too, suffered from your symptoms. I had an endoscopy done to rule out an ulcer and when they went past the stomach, they saw that my villi were flat as a pancake. Dx? Celiac's. No family history, no nothing. Since being GF, I feel almost back to normal. I would strongly urge your GI doc to test for this. If you're already having a colonoscopy, it will be insanely easy for them to do an endo while you are out.

I have had what they diagnosed as Ulcerative Colitis (for lack of any other diagnosis) for 26 years. I've tried any and everything to battle it. Even though I tested negative for Celiac, I recently tried to be gluten free. I have been strict about it, (and also low dairy and low grain in general, including rice and other grains used in place of gluten) for several months and have seen a HUGE improvement in my health. I also have a flat stomach now, where as before it was always sticking out and swollen with bloat. Between going GF and taking full spectrum digestive enzymes every time I eat, I have seen major positive changes.

[malibu]

moonlight It went fine. Wasn't really a big deal, the prep sucked. Of course, as I figured, they found nothing wrong. The endoscopy revealed a hiatial (sp?) hernia, which is why I have been having such bad reflux. They found nothing else though, and Celiac test came back negative. Back to square one, I guess.

[moonlight]

Well, I guess it's good and bad that they didn't find anything. I've had some luck lately with eliminating foods to pinpoint what gives me a flare and avoiding those. It's a start.

[caramia]

Sept 29, 2014 21:31:45 GMT -5 moonlight said:

How did it go?

I'm late to the party but I've had like 20 of these. My first one was around age 10. They were traumatizing as a kid but no big deal at all as a adult. I prefer to chug the prep and chase it with something to get the taste out of my mouth.

Aug 8, 2014 18:35:19 GMT -5 panicked said:

I've had one. It's the prep that isn't fun. The procedure itself is easy peasy. You're knocked out, you wake up, it's done.

I have a question though. I, too, suffered from your symptoms. I had an endoscopy done to rule out an ulcer and when they went past the stomach, they saw that my villi were flat as a pancake. Dx? Celiac's. No family history, no nothing. Since being GF, I feel almost back to normal. I would strongly urge your GI doc to test for this. If you're already having a colonoscopy, it will be insanely easy for them to do an endo while you are out.

I have had what they diagnosed as Ulcerative Colitis (for lack of any other diagnosis) for 26 years. I've tried any and everything to battle it. Even though I tested negative for Celiac, I recently tried to be gluten free. I have been strict about it, (and also low dairy and low grain in general, including rice and other grains used in place of gluten) for several months and have seen a HUGE improvement in my health. I also have a flat stomach now, where as before it was always sticking out and swollen with bloat. Between going GF and taking full spectrum digestive enzymes every time I eat, I have seen major positive changes.

I just saw this... Can you tell me more about digestive enzymes? What they do, what brand you use, etc. Thanks!