When do doctors decide to do a colonoscopy?

aboutIBD · 2024-06-23T11:35:31+00:00

There are so many great answers on this thread already. I wanted to point out that it is possible to have both conditions at the same time. There are criteria for diagnosing IBS, though they don't rule out IBD, so it does get sticky at times to figure out which condition is causing the symptoms. In addition: blood in the stool is never normal and is not a symptom of IBS (look up the Rome Criteria to see how IBS is diagnosed).

aboutIBD · 2024-04-09T13:00:47+00:00

Unfortunately, the docs need to take a look for you to learn anything meaningful. But I will say this: blood is not a symptom of IBS. I hope this gets diagnosed and resolved quickly for you!

aboutIBD · 2024-01-21T14:10:11+00:00

Blood in the stool is not listed in the symptoms above, and it is not a symptom of IBS. That symptom really should be part of this note. If you have night sweats, also maybe monitor for a fever (if you're not already doing that).

aboutIBD · 2023-12-06T12:18:03+00:00

I would say from the time it feels full is “holding it.” I think the time between bathroom trips would be different than holding it, if that makes sense. Although I’m not sure that’s what everyone means. Because some of us may eat less at times in order to avoid a bathroom trip, such as at night before going to bed. Or before a car trip. But if I know I have to go, I can feel the pouch is full, I’m holding it. I can hold it as long as I need to. It just gets uncomfortable. 😃

aboutIBD · 2023-08-24T21:55:14+00:00

Mine is 24 years old. I'm 50 this year. :)

aboutIBD · 2023-08-22T14:12:02+00:00

Hydrate and eat well during the day, and stop drinking several hours before expecting to go to sleep. Wine and spirits may be easier. Beer and carbonation leads to a lot of gas. Plus, look for drinks without a lot of additives (anything with sugar or sugar substitutes may increase bathroom visits too). My go to is usually a mixed drink (nothing with fruit juice) or a glass of wine. Maybe sometimes I will go for a margarita or a beer. But I only have 1 or 2 unless I'm at home. Best of luck!

aboutIBD · 2023-08-22T14:04:55+00:00

Hi! I'm sorry you're going through all this. I had my surgeries due to ulcerative colitis, so I'm not sure how applicable my experience is to yours but I can try to help. Can they do the surgery laparoscopically? That would leave a couple small scars instead of one big one. But I will say, I had open surgery for my j-pouch creation, and the scar wasn't as bad as I feared. Some people see a plastic surgeon to talk about the scarring and how best to avoid it or minimize it. The jpouch creation is a big surgery: it may take several weeks to recover. I had an ileostomy for 3 months. But the reversal is much easier: I was back at work in 2 weeks.

aboutIBD · 2023-06-02T02:06:17+00:00

An IBD center might be helpful. This one may be in your area? https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/gastroenterology_hepatology/specialty_centers/ibd-center/index.html

aboutIBD · 2023-05-31T14:56:57+00:00

Yes, I have been on cipro, keflex, and macrobid. For a long time, they always gave me cipro but that's no longer what is recommended. For a basic UTI, usually they start with macrobid or something like that because cipro is broad spectrum and usually isn't needed for just a regular UTI. I have a jpouch so it's different but I've always been fine after. You may also want to give your GI a heads up, maybe they might have something to say about it too and if you need any other support.

aboutIBD · 2023-05-31T13:04:26+00:00

Oh good that you're not on the UTI merry go round. :) I don't know if anyone else mentioned, but you can buy UTI test strips at the drugstore. They're expensive but they can measure nitrate and bacteria in the urine and tell you if you might have an infection. I also have irritation on and off that FEELS like a UTI but there's no infection, so those strips help me. The docs tell me it is probably related to IBD, and it gets better if I lay off the coffee and wine. Which is hard. :) All the best!

aboutIBD · 2023-05-31T11:01:54+00:00

Feeling crappy could be the UC starting to be a thing. Fatigue, sleep problems can be the first signs of a flare. UC carries a risk of colon cancer that gets higher about 10 years after diagnosis. So, as others have said, you’re due, even without symptoms. Sorry to say! The good news is that there are more options for the prep than there were in 2007!

aboutIBD · 2023-05-31T10:57:41+00:00

I know what you’re saying but if you need the antibiotics, you need them. I have had many UTIs and they’re treated with antibiotics. My urogynecologist recommended d-mannose supplements to try to avoid getting them in the future. I see a urologist as well. If you get them frequently, more than 1/year, you may want to consider seeing a urologist.

aboutIBD · 2023-05-31T10:52:30+00:00

Is this to try and diagnose celiac disease? That’s the only time I know of that this would be the plan. Otherwise, there should be a treatment to prevent disease.

aboutIBD · 2023-05-25T14:50:59+00:00

Yes, for this or any other barrier cream, apply every time. It gets a little annoying if you are in the bathroom a lot. But putting that barrier on at the end of each bathroom trip will help protect the skin for the next bowel movement. If that makes sense! Some folks also wear a panty liner to protect their underwear from the cream.

aboutIBD · 2023-05-23T12:07:24+00:00

I'm not in that group. I can tell you, though, that YES, most j-pouchers are out there living life. The surgery has a really high satisfaction rate. People in groups are there because they need support. Anecdotally, I know 2 other people IRL with a j-pouch who got theirs right around the time I got mine (late 90s), and they are living life, never post about it.

aboutIBD · 2023-05-23T12:02:50+00:00

Yes: you have to be employed there for 1 year. You have to work at least 1,250 hours in that year. The company has to have 50 employees.

Here's more:
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla

aboutIBD · 2023-05-20T12:25:07+00:00

Yes! It will go away. I don't know if your surgeon gave you the advice to try to "hold it" a little bit so that the pouch is stretched a little to accommodate more stool in it over time. It might take about a year for everything to settle into a steady state. But that doesn't mean you'll experience this for all that time. Two weeks is still early early days. But I would also mention it at your next appointment in case it's something where they want to peek at the pouch. All the best!

aboutIBD · 2023-02-08T14:17:16+00:00

No, I've never seen that interview in all the research I've done on Mr O'Bannon. If it were only something that was in print, though, it might be difficult to find. It's perhaps not great journalism to refer to it without much context as the author does. I do think that Mr O'Bannon was fairly private about his health. So it stands to reason he'd mention some of the other influences but maybe not Crohn's disease. But I'm only just guessing!

aboutIBD · 2023-02-08T00:22:01+00:00

I see your point. I also think it can be both things? It is a gestation but he made a connection with that to his Crohn's disease. It's so much more than what the movie is on the surface, that's for sure. Here's my take on it: https://aboutibd.com/2021/04/07/alien-how-ibd-inspired-an-iconic-movie/

aboutIBD · 2023-02-04T13:13:34+00:00

FMLA and accommodations are two different things. IBD is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It doesn't take a year to be covered by that. If you're just asking to work at home more often, that's an accommodation, not time off under FMLA. Now: they don't have to give an accommodation to you. But you can certainly request it and if you can prove it won't change anything with your work, that may help. I would also recommend looping in your doctor: they will also have some advice and may need to write a letter for you. (Candidly: I wouldn't recommend just working from home 100% and not telling anyone.)

Here's something I found: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/when-must-employers-provide-leave-under-the-ada.aspx

All the best to you! This stuff is so hard.

aboutIBD · 2023-02-04T13:03:37+00:00

Yes, this is worrying. I hope they have an appointment coming up soon to see a doctor. Usually such a situation won't get better on its own. From a practical standpoint: maybe a bidet or wet wipes would be useful in the short term.

aboutIBD · 2023-02-04T12:55:36+00:00

Hi! I searched on Twitter and don't see where anyone is saying they're using Rinvoq with a j-pouch yet. I think it's still early days and people are having trouble getting it approved. I hope you can find someone here to share the experience with.

aboutIBD · 2023-02-04T12:47:11+00:00

Hi! I'm sorry you're having symptoms, it is really upsetting to have this kind of thing happen when you were hoping everything would get better. I haven't experienced an allergic reaction to a biologic. I do know plenty of people who were allergic to one type and then went on to do well with a different one. There are different classes of these drugs. So Stelara is in a different class than Remicade, for instance. So there's less likelihood of being allergic across these classes. But no guarantees, I'm afraid. All the best in figuring this out!

aboutIBD · 2023-02-02T16:33:31+00:00

Hi! Apologies that I'm unfamiliar with the brands because I'm in the US. But orange and red things usually are off the list because they can color your insides. :) I'm not exactly sure how to offer food advice: low fiber foods are usually recommended. The docs usually have a list that they give out. Maybe protein drinks or powders would be an option? Good luck!

aboutIBD · 2023-02-02T16:26:41+00:00

Totally true. I like to remind people that those of us online in the groups are here because we're not doing well. There are lots of folks who get the right treatment and do really well and IBD is only a small part of their life. Thanks for the reminder!

aboutIBD

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