Hi everyone,
I haven't been around on the board for years - I'm one of the originals from Sally Read's board. The support was priceless in helping me find my way to remission which has lasted
13 years by following a strict gf diet. But a month ago I had an emergency appendectomy
And my colon hasn't been normal since!
First there was C caused by the surgery and a small amount of Percocet taken for a few days. Then the colon started working but I had extreme cramps like labor pains when passing stool. Some stool normal, some mushy. Then another bout of C. So the surgeon did another CT scan and said my colon was inflamed and called it just colitis.
Then he did a c diff test, which was negative. But he wanted me to take Flagyl. In case there was some other bug at work. The side effects of Flagyl were awful, and he said I could stop after 7 days. So now the awful pain is gone, but I'm still all over the place as far as stool
Consistency and regularity.
Any thoughts as to if this could be a relapse triggered by surgery? Or is my colon just overly sensitive?
Thanks!
Old Alice gf
Appendectomy trigger relapse?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Alice,
It's good to see a post from you, but I'm sorry that you had a reason to post.
Since the surgery was done on an emergency basis, I'm guessing that you didn't use any of the caustic cleanout solutions typically used prior to a colonoscopy exam. If you did, then there is a good chance that may be the cause of your inflammation.
I've seen claims that some of the IV fluids used by hospitals can contain gluten. I have no idea if that claim is true, or if it is, how widespread the problem might be. Gluten in hospital meals is also a possibility, unless you worked a deal with one of their dietitians. But if the inflammation can be seen on a CT scan, then MC is not the problem — at least it isn't the only problem, and almost surely it isn't the primary problem. Inflammation detectable by a CT scan means gross inflammation (as opposed to microscopic inflammation). It seems mysterious that you would have gross colonic inflammation.
Radiation could cause such a problem, but surely radiation wasn't part of the procedure. Percocet is known to cause GI symptoms for some patients, including GI pain and inflammation of the pancreas. I can't help but wonder if there's a possibility that it might also cause intestinal inflammation for some patients who might be sensitive to it. If the CT scan was done prior to the Flagyl treatment, then Flagyl wasn't part of the original problem.
Of course, antibiotics administered by IV are typically used during and after surgery (especially emergency surgery), so it's possible that this could have initiated the problem. Whatever the problem is, it's obviously associated with the surgery or your treatment during recovery, but I suspect that it's more than just MC. Hopefully it will soon resolve on its own, because I can't think of any other logical reason why you would be having such a problem.
Tex
It's good to see a post from you, but I'm sorry that you had a reason to post.
Since the surgery was done on an emergency basis, I'm guessing that you didn't use any of the caustic cleanout solutions typically used prior to a colonoscopy exam. If you did, then there is a good chance that may be the cause of your inflammation.
I've seen claims that some of the IV fluids used by hospitals can contain gluten. I have no idea if that claim is true, or if it is, how widespread the problem might be. Gluten in hospital meals is also a possibility, unless you worked a deal with one of their dietitians. But if the inflammation can be seen on a CT scan, then MC is not the problem — at least it isn't the only problem, and almost surely it isn't the primary problem. Inflammation detectable by a CT scan means gross inflammation (as opposed to microscopic inflammation). It seems mysterious that you would have gross colonic inflammation.
Radiation could cause such a problem, but surely radiation wasn't part of the procedure. Percocet is known to cause GI symptoms for some patients, including GI pain and inflammation of the pancreas. I can't help but wonder if there's a possibility that it might also cause intestinal inflammation for some patients who might be sensitive to it. If the CT scan was done prior to the Flagyl treatment, then Flagyl wasn't part of the original problem.
Of course, antibiotics administered by IV are typically used during and after surgery (especially emergency surgery), so it's possible that this could have initiated the problem. Whatever the problem is, it's obviously associated with the surgery or your treatment during recovery, but I suspect that it's more than just MC. Hopefully it will soon resolve on its own, because I can't think of any other logical reason why you would be having such a problem.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex!
Thank you so much for your reply! As usual it was well-reasoned and thorough, and duh (for me). Of course my symptoms couldn't be only a relapse because MC wouldn't be seen on a CT scan.
I had 2 Ct scans (to my dismay, because of the radiation), one to diagnose the appendicitis and the next for the surgeon to determine if the cause of post-surgery problems was surgery related- I don't know, CYA or something? Then he perscribed Flagyl, with which I blithely went along disregarding the many potential side effects.
And I had so many of them that I had to stop it after 7 days because I seriously thought I was going crazy with the mental ones. But at least the severe pain hasn't recurred. Knock on wood! The surgeon told me that since the colon is so close to the appendix, that would be the reason for the additional inflammation. It kind of makes sense, but I don't really understand the dynamics of it and didn't question him further.
I'm not sure whether to just wait it out a little more or try a little Pepto. Actually I did try a couple so I could attend a party tonight in comfort and I'm ok since.
Thank you again for all your support and for sticking with the board for all these years!
Alice
Thank you so much for your reply! As usual it was well-reasoned and thorough, and duh (for me). Of course my symptoms couldn't be only a relapse because MC wouldn't be seen on a CT scan.
I had 2 Ct scans (to my dismay, because of the radiation), one to diagnose the appendicitis and the next for the surgeon to determine if the cause of post-surgery problems was surgery related- I don't know, CYA or something? Then he perscribed Flagyl, with which I blithely went along disregarding the many potential side effects.
And I had so many of them that I had to stop it after 7 days because I seriously thought I was going crazy with the mental ones. But at least the severe pain hasn't recurred. Knock on wood! The surgeon told me that since the colon is so close to the appendix, that would be the reason for the additional inflammation. It kind of makes sense, but I don't really understand the dynamics of it and didn't question him further.
I'm not sure whether to just wait it out a little more or try a little Pepto. Actually I did try a couple so I could attend a party tonight in comfort and I'm ok since.
Thank you again for all your support and for sticking with the board for all these years!
Alice
That's a good sign if you're feeling OK tonight. Maybe the Pepto was just what the doctor ordered (even though the doctor didn't order it. 
)
I hope that tomorrow is even better.
You're more than welcome, and please keep us posted, in case someone else encounters that problem following surgery.
Tex
)I hope that tomorrow is even better.
You're more than welcome, and please keep us posted, in case someone else encounters that problem following surgery.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I once saw a video on YouTube a surgery where an appendix was removed, and they did it extremely carefully with a special technique. The appendix was put in some sort of a bag before it was removed, to prevent that the appendix would leak into the gut. I think it was a british video.
The appendix is full of harmful things, so my guess is that there has been some sort of leakage.
Lillja
The appendix is full of harmful things, so my guess is that there has been some sort of leakage.
Lillja
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Hello again!
I forgot to report that about 3 hours after the party, at which I obviously wasn't careful enough about what I ate, all hell broke loose! It was one of those episodes where you have multiple movements, closely spaced, starting with a soft but formed BM and progressing through the stages until the last one is watery diarrhea. That's when I took 2 Imodium per the instructions on the package. No BM since.
Alice
I forgot to report that about 3 hours after the party, at which I obviously wasn't careful enough about what I ate, all hell broke loose! It was one of those episodes where you have multiple movements, closely spaced, starting with a soft but formed BM and progressing through the stages until the last one is watery diarrhea. That's when I took 2 Imodium per the instructions on the package. No BM since.
Alice
Hi Alice,
If the last one was watery D, then that sounds suspiciously like active MC. Of course any significant GI inflammation issue is likely to provoke at least a temporary round of active MC (to add insult to injury). But it sounds as though that may have been the extent of it.
Tex
If the last one was watery D, then that sounds suspiciously like active MC. Of course any significant GI inflammation issue is likely to provoke at least a temporary round of active MC (to add insult to injury). But it sounds as though that may have been the extent of it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex,
I thought that, too. I actually had the same thing happen about 10 days after the surgery, except that episode was accompanied by severe cramps like I've never had before. That's when the surgeon did the 2nd CT scan and put me on Flagyl. Since the Flagyl I've had no severe cramps (for which I'm so grateful) but off and on normal BMs (just a couple) C, and D.
About the hospital food, they had a gf menu from which I ordered. I found out later that I should have keep my diet bland for the first day. Jello. clear juice, etc. But no one told me! I was so excited to eat and was still under the influence of pain meds and anesthesia, so I was not thinking well. I had plain toast, a hamburger with ketchup, and something else which I can't remember. The bread tasted gf (I'm very familiar with all brands of gf bread), and the hamburger sure looked and tasted clean. Bruce checked the ketchup and it was ok.
So many variables! I guess I was the perfect candidate for a flare or relapse - I'm not sure which is the correct term to explain my gut situation!
Thanks again so much! I'd forgotten after all these years how comforting it is to be able to discuss poop problems freely with others who understand!
Alice
I thought that, too. I actually had the same thing happen about 10 days after the surgery, except that episode was accompanied by severe cramps like I've never had before. That's when the surgeon did the 2nd CT scan and put me on Flagyl. Since the Flagyl I've had no severe cramps (for which I'm so grateful) but off and on normal BMs (just a couple) C, and D.
About the hospital food, they had a gf menu from which I ordered. I found out later that I should have keep my diet bland for the first day. Jello. clear juice, etc. But no one told me! I was so excited to eat and was still under the influence of pain meds and anesthesia, so I was not thinking well. I had plain toast, a hamburger with ketchup, and something else which I can't remember. The bread tasted gf (I'm very familiar with all brands of gf bread), and the hamburger sure looked and tasted clean. Bruce checked the ketchup and it was ok.
So many variables! I guess I was the perfect candidate for a flare or relapse - I'm not sure which is the correct term to explain my gut situation!
Thanks again so much! I'd forgotten after all these years how comforting it is to be able to discuss poop problems freely with others who understand!
Alice