Have I got Crohns or do I need another Gastroentorologist

[Jimbo1968]

Hi all I've been away for some time . I just thought I'd sit and wait for the long awaited biopsies from endoscopy colonoscopy. Anyway after much waiting I finally met my gastroentorologist the other day. Bearing in mind he already said let's wait for lab results before we make up our mind. Well all he done was refer to previous small bowel MRI and visible inflammation from endoscopy and gave me a diagnosis of Crohns . His exact words were 'it LOOKS like Crohns' well my point is it shouldn't have to look like Crohns , either the lab says it is Crohns or you've found nothing and your just trying to give me a diagnosis based on no lab results.
Tex I think your definitely right about gastroentorologist . Any thoughts please
I've been given Flagyl and prednisolone as medication plus a vitamin d / calcium supplement.

[Gabes-Apg]

Jim
whether it is Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis, or Microscopic Colitis, many of the same approaches apply for achieving minimal symptoms;

diet changes and lifestyle changes

Diet changes being - minimising inflammatory foods and triggers
(gluten free, dairy free, minimal sugar, minimal processed foods is a commonly recommended eating plan for Crohns)
lifestyle changes - minimising stress, knowing your triggers and minimising contact with them

Its up to you how you want to proceed

Based on what you have shared with the group in various posts thus far I would suggest the following
- get off the SSRI and change to a medication that is less likely to cause IBD issues
- strictly adhere to the gluten free, dairy free, etc low inflammation, low fibre eating plan that has been recommended numerous times
- implement daily relaxation and medication type exercises
- I would be cautious about the calcium supplement, definitely keep taking Vit D and magnesium

If the issue is MC not Crohns - then the prednisolone will not provide benefit.

[Jimbo1968]

Hi Gabes , I still take all the supplements recommended by yourself and Tex, ie chelated magnesium and vitamin D3 . I'm gluten and lactose free and have been for some time now. Processed foods were abandoning some time ago as a result of a previous recommendation from yourself. Sugar is a bit of a harder one, does honey still count as sugar?, as I'm using it more and more instead of sugar.
I didn't realise that ssri's could cause IBD?
I hope your keeping well. Jim

[Gabes-Apg]

Lactose free is not enough - caesin (which is the protein in dairy) in lactose free products is still inflammatory.

re the SSRI
Myself and Tex replied to your comment in this post
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21973

which may also link to the elevated ALT

[tex]

Jim,

I would want to see the pathologist's report before putting a name on the diagnosis. I don't understand why that would be taking so long. Normally a pathology report should be available a day or so after a sample is sent to the lab (at least that's been my experience).

Yes, honey is mostly sugar, and as I mentioned in the post that Gabes referenced in a link in her post, the SSRI is very likely to be the reason why your ALT result is elevated. IOW, the SSRI may be damaging your liver.

Tex

[Jimbo1968]

Is there a safe antidepressant, one that doesn't effect the liver . I've read the article and the one I use is on there .
Also I'm sure he had a copy of the pathology report but didn't refer to it once during my consultation as if it said nothing of relevance and wasn't worth mentioning. If I try and get the pathology report will it be understandable or is it in too technical a language. If worth getting hold of I may be able to get down to hospital later on in week and get a copy. Thanks you both

[Gabes-Apg]

Jim
you will need to do a bit of research about anti-depressants and what is available in the UK

eg - one MC safe anti-depressant used by a few USA members bupropion (wellbutrin), is not available in Australia.
(also the brand names mentioned by USA members, the drug may have a different name in the UK - so have a google search screen handy to check naming etc)

one that has been used by members here is Amitriptyline - which is a TCA class of antidepressant
another that I have found ok is Venlafaxine - which is a SSNRI

there has been various discussions over time - I would recommend doing a search of the archives using the word 'antidepressant' and you will see previous discussions.


the other medication that may be worth investigating to help you is colestyramine
here is a recent discussion about it
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =bile+salt
(this medication is on the list as the recommended treatment for MC)

I wish there was a easy solution / quick fix. Sadly, there is no one guaranteed solution, everyone is different.
it does take a bit of trial and error at first. that effort is worth it to get wellness.

[T]

Jim

I have been on the generic form of Remeron 15 MG ODT for 1 week and I let it dissolve on my tongue works good for me .

Tex
Back to my old post my NP told me to see A psychiatrist for my meds I did and he wanted me back on Clonazepam but I wanted to stay away from A controlled substance so the deal was that if Remeron did not work I agreed to go back to Clonazepam so far so good no anxiety.

Terry

[tex]

If I try and get the pathology report will it be understandable or is it in too technical a language.

The pathology report will be in "doctorspeak", but that's OK because some of us can read doctorspeak. Some members here have been very surprised to find that their pathology report did not say what their doctor told them. Some had MC but their doctor never told them, or their doctor told them that they were fine and the report didn't show anything wrong.

As Gabes mentioned, buproprion (Wellbutrin) seems to be the antidepressant the least likely to cause problems for MC patients. But some consider it to be mostly an anti-anxiety medication, so it may not work for you. As you are probably aware, not all anti-depressants are effective for everyone.

However, MC causes depression. Gluten sensitivity is associated with depression, and many members here have found that as their MC symptoms became controlled and their gut healed, their depression faded, also. But even more importantly, a magnesium deficiency can cause depression. Many people have resolved their depression by taking a magnesium supplement. Of course the problem is that doctors who are aware of this are rather rare. You might find the article at the following link to be interesting and informative. If you don't want to read the entire article, scroll down to the "case studies" to get to some of the info about magnesium and depression.

Magnesium and the Brain: The Original Chill Pill

And you should find the information in the post at the following link to be very helpful:

Magnesium And Depression

Tex

[tex]

Terry,

That's good news.

Thanks for the update.

Tex

[Jimbo1968]

Thank you all for your posts I will have to make an appointment with my doctor to discuss the options on antidepressants. I think though that your definitely right about magnesium deficiency causing depression. I was fine before my D started , didn't need anti depressants then. I'd considered myself that a vitamin or mineral shortage had caused it.
I'm maybe going to discuss with doctor about stopping them and see what happens. Thank you all again.