Waiting on diagnosis...

[Wexford792]

Hi everyone! I haven’t been officially diagnosed but my gastro suspects this is what I may have. My colonoscopy is scheduled for 2/23 and he will be taking biopsies. I’ve suffered bowel issues for as long as I can remember but a colonoscopy and stool test years ago were normal...I was labeled with IBS. I am 52 and female and had my gallbladder removed in 2014. Diarrhea has been the norm since then but not something I ever sought help from...fast forward to December 2020 when that all changed and I was going 8-10 times a day including being woken up 3-4 times a night with cramping and diarrhea. I first saw my general practitioner in early January, she did blood work and a stool sample which all came back normal. She referred me to a gastroenterologist and because we were in the middle of relocating, my appointment was this past Friday, 2/12, via a virtual visit. By the time of my appointment, my symptoms had improved. My gp had given me a prescription for Bentyl which had helped with the cramping and allowed me to get a full nights sleep I am still having diarrhea, depending on the day anywhere from 2-4 times. Other symptoms I noticed around the onset in December were red, dry, itchy patches on my abdomen, eyelids and behind my ears. I know, odd right? Also, I constantly have a dry mouth! The noises I’ve read about with MC, what are they like? Is it like loud gurgling? I woke myself up the other night with the noises my stomach was making but don’t have them all the time. Also, TMI I know but I’m not fully digesting some foods I eat and at times my diarrhea is the color of bile. Anyway, my gastro ordered two additional blood tests that had not been done, IGA & Tissue Trans IgA. My IGA was 270 and tissue trans IgA was <2. Both normal. To my knowledge, I have never had any sort of food allergy or food sensitivity. If I do have MC, will I always test positive or only during a flare up? I’m just worried since my symptoms have improved that I’m going to test negative and be back to being labeled with IBS...could all of my blood work be normal, including the stool sample and I still be diagnosed with MC? Thanks in advance for any insight...I’m anxious for Tuesday!

[HockeyMom]

I understand cholestyramine solves the diarrhea problem of many folks after having their gallbladders removed . I take a huge amount of it daily as I apparently have bile acid malabsorption issues....my diagnosis by biopsy was collagenous colitis..

Laine

[Wexford792]

Thank you! I guess from what I’ve read, it’s not too uncommon to get CC or LC even years after gallbladder removal?

[HockeyMom]

I have my gallbladder, so I have no idea! Just given what you told us, I would think cholestyramine might be the first thing to try. I’d google diarrhea after cholecystectomy and see what those folks say about cholestyramine !

Laine

[jessica329]

Good luck tomorrow!

[Wexford792]

Thank you very much!