A Little Concerned...What do you think?
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A Little Concerned...What do you think?
OK. Long story short, i was diagnosed with IBS, then MC, then IBS. Went to 2nd GI and after second colonscopy diagnosed with UC and put on round of Prednisone to try and regain remission.
Felt GREAT on the prednisone. Until sunday night. Was woken up from deep sleep with severe abdominal pain. My stomach was rock hard and distended. I tried to put up with it for 4 hours then woke up hubby and he had me call GI doc. They were concerned about Toxic Megacolon and to be on the conservative side told me to go to the ER.
Went to ER and was put on IV and given Dilauded for pain management. Blood taken as well as X-Rays. Blood showed elevated white blood cell count and extremely low potassium. Also showed stool back-up in X-Ray. They gave me a suppository and sent me home. Called the GI doc to update the next day and they contacted the hospital to get the results. He said the White Blood Cell was most likely due to the Prednisone and the Potassium level was common with UC patients. Otherwise i was feeling good again so he told me to continue the pred until i start my taper tomorrow.
Great, no problem...still feeling really good again..UNTIL......
I get home today and i have a message from the hospital i went to that night as well as my primary care doctors office, both urging me to call as soon as possible. I called the hospital first as my dr. office was closed and the charge nurse spoke to me. She said the radiologist had read my X-Rays from the other night and had found a 'dense mass' in the left abdomin that really needs to be looked into further. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first time was in the fall when they thought i had kidney stones. At that time my PCP sent me for CT scan and they said it was nothing. She said that now it is larger and my PCP was going to schedule me for another CT Scan and an MRI. I asked what her concern was about it and being a nurse she could only instruct me to call my PCP tomorrow morning to discuss further.
So now i am a bit panicky. Could it be something else? could it just be nothing again and i am panicky over nothing? I went through Cervical Cancer in my early 20's and had to have a hysterectomy a few years ago due to severe endometriosis (however i do still have both ovaries) so i am not sure if it is related to that?
I am so overwhelmed and confused. I know i should just wait and see what the doc says, but to be honest i am so tired of this rollercoaster ride.
Felt GREAT on the prednisone. Until sunday night. Was woken up from deep sleep with severe abdominal pain. My stomach was rock hard and distended. I tried to put up with it for 4 hours then woke up hubby and he had me call GI doc. They were concerned about Toxic Megacolon and to be on the conservative side told me to go to the ER.
Went to ER and was put on IV and given Dilauded for pain management. Blood taken as well as X-Rays. Blood showed elevated white blood cell count and extremely low potassium. Also showed stool back-up in X-Ray. They gave me a suppository and sent me home. Called the GI doc to update the next day and they contacted the hospital to get the results. He said the White Blood Cell was most likely due to the Prednisone and the Potassium level was common with UC patients. Otherwise i was feeling good again so he told me to continue the pred until i start my taper tomorrow.
Great, no problem...still feeling really good again..UNTIL......
I get home today and i have a message from the hospital i went to that night as well as my primary care doctors office, both urging me to call as soon as possible. I called the hospital first as my dr. office was closed and the charge nurse spoke to me. She said the radiologist had read my X-Rays from the other night and had found a 'dense mass' in the left abdomin that really needs to be looked into further. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first time was in the fall when they thought i had kidney stones. At that time my PCP sent me for CT scan and they said it was nothing. She said that now it is larger and my PCP was going to schedule me for another CT Scan and an MRI. I asked what her concern was about it and being a nurse she could only instruct me to call my PCP tomorrow morning to discuss further.
So now i am a bit panicky. Could it be something else? could it just be nothing again and i am panicky over nothing? I went through Cervical Cancer in my early 20's and had to have a hysterectomy a few years ago due to severe endometriosis (however i do still have both ovaries) so i am not sure if it is related to that?
I am so overwhelmed and confused. I know i should just wait and see what the doc says, but to be honest i am so tired of this rollercoaster ride.
Diagnosed with MC on 1/8/2008 after 7 months of flare. 2nd colonoscopy and new diagnosis of UC on 3/11/2008.
Erin,
If you've read many of my old posts, (and I also mentioned this in a response to Sandra Lee today), you may be aware that I was "diagnosed" with a tumor "as big as a man's fist" in my colon, during one of my reactions seven or eight years ago. During a series of CT scans, though, it couldn't be found. I also had a "mass" removed from my colon during an emergency surgical procedure, a little over two years ago, that the doctors were all sure was malignant. They were all wrong, in both instances.
Doctors are always in "cancer" mode as the default reaction. Just about anything is possible, of course, but the odds are very high that this will turn out to be another false alarm. We'll all be anxiously awaiting what we hope will be a good report, after it's checked out.
Tex
If you've read many of my old posts, (and I also mentioned this in a response to Sandra Lee today), you may be aware that I was "diagnosed" with a tumor "as big as a man's fist" in my colon, during one of my reactions seven or eight years ago. During a series of CT scans, though, it couldn't be found. I also had a "mass" removed from my colon during an emergency surgical procedure, a little over two years ago, that the doctors were all sure was malignant. They were all wrong, in both instances.
Doctors are always in "cancer" mode as the default reaction. Just about anything is possible, of course, but the odds are very high that this will turn out to be another false alarm. We'll all be anxiously awaiting what we hope will be a good report, after it's checked out.
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.
Well, i just spoke to the nurse at my PCP office and she said what they see in the X-Rays is definitely NOT GI related but gyn related.
Supposedly they have found 3 separate questionable 'dense mass' areas and with my past history of cervical cancer/reproductive issues they want to make sure its nothing else. They are going ahead with the CT Scan and MRI and hopefully it will just be nothing else.
figures i finally get my GI stuff in order and something else in my body decides to go to heck!
Supposedly they have found 3 separate questionable 'dense mass' areas and with my past history of cervical cancer/reproductive issues they want to make sure its nothing else. They are going ahead with the CT Scan and MRI and hopefully it will just be nothing else.
figures i finally get my GI stuff in order and something else in my body decides to go to heck!
Diagnosed with MC on 1/8/2008 after 7 months of flare. 2nd colonoscopy and new diagnosis of UC on 3/11/2008.
Hi Erin,
Well, we have a lot in common. I have had similar Gyn issues. I am sorry you are having to deal with that along with the pred. taper. I have found it difficult at times to distinguish which type of gut pain I was having bc it is all in the same area. So far so good for me on the decreasing prednisone. I am tapering much faster than you are so i will actually go to 10 mg tomorrow. I'll check in with you if I notice anything along the way. Also, the smaller meals have been very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing this idea. I'll be thinking of you and I hope all goes well with the scans.
Well, we have a lot in common. I have had similar Gyn issues. I am sorry you are having to deal with that along with the pred. taper. I have found it difficult at times to distinguish which type of gut pain I was having bc it is all in the same area. So far so good for me on the decreasing prednisone. I am tapering much faster than you are so i will actually go to 10 mg tomorrow. I'll check in with you if I notice anything along the way. Also, the smaller meals have been very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing this idea. I'll be thinking of you and I hope all goes well with the scans.
Kitty
Erin...I too am sorry that this has now come into your life!! I just add my thoughts and prayers for a good outcome and certainly share yourconcern aobut worrying...it IS so hard not to...i spent yesterday crying and in pain and...worrying!! Know that you are and will be on my heart and inmy mind until this is resolved.
Hugs,
sunny
Hugs,
sunny
Hi Erin
I will be thinking of you lots and hoping things work out well for you, please let us know how things go, when you are able to. I think Tex has offered some good advise, it could just be some harmless cysts, try not to worry too much in the meantime.
Take good care and many good thoughts and wishes to you.
I will be thinking of you lots and hoping things work out well for you, please let us know how things go, when you are able to. I think Tex has offered some good advise, it could just be some harmless cysts, try not to worry too much in the meantime.
Take good care and many good thoughts and wishes to you.
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