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Pelvic pain, persistent diarrhea following surgeries: looking for help
Women's Health | Last Active: Apr 6 3:00pm | Replies (7)Comment receiving replies
@grammato3 I hate to hear that anyone is experiencing anything like this but I hope you have gotten some relief. I was prescribed a lot of antibiotics before the hysterectomy for a complicated kidney infection and then a couple weeks after the hysterectomy because every time I called my Dr they would immediately say it was a UTI which actually ended up being a cuff infection and not sure if that actually contributed to the development of so much scar tissue.
I was finally able to get tested by my GI 2 days ago after a trip to the ER Saturday because I have not eaten or have any desire to eat and my CT scan showed diffuse gastroenteritis with an inflamed liver and mildly prominent spleen but they treated me like I had a stomach bug. They did rule out bacterial infections and the GI tested for C.diff which is something I worried about with the antibiotic use. The GI actually wrote me 2 antibiotics (Cipro & Flagyl ) to take and I was hesitant before getting those results and still am because I am not sure why I would need so many antibiotics if it’s not a bacterial infection. I feel like my GI Dr is treating it like a stomach bug as well but I’m pretty sure it isn’t. They did test me for Chrons and UC but no results yet.
I just don’t like my local GI. I called to tell them everything I was experiencing and they told me to drink Gatorade until April 8 which would have been a month without eating and all the pain I’m in. My right side feels so inflamed right now. I see why they have a 2.8 rating now. I do have a EGD scheduled for the 14th but I’m hoping I can make it until then. I’m having some pretty severe symptoms but the way the treat me here makes me afraid to go to the ER or even call the Dr office.
UAB is the University of Alabama and they are phenomenal! It’s just hard to travel 4 hours with my current GI symptoms. I am seeing an OB and I have a GI appointment set up for May but these problems escalated fast. I wish UAB was closer not only for the care but also because my local doctors keep putting me through a lot of unnecessary tests that cost me so much money and dismiss me when UAB didn’t cost me a dime for a $10k emergency visit and actually listened.
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@amontee: this all sounds so terribly frustrating and painful to be going through. I am finally getting some relief but I can tell you I suffered through many weeks of discomfort - I compared it to labor and colonoscopy prep 24/7! It did take some time to sort through my issues which were a compilation of three GI factors: C-diff -or at least colonization of the bacteria while the next problem was brewing: CMV colitis that was determined via sigmoidoscopy with biopsies requiring antifungals administered via PICC line for several weeks. Ultimately it was also determined through a subsequent sigmoidoscopy that I had immune checkpoint inhibitor colitis for which the immunotherapy I'd been on for my metastatic melanoma had contributed. I must underscore that this was a very unusual case; in fact my GI who specializes in rare gastrointestinal illnesses had never seen such a presentation. But I do have to say a thorough workup is key and if you feel you need greater intervention for ongoing symptoms you can certainly pursue other opinions. Could UAB provide you with a list of practitioners there for follow up?
Imaging such as a CT can definitely show inflammation in the colon but is less clear on the cause. Did you get the results back of the C-diff panel? Sometimes that can take up to 5 days. Has any provider suggested performing another sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy? Or perhaps testing for fecal calprotectin? Those may be a considerations worth exploring.
I've been a patient as well as a nurse and in both situations I have to stress the importance of relaying your symptoms, past history and treatment as thoroughly and truthfully as you can without minimizing the pain you've experienced. This is important for medical staff to assist in providing the most appropriate diagnostics and treatment plan with your safety in mind. I'd also caution against taking any medication, including over the counter (OTC) recommendations as - while they may be helpful in certain circumstances, until you are certain of the actual condition you are dealing with - that might be Crohns but would require additonal testing and for which probiotics have demonstrated limited effectiveness - you' be best to avoid anything that could potentially cause more bloating or in any way exacerbate symptoms.
I totally empathize with what you're going through and hope you find the best intervention soon. Please keep me posted.