Question:

Thanks for the answer on the CAT scan, Jason! Tracy

Response:

Susan I hope you find help soon.  I’m surprised that the colonoscopy did not show anything.  I have had that along with a lower GI (barium enema).  I didn’t care for the procedure, but it did show a blockage in my small intestine, and you don’t have to worry about an icky drink… : ) Also, my GI doctor said they may do a CAT scan on me – I’m not really sure what that shows.  

Cats can show sections of misshaped bowel like x-rays, plus they are good ways to check for leaks and infections. Jason

Response:

If you have small bowel Crohn’s disease, it won’t show up on a colonoscopy. It would be more likely to show up on an upper bowel endoscopy. This procedure is not very unpleasant, as GI procedures go.  You fast for about eight hours, then they give you mild sedation and insert a camera on a tube to look at your stomach and small intestine.  If your doctor hasn’t suggested this him/herself, I would very seriously consider looking for another doctor. You’re clearly ill, and colonoscopy alone is not enough to rule out IBD. Given your clean colonoscopy, I doubt you have ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s seems more likely.  There is no cure for Crohn’s, but there are many medications which can help.  I myself am symptom-free most of the time. Good luck getting an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. — Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here are my symptoms: Leg cramps at night. Insomnia (sometimes due to cramps, diarhea during night) Constant diarhea for last 2 years or so; often attacks of watery yellow diarhea, especially in mornings (sometimes 5-8 times by lunchtime) Severe attack of diarhea immediately after eating (or sometimes even just drinking something) Sometimes bleeding with diarhea Abdominal pain/cramps Severe lower back pain, which seems to get worse when diarhea gets worse They did colonoscopy in October during the salmonella, but found no evidence of ibs or crohns or colitis, though severe dehydration/fever; other tests run also such as liver tests but found no p  I am beginning to put two and two together and am wondering if this is not from a back problem but from colitis or crohns (but why did it not show up on a colonoscopy?).  Please anyone…email me with advice.  Are there other tests I should have, are they painful tests, icky drinks, etc. ; is there any cure for crohns/colitis; any good sites for info on this; does it matter what you eat, etc?  Any "home remedies" that might help until I can get medical help?  What kind of dr. do I need to see?  The pain is awful. Help???!! Susanroblems

Response:

Susan I hope you find help soon.  I’m surprised that the colonoscopy did not show anything.  I have had that along with a lower GI (barium enema).  I didn’t care for the procedure, but it did show a blockage in my small intestine, and you don’t have to worry about an icky drink… : ) Also, my GI doctor said they may do a CAT scan on me – I’m not really sure what that shows.   I too was severely dehydrated at one point and malnourished too.  I’m sure that is the case if you have constant diarrhea.  Gatorade is good for that.  And ensure or one of those other drinks with vitamins.  I think that they are lactose free or else they offer a lactose free one also. I hope your problems get diagnosed soon, and you will be on your way to recovery.  I too have back pain and sometimes down the legs.  My doctors theory is that my intestines are so inflammed that they press on my sciatic nerve.  I follow a very strict diet.  Nothing with skins, seeds, nuts, very rarely eat red meat, stay away from soda.  When I am feeling really awful, I go on a clear liquid diet (soup – broth only, jello, tea, anything you can hold up to the light and see through – no, you can’t poke holes in a slice of pizza : )   supplemented with Boost or Ensure. I do that for two days and then I add in some puddings, custards, etc.  It gives my intestines a well needed rest since they don’t have to work so hard at digesting things.  When I was at my worst = vomiting and diarrhea constantly, my gastroenterologist admitted me to the hospital for two weeks and put me on TPN (a chest tube that they feed you through) It bypasses the digestion altogether and helps you heal.  This is getting long, so email me if you have any questions. Wishing you wellness Tracy

Response:

Here are my symptoms: Leg cramps at night.

Calcium or magnesium deficiency. You could take Cal/Mag supplements, but this brings up the question of *why* are you deficient in these minerals? One possibility is undiagnosed celiac disease. Insomnia (sometimes due to cramps, diarhea during night) Constant diarhea for last 2 years or so; often attacks of watery yellow diarhea, especially in mornings (sometimes 5-8 times by lunchtime) Severe attack of diarhea immediately after eating (or sometimes even just drinking something)

Typical symptom of undiagnosed celiac disease. Do the stools float? Are they pale, bulky, frothy, and malodorous? Sometimes bleeding with diarhea

Often from hemorrhoids. Is this bright red at the end of the bowel movement? Abdominal pain/cramps

Typical celiac symptom. In a Canadian survey of symptoms 61% had this as a symptom. Severe lower back pain, which seems to get worse when diarhea gets worse

There are many possible connections between back pain and celiac disease. The most likely problem relates to osteoporosis and shortening of the spinal column. Another possibility is the weakening of the back muscles due to malnutrition and loss of muscle mass or calcium and magnesium deficiency leading to weakness. Each of these can lead to poor posture which further leads to pain. Osteomalacia (due to Vitamin D deficiency) is a specific type of bone problem that leads to weak bones. Another cause of back pain is referred pain from the small intestine to the back. These are just some of the causes of back pain in association with celiac disease. Had salmonella in October, in hospital two times in 3 weeks (first time they did not find evidence of salmonella in cultures)

Many people can handle salmonella without major problems. In undiagnosed celiac disease the immune system and digestive tract is weakened and possibly this could make a salmonella attack worse. They did colonoscopy in October during the salmonella, but found no evidence of ibs or crohns or colitis, though severe dehydration/fever; other tests run also such as liver tests but found no problems

A colonoscopy would not find celiac disease. It is a disorder of the small intestine. They have to use an endoscope and take a biopsy to diagnose it. Taking Prozac and estrogen

In one survey the third most common diagnosis prior to a celiac diagnosis was "Psychological stress, nerves, imagination". In the Canadian survey 44% were diagnosed with stress beforehand, and 42% were diagnosed with a nervous condition. As for depression (just what is Prozac prescribed for?) I have this paragraph: Depression has also been asserted to be the most prevalent symptom of celiac disease (Cooke & Holmes 1984) and reported as very common by others (Addolorato, Stefanini, Capristo, Caputo, Gasbarrini, 1996; Holmes 1996; Pellegrino, D

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