Hi,

I'm new here. Just wanted to know if anyone else is having problems dealing with their gastrologists like I am.

I'm a 36 year old male who has been suffering from acid reflux for the past 5 years. None of the pills (nexium, prevacid, or protonix) have helped dealing with my pain. I've seen 3 different gastrologists who have told me there is nothing they can do and that an operation is out of the question since it is recommended for those who respond to the pills. I've asked what could be causing my problem, but they all state that their job is to 'treat the symptoms' and don't look for the cause of the problem. I've begged my primary care physician to give me an mri or catscan to help determine what's going on, but he refused stating that my reflux is probably psychological or from stress.

Well 5 years later, I stating having abdominal pains and my stool starting becoming long and thin with each bowel movement. I also had bouts of diarreah at times. I go to another gastrologist who decides to give me an abdominal x-ray. The x-ray reveals large amounts of stool in my rectum and the doctor diagnoses the condition as IBS. Well, since then I've been asking to get a colonscopy to help confirm that's all it is, but I'm getting resistance here as well. The doctor states that since there is no evidence of blood in the stool and because I'm young, there's no need to suspect cancer. Meanwhile, I've succumbed to various home and off the shelf treatments to clear out my bowel, but with no luck. The only good news is that I find out my acid reflux is probably due to my continuous belching since the gas cannot traverse my colon very well. In the meanwhile, my abominal pain has been getting worse, and I'm almost at the point where I'm going to take a trip to the emergency room.

Does anyone have any advice on getting better treatment?

My Dad's surgeon said all of his children over 40 needed colonoscopies and all of our Dr's just wrote FAP on referrals so we didn't have any problems getting appointments. My brother-in-law had to have a different procedure done but his Dr hinted to him that if he would prefer colonoscopy he could just say one of his parents had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

Again ask for a referral to a surgeon for a colonoscopy. Keep asking until he gets tired of hearing it and relents. I had rectal cancer at 45 and others who have posted here had it younger than I. the doctor is correct in that you would be young for having it but this is not completly unknown to happen for certain.

Now as for bowel cleansing caution here you are having bowel problems ask your physician about what any complications might be in taking strong laxitives you can buy most of the same preparations over the counter that are used to clean you out prior to a c'scopy or barium enema. The easiest of which is (in my humble opinion) 8 ounces of Cod Liver Oil followed by a Senna laxative. To use this one must drink a lot of fluids prior to taking the prep and a lot more afterward. Eight large glasses of water or tea (no milk) or clear soup broth(no noodles or veggies or meat chunks) or sport drinks. Clear soda pop is OK but will cause gas too. No caffene so check the label, Mountain Dew in the USA has it. Drink this amount BEFORE taking the prep and continue with a lot of liquids until what comes out the other end no longer contains solid matter(it will still be colored don't expect clear water). You will need a whole afternoon to do this , don't plan on going out.

Thanks for the input, but I'm hesistant about using any kind of oil based laxative now since I've used mineral oil and prune juice for two weeks. This only made me more constipated. I've also tried the colonoscopy prep treatment (some small Fleet bottle mixed w/soda) on his advice and I've only had watery bowel movements with no stool. This also did nothing for the pain. The only positive reaction I've had is with using metamucil for two months, as I now have a small bowell movement daily, but unfortunately, the pain has not subsided.

I keep questioning whether I have some inflammatory disease such as crohn's since I can feel the tightness in my bowel during a movement, but the doctor states that I could not since my white blood cell count is normal.

If you are having the enema come down with no stool, and know you have been eating, call your surgeon immediately. You may have an obstruction. Do you feel any hard mass in your abdomen... that's what it would feel like.

Best of Luck!
CancerDad

I have a feeling that it may be a partial blockage which is getting worse. Unfortunately, the x-ray report states that it is not. I questioned this and was told by my gastrologist that if it were a blockage, my colon would be somewhat constricted where at the location of the blockage. The majority of the mass is in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen, but I feel nothing externally.

joe,

It sounds like you really need to have a colonoscopy. My husband also had stomach pains, thin stools, and lots of belching. He does have stage IV colon cancer. These are symptoms of IBS or colon cancer and the only
way to be sure is to do a colonoscopy.

Usually a colonocopy is done to rule out everything else before doctors Dx you with IBS. My husband also had right side pain, which we thought was gallbladder stones, then after the ultrasound that turn out to be liver mets from the colon cancer.

Sandra

Careful with Fleet phospha soda. It is worse than many others in causing electrolyte loss.

If no stool came out with that then I gotta say that there is something very wrong. Get another opinion, perhaps from a colo-rectal surgeon.

Hi Sandra:)

I am also having right side pain. I just made a new post on the boards about having Colitis and all of my syptoms. Could you please tell me the symptoms your husband had? I will be having this cheked out soon, but I am just curious.

Thanks,
Chantel

I agree with CancerDad, this is certainly not something you want to leave without investagation.
As for your GP, I would consider finding another doctor, especially when it seems that you have effectively communicated your concerns and requests regarding your current health. It is not right for him/her to dismiss your symptoms, chalking them up to "stress" especially when your stools are becoming narrow possibly indicating something worth investigating such as bowel obstruction, inflammation or Inflamatory Bowel Disease.
High white blood count or not, you know your body, don't dismiss what it is tell you. Blood tests often times don't tell the whole tale!
Push for a colonoscopy, if findings are unremarkable, your can put your mind at ease, you are entitled to that.