bowel problems, advice - Bowel Disorders Message Board

NChar · 12-18-2003, 01:20 PM

For the past three years i have not had any normal stools. Its always either diahhrea with the occasional(once every couple of months) very thin stool. I have had accidents at night. After the couple of accidents i went to the docs found out i had Graves Disease. Fixed that with radiation. Stool problems are still not gone. I am now hypothyroid and went to the docs again still complaining about BM and numbness. Ran more blood work found out i was anemic with a B12 deficiency. Did some stool cultures a couple weeks ago came back negitive. He keeps saying because i'm only 26 i shouldn't have anything more wrong with me. But the cramping and urgency is driving me crazy and i'm starting to loose weight again now that my thyroid is almost at normal range. I go back in Jan to hopefully schedule a app with a GI doc. Any ideas or advice would be great.

Nicole

twisten · 12-18-2003, 11:15 PM

Have you thought of requesting a colonoscopy? I don't want to scare you but B12 deficiency is common with crohns or ulcerative colitis. If your doc doesn't want to send you to a GI then I think maybe you should find a new family doctor. Welcome to the boards. I hope you stick around as this is a great site full of lots of wonderful people.

NChar · 12-19-2003, 09:38 AM

He thaught forsure that i either had crohns or colitis but then my labs came back very thyrotoxic. So we thaught that my body being in full gear might be causing my problems. I've had my radiation January'03. Bowel problems aren't gone yet and i'm hypo now so my bowels should be slow not fast.

He wanted to wait to get back the cultures before refering me to a GI in case it was just a parasite. I have familly history of crohns, stomach and bowel cancer amongst many others. It's been three years of constant doc app and everytime we find something we do the lets see and wait approach.

Oh and about the B12 he insists its caused by my stomach not my intestines. Even though he hasn't tested either. GRRRR!!

Gingerly · 12-22-2003, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NChar

For the past three years i have not had any normal stools. Its always either diahhrea with the occasional(once every couple of months) very thin stool. I have had accidents at night. After the couple of accidents i went to the docs found out i had Graves Disease. Fixed that with radiation. Stool problems are still not gone. I am now hypothyroid and went to the docs again still complaining about BM and numbness. Ran more blood work found out i was anemic with a B12 deficiency. Did some stool cultures a couple weeks ago came back negitive. He keeps saying because i'm only 26 i shouldn't have anything more wrong with me. But the cramping and urgency is driving me crazy and i'm starting to loose weight again now that my thyroid is almost at normal range. I go back in Jan to hopefully schedule a app with a GI doc. Any ideas or advice would be great.

Nicole

Nichole,

Please, don't let any doctor misdiagnose you because of your age. That has nothing to do with it. I'd be weary of any doctor that is trying to diagnose you by your age instead of doing all of the proper tests for help you get relief. It is horse pucky!!! My daughter just had a baby in March and she was born with an ulcer!! Was she too young to have an ulcer? Most may say yes, but she has one and they must deal with it! And don't ever let a doctor tell you it's all in your head and you need antidepressants - they try to lay that on all sick people now a days - it's getting really old hearing that from people that are supposed to be doctors!
Gingerly

twisten · 12-22-2003, 05:28 PM

If you have a family history of crohns, bowel and stomach cancer you need to really push your doc to get you into a GI for a colonoscopy. With your being anemic and having a low B12 and a family history of crohns he should have sent you for one already in my opinion. My blood tests were normal (even when I had active ulcers) and showed no indication of crohns. They only found it when they did the colonoscopy. If your doctor keeps taking the "wait and see" attitude you need to consider a new one. This is your health and life not his. I would insist on his referring you to a GI when you see him in January.