duration of symptoms or having another attack of ishemic colitis

[bay to]

I AM A 40 YR OLD WOMAN WHO WAS RELEASED 11 DAYS AGO, AFTER A 5 DAY STAY AT THE HOSPITAL FOR ISCHEMIC COLITIS. DIAGNOSED AFTER A COLONOSCOPY AND BIOPSY. I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PAIN AND DIAHRIA. I AM ON ASACOL,HYOSCYAMINE NOW. IMMODIUM HAS NOT HELPED THE DIAHRIA. TWO DAYS AGO, AFTER GETTING UP FROM THE COUCH I GOT VERY DIZZY AND MY EYE SIGHT BLURRED. SINCE THEN THE PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY ABDOMEN, SHOOTING UP TO MY LEFT BREAST AND LEFT PELVIC REGION HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. IT BURNS AND THROBS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING BETTER. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS IT HURTS TO LIE ON MY SIDE AGAIN AND FEELS BEST WHILE LAYING ON MY BACK. I AM GOING TO THE BATHROOM 4-7 TIMES BEFORE NOON AND AFTER THAT I FEEL AS IF I HAVE TO GO AND HAVE STARTED TO GET MOSTLY CLEAR MUCOUSY MOPVEMENTS. MY QUESTIONS ARE:
IS THIS NORMAL HEALING, OR IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY I HAVE HAD ANOTHER ATTACK? AND WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND I DO FROM HERE.
I HAVE READ ISCHEMIC COLITIS USUALLY RESOLVES IN 24-48 HRS. IS THIS SO AND WHY IS IT GOING ON SO LONG IN ME.
ALSO WHAT IS THE BEST THING I SHOULD BE DOING AS FAR AS DIET?
I DON'T WANT TO OVER-REACT, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE WAITING LIKE I DID THE FIRST TIME.(I SAT HOME IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE GOING TO THE EMERGANCY ROOM)  I AM HAVING TROUBLE REACHING MY DOCTOR AND WOULD APPRECIATE A QUICK RESPONCE.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It is impossible to say without examination.  If the pain continues and you have trouble reaching your doctor, I would suggest a visit to the emergency room.

It may be possible that this can be a recurrance of the ischemic or infectious colitis.  A repeat CT scan would be helpful.  If the CT scan is non-revealing, you can consider repeating the colonoscopy to determine if appropriate healing has occurred.

If the GI system has been appropriately evaluated, you can consider imaging the kidneys as well as obtaining blood tests to evaluate the pancreas.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b

[bay to]

INSERT: I AM 5'7 160 LBS AND I SMOKE. I DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL.

[nitesco]

Hi All.  I have been reading the comments posted here on this site for about the past month and would like to obtain some support or direction as to what I should do next.  Originally started with a visit to urgent care about 7 weeks ago.  Labs - ast and alt were elevated 4-5 times normal - everything else okay except residual pain that left the "gall bladder area" vey tender to the touch for 3-4 days.  Tested for all the heps - came back negative.  Referred me to an internal medicine doc who thought it sounded like "classic gall bladder" and set me up for lab check (now returned to normal), and ultrasound.  Came back normal (negative for any stones).  Indicated that just because there were no stones did not mean that there wasn't a problem with the gall bladder so scheduled me for a HIDA Scan with CCK.  Just receieved the results from the RN - she happily told me that the test came back great!  Ejection fraction was 87% - therefore ruling out gall bladder.  

I am somewhat frustrated as I have experienced these symptoms off and on over the course of the past 3-4 years.  Had all the GI tests 3 years ago - all came back indicating no problems.  HIDA Scan/CCK 3 years ago came back with ejection fraction of 32% then (I've improved!).  Guess I am first wondering if any of you have had "normal" tests (and an overachieving gall bladder!) but still experienced ongoing symptoms...?  This past HIDA/CCK left me feeling pretty crappy - cramping, nausea, and very tender area when the pain subsided.  I realize that this is a side effect sometimes, of this test.  Last "attack" was about 3 weeks ago.  Never know when it's going to hit - wakes me up - can't get comforable, radiates to the upper middle back/shoulder blade - right side and after the pain subsides - I am always sore in that reas for at least 2-3 days.

I am 44, female, "fat" (okay - about 20 pounds overweight), a vegetarian, and otherwise healthy - non-smoker - don't drink caffeine, chocolate, etc.  Am a regular exerciser - take good care of myself.  I feel like I am nuts and acting like a hypochondriac wanting someone to find something wrong so I feel like I am not imagining these symptoms..... Comments?  Thanks - I do appreciate any input.

[bay to]

TO NITESCO,
      I CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL, ITS BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS SINCE I GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND I AM STILL QUESY IN THE STOMACHE, THROW UP ONCE IN A WHILE, I AM STILL IN ALOT OF PAIN ALTHOUGH IT COMES AND GOES NOW.THE PAIN IS ON MY LEFT SIDE,BELOW MY RIBCAGE,  AND THE LOWER TO MIDBACK. I STILL HAVE DIAHRIA; CAN'T SLEEP WELLAND I AM HAVING ALL WEIRD KINDS OF THINGS HAPPENING.  I HAVE BEEN HAVIN PROLEMS WITH MY EYES (BLURRED VISION) LEG-JOINT OR BONE PAIN LAST NIGHT AND THIS EVENING I HAVE BRUISES ALL ALONG MY INNER THIGHS.I KNOW I DID NOT HIT THEM ON ANYTHING,AND I ALSO FEEL I AM MAKING ALOT OUT OF SOMETHING THAT JUST MAY BE COINCIDENCE, ALTHOUGH I KNOW IN MY HEART ITS NOT THAT!  I WAS AT HOME FOR THREE DAYS HAVING THIS ISCHEMIC COLITIS ATTACK AND WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN I COULD BARELY WALK, STILL TOOK 3 DAYS BEFORE I THOUGHT MAYBE ITS NOT A STOMACHE FLU. THEY X RAYED AND MRI'D DID A TEST6 WITH BARIUM AND THEY KEPT TESTING MORE LOOKING AND AS THE TESTS WENT ON THE MORE I WAS AFRAID THEY WERE GOING TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS A STOMACHE FLU, OR WORSE THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.  SICK AS IT IS A PART OF ME WAS RELIEVED WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG.  ALTOUGH NOW I KEEP WONDERING WHY I AM NOT MUCH BETTER AND FEEL I AM BACK AT SQUARE ONE AN AM VERY TIRED OF FEELING LIKE THIS....MY BEST ADVICE IS DON'T GIVE UP.  HAVE THEM CHECK YOUR BLOOD AS THE WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT WIL AT LEAST TELL THEM IF SOMETHING IS GOING ON, THEY CAN CHECK YOUR LIVER KIDNEYS ETC WITH A BLOOD TEST (THEY'RE DOING THAT FOR ME NOW) YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART IF SOMETHING FEELS WRONG CHECK FOR LUPUS YOUR ANTIBODIES AS THAT WILL TELL YOU IF YOUR FIGHTING SOMETHING PLEASE WRITE BACK AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR DOCTORFINDS OUT OR WHAT HE IS CHECKING...CURIOUS AND WOULD LIKE IDEAS ON MY OWN QUESTIONS AND SEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MYSELF AS I AM NOT GETTTING MUCH BETTER AND AM GETTING FRUSTATED ALSO..............BAY TO

[poshxxx]

Hi euery one it is my first time on here i hae been haueing tummy ache and burning of the tummy for about 5weeks and so sore as well went to the docters after christmas was told i had a tummy bug now i go back to see another docter he tells me it is to do with my tummy opp whick i had when i was 23 i had womb remoued and all the another bits as it was a big opp had tumbours growing on the out side of the bowl so docter says it could be the cutting of the gut whick is hurting told me to take  colofac tablets for 10 days said i had this once before what is it and what sure i do to help it like eating drinking and all things whick help no body tells you help posh

[poshxxx]

sorry only me again for got to ask you louely people out there i felt sick with this as well but it the burning i dont like do you think milk helps  or many be change my eating ways i dont eat a lot of fat any way but my tummy swells with this does any one esle haue this posh.