Airborne Allery Induced Colitis???

[Choppy629]

I was a 32 year old, otherwise healthy female when I started having severe abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhea (8 times per day), stomach pain, chest pain, back pain.  Doctors were puzzled and attempted to treat me many things.  I had endoscopies, colonoscopies, CT scans, etc., without success in finding any problems.  I ate nothing but plain, cooked meat, cooked vegetables, potatoes and rice for 1.5 years and still had diarrhea several times a day.  FINALLY, after much frustration (and pain), I decided to get allergy tests (skin ***** tests) to see if I was allergic to food or something that could be causing the problem.  It turned out I was not allergic to any foods, but I had severe allergic rhinitis and am allergic to dogs, trees, dust, weeds, grass and **** roaches.  I went on weekly allergy shots, take singulair and allegra daily, and within a few months of starting the treatment, my horrible symptoms went away.  I'm on my 4th year of treatment and it works fine as long as I get the treatment.  The problem is, I can't find a local allergist who will validate that the allergies were causing my abdominal/digestive problems.  My original allergist only started my treatment and then I moved out of state.  Are their any allergists or digestive specialists who believe this?


This discussion is related to Allergic colitis.

[bellyachegirl]

Hi

I am in no way suggesting that you have this disease, but you
should have it ruled out.

Systemic Mastocytosis
http://www.tmsforacure.org/patientinfo.shtml

*bone marrow biopsy is most definitive way to diagnose.

My first cousin was diagnosed with this ailment about 6yrs ago.
He is 47 now, and had suffered for 15 years prior with a multitude
of symptoms of allergic reactions and skin problems at various times.
The doctors he would see would test him for allergies and find no reason
for him to be allergic or have the reactions he was...he was being told
that it was all in his head.  He and his parents knew otherwise, and for
years struggled with his sickness and hospital visits, until a young intern
listened to his symptoms and the length of time he had suffered.  The
intern was suspicious and recommended a bone marrow biopsy to help
diagnose my cousin.  The intern's suspision's were confirmed after the
results returned with the diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis.

My cousin finally was able to begin receiving proper treatment of his condition
and live a more normal life.  Early on his meds had to come from overseas, but
now the meds are more locally available.

Most doctors have never heard of this condition and you will have to
probably search for a doctor that will be willing to help you reach a diagnosis or
have it ruled out.  The above website offers names of doctors who may be
close to where you live and can help.
___________________
I have UC, and prior to my diagnosis, I suffered with all the same symptoms
you mentioned plus more.  Prior to my dianosis and when suffering with all
the other symptoms that I now know are related to UC, I had seen an allergist,
dermatologist, podiatrist, chiropractor, 3 gastroenterologists, urologist, 2 opthamalogists and 2 neurologists, and early on my family practioner.

The allergist had skin tested me and found I was not allergic to food except
for peas, but I was allergic to the same things as you mentioned.  I took
singular, with no relief, and a prescription allergy med, w/relief.

All the doctors had reasons for my problems, even though I would tell them that
I was suffering from stomach and bowel problems, they never put 2 and 2
together.....I told them all that I suspected that my stomach and bowel problems
were related,  all but 2 disregarded my concerns- 1 gastro and 1 opthomalogist who
dianosed my optic neuritis and new it was a symptom of something more serious.

I suffered with:

migraines w/aura and limb numbness (since age 20)
cystitiis (age 26)
rosacea (began early teens and worsened during UC flare)
bellyaches everynight (1-3 episodes/nightly- from 2000 - 2006) still have occas.
wheels and whelps on skin esp after a meal
dermatagraphism
itching all over body
gastritis
mouth sores on gums
bowel spasms 3-15 episodes daily (non diarrhae)
joint inflamation
muscle inflamation
optic neuritis  (this is what really let me know something was wrong)
pyloric stretching due to non functioning
gastroparesis
left sided pain (under ribs down to rectum)

The bellyaches I suffered with everynight for years, were determined to be my large
bowel contracting and contorting while I was in a state of extreme relaxation.  These
contrations would cause nerve pain into my stomach area and into my back. Sometimes
I would have  to rush to the bathroom to have a bowel movement, but 90% of the time
it was just the pain and it could last from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.  My first gastro was treating me for acid reflux and I took Nexium for 3 yrs and it did even diminish the pain
in any way...I tried to tell this to the gastr during every visit and he would ignore my
comments and explainations of my experiences of pain and problems.  Upon one visit when I was pleading with him about still having the bellyaches and the other problems,  he asked when they mostly occurred and I told him they occurred during the night, waking me from my sleep, this gastro stated, "Maybe your dreams are causing your
bellyaches."   I glared at him, realized I had been seeing a quack, and never went back.

My next gastro placed me on Prednison, which helped calm my inflammatory disease down.

I am 40 now; I had a hysteryctomy at age 30; my gallbladder removed at 32 for non functioning.

From what  I have read about UC, it makes sense to me that if UC is an inflammatory disease, then the inflammation will migrate to other parts of the body because of the over proliferation of  white blood cells in your bowels, thus the reasons for joint, muscle, and nerve inflammation. Your immune system is trying to 'over protect' and does not know when to turn off, so inturn your immune system is actually attacking your body parts/organs, because the white blood cells see these weak spots in your body as 'invaders'.

I am happy and try not to openly complain about being ill.  People don't know I am sick and am shocked when I even bring it up that I have these problems....my family especially.  I am not going to allow UC to keep me down.

So, until you find a doctor you are comfortable with and that is willing to
listen to you and help you...you won't get better....goodluck.