Re: GI work up-Gina
From: Christine M. Smith (smithy@maine.rr.com)
Fri Oct 15 17:29:56 1999
At Fri, 15 Oct 1999, Gina wrote:
>
>Hi Toni,
>I'm concerned when I read this. That was what I thought had happened to
>me, that is how it felt. As if part of my larger intestine had come
>down into my pelvic area and was putting pressure on my bladder, vagina
>and rectum. I have a slight bulge above my lower right incision as
>well, which hurt furiously for awhile but only twinges now.
>I went to see my gyn/surgeon about it and he said "It's impossible for
>any part of the intestine to come into contact with any part of the
>bladder or vagina internally".
>I of course didn't believe him, nothing else could feel that wrong as
>what I was feeling. I had an internal exam done to be sure my vagina
>had not prolapsed, and that was fine. But nothing could explain why it
>hurt to sit, nor the pressure I feel in my entire pelvic area. As of
>yet they (Gyn & regular doc) have done no xrays, tests, and don't plan
>to.
>
>Please tell me, how did you find out about your colon dropping down?
>What were your symptoms?
>Thanks,
>Gina
>
>At Fri, 15 Oct 1999, toni welsh wrote:
>>
>>yes, a work up is warranted when you find blood in the stools. I had
>>some blood in mine four years ago, and I too have alot of mucous when I
>>go, and alot of relatives that have crohns icluding my sister and my 23
>>year old son was diagnosed 2 years ago. I was diagnosed with IBS, I was
>>scared to death with the crohns running in my family. I think I was
>>very lucky.
>>
>>As far as the extensive adhesions I have all over the intestines and the
>>fact that the adhesions have pulled my large colon down into the pelvis,
>>I am afraid as they told me in sept last year after surgery, that it was
>>smothring the small bowel, I AM scared. I will have surgery as soon as
>>it is neede, trying to wait for the new abarriers!
>>
>>I have alot of trust and faith in the gyn I see, and I will go for his
>>opiion, I KNOw he would not do anything to hurt the situation further. A
>>general surgeon would definitely wrap my entire bowel with abarrier, and
>>they did say it worked for the one other patient he had. So time will
>>tell.
>>
>>Love to all, toni
Hi Gina:
I have seen a lot of doctors-internal medicine, gyn, gi, general
surgeon, colo-rectal surgeon, pain management. I have heard what you
are saying in some form or another from most of them. My internal med
doctor (my pcp)happens to think adhesions could be responsible for all
kinds of problems,and he doesn't really believe the other specialists
who say my problem is (probably) not adhesions. When I asked the
general surgeon if my problem could be monitored by xray or CT he said
that it would most likely not show anything unless I were obstructed.
The colo-rectal surgeon told me that the position of the sigmoid colon
(normally in the left side of the pelvis, mine was pulled all the way
over to the right and stuck to the pelvic wall)would not necessarily
cause pain. (mine was probably that way for 12-20 years and it caused
me no problems at all) He said that he has seen colons that look like
they are tied in knots and don't cause the problems you would think they
should. I couldn't understand how the gi doctor could do a colonoscopy
on me when my sigmoid colon went in the other direction than it was
supposed to (this was before the lap that showed this arrangement)and
the colo-rectal guy said that it was very likely he had no idea. Seems
pretty odd to me, but since I've never looked through a colonoscope
before it's hard to know. Apparently I had a lot of pain during the
procedure (maybe this is why?) so they gave me more meds and I have no
recollection at all.
Do you have a primary care physician?
Chris S.