Colon Infections

[Deleted]

I've been having fairly severe abdominal/groin pain for over a year. I went to the doctor when it started and she sent me to a surgeon.

The surgeon experience was horrible. She basically told me I shouldn't have been sent to her because I am too fat for surgery anyway, the RNNP should have figured out what the general problem was herself, I couldn't possibly hurt where I did, and I probably didn't have a serious problem. 

I asked for a consult with a different doctor, and wasn't ever given one. Then the pain was gone so I didn't pursue it.

The pain has come and gone ever since. It's been getting to the point where I have week-long stretches of time I can't do anything physical because of the pain. I've assumed I had a hernia or other muscle issue, since that's what it felt like.

Last Wed I started having severe pain, horrible nausea, and fevers. Yesterday, when nothing seemed to be getting better, I went to the ER. After labs and a CT scan it was determined I have a fairly serious infection in my colon and in my bloodstream. 

The doc wanted me admitted, but I really didn't want to be in the hospital and didn't have anyone to watch my dogs because DS and GF are currently out-of-town. She did agree to give me oral meds to try at home with a strict lecture about when I must return to the ER. Okay, anything to avoid having to be stuck in the hospital...   

I'm really, really hoping the oral meds work and I can have my pain-free life back! This has really been limiting to my life and the doc did think this has been the problem all along. So much for "you can't have pain there"...  

[wvugurl26]

I hope the oral antibiotics work and the pain goes away. It sucks when you get a crappy doctor.

[dannylion]

If the infection is C. difficile, definitely find a GI doc you can trust and work with.  C. diff can be hard to eradicate, so don't neglect yourself even with all you have on your plate right now.  


Hoping the meds work and you're feeling better soon.  

[weltschmerz]

Jun 16, 2019 10:59:16 GMT -5 dannylion said:

If the infection is C. difficile, definitely find a GI doc you can trust and work with.  C. diff can be hard to eradicate, so don't neglect yourself even with all you have on your plate right now.  


Hoping the meds work and you're feeling better soon.  

C.diff usually sets in AFTER a course of antibiotics. The antibiotics lower your defenses so c.diff can set in. Many people carry the c.diff bacteria, but they don't get sick until they take antibiotics.

[busymom]

I just HATE it when any doctor tries to tell a patient that they're not feeling pain.  Nothing like dealing with a doctor with a "God complex" while you're suffering.    The best doctors I've ever had, have had medical issues themselves, and a better understanding of what it's like to actually be a patient.



Hoping you have a speedy, painless recovery.  And a pox on that uncaring surgeon.  

[sesfw]

Sorry you don't have anyone to watch your furbabies.  Do you have a neighbor or a pet hotel that can take them?

Colon problems are not fun.  The result of my problems were stage 3 colon cancer and I now have an ostomy.

 Mommy says ………….. TAKE CARE OF YOU 

Keep your date with the ER Dr and I hope everything goes well with your meds.

[finnime]

Hope all works out for you, @rockhounder, and quickly, too. That surgeon should not be seeing actual human patients.

[Deleted]

Thank you, everyone.

Had my follow-up this morning with a nice PA in my MD's office. I was there for over 2 hours because they couldn't get the hospital to fax my records...

The CT showed infective colitis. Happy to hear not diverticulitis which I had feared because it's common in my family.

The doc believes if I avoid nuts, seeds, etc... from here on out and take the antibiotics it should heal.

He said to expect it to return down the road and following the diverticulitis diet is a good idea to help prevent that. Happy to do that to not have this problem again. I've never felt this crappy and had fevers for this long.

They thought I may have c.diff and sent poo to the lab. The PA didn't think that was the case. Thankfully. I've read about it and it doesn't sound like much fun either... 

Of all problems to have, this one is the shits.

And, my son was in ER as well down where he lives all day yesterday because the vicodin wasn't touching his pain.

They now think his kidney stone is stuck and are sending him to a urologist to try and remove it - finally. He says he doesn't care what they have to do to get it out. Then he said the doc told him they might retrieve it with a catheter and asked what that was... ought oh, we weren't telling him that's one way they do the job.... lol 

[Works4me]

Glad you are recovering. As for your son, they will drig him up if they go in that way. One friend of mine said he was in so much pain he would have let them go in that way even w/o meds - anything just to make it stop! Here's hoping both of you are better soon.