GI Dr, anyone been?

[asmashly]

Has anyone been to a GI DR? I go this afternoon. First time.

I have IBS w/const and IC-lovely! Well I have been having trouble going to the bathroom and the pressure is killing my bladder.

[SandyRN]

I have a secret love affair with my gastro doc...LOL. Well, not really, but he is 6-2, blonde, and gorgeous!

What do ya wanna know? I'm a queen of bowel problems..see below LOL

Sandy
:)

[asmashly]

Sandy,

What do you take for bloating? The pressuring it killing me. It like I am praying for gas! Sounds gross, but I believe it will relieve me.

Was your first visit ok? Any test? Can I eat before hand?

[SandyRN]

I take prelief and that helps with the gas,, and the IC. I take beano before EVERY meal, and I do mean every meal. If not I could be a helium balloon I'm so full of gas.

I also take Mylanta with simethicone.....that helps break up the gas bubbles.

You can eat before your appt. The most invasive thing he might do is an occult blood test where he will stick one gloved finger inside your rectum. It sounds awful, but they are usually really good and quick about it.

I always have an abdominal exam, which for me, is the worst because EVERYTHING hurts in my abdomen.

Let me know how it goes :)

Hugs, Sandy

[poetgirl]

I went to a GI doc for my IBS. This was a few years ago and he did a colonoscopy to rule out any disease. I really can't say I got a lot of help from going to him. The meds hadn't done much for me (I tend to have diarrhea with sometimes alternating bouts of constipation -- but usually it's diarrhea and gas/bloating) so I'm trying to manage it on my own with diet and nutritional supplements.

[asmashly]

He wants to me to get a colonoscopy next week. I really do not want one. That is more time off work, and I don't know what they are going to find. Probably nothing. I just the pressure away from my bladder.

Does the Beano before meals help get the gas out? I feel like it needs out.

[SandyRN]

The beano helps prevent gas. You can try dulcolax suppositories, occasionally. They are a laxative, but they DO help very much in moving the gas. I have to use them about once a week, and I always feel so much better afterward.

There's a thread on here from today I believe about colonscopies. They're not so bad really, and it really is better to be safe then sorry.

Get it done on a Friday if you can, then you can have a 4 day weekend. You will HAVE to have 2 days off for sure, one for prep, one for procedure.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Hugs, Sandy

[dg2901]

Get the colonoscopy. It will tell the Dr what he/she needs to know so you can be helped.
Its a fairly simple pain-free procedure (might have a tad bit of discomfort afterwards) and only takes between 30-60 minutes to perform (depending on whats found).The prep the day before is the worst part, along with the anticipation.

dont worry
stay well
diana

[ICNDonna]

I have to agree with diana --- the colonoscopy will find any problems there and, believe me when I say you will feel relief just knowing. I put off mine for a long time and was surprised that it wasn't bad at all. The prep is much worse than the procedure and even the prep doesn't last long. When I had mine, I had polyps removed --- and polyps can become cancerous.

Donna

[Bianchi]

Thank you Sandy for your post on bloating. I have IBS too and I will definitely get beano, and that Mylanta stuff. But doesnt it make you go to the bathroom?
Bianchi

[kelly McC]

Hello,
I went to the GI for colonoscopy.endoscopy and camera endoscopy these test can thejm determine whats going on or not
Good luck,
Kelly

[SandyRN]

Mylanta doesnt make you go to the bathroom. It's an antacid with simethicone in it to help break up the gas.

Sandy

[Miki]

HI,
Haven't posted for a while, but the bladder stuff is getting to me again.
I was wondering if any of you have hemorroids, and if they affect your bladder symptoms.
My IC is really more focused in my ureatha.
In the past 2 or so weeks, it seems as if my hemmies, have expanded, and I am also more constipated than before.
I have tried to eat carefully, but fresh fruit makes me sick, and doesn't do anything. I take a stool softener almost every day, and still have hard time.

Anyway: Question, I seem to have been flaring more than usual, and there really is no reason.
I had a hemor. for a long time, but there are more than one now, it seems. And along with this has caused my flares. I spent 2 days laid up, and just taking flare meds, (more constipation! lovely), and sitz baths. I feel better after the bath, but it doesn't last.

Has anyone notice a relationship between the hemor.'s and your pain?

I am on a Fentynl patch for pain, and have other meds for flares, but I don't want to use them too often. I can't do much after taking the extra pain meds.....

I too have IBS, with all the constipating pills I take, I usually have to control that with diet. It has worked, but now it seems like even the diet doesn't help.
Nor the stool softener. I get gas very easily.......I use Maalox MAX pills, and they seem to help with the gas.


Any advice on how to get these Hemorroids to go away, or be less swollen.
I don't want to go to my GI doctor, he is great, but we have worked so often on using special laxatives, and I hate using them. I use the senna stuff, and it makes a more "normal" type movement.....but cannon balls still.
:headbang:

Well, need to try my anti nausea meds now, since the wheat bread and the dalauid pills have made me sick to my stomach.

My normal pain level is a 3. (That is 24/7.)
I have been between a 5-8 this past week. Sucks :mad:

Thanks for any help.

Miki
or even if you have experienced this. It is new to me.

[dharmakitten]

I have to agree with diana --- the colonoscopy will find any problems there and, believe me when I say you will feel relief just knowing. I put off mine for a long time and was surprised that it wasn't bad at all. The prep is much worse than the procedure and even the prep doesn't last long. When I had mine, I had polyps removed --- and polyps can become cancerous.

Donna

I hate to even ask, but what does the prep for a colonoscopy involve?

[SandyRN]

You take a strong, STRONG laxative, in my case it was a small bottle with two doses. You take one dose, wait....and eventually it hits, and you sit on the pot for a while. Then its time for the next dose later in the day and then you really go....You are only allowed to eat clear liquids, nothing with red, orange or purple coloring to it because it can show on the colonscopy. Really, its not that bad, but you do have to plan on spending your day in the bathroom. Books and magazines are a good idea, and bringing in a glass of ice water is also a good idea so that you dont get dehydrated.

I have rolled my tv in front of the bathroom door before to keep me occupied! LOL

It sounds worse than it is...basically, its just a day of pooping, to be blunt.

Sandy

[SADoss2]

I have had IBS for at least 15 years. I have seen 5 different GI docs and have finally found one who will actually treat me rather than discount my symptoms. I take Robinul every day and it works good for daily relief. Unfortuneatly, when my ibs flares so does the ic and vise versa. I would recommend the colonoscopy as well. If you do a liquid diet for a couple of days and then do your prep, it is not too bad. Good Luck. I'll be praying for you.

[Pristine]

My gastroenterologist put me on Aciphex, a perscription proton pump inhibitor and it has cut the bloating and big belly by at least 80 percent. Now i only blow up if i eat something too spicy or hard to digest. We had to go through at least 4 proton pump inhibitors before we found one that worked on me but it was worth the effort. :)