Re: Plea for help with diagnosis

From: PF Riley (pfriley_at_watt-not.com)
Date: 06/08/04 

Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2004 05:04:55 GMT

On 7 Jun 2004 15:44:18 -0700, bradedwards@emailaccount.com (Brad
Edwards) wrote:
>
>Since I haven't had a miracle recovery after a year of being on a GF
>diet, I figured I should explore alternatives. I visited a GI doctor,
>who ordered a bunch of blood/stool tests. He said the results were
>that I was dehydrated. The *** shows the following with an H next to
>it, which I assume means high: C02, BUN, CREATININE, ALT/SGPT, VITAMIN
>B12.

How high were the BUN and creatinine?

>The doctor said the next step was to do some tests like a
>colonoscopy/gastroscopy in order to rule out Celiac Disease and
>Crohn's. But I'm already on the GF diet, and I read that there's no
>treatment for Crohn's, so I decided I'd rather not undergo the
>invasive testing procedures.

There most certainly are plenty of treatments for Crohn's disease. You
may have read there is no CURE, but there is certainly treatment.

>All of the vague symptoms I experience while "sick" seem to be related
>to my gastrointestinal tract. During the days when I'm feeling pretty
>good, I can wakeup in the morning and calmly eat some breakfast. But
>on the days when I'm not doing so well I wakeup and immediately have
>to run to the toilet, and as I go I'm grabbing some juice or food to
>put in my stomach since it feels uneasy. Everyday, no matter how I
>feel, my abdomen distends after I eat in the morning and stays that
>way all day. On the bad days I have to defecate multiple times,
>probably 2-6 or more.

Hmm... intermittent, nonspecific symptoms related primarily to the
gastrointestinal tract, abdominal pain, low weight, extraintestinal
manifestations. No response to a gluten-free diet. Sure sounds like
Crohn's disease to me.

>My guess is that it is something involving the immune system, since
>when I don't feel well it sometimes feels like when you have a cold,
>but with none of the cold-like symptoms. It's just the overall feel,
>like your entire body is fighting something.

My guess is that you're right: It IS something involving the immune
system, namely, Crohn's disease.

>At this point the doctors I've seen don't have much to say. If someone
>were to offer me a clever idea as to what might be wrong, it might
>lead to this mystery being solved, and I would be forever grateful.
>I'll gladly answer any questions that you might have.

Three words of advice: Get the colonoscopy.

PF