Another Colonoscopy For Me

[tommy]

c. If there is improvement, but the bleeding hasn't stopped, I'll have another heart to heart (pun intended) with the docs. This time it will be with the primary guys, not the on-call guys.

Well, this is exactly where I am. I held Lovenox for 12 hours and the bleeding stopped. So I took a 1/2 dose last evening. Dropped about 4 oz of clots in the bowl last night, and had some fresh blood this morning. Took another 1/2 dose Lovenox this morning and called the docs.

So far, I've talked to both nurses, and will hear back from the GE nurse again today after consultation with the GE.
We are all in agreement that Coumadin should not commence until I don't bleed while on Lovenox. I'm half expecting to be celebrating my son's 18th birthday tonight with a Miralax shake in prep for another rodent visit in the morning. Yummy.

My biopsy results are on the GE's desk.

 

[geebee]

Vancomycin allergy is really a rare occurrence - what happened?

I started with an itchy scalp (which became unbearable). Then I developed hives and SOB. I was shot up with benadryl, prednisone and zantac (still not sure about that one?). Luckily I did not need anything further but it was not a pleasant experience.

 

[Guest]

This sounds like what is called "Red Man Syndrome". It results from the vancomycin being given too fast by IV. It is not a true allergy in that it probably will not happen again if the drug was given at the proper rate. (But then I'm not sure that I would want to be the one to test the probably theory.)

The Benadryl blocks the release of more histamine, prednisone treats inflammation caused by the histamine already released and Zantac prevents any more histamine that is released from having much of an effect.

 

[geebee]

Al,

Thanks for the feedback. You are right, testing the theory sound a little scary to me. However, good to know should I ever not respond to antibiotics for some type of really serious infection. That might be the time to take a chance and test it.

 

[Karlynn]

Not that I'd want you to test it either, but I had similar reactions. I was given Vanc. for a D & C after a miscarriage. I got red, itchy, hives, had SOB. When time came to have my MVR, since I am allergic to quite a few antibiotics, my card wanted to give Vanc. another try, hoping what I'd experienced was Red Man's Syndrom. This time, I did get a little red, and a bit rashy, but I did not get SOB or swell. They only gave me the Vanc prior to the surgery.

 

[geebee]

Karlynn,

I am happy to get this information. I, too, have reacted to quite a few antibiotics (Vanco, Cipro, Clindamycin (sp?)) so having something that might be a future possibility with proper treatment is comforting. Right now Keflex is the drug of choice for my problems but, I realize, someday it just might not work.

I do know that the Vanco was not given as a slow drip but shot in the IV in one fell swoop.

Tom, sorry if we're hijacking your thread

 

[bvdr]

Tom, I'm watching carefully for your results so please post as soon as possible. I know this has to be a stressful week for you.

 

[tommy]

Thanks all of you. Here's the scoop.

The pathology report came back "negative" for everything that they were looking for! Hooray! That means no melonoma or cancer of any kind. Amen to prayers.

The GE is certain that I have Crohn's despite the lack of confirmation from the path report. We saw the ulcers (well I saw the photos). we know it is there. You know the saying about walking like a duck, talking like.........Well, it talks like Crohn's and walks like Crohn's, so he is treating me for Crohn's.

The Rx is Pentasa (mesalamine). 1 mg 4x per day. It is a 5-ASA drug with slow release to coat the lower GI with anti-inflamatory agent. It is basically a topical medicine with about 20%-30% absorption into the blood stream. It is the same active ingredient as Asacol, but with slower release to get to the right place. I have samples and script for 3 months with 3 refills (1 year supply). These things are huge . The letter carrier will need a wheel barrow to deliver them. I need a bigger pill box as well.

My dose is for mild Crohn's. That is good news, for sure. Anticoagulants and colon ulcers are not a good combination. If it weren't for the melanoma, and follow up PET scans, the Crohn's would not have been discovered until I had severe digestive symptoms - perhaps bleeding ulcers or fistulas (perforations ). So, there is a sliver lining to melanoma! Go figure.

Follow up colonoscopy in 12 months.

Pentasa will likley raise my INR (I have to keep with the coumadin thread somewhere in this post ) . I will take it consistently, so once I reach the new Coumadin dose, it should not be a factor.

I am ordered to stay on Lovenox for another week before transitioning back to Coumadin.

Vitals are fine. I'm still ozzing a bit, and will just keep an eye on it.

I plan to travel next week on business. Am considering holding the transition back to Coumadin until I'm home - Wed/Thur.

I;m done some searching for IBD/CD/UC forums and found a few, but none like my dear friends at VR.com. Thanks again. everyone.

 

[geebee]

[SIZE=+2]GREAT NEWS!!(about the non-malignant part).[/SIZE]

Sorry about the Crohn's but, obviously it can be treated.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Nancy]

No Malignancy is terrific Tom. And also the fact that the Crohn's seems to be in the mild category. Of course, I wish you had nothing in there but what's supposed to be, but it's better than cancer.

My dad died of colon cancer.

 

[bvdr]

I'm glad to read your post and see the word "negative" in reference to cancer.
I was on Asacol for several months and found it very effective. I still have an active perscription for it if needed. I don't remember it messing up my INR any more than other drugs have. I just find everything affects it one way or another....especially the three D's, (diet, drugs, and digestion.)

I don't know what kind of insurance you have but when I started going through this gut stuff I was still on BCBS and enrolled in a program they had for IBD. They sent me some books and a bunch of material. Some of it was helpful and some was not. You will have to see what will work for you. Hang in there, things will get better again .

 

[Karlynn]

Tom,
So glad that your pathology report came back negative for cancer. I wish you didn't have anything to deal with, but your "C" is certainly more desireable than "the big C".

Wishing you the best as you learn to live a good life with Crohn's, just as you have with valve disease.

 

[The Bionic Duo]

Diet For Chrons

Diet For Chrons

Sorry to hear about all your troubles with a colonoscopy, hope things settle down.

I have been plagued with IBS for a number of years and thanks to a couple of good web sites have finally got it mostly under control (mine was never real severe, but bad enough for a while to be very uncomfortable). Here's a web site that discusses diets for people with IBS and Chrons:
http://www.helpforibs.com/messageboards/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

Joan

 

[Phyllis]

So happy to hear that all is benign, Tom. My sister-in-law was just recently diagnosed with Chrons as well and I suspect a mild case as well. The ulcers are there, but no symptoms. Not sure what medication she has been prescribed. Best wishes to you. I will forward the website that Joan posted to my sister-in-law.

 

[Mary]

Good deal, Tom.
I know you will tackle this new challenge like all the rest; upbeat and confident!

 

[hensylee]

Tom, I have been following this thread and waiting as the others have. Good news that it's not cancer. I am pretty sure the Chron's can be controlled. I have a cousin who has it. She used to be in such trouble most of the time, but she's so much better now, so I guess they got it under control. She travels a lot (retired folk do that, you know) and now she can do it in comfort. You will get there, too. Glad they have found it early.

 

[Guest]

Glad that there was no spread of the cancer.

The Pentassa should not bother the INR much. Any time that you have intestinal problems it can make the INR hard to manage so whether it is the disease or the treatment is only talk. When I get a patient with something like this I try to check them every week, then go to two weeks. Some never get past the 2 week stage but occasionally some feel comfortable going out to a month if they haven't had a flareup for awhile. I tell them to call if they feel a flareup coming so that we can head off trouble.

 

[tommy]

Wow. I'm bowled over with your outpouring of concern, well wishes and advice. I've got some homework to do. Thank you again and again and again.

Here's an interesting twist that I found. Heparin is being considered to treat IBD. A double play?

 

[catwoman]

Tom:

A friend in the Denver area may know of some internet groups for Crohn's disease. Her son -- about 12 -- has Crohn's and has gone through quite a lot in the last 2+ years. I'll give Cheri a call tonight.

BTW, her son is doing fine in spite of what he's gone through. He's been a patient at a children's hospital that has an advisory board selected from its young patients. He applied for a board position and wore a suit for his interview. Blew the interviewers out of the water!!! Other kids wore very casual clothing. He was selected for the board as a result.

 

[tommy]

Marsha,

Thanks for any resources that you come up with. Cheri's son sounds like a winner.