Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

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DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:19 pm

I have ischemic colitis and they don't know why. My doctor is going to talk to other GI doctors to find out what tests should be done to figure out why I have it. Also I have another colonoscopy next week. :( Part of the blood supply in my colon was cut off. He said it's like a heart attack in the colon. Surgery may be required. Steroids are a treatment but not long term. It's usually seen in people who are older or who smoke. Vasculitis can be a cause. He won't tell me the results after the colonoscopy but I will see him again for a follow up. I'm still having lots of pain every time I eat anything. He said to try senokot s to help with constipation. I have some of that to try. I'm prepping with pico salax. Has anyone else dealt with this? I'm so glad that it's not cancer though! Just wish I had more answers!
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

KimT
Posts: 695
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:53 pm

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby KimT » Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:26 pm

I've followed your story and wondered if ischemic bowel could be your problem. Your symptoms are so similar to mine and we're why I had a s cond colon resection. Colonoscopy revealed that the internal anastamosis had never healed. My surgeon believed that it was related to the surgical clips used in the original surgery and possibly complicated by low blood supply to the area. It is always a risk with a colon resection that blood supply may be reduced to the remaining bowel. If I were you, I would do the surgery. I had countless rounds of antibiotics and steroids in hopes of avoiding surgery. At the time I was living in Thailand. My first surgery was done in the states and I feared a surgery overseas. By the time I had the surgery, I was way too sick to fly home to the states or even a 2 hour flight to Singapore. My second surgery cured it. It was amazing how much better I felt immediAtely. I recall waking up in recovery and although I was in pain from surgery, I felt better. I knew that whatever had been going on in my guts was resolved. My surgeon was amazing and the whole Thai approach to medicine was amazing.
2/10 dx colon cancer
right hemicolectomy 3/19/10
Stage 2a 0/43 nodes
Lynch syndrome
3/14/10 colon resection/ removal of metal clips
Nov 11 dx ovarian cancer

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:37 pm

Thanks for sharing your story KimT. I'm sorry you went through this!*hugs* I will be interested to find out what the GI doctors say. My GI doctor/surgeon has only seen a clear colonoscopy and one polyp during a sigmoidoscopy so he wouldn't be able to help much. As far as I know my anastomosis just needed to be stretched but was otherwise fine. He said my colon looked purple. I'm glad your second surgery cured it. At this point my doctor/surgeon isn't sure what he's going to do besides the colonoscopy.
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

iitg.ritesh
Posts: 174
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 7:11 am
Location: WA

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby iitg.ritesh » Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:15 pm

I am very happy that its not cancer, I was afraid after reading your post lately. Consult with doctors for colitis thing..
32yo Dx@rectal cancer 05/10/13, CEA 3.4
chemoradiation, xeloda finished on 02/12/13
LAR surgery 22/01/14, pT3N0, 0/3 nodes, folfox 02/14--06/14 , 8 cycles folfox, 4 cycles of xeloda
Stricture due to radiation, diversion colitis
Reversal 14/10/14
NED

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Thu Jan 21, 2016 7:17 pm

I'm glad it's not cancer either. I do the colonoscopy prep on the 27th and have the colonoscopy on the morning of the 28th.
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

orcasres
Posts: 836
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:23 pm
Location: Orcas Island, WA

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby orcasres » Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:07 pm

I know that you have issues to face, but I am so happy for you that it is not cancer. Lois
63 yo F
Colon resection Sept. 2010
pT3N0M0 Stage 2A
Medullary Tumor 6.5cm long
Lymphovascular invasion
Lynch negative
12 FOLFOX 11/2010 to 5/2011 8 w/Oxi
NED so far

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:28 pm

Thanks Lois, me too!
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

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Cowgirl918
Posts: 326
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:55 am
Location: Indiana

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby Cowgirl918 » Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:12 pm

This sounds extremely painful to say the least. I am relieved for you that it isn't cancer. Sometimes I think we are like fine sports cars. Once the tinkering under the hood starts it requires frequent adjustments. Colonoscopies have become my "oil changes". Yuck. :roll: Take Care and I am sending wishes for speedy relief.
HX Colon Polyps Villious and Tubillovillous
12/29/15 Colonoscopy/Endoscopy - Ascending Colon Mass- Hemicolectomy Scheduled
1/17/2016 Right Hemicolectomy Cancelled
1/25/2016 CT No evidence of other disease
2/12/2016 EMR-ascending colon mass 80%
8/12/2016 EMR #2 ascending colon mass curative
8/13/16 NED
7/26/2023 Neuroendocrine mass small bowel, two mesenteric lymph nodes
9/1/2023 Small bowel resection jejunum and lymph nodes removed mesentery

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Ischemic colitis and even more questions!

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:15 am

It's very painful unfortunately. I had pain, and painful bowel movements overnight and am in pain this morning. As I write this I have a heated gel pack on my abdomen and have taken two extra strength tylenol. I am in pain after I eat and after bowel movements.(even if they are soft). I agree we are like sports cars. This will be my 3rd colonoscopy. I've had two sigmoidoscopies too. I want to find out what's causing this and to avoid surgery if possible. My colonoscopy is early on the morning of January 28th so my prep is January 27th. Using pico salax again. At least it's only two packets. Thanks cowgirl!
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)


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