Introduction
Last week I went along to our local Hospital to speak with the Consultant Gastroenterologist. I took Caroline along to give her perspective (it was she who suggested I might be have an intolerance to lactose as couple of years ago).This is a part of the continuing saga of my digestive system. So, look away now if you’re of a sensitive disposition.
We both felt that the good Doctor (name on application) was pretty impressive:
- He has a good bedside manner / interpersonal skills
- He seems open, knowledgeable, approachable
My Backstory
Not sure if he expects to be quoted (hence anonymity), but I recounted my storyHistory
- 2 Years ago - Caroline suggested I might have a dairy intolerance
- Not sure, take a bit of convincing!
- Went to the local GP, pretty useless really
- Went to see the Practice Nutrionalist, pretty useless
- But did give me a link to www. Lactose.co.uk
- I bought some lactase pills - helps, buy some more on eBay
- Aunt had been treated by Nutrionalist, Angela Beecroft
- I (eventually) go to see her
- She gets me to do a stool test – result points to Dientamoeba fragilis
- She recommends complementary therapies
- These help, but after treatment has finished, symptoms return
- After taking these she suggests I have a course of anti-biotics
- I go to the local Doctors (different from first ones, as we’ve moved since then)
- I've had two courses of Metronidizole - which is why I went to see the Consultant
Thoughts
- I think I've had this condition for ages
- When I was on the anti-biotics
- I felt more clear-headed
- I felt rested, I slept better
- My tummy was quiescent
- I was less snappy & more pleasant
Symptoms
- Diarrhoea
- Gas / wind
- Tummy rumbling
- Need to open my bowels soon after meals [I did say…!]
- Better - taking lactase tablets
- Worse - having dairy, but this is not the only story
The Opinion
- The Good Doctor reckons it is IBS probably – he thought they were classical symptoms
- Doesn’t have a very high opinion of most complementary therapists
- Has been involved in IBS study for 15 years
- No candida or parasites found in his experience
- Parasite (from previous test) is probably a red herring
- We discussed link between stress & stomach – certainly I used to have pretty serious ‘butterflies’ in my stomach when I was a child
Next Steps
- I go back in a couple of weeks
- Tests for
- Parasite – blood & stools
- Endoscopy (argh – literally & metaphorically…)
- Coeliac
- Um something else
- Treatments to be determined, depending on test results
Wash up
Caroline has also felt that the complementary stuff is bunkum, and (quite possibly) has probably been right all along ;-) :$It's fair to say that I'm rather taken with the complementary stuff, but in the hospital, I managed to conjure up the following John Maynard Keynes quote:
This is a shortened set of notes as I want to get this post up & not spend ages deliberating…
“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”It’s been an ongoing saga, so I don’t want to get my hopes up. However, if anything like the positive effects of taking that anti-biotics is a guide, this could be promising…
This is a shortened set of notes as I want to get this post up & not spend ages deliberating…
And finally:
Tummy-related Tweets
- Due to dodgy tummy, couldn't make the second half of journey home. Being looked after by my Sister and her Family :-D Need to sort logistics 11:34 AM Aug 26th, 2008 from twhirl
- fyi, I used Imodium to stop the tummy, dioralyte for re-hydration, & ibuprofen to stop the stomach cramps, but please use your own judgement 10:40 AM Aug 27th, 2008 from web
- Have now finished the birch bark & lotus rhizome pills, now for a dose of flax seeds http://twurl.nl/olqokv 2:29 PM Feb 13th from twhirl
- Just about to start my second course of Metronidazole for my [un]funny tummy; background here (if you're interested!) http://twurl.nl/lh4p28 12:22 PM May 19th from twhirl
