JM's Case History

[Guest]

Greetings. Here is my story. <BR> <BR>In the month of Febuary 05 I was taken to the ER for the uncontrollable vomiting. The reason I decided to go to the ER was because just less than a month before I was hospitalized for an Ileus, which was due to major abdominal surgery (Ugh, ovarian tumor; let's not go there). Anyway, the vomiting was basically the signs of the Ileus, so I got worried and called an ambulance. Upon arriving to the hospital I also began to have diarrhea. Given IV anti-nausea medication, my vomiting ceased. However the diarreah persisted. I was in the hospital for a total of 4 days; first I was seen by a cardiologist (go figure), then a GI specialist, then an infectious disease specialist. On the 3rd day they finially figured out what was wrong; Bacterial Colitis. I was given Flagyl immediately via IV. The cause, I was told, was the myriad of antibiotics I had been given during my previous hospitalization for the Ileus. Finially discharged and feeling much better, I was sent home with a script for Flagyl pills. Luckily my insurance was great and covered everything. As for the symptoms, the diarrhea subsided after about a week, then finially I was having somewhat normal bowel movements. I thought I was cured. Ha! What the doctors didn't tell me was the 1/3 chance of relapse that most patients risk. And, well, I relapsed 2 months later. <BR> <BR>April 05: This time, my symptoms were a bit different. One day, I had very sharp pains in my lower stomach area. I ran to the bathroom with diarrea, and it was very painful and straining. In fact it was somewhat agonizing. The next day, same thing. Dumb thing to do, I know, but I put off calling the doctor. It's my IBS, I thought. The symptoms became too much to bear, so I called my old Gastroenterologist (located about 2 hours away, I moved since last seeing him). His nurse kindly scheduled me in the next day. I told him my symptoms, and he didn't need to hear much before blurting it out: "You have it again!". He sent me home with a script for Vancomycin, a test for C. Diff., and a little trial bottle of some Florostat. Well, I did another dumb move; I put off filling the prescription. A week later, I lost my job! Thus, no fabulous benefits, so I never filled the Vanco script; there was just no way I could pay for it. I just thought I would have to deal with it. About 4 weeks later, I couldn't take it; I was going to the bathroom about twice a day, weak and fatigued. I called my primary care doctor, deciding to deal with the cost of the appointment. I saw her a few days later. She explained that my fatigue was indeed due to the Bacterial Colitis, and very kindly set me up with a social worker to discuss my lack of funds and insurance with. This angel of a social worker immediately made some phone calls, and was able to get me the Vancomycin free due to my finiancial plight (unemployed, remember?). I was told that the pills would arrive at that office in about a week. Well, unfortunately, I had a sudden family emergency and was unavailable for about a week and a half because I had to travel out of state. This is the point where I am at now, as I'm typing this. <BR> <BR>May 05: Tomorrow I have an appointment with my primary care doctor, and hopefully I'll recieve the vancomycin. I have been suffering with these symptoms for over a month. Some days I can't even leave the house, it's so bad. And some days my joints are so stiff I can't even move around too well. This is unusual, as I am a 24 year old female who is usually rather limber. <BR> <BR>I'll update this in a few weeks after, hopefully, I recieve the antibiotic treatment I need. I am so sick and tired, literally, of the seemingly constant cramping, bloating, gas, upset stomach, nausea, diarrea, achey body, and complete lack of energy. Goodbye! <BR><BR>[Guest Posted by: 'J. Mc.']