2001
- Went to family doctor in with symptom of bright red blood on tissue.
- Had Upper GI series done
- Diagnosed with duodenal ulcer (even though there were no other visible symptoms)
- Underwent HP-PAC treatment
- Blood on tissue intermittantly after, did not think much of it
December 2004
- Came down with sinus infection
- Went to walk-in clinic, prescribed a week long dosage of
antibiotics,
ibuprofen and
anti-inflammatory nasal spray
- During treatment, began having waking morning bowel urgency and loose stool. (this morning urgency has occurred daily without relief for 3 years)
- Blood on tissue became more frequent
- Saw doctor who performed digital exam and then referred to GI specialist to investigate the rectal bleeding.
- Before appointment with GI specialist, saw family doctor who decided to do another upper GI series. Also had liver function test,
CBC, abdominal x-ray as well as Gastrin test. All came back normal.
- Found
Gastric ulcer through Upper GI test, and put on HP-Pac again
- During treatment, had severe episode of
diarrhea, lasting 2 days, could not keep any food down.
- Went to emergency room, given fecal collection kit to test for parasites.
- April 2005, had unexplained weight loss of at least 15 lbs.
- GI specialist in May 2005, underwent sigmoidoscopy, looked normal. Doctor suggested bleeding likely due to fissure. Did not address other gastro. concerns. Seemed dismissive
- Went back to family doctor who decided to order Lower GI series; result: colon was imaged well, and looked normal.
- Doctor began to suspect
anxiety as probably cause.
April 2007
- Had a week long episode of stomach flu like symptoms, starting with slight
fever, chills, and then week of
diarrhea. Unable to eat much of anything.
- Mid April, during exams, started feeling off-balance when standing, slight lightheadedness. Has been constant with no pattern since then. Doctor ordered
CBC, came back normal.
- During summer, had another episode of unexplained weight loss of more than 15lbs. Doctor ordered
thyroid function test which came back normal. Again, attributed symptoms to likely
anxiety issues.
Current symptoms/concerns:
- Continued daily episodes of morning bowel urgency, usually loose stools. Occasionally, there is first a semi-normal stool, followed minutes later by much looser/watery stools. Less frequently, there is visible large amounts of mucus. As well, colour and form of stool at times abnormal; sometimes very light, sometimes contains parts that are almost black. As well, appearance of undigested food present sometimes. Blood on toilet paper as well as streaked on stool frequent.
- Through out rest of day, there is instances of mild discomfort in abdomen, and under right ribcage.
- Constant feeling of off-balance when standing, sometimes severe, sometimes slight.
- Frequent episodes of sore radiating foot
pain at night in bed, about 3-4 nights a week.
- Still unsure of reasons for episodes of unexplained weight loss.
- Also recently, been having episodes of urges to burp after eating, with slight
pain in upper right chest area when doing so, indigestion?
