Hello:
I spent Mother's Day in the ER getting fluids, the result of my fifth straight day of extremely watery diarrhea. I tried to hold out, thinking each day it would have stopped, but no such luck. This morning, I had 6-8 bowel movements before 8 a.m. and was feeling like I was going to pass out.

They tested me for C.Diff, as I have a history (pre-colectomy), and it was negative -- though I know false negatives are common with C. Diff. I don't really think it is C.Diff, but I also don't know what it going on. The doctor wanted to do a CT-scan, which I suspected they would recommend, but I politely refused -- thinking it's likely not to rule anything out or to show what is going on. And because I have had so many over the years, I tried to avoid more radiation this time. Does that seem like a good choice; what do other j-pouchers feel about reliability of CT scans to diagnose/find problems?

They did also find that I have UTI, likely because of all the diarrhea. And I guess I need to call my GI doc tomorrow.

The diarrhea continues, though thankfully the IV fluids have lessened my dizziness and the horrible foot cramps I was getting constantly.

If anyone has insight on what this could be or what direction I should take, I welcome input. I don't think it's viral, because I don't have other symptoms pointing to that. I guess it could be pouchitis...I also have concerns that they are going to find I have Crohn's, because of a few things going on (and the fact my brother has Crohns, and before my colectomy, one doctor did mention being concerned about J-pouch surgery in a patient with a first-degree relative with Crohn's)

Thanks for reading

Take care, Laurie

UC (since 1989); C.Diff (started 2009); colectomy August 2011

takedown, March 2012; incisional hernia, July 2012