To think my GP has misdiagnosed me and it’s not gastritis?

[roseunicorn45]

I’m 26 weeks pregnant and I have had my large intestine removed due to ulcerative colitis, which is no longer active. For the past week I’ve had bad upper abdominal pain which goes to my back, it comes in waves but at least once every half an hour. Doing absolutely anything makes it worse - walking, cooking, even just cleaning bits around the house. It feels like someone has kicked my insides with a football boot and the aching just prolongs. I went to the doctor who said it’s gastritis but because my UC was misdiagnosed for a year before I had an emergency operation, I’m always a bit hesitant to believe GPs, especially as I’ve had three bouts of heavy rectal bleeding with blood clots in it in the past three months.

Would IBU to get a second opinion or am I just being a hypochondriac? Can anyone else with gastritis tell me if this is what it sounds like?

[CwtchesCuddles]

Have you had the rectal bleeding investigated? Are you under a hospital consultant?

[WombatStewForTea]

Can you call your IBD team to get some advice? They might be able to see you in clinic to have a look

[Haworthia]

I think you need to run it by your gastro consultant.

[Mummyshark2019]

Get a second opinion....good luck.

[roseunicorn45]

I no longer have an IBD team, they discharged me after the operation @WombatStewForTea and nobody is investigating the bleeding @CwtchesCuddles even though I have asked for it to be since the first time it happened!

[WombatStewForTea]

Are they not monitoring you through pregnancy? I've got Crohn's and am 37 weeks. My IBD nurses have insisted on seeing me every 6 weeks throughout even though I'm in remission.
The bleeding definitely needs to be investigated too! I really think you need to get referred back to your gastro team

[Haworthia]

Surely you’re a high risk pregnancy under consultant care? Try calling them - they can contact a gastro colleague if need be.

[Southwest12]

You should still be under a gastro if you've got a rectal stump, that needs scoping ideally once a year. Your SCN can do a referral, or the GP can. Are you under consultant care for your pregnancy? You should ideally be, they can also refer to gastro.

Pain could be gastritis, could be gallstones, but could also be IBD as sometimes UC is diagnosed as it looks like that, but later turns out to be Crohn's. So a second opinion is a good idea.

[gallbladderpain]

sounds very similar to what i had the other week and infact i have just noticed that i had named changed to write a post on here about it but then i never did. (random that i was name changing but i regularly do anyways !)
contacted gp and explained the waves of pain. it felt like a band around my upper stomach and back that moved upwards in a tight wave sometimes feeling like the pain was in my chest, the pain was very severe.
Spoke to GP who thought gastritis and i wasn't so convinced on his diagnosis as i have multiple health problems as well (awaiting gallbladder removal, diverticular disease and other bowel troubles, hernias and kidney problems) but thought i would try out the medication he gave (lansoprazole) and see how it goes and i am pleased to say the pain has now gone but it did take a good few days before i noticed any benefits

[Schuyler]

YANBU to be concerned. Are you under consultant led care for your pregnancy?

[Jess8654]

How long ago was your surgery?

Could it be adhesions from that?

[Jess8654]

I do think you should still be under the IBD team though.

My sister had UC, and even after her colostomy, it still flared up in her rectum - could the disease still be active in your rectum? That might explain the bleeding.

[Orangeblossom78]

OP I had the same after an op like yours and it was adhesions. they told me gastritis also. Turned out to be a subacute obstruction in the small bowel.

I googled gastritis and it said eat less rich food and more fibre. Fibre is not good for obstructions and I ended up with a full obstruction and in hospital (it settled with a NG tube / hydration but was not nice)

Fingers crossed it isn't this, but it MAY be adhesions after a big surgery - basically internal scarring which can obstruct the smaller bowel.

Take care and if you get much worse pain and vomiting (especially bile) you need to go in to A and E. Kind thoughts.

Oh, and the GP should listen to your tummy it may help with adhesions. Some of them don't seem to be that aware of it though.

[Orangeblossom78]

The waves / colicky pain sounds like adhesions to be honest. Would have though gastritis would be more constant.

[ViaSacra]

I would second the possibility of adhesions.

If I were you, I would head to A and E - given that you’re pregnant, it’s not an overreaction.

[roseunicorn45]

Are adhesions a problem? I know I have loads around that area as they struggled to see baby at 20 weeks through my scar tissue and my scar is from my sternum right down to my pelvis and it has been opened up twice. I’m seeing a colorectal surgeon on 27th but I no longer have an IBD team, I had the surgery back in 2015. It was all a big mess because it was misdiagnosed as me being a hormonal young woman with bad periods so I’ve never actually had anything for IBD until my bowel perforated.

[ViaSacra]

Adhesions can cause a bowel obstruction, which is obviously very serious.

[Orangeblossom78]

Around 20% of people with previous open surgery get admitted for adhesions related stuff afterwards they told me. The problem is, more surgery makes more adhesions. So they can be reluctant to operate unless it is really needed (i.e. SBO)

Colectomy is one of the worst for adhesions apparently. I read this as also have had half of mine removed. (transverse joined to rectum) It seems to be as so much is moved around.

[Orangeblossom78]

I now have a plan for my adhesions / SBOs to manage at home but head to A % E with vomiting / severe pain / unable to go to toilet / pass BM...don't panic but please do go if it gets like that. as it will need monitored. / fluids for vomiting.

Apparently around 85% of obstructions do resolve themselves without further surgery. It is stressful having to deal with this. I had several further ops but it settled down. It is a common emergency admission and the surgeons should be well aware if you do need admitted

[Orangeblossom78]

Oh, sorry missed you are pregnant. I was told in that case would need an obstetrician and surgeon involved, womb can get involved in adhesions...think you need specialist care really

[roseunicorn45]

How would I know if I had an obstruction? Due to no large bowel I have chronic diarrhoea and go quite frequently.

[Orangeblossom78]

The colicky pain getting worse and vomiting with it. Although I had a closed loop one once and that was no vomiting just really severe pain.

In each case it is obvious it is really bad pain so you are crawling about, kind of thing, I hope it is Ok when pregnant must be scary for you. Like I said most do resolve with the NG tube but not good in pregnancy as no food just fluids for sometimes a few days.

they told me to just eat things like yoghurt / low fibre / easy to digest and let the episodes pass

[Notthebloodygym]

When I had that kind of pain it was my gallbladder, which is not uncommon in pregnancy.

[Starstruck2020]

Have you checked with your obstetrician/midwife/booking hospital? Did he check your blood pressure and urine?

[JoanieCash]

Also to throw pancreatitis into the mix.

It would be wise to be referred back to gastro (at the same hospital as obstetrics, so joint care). In the meantime try some omeprazole?