Diabetes related nerve damage in colon?

[Ellit]

Can't believe I'm discussing this in an open forum but am so confused as to what's happening and don't know whether diabetes is being flagged up as a cause just because it's an easy option.
After 3 months of changeable bowel movements,plus bleeding and left side pain I visited the GP as it was really bringing me down.An urgent referral was sent to the Cholorectal Dept at the hospital.A week later I saw a consultant who seemed to think my symptoms were related to my diabetes and thyroid problems.After exam he also told me I had nerve damage in my lower colon and very lax muscles which would need a referral to someone.!Then I was referred for an endoscopy 2 weeks later. After taking the potions to clear out( absolutely the worst experience of my life ) I went for my appointment.I have to say tha staff were incredibly supportive;even when the procedure got too painful 5 minutes in and I was using the gas and air and they had to stop the procedure as my bowel kept spasming.I was told that I would be referred back to the consultant who would probably request a colonoscopy to look for ulcerated bowel.
I have just received an appointment for December to return to see the consultant!
Meanwhile I take 6 loperamide a day while I have to go to work and then 6 Movicol a day when I'm not working,it's they only way I can manage to continue working at present. As no-one seems to think anything is urgent I have also made a self referral to the continence services in the hope they can help or steer me somewhere.
Added to this is that I look 6 months pregnant which I'm told by my gp is gas pushing my diaphragm up which is pushing against my lungs....hence I'm breathless on exertion.
So...anyone else been through this with similar problems? Anyone have nerve damage in the bowel attributed to a complication with diabetes?
Add to that a letter I've just received to say I have retinopathy now as well.......ho..hum...ho...hum......

[GraceK]

Wow! I have that 'pregnant' look and the breathlessness on exertion and at 59 it's not funny! Not only do I look pregnant but I feel pregnant, waddling around with this big belly when I should be hopping around like a bird.

I've also been diagnosed with gastritis and hiatus hernia and before I was diagnosed I told my doctor that my digestive system just doesn't seem to be picking up signals like it used to. So you've got me thinking about diabetes related nerve damage there. With women in particular once we get to a 'certain age' every ailment is put down to 'the change' and it seems to be we have to get to a crisis point healthwise before we're really taken seriously.

[catherinecherub]

Hi Ellit,

I am afraid you can get nerve damage throughout the body as a result of diabetes. It may be that further investigations will reveal Ulcerative Colitis or even Crohns disease which are both manageable.

Have a read through this article about neuropathies. Autonomic Neuropathies can affect any part of the digestive system including the bowels and symptoms are constipation alternating with frequent, uncontrolled diarrhoea..................

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/n ... neuropathy

[Ellit]

Thanks Catherine...the neuropathy article is well worth a read and I'm going to print it off and take it to my GP as just yesterday she said she would research just this. Can you reverse neuropathic symptoms do you know?
Just had an abdominal xray today with the technician saying that she thinks I should hassle my gp to get an earlier hospital appointment!..The mind boggles as to why......
I am totally with you Grace as I've just hit 60 and have spent the last 6 years being told that any aches and pains may be my thyroid or diabetes going out of synch!

[catherinecherub]

As with most neuropathies, good blood glucose control usually halts the progression and can improve the situation.
Hope you get this sorted soon. If you read towards the bottom of the article it does tell you about treatments available.

Take care,

CC.

[WhitbyJet]

Totally agree with catherinecherub, I have managed to reverse neuropathy, it took some time, consistent tight bg control, cookin from scratch, no processed foods.
I still have some numb patches, I dont think they will ever go away, but I barely notice them. I also had bowel issues, not sure whether they were due to neuropathy or not, but some days I dare not leave the house, luckily this issue has resolved itself completely.

I hope all goes well for you x x

[rogbert]

i too suffered cronic diairhoea for over two years i was refered to a gastro consultant who diagnosed that i had a form of gastropareses resulting in damage caused by my diabetes to the negus nerve in the stomach which controls the opening and closing of the stomach after eating various tests including a colonospy under a local were carried out i was put on a very strong laxitive called laxido which i take twice a day been on this for over 6 months now and i must say i have never felt better it has certainly cleared up my problem

[Ellit]

My life at the moment sways between loperamide max. dose for 4 days so I can work and then Laxido on my days off so I don't feel too bad but can't go out.Actually just decided I can't carry on like this now and have just asked if I can take early retirement on medical grounds at work which they aren't too happy to pursue.Never mind, with nothing to lose now I've made my mind up then I can always resign!Actually think volunteering for an extra day at Colchester Zoo might be preferable and I'll still have a social life!

[Ellit]

Just been told I am to go for a Virtual CT Colonoscopy next week, so hope all is diagnosed from that! Always knew I'd get into the 21st century at some point.Virtual anything must be pretty clever...let's now see if I can clear the impacted bowel I now have in time!

[peter_s]

I was diagnosed Type 2 about 2 years ago, and was diagnosed coeliac about 25 years ago. I have been on a gluten-free diet for all of that time. The initial symptoms were diarrhoea; but the specialist said that this was "bypass diarrhoea", that I was really constipated. I should have listened! Eventually, it became obvious that constipation was the real problem; I had always had spells of it, back to childhood. Coeliac disease does tend to go that way for many people, and constipation is also a well-known side-effect of Type 2. The only answer - I have tried them all - is laxatives, though I had not heard of the one suggested here. However, to try to help with your problem, have you been tested for coeliac disease? It is much, much more prevalent than the doctors admit. The "official" test is a biopsy, but it's very fallible both ways. The real test is you - try a week without any form of flour. No bread, cakes, biscuits, pastry, and take a good look at the contents of anything you eat. I mean anything, even packaged chips have flour on them. Within a week you will know for sure. Incidentally, if you have psoriasis, a gluten-free diet will help that too, and most surprising [well it was to me] psoriatic arthropathy, i.e. arthritis connected with psoriasis, will also go. Newly diagnosed diabetics are now routinely screened for coeliac disease in some areas. I'm not suggesting a gluten-free diet is easy, pleasant or cheap, but if it's what you have to do, do it.

[marishka-du-monte]

Omg I don't know this could happen. I have had the same symptoms bleeding from my bum nearly everytime I open my bowels. It's been really scary and I never knew why. This ill deffo have to get it checked out at the doctors now as have been too scared to go.

[peter_s]

I'm not a doctor, but I have had so many of these symptoms that I feel qualified enough to comment. Bleeding from the bum can be serious, but not necessarily so. If you have had a lot of constipation, it can cause piles, which sometimes burst; messy, but not usually dangerous. Alternatively, it can be an anal fissure, now that really is a pain in the bum. I have had that, believe me you will know if that's it. Lots of bright blood, agony to wipe, you really get frightened of going to the loo, which just makes it all worse. Internally, diverticuli [got those too] can bleed, potentially serious, but almost everyone has them at 60+. Mainly caused by straining. Leaving the bum and bleeding, Hiatus hernia is much further up the system, so blood isn't usually a problem. Inguinal hernia, I've had that too, is much more common in men, but does occur in women, and again straining on the loo certainly caused mine. It's not really a problem if dealt with quickly, but needs a full operation. It can be done with a local anaesthetic, but they showed me the needle, like a horse syringe! They actually knock you out to apply it. The surgeon and anaesthetist were ever so chatty, during the op., but I have to admit it wasn't like a social gathering.

[BioHaZarD]

If you have a very small amount of bright red blood, generally this is "ok" maybe be a pile or a small skin rip/ fissure. If your bowel movement is very dark this is more serious as the blood has come from within, like what peter_s has said...

[Ellit]

Well...I now have results back from the virtual CT colonoscopy....even though I had to chase them to get them! I am told I have diverticular disease and am to have another colonoscopy in 3 months.When I asked what I should do I was told maybe change your diet to high fibre.Maybe? That was an awful lot of help!

However while I'm happy to have that diagnosed I am still incontinent - so is that as a result of diverticular disease? When I eat anything it seems to just sit in my stomach for hours and so I still look pregnant and it only seems to go down when I'm sleeping as every time I have a drink or food I just seem to top it up.I've stopped wearing anything with a waistband on it and I never thought I'd be seen dead in leggings but they,ve become my saviour!

Anyone any thoughts at all. I have read so many things that my brain is mush.I have a GP appointment on wednesday and work have finally got me an occupational health appointment for friday to see if I can take early retirement.Incontinence and workplaces don't really mix!

[viviennem]

I've come late to this thread, and I do feel for you all! I don't have (many) problems at the moment, but there but for the grace of God . . . ! Constipation is a side-effect of low-carb, and I worry about it constantly, in case it triggers worse.

The only thing I could suggest for all of you (which you probably know already) is to keep your gut flora happy with live plain yoghurt eaten daily. If it's too acid sweeten with a little honey. Rhubarb is high fibre but low carb.

I find red wine "moves" me (any excuse!)

Let us know how you get on, Ellit. Thinking of you!

Viv