Type 2 diabetic with major gut problems and my GP won't even see me

Well I finally have an appointment today at 1:45pm with a nurse.

CatsFive said:

Thank goodness. I suspect we'd like to know how you got on.

Click to expand...

Well it didn't go great to start with as I got seen at 13:55pm and the nurse wanted to hurry things up.

Good news is that my coeliac blood test came back negative. My liver and kidney functions have improved. Got a blood test form for my hba1c, random glucose, vitamin B12 and D.

Had my legs checked and the nurse is cautious about increasing my dosage of Spironolactone, until the blood test results come back and to see a podiatrist about my feet.

Been advised to put my legs up when I'm at home, take a break from the gym and to continue using my revitive machine. I asked about using compression stockings and the nurse said that they may help, but I would need to get some light or medium compression stockings.

Paeony said:

I have had gastric trouble with uncontrollable bowel problems et. For 18 mo this. Various tests etc all negative. My diabetic doc advised me to stop metformin and within 2 days, tummy trouble stopped. I was really depressed about it and I now am diarrhoea free except get some other side effects from the different medication. !!!

Click to expand...

For me, the problem is not metformin. As I've been off it for a month.

CatsFive said:

I would also be surprised if I had a normal bowel movement after rice, chips & 1/4 naan!

Going back to the problem, most GPs have a few appointments blocked off for emergencies. I don't especially like telling my medical issues to the receptionist but I would if I had to to get an appointment. I'm lucky - I live a couple of minutes walk from my GP and have simply walked around at 8am when I've needed one of those.

But you have symptoms that would seriously worry me if I had them - black tarry stools, and pain and cramping in your legs due to them swelling up.

Are you on any medication other than the insulin?

Click to expand...

I'm on Novorapid, Tresiba and Ozempic injections. Metformin SR, Spironolactone, Cardeviol tablets and Testosterone gel.

I've only had the tarry stools once, every other time that I had diarrhoea, its been brown and more liquid than solid.

Just had a letter come through from the gastro team who are now going to put me on Creon, due to finding out that my faecal calproctecin is normal (19) but my faecal elastase is low (59) and also referred me to a dietitian.

I feel so relieved that I've got the results back, but concerned about my faecal elastase levels due to finding out that:

Normal: 200 to >500 ug/g stool.

Moderate to mild exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: 100-200 ug/g stool.

Severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: <100 ug/g stool.