Irritable Bowel Syndrome Issues

[ffd95]

Greetings all. This is my first post, I'm so glad I found this site with so much helpful information. So here goes:

After coming back from Desert Storm, I started having digestive issues. Since I've done two more tours in Iraq, it's become very difficult. I filed a claim last year, and was told by the examiner that the bowel problems were caused by taking too many Tums antacids, and my claim was denied. I told my personal physician what the doctor said and he said he couldn't be more wrong. My doctor sent me for colonoscopy, came back negative, and the term escapes me, but they basically put a camera down your throat. They could see irritation from the acid reflux.

I recently received a va newsletter, where they have stated that Irritable bowel syndrome is on the list of being presumed service connected if you served when and where I was located.

I went to the state VA service officer and she filed for IBS again. (I didn't appeal the first decision, I have just about given up on VA)

How do I get another exam? Will this happen since I filed again? My personal doctor has diagnosed me with IBS. I've even gone so far as to take pictures of my stools with my cell phone and downloaded them to my computer. They are all time stamped, so they can see that this is a daily issue. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I could do?

Thank you so very much for your time. Sorry it's so long winded, my brain just doesn't work like it used to.

Brad Doyle

Fairview Heights, IL

[retiredat44]

Retired44, the C & P exam doctor was probably trying to see how much of your abdomen is tender or is in pain due to your conditions.

after 20 years of suffering in HELL, in severe agony, while my intestines rotted away with a 5 inch cyst on my pancreas leaking poisonous fluids and sacs.. which broke and leaking all ove rmy guts in the operating room... for 2x in one weeks

if he wanted to know, less than one year before the exam I was in a va hospital bed fighting for my life.. he could have easuly ordered more copies of my medical records (seriously, there are boxes and reams of extremely rdetailed records of of breathe I took... for that whoe year.. while I fought for my life int he hospital bed while doctors and surgeons, and every frakkin nurse ont he 3rd floor worked on keeping me alive... he could have spent one year reading the records..... I sent the VA claims my records... plus they can probably get them on dvd.... to make reading them easier... by keyword..

every frakkin day for those 56 months, eveyr morningt between 4 and 6:30 am, the doctors and surgeons and hundreds of interns from the va dn uscsd would feel my stomach, because I suffered from sepsis and infection of my intestines and pancreas, it was swollen like a backetball.. and they poked it eveyr morning,, and had to find out if the necrosis and lack of food had destroyed the intestines.. they had to feel and listen to find out if they had stopped working...

I was either screaming for my morphine or Dlaudid, begging for pain relief, and also had a pain pump to squeeze the trigger...

the 12 bags of iv's with infection fighting drugs, food, and many drugs I am not sure what was in every bag.., hanging over my bed, the food running through a tube into my intestines,, PIC lines, (my viens no longer worked and the only way to access my blood and body was through valves implated into my vein/arteries..as I could not even drink more than a table spoon of water.. I could not hold objects, not reach down to touch my leggs.. or pul the blankets up if I got cold,, or move from one gurney to the next for each cat scan or x-ray I had at least 2 pet day...

i was a rag doll, and my head bobbled around like it was on a spring when I was wheeled around...

and this clown wanted to press all lover my stomach to see what a disease dying person felt like a few months later after I miraculously '[sARCASM MODE] = ON' got well enough to go home and have nurses visit me daily to get me walking, talking and eating again...

I walked into their offices sick, and waiting,, I get called, I go to the exam room, and the doctor looks at my folder,, and basically says, and what's your problem...

didn't these a-holes even read my file? where do I start..

l

[Tbird]

I hope you have luck with your IBS claim, IBS can be very disabling. I suffer myself, it started in the service, I asked my service officer about it a few years ago. She said then since my service medical records say probable ibs, probable being the keyword, she didn't think I would get it. Though I was treated with the same drugs I am on now. Her opinion was I was already 100% and it wasn't worth the effort. I thought she was wrong, so I filed but after sometime I withdrew it, my bad. Don't give up. My PTSD and IBS conspire against me, but I won't let it get me down. Don't you either.

A couple of years ago 2009 I think I had to go into the hospital for a week for extreme rectal bleeding, my colon was very swollen and when they finally could do a colonoscopy they found ulcers in my colon. They thought ulcerative colitis, a few months later another colonoscopy no ulcers so they said no on ulcerative colitis and yes to IBS. I take a regiment of pills to control it as best I can. I feel for you buddy it's a hell of way to spend the day and night, day after day. Hang in.

Greetings all. This is my first post, I'm so glad I found this site with so much helpful information. So here goes:

After coming back from Desert Storm, I started having digestive issues. Since I've done two more tours in Iraq, it's become very difficult. I filed a claim last year, and was told by the examiner that the bowel problems were caused by taking too many Tums antacids, and my claim was denied. I told my personal physician what the doctor said and he said he couldn't be more wrong. My doctor sent me for colonoscopy, came back negative, and the term escapes me, but they basically put a camera down your throat. They could see irritation from the acid reflux.

I recently received a va newsletter, where they have stated that Irritable bowel syndrome is on the list of being presumed service connected if you served when and where I was located.

I went to the state VA service officer and she filed for IBS again. (I didn't appeal the first decision, I have just about given up on VA)

How do I get another exam? Will this happen since I filed again? My personal doctor has diagnosed me with IBS. I've even gone so far as to take pictures of my stools with my cell phone and downloaded them to my computer. They are all time stamped, so they can see that this is a daily issue. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I could do?

Thank you so very much for your time. Sorry it's so long winded, my brain just doesn't work like it used to.

Brad Doyle

Fairview Heights, IL

[retiredat44]

only thing you can do is keep going for help,,, IBS is a catch all for 'we have no clue what's wrong' they might a more difinite cause, but soemtimes, they never find a real cause...

in the future be very careful with any surgeries,,, once a part is messed with there is no going back...

watch diet.. stress, physical labor...

if you end up taking pain meds,, and you keep needing stronger meds, addiction (dependance) is just around the corner.

your lifestyle might end up taking a huge chage in activities,, holding jobs,,, finanaces, and relationships.. just depends on how the dise progresses.

if you are lucky, it's a passing thing,, something might get fixed ,, there is always that possibility...

it usually helps to find others you can personnaly communicate with that have the same symptoms,, being alone with a problem is hard on some people...

keeping notes is a very good idea...

again, diet,,, see what works and what does not... usually people with intestinal issues map out a course, wherever they go, of where bathrooms are... some people that have intestinal problems need bathrooms very often.. so make a kit for your car.... even a chage of clothing..

if you don't need such stuff, count your blessings..

IMHO

[ffd95]

Greetings all. I thought I had heard it all until now. I finally got a consult to see a specialist about my digestive problems. He immediately ordered a colonoscopy. They found 1 polyp and removed it, but also noted I now have hemeroids. (sic)

I had filed for IBS this time instead of stomach issues. When I first filed, I had no clue what was wrong except it wasn't right in my digestive system.

They've scheduled me appointments for C&P to increase my PTSD and for IBS.

So today in the mail, I get a stack of papers from Chicago telling me they need to know exactly why I want my PTSD increased. How can I write on paper explaining this? I'm angry all the time. I often break down crying in the middle of the day, and don't know how to stop. I haven't been to the PTSD ward at VA for quite some time. The last Dr I was assigned to had cancelled the last 3 appointments I had with her. I made an appointment with a nurse at that clinic. She told me outright that they may never fix the PTSD, only make it more bearable. I have never felt so helpless and alone in my life at that point. So I requested to be assigned to another doctor, and never heard back from them.

Then they also mention that they denied my stomach issues back in 2007. I wasn't even seen by the C&P doctor till 2010! They want me to provide proof that I've had this problem since returning from Desert Storm.

Thanks for listening.

Losing hope in this battle.

Brad

[retiredat44]

Retired44, the C & P exam doctor was probably trying to see how much of your abdomen is tender or is in pain due to your conditions.

necrotizing pancreatitits, and several complication inlcuding many cysts surrounding the pancreas full of liquid (psuedocysts) also have splenic vein thrombsosis... (spent 6 months in a va hospital bed fighting for my l ife...). Was also hsopitalizized with gastritis on active duty..

the pancreas is between the spine and the stomach,, the psduedocysts and can rupure and you can die if a cyst breaks open and the fluid leaks out... sepsis sets in.. a Cat scan and or ultra sound is the only method to see the disease without surgery..

I know, been there done that, the last thing that a person should do is apply undue pressure... looks up the disease and complications,,it eventfully leads to death, there is no cure...

morphine is the usual drug for pain control help..

if a doctor is that stupid to push on it to see if a person hurts, they should never work with people nor have a medical license..

Edited October 21, 2011 by retiredat44

[rdawg]

I can't help with the PTSD but I am service connected for IBS. You said "They want me to provide proof that I've had this problem since returning from Desert Storm". This is a generic response letter that is very confusing, ignore it. You fall under the presumtive rules since you served in Desert Storm (thank you for your service) so you only have to provide proof that you have IBS. If you haven't already done so, submit the records from your private Dr showing a diagnosis of IBS. That is all the proof you need. I hope this helps.