i have regular abnormal liver function tests and suffer joint pain.could IBD be the cause?
i am under investigation for IBD after being diagnosed with IBS 14 years ago.
i go for a sidmoidoscopy in a few weeks.
basically i have been virtually housebound for about 12 years , only being able to travel short distances and unemployable due to my sudden 'urgency' for the toilet which often ends in panic if i cant access a toilet immediately.
also in the last 3-4 years doctors have been doing regular blood tests on my liver functions as this is slightly abnormal although im a non drinker.
I have ongoing joint pain, especially in the knees and had a severe case of urticaria (with very swollen extremities) a few years ago.
on searching with interest on this site i see it mentioned about links to other areas of the body, such as eyes, skin and liver and this has me wondering if, after all this time, i may finally be approaching a firm diagnosis.
Recently i have questioned just how much i actually 'live' my life.
i have never even passed my driving test (nor taken a lesson) for fear of wanting the toilet.
I HAVE to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment soon. For too long already it has controlled my life. Now i want my life back.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I'm sorry you have been so unwell for so long, Cheryl.
When the intestines do not absorb nutrients normally--as is seen in many cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)--liver function tests, such as, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, total protein, and total and direct bilirubin levels may become skewed due to malnutrition.
You mention that you are about to have a sigmoidoscope done. Have you discussed having a colonoscopy done, instead? With a colonoscopy, more of your GI tract can be viewed, and tissue samples can be taken for biopsy--this can not be done within the limitations of a sigmoidoscope. The trained eyes of a pathologist generally complement those of the gastroenterologist. Another suggestion is to talk to your doctor about having a video capsule endoscopy done in addition to the colonoscopy; while biopsies can not be obtained this way, just about all of the small intestine can be clearly viewed, while this is not the case with any other current exam.
IBD is not the only GI problem that could cause chronic diarrhea, and/or some of the other symptoms you've described. For instance, celiac disease, and other related disorders may be at play. Biopsies are done during the colonoscopy as the standard way of helping to make a differential diagnosis.
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