RA Large Intestine Involved My Experience

I am 20+ yrs Seronegative RA. Oct 2021 Being use to having IBS problems, a sharp pain in the very low abdominal area is nothing new to me. 1st trip the bathroom following the pain, normal process. Next pain, brought bright red blood. Help was called. Once in the Hospital ER care started, questions answered. The only thing I could tell them was that I had a normal bloating or full feeling just below the sternum area of my rib cage, midsection high, then the bleed. Meds checked to see if they had these type of side effects, NO, just a 81mg asprin being the worse. All medical issues covered. Blood, urine all normal, no stool to be found. CT taken, showed inflamed large intestine, nothing else. Given IV for fluids and a broad spectrum antibiotic just incase, hospitalized for more testing in the morning after a little more stable. Next day, Gastrologist & Hosp. Doc came in, chatted with me about testing of Upper and Lower Scopes to be done stat. Done, results all clear, said everything looked perfect, just that darn inflammation. No sign what so ever of where the blood came from. The Gastro stumped, called many colleagues and my RA. RA called many colleagues.. At the end they all agreed that is was more then likely a bleed caused by inflammation but also sealed by the inflammation somehow. Removed off all meds, thank goodness for I had to battle a reaction to the 1st antibiotic given in the middle of all this. Sent home for at least another day of bed rest. Return if another bleed of ANY amount. A smaller one did occur about 3 wks later, IV given to help replace loss and just to make sure the bleeding stopped. Visit 5 weeks after initial bleed with Gastro., he and colleagues had done more research for timing was not as rushed. RA again was verified as the culprit. Treatment change was recommended, RA was not controlled as thought...

Intestinal involvement in RA is a yes. What are the possible symptoms, the above are my only ones so far, for others they might be different but how, that will depend on each person and how they are affected by the RA, just something to tuck away in our knowledge books and keep watch out for.

thanks all for what you do here!