Last fall I got very sick with ecoli. After the infection ran its course I lost 25 lbs and became very thin, due to the incredibly severe side effects. I was referred to the only gastroenterologist in Nanaimo. I was told I would be trialed and then heard nothing. Tests indicated that I had inflammation in the bowel but my doctor told me that I couldn’t be treated until I had a diagnosis. To get that diagnosis I needed a colonoscopy. I was told I’d have to wait 4 to 6 months and was on the surgeon’s waitlist. As I was feeling so unwell and continued to lose weight we decided to go to the only private clinic in Canada that does colonoscopy that hasn’t been shut down. We flew to Montreal to have the procedure. The surgeon did a biopsy in order to get a diagnosis. The biopsy confirmed that I had microscopic colitis. His office called with the results and he put me on a 12-week course of oral steroids that helped heal my gut. It was an expensive way to get a diagnosis other than parking myself in the ER until someone agreed to help me. It was the only option available to me.