How long did it take for your DX?

Hi Guys,

whilst my doctors are pretty sure that it is chrons that I have, how long did it take for your DX to occur?

I am asking because I went and had my Scope done last year for ther first time, they did a flex sig and theDoctor who had preformed it suggested that there was inflamation in the gut but did not do anything with it. It clear up, and as you will know has come back with a bang this year. Now, what my worry is because these past few days have been really good pain wise for me, and my GI appoitment is not until 13 November, could my chrons have cleared up for this period.

If so, would they still be able to find it this time aorund our will I have to wait for another flare to occur?

I could not be bothered having to go through it all again, if they find nothing this time around, I am walking away from them. They have had me waiting 13 weeks for this appointment which is bad enough, but when you go to the A&E four times with it and nothing happenes, you kind think awh to hell with it.

Di all you guys get a DX first time around or did it take a few turns for use to get it?

Thanks

Conor

Took years for me to get a diagnosis. My old gp was an ejit.
I eventually switched doctors and my new gp requested a colonoscopy.
I had the colonoscopy and a biopsy and diagnosis was made the same day with confirmation of same a few weeks later.

It took almost 7 years for me to get a diagnosis, everybody was telling me it was all in my head, until I landed in the hospital with a partial obstruction.  Then they finally believed me, and the biopsy of the colonoscopy showed Crohns.

Christina

It took several years for me too.I was dx when a new gi did a colonoscopy and biopsys.

Kay

I had pain for like three months lost a 100 pounds, face turned a gray colour then they decided to give me a scope after about 10 trips to the hospital and found a abscess the size of a orange. Gee i guess it wasn't in my head like they thought LOL!! Finally they told my i had crohn's i had a bad experience back then. I got rid of my old family doctor and found a new one.
I didn't have a good experience when i got diagnosed.

I guess I am one of the lucky ones, I was diagnosed 3 weeks after the symptoms showing up.

It was twenty years from the first time I got sick until I was finally diagnosed.  I wasn't constantly sick for those twenty years, but I did get quite sick a few times and was always told it was just a virus or was psychological.

It took about 2.5 years and three GI changes to finally get a diagnosis. By that time I was down to 90 lbs and had developed a fistula and abscesses all over the place. I was quite a mess for a while there. That was 14 years ago.

Well, when I first started getting symptoms I went to a local health clinic and complained about severe stomach aches, the doctor only did a urinary analysis and it didn't came back with anything wrong so she couldn't tell me what was wrong. I with stood the stomache painss for atleast three months before I went to my dads family doctor, He did a whole physical on me and decided that I needed to go see a gastro doc becuase he found that my stool contained blood. A month after I had a colonscopy done, and a barium x-ray on the same day and was diagnosed. Now I'm due to go in for my first surgery and I am scared as heck, but all in all it took about 8 months of pain before I was diagnosed.

It took nearly a year for me. I was in and out of the emergency room numerous times with ileus. It was obvious enough that there was some problem with my intestines, but nobody could figure it out. Actually, they didn't have the answer until they finally decided to do an exploratory surgery. As soon as the surgeon cut me open and had a look, he knew what it was. The surgery was necessary anyway - the doc removed about one foot of damaged intestine at the terminal ileum and I had about 9 years of relief after that.

I am 55 years if age and first noticed signs in 2001. Original DX was UC, after getting three or four hospital stays the last one couldn't get a handle to stop the bleeding. I started getting a fever with chills and lost around 50 lbs, so in Sept. 2002 I went for the cure and went for a total colectomy with a j/pouch after a few units of blood. The pathology study of my colon indicated I had in fact Crohn's disease. The inflammation jumped to different spots, I had a fistula, and a skin tag. The surgeon was very unhappy he put a j-pouch in me (MY FAULT), but after having to endure the ostomy bag for six months I'm glad I have one. I had to endure IV treatments with iron for four years until my doctor finally sent me to a doctor that had the pill EGD, which found two bleeding ulcers in my small intestines. The Carafate and Nexium fixed the problem.
I have had butt pain it seems ever since I had the reversal in Feb. 2003. After a few years of suffering I finally put in for accommodation, which was granted, but after six months was taken away. I finally took an early retirement last year. I had adhesion surgery in 2005. My last hopital stay for a blockage last July I was told by two doctors I had a fistula and I also had small kidney stone. I was told by my primary, who also said I had a fistulaand to quit taking Calcium supplements she recommended on account of the osteopenia I have that is worsening. My gastropentrologist said I had a fistula. I finally went back to the surgeon that performed the colectomy and he said I had a fissure, which I think I have had reoccuring all along. I am now am trying to go back to taking small doses of Immodium four times a day, using flushable wet wipes, watching my diet like a hawk, and not falling back to things I like: tortilla chips, regular coffee, chocolate, anything with a rough texture like: Tricuits, Wheat thins, raw fruit and vegetables, never eat peanuts unless ground to a flour and nuts too.

I just started on Remicade in July 2008
I take: Xanax PRN
Percocet PRN
Carafate (twice a day maint. dose)
Librax (replaced Digex)
Nexium
Alinia (antibiotic)
Rifaximin (antibiotic)
Entocort

Hey Conor... don't worry too much... when you have Crohn's, it usually has a way of turning up somewhere! I'd say they'll find it if it's there to be found (not that I want anyone to have this disease, mind you). In the meantime, take care of yourself and try not to worry... they'll figure out the diagnosis soon enough.

Betsy