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How do I know it's UC and not Crohn's?

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Posted 10/27/2009 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 2 years ago. When I had my colonoscopy it was pretty early on when my symptoms first started to appear or I should say, get bad. I seem to have symptoms of both diseases. I have to go to the bathroom often, bleed and vomit, get weak and dehydrated. I get sores in my throat for no reason. I have been on Asacol (which didn't seem to help) currently take Lialda, Prednisone (was in the hospital last week) Lexapro, and valium. From what I've read they sound somewhat similar but there must be some obvious differences and treatment options. My doctor doesn't seem very thorough to me. I'm just wondering if it's possible that I wasn't even diagnosed correctly? Any thoughts?
Thanks
Posted 10/27/2009 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had a pill cam done? How about biosies and Promethous test?
Posted 10/27/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Micky,

The docs said I have an indeterminate form of IBD...they can't figure out if it's CD or UC. I tend to have bad abdominal pain, joint pain, and other weird symptoms--but not extreme bowel symptoms. Also, when they found my disease, my transverse bowel was the most inflamed, not the bottom portion as is common in UC. CD, from what I understand, is more prone to 'skipped' areas of inflammation, whereas UC usually starts at the end of the GI tract and works its way up.

This is just MY experience, of course....and I'm no doctor. But I will say this: IBD is very different in everyone. I think it's very possible you got an in incomplete diagnosis. IBD is very sneaky and hard for even doctors to figure out sometimes.

Hang in there and keep in contact with your doctor. There are more treatment options all the time. Be well this evening!

Posted 10/27/2009 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
No pill cam or Promethous test. When I had my colonoscopy done I know there were biopsies done.
Thanks
Posted 10/27/2009 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I seem to have a lot of other symptoms too. Joint pain, nausea and hive like rashes that no one can seem to figure out.
Posted 10/28/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I made the mistake of not insisting on a pill camera when I was first dx. I thought and my doctors told me that a regular EGD and colonscopy would be enough. They were wrong, the pill camera takes pictures of appromiately 18 feet of your intestine that the regular scopes miss. However the issue with the pill camera you cannot take biosies (you need a long EGD to take biosies of the small intestine), but it would see if you have abnormalities that need to be biosied in your small intestine, because generally UC is not in the small intestine and upper GI area.
Posted 10/28/2009 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
well first i was dx with UC the CD then I got a new doc and he is not sure which one I have and I basically don't care as long as the treatment is working ;) and it is
Posted 10/28/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Symptoms of UC are basically the same as symptoms with CD and same with the extra intestinal manifestations (bone, skin, eye, joint issues)....so you can't go by symptoms alone to tell you if it's UC or CD, a colonoscopy and small bowel test are the best way to know for sure...

With CD the inflammation is patchy/skipped with patterns of healthy tissues mixed with inflammation, with UC the entire area will be inflamed with no skipped pattern...with CD the inflamation can go through the many layers of the intestinal lining, with UC it remains on the surface of the lining only. CD can affect the entire GI tract from mouth to anus, UC is limited to the colon/rectom. Thoses are the distinctive differences between the 2.

:)
Posted 10/28/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Does ins. cover the pill camera - typically?
Posted 10/28/2009 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain.  I am in the same boat here.  I have had IBD for 21 years and I still don't know conclusivly if it is CD or UC.  From the way it has been described to me and from the research I have done I am convinced it is CD.  My latest GI still isn't sure because with CD you get granulomas (sp?) and he says there is none.  When I first got diagnosed I was told there was inflammation in both the large and small intestine so that means it is CD.  Every doctor I have seen has had their own opinion though.

My best advice is to get all you medical records, review them yourself, and search the web and do some research.  Results may be inconclusive but you may be able to lean one way.

Good luck

Posted 10/28/2009 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure if your insurance would cover the pill cam, it is covered on some and not on others.
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