Can a diagnosis be made when sympoms not present?

I have been having symptoms of gas, right side pain, bloating, shooting pain in bottom, joint pain, canker sores in mouth etc for the past 6 weeks (have had these episodes on and off for over 3 years). Some symptoms have subsided, and it has taken me this long to get into a gastroenterologist (appointment December 15). My question is if my symptoms go completely away will a colonsocopy still show something if I have something?

I have been going through weird flare ups for over 3 years but this is the worst flare up I have had. I have seen many many doctors but never a gastroenterologist. The rheumatologist wanted to refer me last year but I was afraid of a colonoscopy so I didn't go. Now I am tired of this mess and I want a diagnosis.

It could be, but it's likely quite a bit harder since they need to at least see inflammation going on and it's not often that a person will have some inflammation with no symptoms, not impossible but quite rare, as even the smallest amount of inflammation can cause some patients tons of symptoms.

:)

Dec 15 is next week, chances are if you're having symptoms he'll see something on the scope unless your CD is affecting your small intestines which then he likely wouldn't see anything with a colonoscopy but instead would have to send you for upper GI tests. I always ask them to call me if anyone cancels their colonoscopies so I can take their place, you could mention that you'd like them to call you incase someone cancels before yours is booked.

:)

Remember that the colonoscopy is more than just a visual observation, they also usually take some surface biopsies and pathologists can examine those for the kind of cellular changes that are charaacteristic of Crohns. And as noted, even absent current symptoms there are usually some visual signs of past/healing inflammation. The scope is not 100% defiinitive, but it remains pretty much the gold standard for diagnosing a wide range of conditions that affect the colon.