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How can I tell if I have Crohns?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/29/2010 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
  I have elevated lab results of CBir1 flagelin.  I have a positive ANA and other autoimmune issues.  I have stomach issues and severe cramping with a bm (which is diareah)...yuck!)  I hope its okay to talk about poop here!  idea

So am I on the right track to assume I have Crohns?  My doc has suggested it, and prescribed me meds to "see" if it would help, but I have not taken them yet.

What should I do?  Do I need to follow this through with a doc, or just "deal" with these issues on my own?

Thanks a mill for the help.

SpringThyme

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 1/29/2010 11:17:49 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/29/2010 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of a doc putting you on "crohn's" meds without diagnositc tests ... what meds? Have you had any basic bowel panels done? A colonoscopy? Any plans to? Is your doc a GI specialist and if not, I would encorouge you to see one. You could have only IBS or you could have IBD which could mean Crohn's or Colitis which require different meds. I don't like the 'shot in the dark approach' especially if you have Lupus and taking meds for other auto immune diseases.

Just my two cents ...
Posted 1/29/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)

total agreement with champagnegirl

cd since 1970 imuran and pred 4 surgeries

Posted 1/29/2010 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, and thank you for your input!  I guess I could start out with spelling the disease right in the first place!  LOL!  Crohn's...there I did it!  blush

So the gatro doc gave me Endocort.  He wanted to see if it made me feel sagnificantly better.  I hate that idea!  I dont want to take a med to just see if it works. 

He has never done a bowel panel or a colonoscopy.  He has mentioned a colonoscopy but has focused on the upper GI tract with an endoscopy and barrium swallow.  I have severe heartburn and gerd. 

As far as autoimmune stuff, I have been diagnosed with Mixed connective tissue dissorder....boy that hurts my fingers to write!  shakehead So that basically means that I have some markers that indicate that inflammation process going on in different areas of my body.

I was feeling fine until recently, I went from severe constipation to severe diareah...I just give up.  I also hate seeing the doc, they take my money and leave me feeling just as bad as before.  Is it worth the effort to find out what is going on?

Posted 1/29/2010 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
You need to get to the bottom of all this.. Save your time and money. Unless you get the neccessary tests to find out what you have exactly then that is what your doing... wasting your time and money. My doc set me up immediatly when I described those symptoms. Colonoscopy, enoscopy, and a capsule endoscopy. He found my Crohn's with the Colonoscopy, but then procedded with the other oscopies to see the extent of my Crohn's. This is nothing to guess about. I would demand that your doctor give you the neccessary tests so you will know what is wrong. Just my opinion, though
Posted 1/29/2010 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others and would add that I would fire that GI and find an intelligent one. There can be no excuse for not doing the necessary and appropriate tests to diagnose your condition before prescribing meds. JMH(but most accurate)O
Posted 2/6/2010 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others. Your doctor should do more tests.

I'm actually one of those people that takes the medications without an official diagnosis. However, my doctor did run all of the tests. He did an endoscopy, colonoscopy, barium CT, and the pill cam. The tests were inconclusive BUT my symptoms point to Chron's and there was scarring in my intestines but no active disease. He was also the ONLY doctor that listened to my symptoms.

At the time I thought it was my appendix or something, and ended up in the hospital with pain. Soon after I got really sick and couldn't eat for a looong time. If I did I paid the price and basic movements like sitting, walking, and standing up was painful.

The entocort has worked for me. I do a lot better on it. If I stop taking it my stomach wreaks havoc.

I would request more tests.

By the way, entocort is $569 retail for me. Thank goodness for health insurance.

Posted 2/6/2010 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I can only see this approach to make sense in Toodles case as not all tests are conclusive. But I think you owe it to yourself to do these tests ...you not have Crohn's but a disease as a close cousin which requires different treatment. Get a different doc or demand to get to the bottom of it. You are the consumer ....
Posted 2/6/2010 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
I can't believe your doc hasn't done a colonoscopy and all the test under the sun for IBD but went ahead and put you on meds for IBD...if it were me, I'd find a new doc, one that knows the protocol and will do a colonoscopy, small bowel follow through, blood and stool tests and anything else needed to confirm either crohn's or ulcerative colitis (another type of IBD)...BTW, when crohn's is affecting the colon (where uclerative colitis/UC typically hangs out) it's referred to as crohn's colitis just so you know...alot of people think crohn's colitis means they have both crohn's and UC...the same meds used to treat UC are used to treat crohn's colitis.

Get checked out properly, for your own safety.

:)
Posted 2/6/2010 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with all of the above, you should be tested first. But if like Toodles who had all the tests, but can't get a conclusive answer at this time, it is okay to start the meds, because sometimes Crohns is really hard to diagnose. I would get a second opinion if I were you. Good luck!
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