GI testing, first round complete. Biopsy w/white blood cells?

I had my first GI test earlier this week, a colonoscopy. And oh boy, the prep sure did me in. I could hardly stand before we left for my proceedure, was faint, dizzy, and nauseous. You may remember I posted a question about doing the prep and having a nursing little one.

Well, I recovered well, I felt so much better once they stuck an iv in me. Good grief, the hospital was the easiest part of it all! Warm blankets, helpful nurses, pudding. Lol.

The Dr said my colonoscopy looked clear. He took biopsies of my colon and sm bowel at the terminal ileum. Today (on a Saturday!) the Dr called me to tell me that the biopsies came back with high white blood cells in both the colon and small bowel. He thought it was interesting because my colonoscopy was so clear, but my symptoms and the white blood cells didn't mesh with that. He isn't my regular GI, I just wanted to get in and get it done asap. He told me to call the Dr next week and talk about coming in for a pill cam endoscopy to look at my small bowel.

I am so glad he took the time to really review my results and my notes from my first appt with the other Dr. When I went in I felt like I was not nearly as bad as I was in January and February, and was worried that my insides wouldn't show anything since I hadn't been feeling as bad.

My pain is generally right above my belly button, so I had been thinking small bowel anyways...Besides that I have had D, and aching joints among other things. Today my hands are stiff and my knuckles hurt, along with my ankles. Weird!

Can you all tell me what you know about high white blood cells in biopsies? would they indicate something higher up in the small bowel that would obviously be missed by the colonoscopy? He said something like "they can be indicative of small bowel disease". That would be IBD right?

Thank you!
Megan

Hi Megan,
I do too have high neutrophils, which are part of white blood cells, whenever I have a colonoscopy and it always clear, with no ulcers . I have had two colonoscopies so far. As far as I know, that does not necessairly mean a disease of the intestines only. I have microscopic ileocolitis ( whcih is still in the microscopic phase).This is is indicative of inflammation in both the intestines and the colon Some other times, they told me it is undetermined crohn's. Either way, I'm taking crohn's medications and suffered a lot from flare ups.
I know how you feel as it is depressing when you don't know the "name" of your disease but don't worry about it and ask your regular doc about it. Hope you will find an answer for your question and take care.