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Meds while waiting for diagnosis?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/15/2011 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
well wen you guys were in the process of diagnosis did u get meds or not .... cuz im in the process of diagnosis and my doc gives no meds , only in my first HORRID flare up... furthermore he has done blood tests which tested pos for the antibodies... and endoscopy with biaposy and colonoscopy with biaposy and both say neg... he has scheduled me for a camera pill so noe results from that yet till i get it ,

but was it like this for most too in the process of diagnosis?

are there stages of this illness?

and is this illness linked to cancer?

*Gave your post a title*

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 4/15/2011 7:59:55 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/15/2011 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I wasn't medicated when I was in the initial testing faze. Once my diagnosis was confirmed that is when I get meds.

Not sure what you mean by stages? And Crohns does have a small risk for colon cancer, but not that high of a risk. Hugs!
Posted 4/15/2011 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
...and the cancer risk is for when you are much, much older. Chronic inflammation over many years raises the risk of cancer for your colon. But if you get a solid diagnosis and treatment, you will not have chronic inflammation.
Posted 4/15/2011 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
The diagnosis process for many takes a long time and can be frustrating. For some it a quick diagnosis because their disease has gotten to the point of needing surgery when they go in or the damage is easily seen. For most though, it takes many tests before they can give you a solid diagnosis. For myself, it took 2 surgeries, a year of test and frustration, and finally nearly a month in the hospital with a G.I. bleed to figure it all out. The pill cam test was the only test that was able to see the part of the small bowel that had the damage. It was a hard year..
As for medications during the process, they most likely won't prescribe much because they don't what to treat and need to see the disease. If they were to treat you with some meds and your disease went into remission, they would not be able to give you a solid diagnosis. During my process, I was prescribed meds for some of the symptoms like pain meds, antispasmotics, and anti nausea meds. I don't see any reason why your doc would not help you deal with the pain, D, or nausea.
I guess the big question is, why do you feel like you have Crohn's disease? Have your doctors already ruled it out? I really pray that you have IBS or something that is curable and you do not have to have this lifelong illness. Good luck and I hope you continue to post questons here throughout your ordeal.
Posted 4/18/2011 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
I was not given meds before the diagnosis. It took me three months alone to have the GI appt. I was given my first set of meds, after my colonoscopy and first hospitalization (long story). I would not call the disease to have stages (I think you mean, does the disease get gradual worse)
I think its more of a question, as to how severe your disease is. And sadly you can't really tell this without numerous testing and trial-and-error medications. I heard that Crohn's Disease is linked to colon cancer, but I do not think the percentage is that great. There are higher percentages of your sibling to having the disease and your children.

Hope this helps, and hopefully you'll be given a clear answer soon
Kim
Posted 4/18/2011 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
When I first started bleeding from my bum(think I had it before then, but never severe enough to be hospitalised, nor bleeding like this), before dx, yes, I was given meds...namely steroids, this was in 1998...but that may be because my colon was so inflamed and they would have given me steroids regardless, not to mention they gave me phenergan, bentyl and codeine syrup too...

Then again I was a student(grad school, and was accepted to the Med School for entry in the next year...BTW I declined my acceptance, cuz I was feeling so horrible) and employee at the University Med Center...so maybe that's why I was kinda lucky with a fast dx and treatment...I don't know...
Posted 4/18/2011 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
No I was not treated with medication. Every doctor I saw, and I saw a lot, thought I had hemmies. I didn't have a regular GP. I had had a child a year earlier and it made sense that I would have hemmies. I just kept going to the ER or walk in Clinic. Finally I saw a proctologist. Eventually my Mom went to an appointment with me and said that she had CD. I was diagnosed on the spot. I was put on meds that day and within a few weeks I was so sick I was in the hospital for a week of steroids. I spent 10 years undiagnosed, but from the first sign of trouble the second time to time of diagnosis was about 4 or 5 months and a good 20lb weight loss.
Posted 4/19/2011 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
After reading a few of the replies about crohn's disease and colon cancer, I decided to do a little research.(aka a google search) This is a topic that means something to me because my grandma and uncle both had crohn's disease and both ended up with colon cancer. Both were not treated with the technology and medications that we have today but it still is an area that should be known. I went to the Mayo clinic website and found this short paragraph:
"Having Crohn's disease increases your risk of colon cancer. Despite this increased risk, more than 90 percent of people with inflammatory bowel disease never develop cancer.

Your risk is greatest if you've had inflammatory bowel disease for at least eight years and if it has spread through your entire colon. The longer you've had the disease and the larger the area affected, the greater your risk of colon cancer. The risk of other cancers also is increased, including cancer of the anus."

I have been told that we have a very high risk of colon cancer if we do not maintain our disease with meds and that those with Crohn's Coltis(Crohn's mainly in the colon) and Ulverative Colites are at a higher risk. This paragraph pretty much verified what my doctors were saying. Luckily it is down to 10% of those with ibd. That is still a lot of people but I am sure that number used to be a lot higher.
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