Thickening in intestines?

Hi everyone. I posted recently that I was having pain in my abdomen for about 2 years and I had a cat scan and the scan says I have thickening in parts of my intestines with minimal swelling or something like that. The surgeon I saw said that most likely is my pain source and said I should get a new GI because he is not doing enough for me. I am on Cimzia shots, Lialda, Bentyl, Prilosec, Cymbalta and am still bleeding but my GI says my cat scan looks good? What do you guys think? I am making an appt at another GI today. I hate going through all the tests again! Thanks for your time and consideration.

The thickening is likely from ongoing inflamation, it's essentially scar tissue. I would go see another GI also, if you are bleeding I would think your current GI should be doing more to help you, possibly a course of steriods(in my experience). A new GI should be able to get those same CT scan results, but would probably want to do another scope. Good luck.

I was initially told in the ER that cat scans can only detect thickening and that it is necessary to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy and also a small bowel series to check the extent of damage inside your intestines. It is always a good idea to have biopsies done so they can see how deep the inflammation goes. I had a double contrast cat scan where thickening was seen in my right ascending colon and so I was told I had an IBD and was admitted into the hospital. They have to take a sample to definitively diagnose Crohn's as it is the only IBD that attacks all the layers of our intestines. I can't imagine a decent GI using only a cat scan as his only source of information in his treatment of you
NY VEGGIE

When my husband had his last flare up, his GI ordered a CT enterography which showed mild thickening in the transverse colon. He called in a script for prednisone for my husband to bring down the inflammation, since my husband didn't have any scarring (he knew that from a previous colonoscopy).

So, thickening can be a sign of active disease and inflammation. Even on cimzia or Remicade, you can still flare up and need prednisone to control the flare and get back into remission.

My husband was having problems with energy and gas and boosting, but his GI initially put him off saying his blood work looked normal and maybe he was just eating foods that didn't sit well with him. I put my husband on a diet of just boost and plain chicken and plain white rice, and when we still didn't see improvement, his GI ordered the CT enterography. So, definitely listen to your gut. Doctors really just look at the numbers in front of them and make good educated guesses. Only you know how you feel. So if this doc isn't listening to your symptoms, go get a second opinion.

PV