question

Has anyone ever been in a flare but bloodwork is normal?  I have the painful joints, D, belly pain and major burning, headache,and just that whole feeling like "crap" (no pun intended).  MY GI, whom I really like, says: "You really shouldn't be symtomatic, your blood work is all normal."  What's up with that?  I thought this stupid disease could cause you problems even with "normal" bloodwork.  I hate this disease...and right now I don't like my GI that much.

Thanks for your reply.  I know you'd think he would remember that, heck he's told me that himself.  I just feel so helpless sometimes, I just want his "approval" or "reassurance" I guess for some odd reason. 

my doctor always tells me that if someone didnt know me and only looked at my bloodwork they would think i was perfectly healthy.
this of course is not the case
even when i have huuge abscesses brewing nothing shows up.

if you arent happy with your GI look i would also say to look into finding a new one.
when i was first diagnosed i wasnt happy with my GI he was very old fashioned and hesitant to put me on remicade even after i had tried everything else and was having so many reoccuring problems with fistulas and abcsesses. my surgeon even kept telling him to put me on every time after he would drain one and how i was a perfect candidate, but he still wouldnt.
i switched and my new GI is very pro-active and got me right onto remicade at the point, and ever since then has always been very attentive to how i feel. he understands the fact that i know whats going on in my own body and can tell when something isnt right. i hate when doctors dont trust you and listen to you.
we know our bodies better than anyone else!!

good luck with everything!!

Thanks so much to all of you. I know it is stupid but I always feel so validated after getting replies about my questions here. An you're all right we do know our bodies and the way we feel. I want a GI that has an IBD. I wouldn't wish it on anyone but if soem of these docs knew what it was like I bet they would treat us differently.

many thanks again to everyone here

I agree 100% I had a doctor with crohns disease that I only got to see once. He was wonderful and so understanding. It's like if they dont have to deal with it theirselves then they don't really care. If I was a doctor I would be so much different than a lot of them are nowadays. His name was doctor Reynolds and he opened his own private practice in West Virginia. So if anyone lives there, Hes a GREAT doc!! Good luck to all!