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Small Bowel Follow Through Questions

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/21/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
I was curious if the small bowel follow through is a good indicator of early Crohn's?  Anyone know?

Also, I have read this test could take an hour or up to 5, depending on how fast your system moves.  Anyone know about this?

Thanks a bunch!  :-)

I get to have this test done tomorrow, by the way...

Posted 4/21/2008 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
sbft is pretty simple. they did one on me -after- my crohn's diagnosis. as in the ct scan i had done first, it showed strictures in my ti. i don't know if it would show early crohn's per se, but if you have any narrowing due to scarring it would show that. fortunately (unfortunately!), my system runs fast. i was in and out in under 2 hours. good luck tomorrow and ahh, wear comfy shoes. i stupidly wore heals (i had to go to work right after) and had to trot around in my 2 johnnies and cute little dress shoes...it was a good look!
Posted 4/21/2008 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Just be SURE to drink LOTS of water to wash that barium out after the procedure! It tends to harden w/in 2-3 days and pooping white bricks is no fun! It can even help to take some MOM the first day or two. Some facilities do use a little Reglan in the barium to move things thru faster, both for the procedure and in eliminating the barium after. You'll know the barium is finally gone when your BMs turn back to normal color. Your first BMs may be white, gray or clay colored gradually turning to brown as more of the barium is moved thru and out. Drink, drink, drink to flush the barium out!
Posted 4/21/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to echo CrohnieToo because it can't be said enough: make sure you drink plenty of water afterwards! You don't want the barium backing things up.
Posted 4/22/2008 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
let me know how it went, i go for the same test in the morning.......sherri

Posted 4/22/2008 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
It took about 2 hours for me.

I had the SBFT about six months before I was formally diagnosed. It came back "normal" because the radiologist who read it at the student health center was incompetent. Not to mention more than an hour late for my appointment. Still peeved...

It may be helpful in the early stages, but that depends a lot on who is reading it. I would say my Crohn's was caught early, and the SBFT was a waste of my time and money (luckily it's relatively painless, other than drinking the barium). For me it took a scope, CT enterograph, Serology-7 and a different doctor to officially get a diagnosis.
Posted 4/22/2008 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
So very much relies on the experience of the radiologist w/recognizing Crohn's disease manifestations. I've had a "normal" SBFT locally and w/in less than a month a SBFT at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (#1 gastro dept in the country for years) which indicated two areas of active disease and a high grade partial obstruction.

The same holds true for the CT Enterography. Its the experience and familiarity w/Crohn's disease of the radiologist that determines the QUALITY of the procedure's reported results. Unfortunately, how many of us have any opportunity to determine the skill and experience of a radiologist, or even which radiologist does our procedure, like we do w/our gastros and/or colorectal surgeons???
Posted 4/22/2008 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed in january.  my sbft took FOREVER!  at least 4 hours.  But my inflamation was severe and I know that...I was very sick before my diagnosis.  I had to get up and walk and even that didn't help much.  The radiologists were very busy so I think they kept forgetting about me...not nice!!  :-(  I even took a nap on the hard table...that's how sick and tired I was!!! It was not a fun time, but it definitely confirmed my diagnosis.

Posted 4/22/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having one on Friday!
I've already been diagnosed with Crohn's we're just checking to see what the rest of the small bowl looks like.

I called the radiology department at the hospital and the woman I talked to said it can take upwards of two hours but it really depends on how things move. I'm being sent out of town for it and have to catch a plane right after my appointment to come home. If the test runs any longer than 2 hours I'll miss my flight (*sigh* stupid medical travel people). I'm a bit nervous that all the barium will make me sick. It wouldn't be a huge deal if I didn't have to fly...
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