CT Scan Needed?

So I started Humira back in June and it seems to be working a bit, but I am still having a mixed bag of either pieces of formed stool with or without blood, or horrible gas accompanied by residual diarrhea with or without blood. The blood is either in the toilet or in the stool or on the paper. Sometimes it looks like I pass tiny blood balls. Anyway, I also have pain which sometimes is reminiscent of pain I’ve had while being hospitalized. It’s really affected my quality of life and I get so tired and fatigued or my butt hurts so bad from passing stool. I’ve been communicating with my doctor and he ordered blood work and a CT scan. I’ve had them done before and drinking that stuff is nasty, but what do they really show anyway? I mean sometime I get to a point where I can feel okay, but I guess I have these symptoms at night. Do you think I just need to get the scan done anyway?

When was your last colonoscopy?

I think CT scans are about as clear as you can get as far as pictures of the gut (sometimes I think they are TOO clear and show things that are not that serious but get interpreted as so . . . if that makes sense). They do have radiation though and as a young female you really do want to avoid that as much as possible, especially considering this is a life-long illness and most likely won't be the last time you'll need one. Just keep it in mind for next time and bring up your concerns if a doctor recommends another too soon. MREs do not entail radiation - but believe me, the prep is MUCH worse! And I don't think they are as clear, but are good at ruling out acute or severe problems.

Let us know how things turn out!