Next step?

Hey everyone.

I'm new here!

Back in the middle of July I started getting excruciating abdominal pain that lasted about a week straight. I have a pretty high pain tolerance but this was just unbearable! All I could manage to do was lay on my couch and try not to cry! I was vomiting multiple times an hour, didn't want to eat at all. I thought it was a bad bug, so I waited it out and eventually it subsided (I took Alieve and it seemed to help but apparently that is a no-no.) . Fast forward to two weeks ago, exact same thing happened. I decided to go to ER where I got a scan and it revealed parts of my intestines were inflamed and thickened. The GI dr I was referred too in the hospital did and upper endoscopy but wasn't able to reach the areas needed and the colonoscopy wouldn't either. I'm almost off the prednisone and I feel much better now. Blood work was done but I haven't heard back yet other than to be scheduled to get a capsule endoscopy done next week. I'm not jumping to conclusions or anything, just trying to be patient lol. I am just anxious about it all, especially since I would like to know what to do in case the pain returns as it has previously. It's very difficult to care for a toddler on my own when I can barely walk. :/

My questions I guess would be:

1. Does anyone have any experience with what the next steps would be in figuring out what is going on for sure if the scopes can not reach the area? (If the Capsule Endoscopy doesn't see anything/can't?)

2. If I am no longer feeling the abdominal pain, will they still be able to see any evidence of whats going on?

I know these are things I can ask my GI next week but I have a very impatient mind when it comes to learning what I can as fast as I can. Thank you.

I think you really need to get further diagnostics. If both scopes didn't reveal enough, then the next logical choices would be a Small bowel follow-thru, an MRE, or the capsule you're scheduled for.

The Prednisone has very likely done it's job, but it won't last forever. If you get a definitive diagnosis of Crohn's, you will definitely need to consider a maintenance medication.

Try not to worry, it could be alot of other things. Also, if with an IBD diagnosis, it can be in varying degrees. Some get only a very mild case and symptoms, and are easily controlled.