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Colonoscopy Friday

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/18/2017 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Have a colonoscopy Friday per my GI's request to determine if my current symptoms are post infectious IBS, Crohn's, or microscopic colitis.

Obviously, keeping my fingers crossed for PI-IBS but want to be prepared in case I do get an IBD diagnosis. Have had blood work done (all came back normal) but no fecal calprotectin test.

Have been doing some research but aside from prednisone to control the flare, what medication(s) are a good first line treatment for (at least by symptoms) a mild case of Crohn's? Is it 5-ASAs or something like 6MP?

Current symptoms -

*Soft, but mostly formed, stools anywhere from 1-9 times/day
*Mild but increasingly persistent cramps
*Occasional mucus
*Occasional blood on stool or on toilet paper
*Intermittent back pain
*Pressure feeling in rectum
*Fatigue
*Feeling of incomplete bowel movements
*Slight pain in rectum and LRQ during bowel movements
*Lost 16 pounds but have gained back around 4 (added high calorie snacks and high protein/low sugar drinks)

Have a tendency of putting the cart before the horse so I know this may be premature but prefer to be prepared for all outcomes. Appreciate all the information I have gathered from HW thus far.
Posted 1/18/2017 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
LMusing, Good luck with your scope, I hope it goes well!
You seem to have some symptoms but it could easily be any of those listed. I would say just take a deep breath and do your best to stay calm until you can get results.

The 5-ASAs don't have a high rate of success, especially because they usually only work in the large intestine and miss any other inflammation. The positive is that they dont have as many side effects. Humira tends to be recommended as first treatment lately to get into remission. Depends on wether you go with top down or bottom up approach to treat it. Most reccommend top down. But you really don't need to think about this until you find out what you have going on.
Posted 1/19/2017 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
lmusings, good luck.. I'm doing mine in about 10 hours.. ;oP
Posted 1/19/2017 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck back at you, Randy!

Thank you, Lab. Am painfully aware that I tend to go towards "worse case scenario" so trying to remind myself that Crohn's is the most unlikely diagnosis of the current options. Hoping my brain will better accept this post-colonoscopy smilewinkgrin
Posted 1/20/2017 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Can now agree that the prep is the worst part of getting a colonoscopy.

Thankfully, aside from internal hemorrhoids, the colonoscopy showed a healthy colon. Biopsies were taken though and will get those results back in about a week. For now, it does seem my issue is PI-IBS with the bleeding coming from the aggravated hemorrhoids. My only concern is that the note says "normal colonoscopy up to the terminal ileum" so worried she didn't look there but will confirm when she calls with the biopsy results.
Posted 1/20/2017 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
That's fantastic! So glad it went well! I hope the biopsies come back normal. If down th road you still have trouble and are not satisfied there are other tests they can do but it sounds like you have your answer!
Yes, check to see if the TI was biopsied
Posted 1/22/2017 9:47 AM (GMT 0)
glad for ya.. mine was fine also. ;o)
Posted 1/23/2017 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
LMusings,

The worse part is waiting for results and the prep. Sounds like you have alittle more information to obtain before your GI makes a final diagnosis. I hope it is not UC or Crohns and that you feel better soon! Please let us know how it goes.

Randy,

I am so glad yours was good!

Clo
Posted 2/1/2017 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
My biopsies came back entirely normal - no signs of Crohn's, UC, or microscopic colitis. Asked my GI if she was able to inspect the terminal ileum since her notes to me seemed to indicate she did not but she consulted her own notes where she wrote that it was seen and everything looked normal.

Have had a few bad days, believe related to diet, so does appear I am suffering from PI-IBS, as well as internal hemorrhoids, and will hopefully be able to go back to "normal" eventually.
Posted 2/4/2017 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
That's great news. I have Crohn's in remission, but I have ongoing IBS and I know how uncomfortable the IBS alone can be!
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