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UC or Crohn's Disease???

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/21/2009 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone know how Crohn's disease is diagnosed? I was diagnosed with UC which I know that I have because I saw the pictures of my colon.... but I'm wondering if I may also have Crohn's? I have immediate stomach pains; gurgling, gas, cramps... you know, that twisted stomach feeling after many meals that I eat. It's comes right after I eat. I know that it is not an ulcer and I currently take prevacid for acid reflux so it's not like an indigestion thing. I am wondering.. are you more likely to have Crohn's disease if you have UC? Does anyone have Crohn's on this forum that could share what that feels like or if my symptoms sound like that is what it could be? Should I ask my doc to test me for it, or do you think I'm being a hypo? Any feedback is greatly appreciated... sometimes i think I'm nuts!!!
Posted 3/21/2009 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
No, I don't think that you are nuts. From everything I have read it can be difficult to sort out UC from Crohn's. Some people are diagnosed with UC only to have the diagnosis later changed to Crohn's. Some folks have IBS on top of IBD. You could have this.

Crohn's symptoms depend on which part of the GI tract is affected. My son had typical Crohn's symptoms which included diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, fatigue, loss of appetite but no real stomach pains since he has ileocolonic crohn's.

Crohn's isn't always easy to diagnose. Prometheus lab has a blood test that helps differentiate Crohn's from UC. Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy with biopsies are the gold standards if they are positive for Crohn's. Small bowel follow through is helpful to look at the small bowel. CT enterography and capsular endoscopy also look at the small bowel.

You can see how complicated it can get! The problem with Crohn's is that the symptoms are different for everyone and it can affect any part of the GI tract.

If you are really worried you should bring it up with your GI. Good luck!
Posted 3/21/2009 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Stomach pain right after you eat can also be a symptom of dehydration. I think there's a way to tell if your dehydrated by looking at your gums or the pink of your eye.
Posted 3/21/2009 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Crohn's and UC are 2 different types of IBD, so you're not more likely to have crohn's disease if you have UC or vise versa (CD doesn't turn into UC or vise versa). Small bowel follow through test and x-rays, pill cams and other procedures can look for crohn's affecting the small bowel.

The major differences between CD and UC are with CD there are skipped patterns of inflammation (healthy tissues in between inflammed) and with UC the entire area will be inflammed with no skipped patterns...also UC only affects the colon/rectom, CD can affect the entire GI tract from mouth to anus and more than one area at a time. Crohn's colitis is the term for crohn's disease affecting the colon....col=colon and itis=inflammation. I have crohn's colitis which people often think means that I have both UC and CD which is not true. It's estimated that 2% of IBDers have both UC and CD (very rare).

Symptoms of UC and CD alone are virtually identical so a DX can not be made by symptoms alone.

:)
Posted 3/21/2009 6:18 AM (GMT 0)
pb, can crohns actually cause ulcers in the mouth?

-----------------------------------------------

yuckygut
Posted 3/21/2009 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Both Crohns and Uc can cause mouth ulcers.
Posted 3/21/2009 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
You all are awesome! I'm printing these posts off and going to do my homework before I go in to see my doc. I'm at the beginning of a flare and going to see a NEW doc soon. I will bring up with him all your posts and see if he thinks that I might have something more by my symptoms. I'll keep you posted :)
Posted 3/21/2009 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
SS1;
As Keenca mentioned: "Prometheus lab has a blood test that helps differentiate Crohn's from UC."
The test was not available when I was first suffering. Two docs misdiagnosed me with Crohns - mainly because of the severety and length of my flair-ups.
The blood-test confirmed I had UC. Tell your new Doc you want to take the blood test - if
they're not certain.
cheers -
Posted 3/21/2009 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Also, UC only affects the outermost (or would it be innermost?) lining of the colon...so maybe "shallowest" would be a better term, while Crohn's affects more layers of the GI tract, so thus goes deeper.
Posted 3/21/2009 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I forgot to add that point, that UC is surfaceable where as CD can (not always) affect the many layers of the intestinal lining often leading to fistulas which CDers are more prone to because of that reason.

:)
Posted 3/21/2009 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Those prometheus tests are in no way conclusive. Nor are symptoms, as I am STILL diagnosed with UC despite the fact I have had a fistula for about a year & a half! I've heard from more than one surgeon that there is no conclusive test to differentiate between the 2, aside from a pathology report on the colon once it's removed.

Posted 3/21/2009 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Eva, have you asked them what your pattern of inflammation is like in your colon and how deep the inflammation goes? That alone can tell the difference between UC and CD.

:)
Posted 3/21/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
No I haven't- duh! I have to see my GI in a couple months, & will really dig in to ask him what the deal is, what exactly he thinks my diagnosis is. I've heard everything from proctitis intially, to refractive colitis, to Crohns colitis. And on my order for Remicade, it's just a flat-out UC. I would accept that wholeheartedly, but the abscess & resulting fistula make me wonder. I only care so much because if I ever choose to go to Humira, which I'm actually leaning towards, I'd like to get a Crohns diagnosis to make insurance coverage easier. I never really cared too much about the actual diagnosis, since the treatments are so similar.

Posted 3/31/2009 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with UC almost 5 years ago but recently I have switched to a new GI. After doing another colonoscopy my new GI says he might have diagnosed me with Crohn's instead.

Doesn't really matter what you call it to me! I just know it's there and it sucks!
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