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Need answer quick!! Can a colonoscopy diagnose colitis if no active symptoms?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/8/2011 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
My colonoscopy is scheduled for next Tuesday the 12th. My symptoms (bleeding, itching, burning) seem to come and go, and I haven't had any symptoms for the last couple of weeks. Would there still be evidence of proctitis/colitis even though I am not currently having symptoms?(I have been having symptoms off and on since late March.) I just want to be sure that the colonoscopy will be worthwhile.

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Posted 7/8/2011 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome barb. I think symptoms and status of your UC (if it is UC) dont necessarily always correlate. My GI said that some of his patients have their entire colon ulcerated yet their symptoms are 2 - 3 BMs with tiny blood, whilst some patients just have mild proctitis with many bloody diarrhoea episodes.
Posted 7/8/2011 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply MaxMilian.  So do you think I should go ahead with the colonoscopy then?  I guess my question is, if a person truely has colitis, will there always be evidence of it during a colonoscopy, whether or not they are actively having symptoms?
Posted 7/8/2011 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
They can do biopsies which can detect microscopic inflammation. I would think if you had symptoms at all recently, they should be able to find inflammation in your colon.
Posted 7/8/2011 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Personally your symptoms sound more like hemmies or fissures but that conclusion is based on very broad symptoms and plus I am not a doctor. I still think it is wise to go for the colonoscopy anyhow seeing as you had symptoms before. I am taking the 'better safe than sorry' approach.
Posted 7/8/2011 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Max,

Did you have tailbone pain prior to any scoping?

Thanks
Posted 7/8/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I once had a colonoscopy when I felt 100% and it showed "inactive colitis"
Posted 7/8/2011 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
NotSoSickly,

Thanks for the reply.  What exactly did they see that they were able to diagnose "inactive colitis"?  Was there inflammation present, or from a biopsy?

Posted 7/8/2011 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
That was the biopsy result. The GI did mention that things looked patchy but it was inactive at the time. Later I had symptoms and had biopsies that showed active ulcerative colitis.
Posted 7/8/2011 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
You should have the c-scope done to rule out colon cancer since you have bleeding. My friend (non-UC) very healthy nurse had no symptoms and they found colon cancer with her c-scope. She had 12" colon removed and she is healthy now as she was before.
IOW it's not always about UC, there are other things that need monitoring.

It's not painful just annoying flush-out the night before.
Posted 7/8/2011 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely have it done....that's really the only way to see what's going on.

There should really be more than one biopsy....when I have my c-scopes done, the GI does 30+. I have Ulcerative colitis.

Why would you assume you have proctitis...did the doc do a sig-scope?

Colitis and proctitis are terms used to mean inflammation of the colon, or inflammation of the rectum (where the inflammation is). It won't be determined if you have ulcerative colitis unless it's through a process of elimination to nix infection, STD, diverticulitis, polyps, cancer, hemorrhoids..etc etc off the list as for the cause of your bleeding and/or inflammation.

The biopsies would state something to the effect of "consistent with ulcerative colitis" or "scarring consistent with chronic colitis"....etc.
Hopefully, the doc will take a number of biopsies throughout your rectum and colon and cecum.

Crohn's can mimic ulcerative colitis, but it can/does have slightly different cell inflammation patterns and it goes deeper into the cell wall, whereas UC only affects the mucosal and submucosal lining.

Get a copy of the biopsy results when they come in and hopefully after your scope, the doctor will write down what he visually sees since remembering the facts afterward is difficult for some.

Don't get the term colitis mixed up with Ulcerative colitis. UC is a specific disease. The doc may suspect it, but wouldn't be able to determine it visually.

Let us know how the scope goes. What's the clean-out you'll be using?

quincy
Posted 7/8/2011 6:36 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Quincy,

I'll be doing the GoLytely prep - I don't know how I'll manage to get down an entire gallon of that stuff. I've had 1 colonoscopy so far, 3 years ago, after some rectal bleeding and diarrhea (I've had frequent diarrhea my whole adult life.) That showed some mild inflammation and some mild changes (cryptitis) in the biopsies that were done, and my GI doc told me that he thought I had mild ulcerative proctitis, no treatment needed.

I was fine for the past 3 years until I started experiencing rectal bleeding, itching and burning - this has been happening on and off since late March. I saw the GI doc during one of my bad days in late April and he did a rectal exam but said he didn't see/feel anything unusual except some irritation. He suggested the colonoscopy, and seems to think I have ulcerative proctitis/colitis. I was hoping it was just hemmorhoids or a fissure.

Posted 7/8/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi..strange the GI doc said no treatment necessary for mild ulcerative proctitis. It should ALWAYS be treated..hope you're NOT going back to him.

A doctor would be hard pressed to feel some irritation I would think unless the tissue is very inflamed.

It's good you're having a c-scope...please tell him you want lots of biopsies throughout.

You'll get through the gallon prep...one suggestion that you may or may not take....make sure it's not flavoured. I'm pretty sure the GoLytely isn't...I must write this down because I keep forgetting..lol.

Make sure you follow the directions of having the prep mixed the night before and have it in the fridge. You can have a light breakfast and light lunch and you'll start the prep no later than 5 or 5 30.

I pour the first glass about 10 minutes before I drink it...use a straw. Set the timer...drink by putting the straw as far back in your mouth as you can to not have the solution cover your tongue. Drink it all.

Pour your next glass...set the timer for 10 or 15 minutes and there you go...the process is set.

My doc has mentioned to my husband who will be having his scope next month...that if you don't start going witnin the hour, wait until you do and then start drinking it again.

I would doubt it's only hemmies or a fissure. You could, however, take a look-see by squatting over a mirror. The fissure can be dealt with by applying a topical hydrocortisone cream at the very least.

I won't be answering you on the other forum that I saw you on...now that you're here.

q
Posted 7/8/2011 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hey
I've been wondering the same thing. I'm scheduled in a few weeks but have no symptoms. I had some issues a few weeks ago but they only lasted a day or two and it wasn't like the first time I flared so I chalked it up to something I ate or ibs. I'm thinking I should wait until I'm actively flaring because if I do it now - fine. But then if I flare again I'll have to do it again. So if I'm going to have it done the next time I flare why should I go now?

I'm on no meds and I doubt he'd add meds if I'm feeling fine. I even saw a dr at the Cleveland clinic back in April who told me I might be one if the lucky ones who only need probiotics and he didn't recommend any meds for me either. He wanted me to get a scope but said if I flared two weeks later I would have to get another one. No thanks. I'll wait.
Posted 7/9/2011 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
bbc: yer I had coccyx pain roughly around the same time I started seeing blood (which was roughly 6 months before my first scope). At the time and even now my doctor says the pain is unrelated to my UC but I find it hard to believe since the blood and pain occurred at almost exactly the same time...
Posted 7/9/2011 11:15 AM (GMT 0)

barb3246 said...
I just want to be sure that the colonoscopy will be worthwhile.

Colonoscopy is the only way to check the status of your colon. Your colon may show clean to the eye of the GI doc, but it's the biopsies that will tell the true story.

I'd not skip a single colonoscopy. Things can change in a few months.

Good luck to all who prefer to skip "unnecessary" colonoscopies.
Posted 7/9/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
I just had a baby and had a bunch of complications in my recovery. I know a scope is necessary but I finally am feeling like a normal person and just want to enjoy for a bit. I was thinking if it's a seasonal thing I'll be flaring soon anyways. I just want a few months to enjoy
Posted 7/10/2011 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Having just had a colonoscopy yesterday and a long visit with the doc at Mayo, I can definitely say that they can tell if you have UC even if it isn't active. The biopsies will tell for sure if you have some sort of chronic inflamation. They will likely see polyps if you have had active disease in the past. They take biopies to see if you have signs of chronic inflamation that is in an inactive state. So go ahead with the scope as they should be able to tell if you have UC or not.
Posted 7/10/2011 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Barb3246:

The answer to your question is simple, the answer is yes.  There can be a disparity between what one feels on a day to day basis and what actually is occuring on microsopic level.  So a colonoscopy will include biopsies which will be looked at histoligcally.  The pathology will tell what is going on a fundamental level.  I think both, the symptoms and what is going on a microscopic level are equally important.  I would definitely have the colonoscopy.

MyUC

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