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Posted 1/19/2015 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
So, FINALLY, I went to see my GI today. Thank goodness. Basically he feels that my symptoms are much more in line with Crohns than colitis. Apparently the vomiting, just below ribcage stabby pain, and the low right side abdominal cramping are more consistant with Crohns than colitis. The only Colitis-y thing that I have is rectal involvement, which could also be Crohns. Apparently the only way to determine this is to do a double scope, 1 down and 1 up. Endoscopy and a colonoscopy.

Has anyone else been diagnosed with one and then been switched? Should I be concerned?

What does an endoscopy entail. He told me it is only 5-10 minutes, and not as bad as a colonoscopy at all.

Thoughts?
Posted 1/19/2015 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Liz

An endoscopy is a camera down your throat and into your stomach to have a look for any inflammation in the upper GI tract. It's uncomfortable when the tube first goes in for about 30 seconds but never painful at all. Much easier than going on the other end!

Kev
Posted 1/20/2015 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Crohn's can affect any part of the GI tract from mouth to anus, if it's affecting the colon it's referred to as crohn's colitis and sometimes the rectum can be involved especially if the colon is, if it's limited to the small bowel then it's very rare for it to also affect as far down as the rectum but it can and it can affect more than one area at a time...there are 5 subtypes of crohn's disease (easy google search).

The difference between treating UC and treating crohn's is that the meds are generally targeted to reach specific areas and that's why it is important to know whether one has CD or UC...that said, the same meds used to treat UC are used to treat crohn's colitis as well.
Posted 1/20/2015 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, some are diagnosed 1st with uc, and later crohn's. The two can be similar at 1st, when the rectum/colon is involved. Other crohn's signs can develop later that change the diagnosis (uc starts at the anus, and is continuous in inflammation further back, uc has shallow ininflammation). Crohn's is not continuous, is patchy, clear, patchy, and has deeper tissue involvement in biopsies than uc does, crohn's can involve strictures, fissures and other things. Uc is large intestine only. Crohn's can be anywhere in the digestive tract.
Posted 1/20/2015 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
I had an endoscopy done, I don't remember a thing. I had the same knock out drug as when I had colonoscopies. Totally a breeze, no ill effects after and no prep.
Posted 1/27/2015 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Here is a weird question. I have lived with these symptoms for 12 years and this diagnosis 10 years. Is it weird that I feel somewhat ... not sure ... betrayed? weirdly attached to UC? I honestly can't decide what the emotion is, and I know I cannot control the diagnosis, but I really am shocked that for so long I thought I had something and now I may have something else instead? It is a weird feeling...
Posted 1/27/2015 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
I understand what you mean COLITISANDLIZ but I guess it's really just the same crap, different pile lol. Either IBD sucks...as does any bowel issue (IBS, diverticulitis etc.) but knowing exactly what you actually have might make it easier in some way to deal with it medically.
Posted 1/27/2015 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
There's no way he can make a Crohn's diagnosis with a standard endoscope. There is something called a balloon endoscopy where the camera goes way down into the small bowel, but the normal endoscope gets to the duodenum and that's it. There's about 20 feet of bowel that cannot be seen unless you swallow a pill cam or do a balloon endoscopy.

Your GI should have done a small bowel series long ago. Talk to him about this method of evaluating your small bowel. A regular colonoscopy also gets to see the terminal ileum. about 80% of people with Crohn's have inflammation there.

My first diagnosis was proctitis (my GI only used a flex sig). My first full scope wasn't until I changed doctors. It was about 3 years after my diagnosis and I remember waking up to see my GI excitedly (almost gleeful!) talking about my "right sided disease." Apparently I had inflammation in the rectum and cecum.

At the next scope after this one I had inflammation in the rectum, cecum and terminal ileum.

No one will yet say whether I have Crohn's or UC, but I make decisions based on the assumption that I have Crohn's. It hasn't really made a difference in my treatment approach.
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