Diagnose only in flare?

[jadamack]

diagnose only in flare?

I've been having g.I. problems off and on...mostly on for a year now but I have the pleasure of a week long break. Ilve put off going to the doctor until a couple weeks ago. Mostly because I just thought it would go away and also because I just realized just how long this has been going on. Ilve been trying to alter diet here and there and nothing really seems to help. It just seems to be fine a week out of every month or so. I have a upper and lower scope scheduled for nov 11th so my question is do you need to be in full flare to be diagnosed?

 

[Crohn's 35]

HI there and welcome. In answer to your question, no, not necessarily do you have to be in a flare. Lesions and scar tissues and narrowing can be seen even if you are not in alot of pain. It also depends where your Crohn's is and what meds you are on, as medications can mask symtoms but you still have areas that can be seen. I am sure they will take a biopsy to make sure, but they have to get the right spot. Crohns can be very difficult to see, mine is in the curve of the Ileum and many Gi's missed it and finally my recent GI saw it and I got to see the pictures. Even though I wasnt in a major flare, it still showed the lesions, not big but enough to know it is lurking around. Let us know what your GI says, technology is so advanced nowadays. Good luck.

 

[pewpewlasers]

HI there and welcome. In answer to your question, no, not necessarily do you have to be in a flare. Lesions and scar tissues and narrowing can be seen even if you are not in alot of pain. It also depends where your Crohn's is and what meds you are on, as medications can mask symtoms but you still have areas that can be seen. I am sure they will take a biopsy to make sure, but they have to get the right spot. Crohns can be very difficult to see, mine is in the curve of the Ileum and many Gi's missed it and finally my recent GI saw it and I got to see the pictures. Even though I wasnt in a major flare, it still showed the lesions, not big but enough to know it is lurking around. Let us know what your GI says, technology is so advanced nowadays. Good luck.

Can narrowing be seen in a ct scan too or just the colonoscopy?

 

[NatalieMT]

Narrowing and thickening of the bowel wall can be seen on a CT or MRI scan too yes.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Narrowing and thickening of the bowel wall can be seen on a CT or MRI scan too yes.

This is all true, even tho I have never had a MRI, they can be seen, but I found the most truer for me was the barium follow through, you swallow nice chalky stuff. IT shows how long it takes and how narrowed. Had dozens of all these test in my years of Crohns but never MRI's my choice not to, claustrophobic to say the least.

 

[bostonlass]

This is all true, even tho I have never had a MRI, they can be seen, but I found the most truer for me was the barium follow through, you swallow nice chalky stuff. IT shows how long it takes and how narrowed. Had dozens of all these test in my years of Crohns but never MRI's my choice not to, claustrophobic to say the least.

My barium follow through didn't show anything so I'm waiting for a colonoscopy on Nov 17. Is it possible that they'd find it in my colon but not in the barium follow through?

 

[farm]

Yes bostonlass, my barium series didn't show anything but acid reflux. A colonoscopy a few days later showed very active crohns in the terminal illieum and large colon.

 

[Crohn's 35]

My barium follow through didn't show anything so I'm waiting for a colonoscopy on Nov 17. Is it possible that they'd find it in my colon but not in the barium follow through?

It mostly shows narrowing or fistula's or abnormal scarring. Colonoscopies show the inside of the intestines, and they take pictures and biopsys to see any abnormalities. It can be very tricky for a diagnoses, some people still dont have a diagnoses that are on here. Let us know what your GI finds the next day after your scope. Have you had a CT scan or MRI? Good luck.

 

[bostonlass]

It mostly shows narrowing or fistula's or abnormal scarring. Colonoscopies show the inside of the intestines, and they take pictures and biopsys to see any abnormalities. It can be very tricky for a diagnoses, some people still dont have a diagnoses that are on here. Let us know what your GI finds the next day after your scope. Have you had a CT scan or MRI? Good luck.

No to both. Guess they're waiting on the colonoscopy before they do anything else. I have another question if you don't mind. Say they find something really bad, like a partial blockage that is almost a full one, or , God forbid, colon cancer (my one biggest fear lately). Will they let me go home after the colonoscopy or will they make me stay and have an operation? I'm just scared because normally my kids are at their dad's every other weekend and every Wednesday (we're divorced) and this will be on a Tuesday so I don't know if I should make emergency arrangements for them just in case, you know? Thanks again!