Diseased Gallbladder-Do I Really Have Crohn's Now?

[LodgeLady]

This was a good and bad week for me. Got the flu, was hospitalized, while there found out my gallbladder has to come out ASAP. So now I am wondering:

1. I am newly diagnosed Crohn's from biopsy ( ileitis at terminal ileum). Could the bad gallbladder actually caused that biopsy result?

2. All of my symptoms ( abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea , constipation, weight loss) all stem from the bad gallbladder and not Crohn's?

3. GI doc wants me to see specialists in Baltimore to definitively diagnose me and recommend a treatment plan for him. Couldn't I just heal from the gallbladder surgery first and then retest the biopsy? Maybe the inflammation will have cleared?

I am so confused but gratefull that I may finally get part of my life back. But my biggest concern is do I really have Crohn's? Does one positive biopsy make the diagnosis?

 

[UnXmas]

I can understand how unsettling it must be for you to have this happen so soon after you thought you'd got a clear diagnosis.

The symptoms you list are all Crohn's symptoms, but they aren't specific to Crohn's which makes it very hard to guess the diagnosis based on your symptoms. How long have you been having these symptoms btw? Were any tests done on your gallbladder previously?

Whether just waiting to heal from the surgery is a good idea I would think depends on how long that would take and how definitely the gallbladder issues will resolve. If your doctors expect you to heal quickly and predict that, if your symptoms were all from your gallbladder, they would disappear, that makes it a very different situation than if you'll take a long time to heal.

Since your GI is advising you to see the specialist, it sounds like he has some suspicion that Crohn's is still a possible diagnosis. If even the doctors do not seem to know the cause of the inflammation, there probably is a need to get more information in order for a diagnosis to be made.

I know going through tests can be awful though - do you have any specific concerns about having to see a specialist and be retested? Even if it turns out that you don't have Crohn's, do you think it would make you feel better to have that confirmed for certain?

Sorry, I haven't really given you much helpful advice. I hope you're at least over the 'flu and recovering well from your surgery.

 

[LodgeLady]

I have been having these symptoms for over 3 years maybe longer just not as severe. I had my gallbladder tested by another GI. At that time Hida scan showed 30% ejection rate with a few gallstones on Hida scan. He advised not to have surgery..

Switched my GI and he worked me up for Crohns never entertaining the gallbladder. I have been through hell this past year on antibiotics , 4 months prednisone, Humira, and still having pain. Not until pain was unrelenting 10 days ago did my new GI zero in on the gall bladder. I'm not going to second guess him but I can't help but think how sick I've been and maybe it could have all been circumvented. Still the one biopsy shows inflammation. So for now can't exclude Crohns?

My specialists are 45 minutes away. Not an easy trip will be all day to go down and back. I just don't know why HE can't confer with them instead of sending me down there. There is only so much testing that can be done.