Help, what do I say to the consultant??

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nic

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Hi, I'm looking for some help i've had problems which are associated with crohns for over a year now. Unexplained B12 deficiency, intermittent diorreah, cracking of the skin around the anus, bleeeding of the skin, I sometimes get a very sharp stabbing pain when i pass a stool (this will have me doubled over in pain) abdominal pain and bloating. I was finally refered to a consultant due to the b12 deficiency (the other symptoms seem to have been ignored by doctors) who has refered me for an endoscopy (stomach and upper intestine) this weekend to check for coeliac. Problem is if this comes back not showing something should I ask for further tests to check for crohns? I don't want to seem like a hypocondriac who's diagnosed myself online.
 
hi Nic, & welcome to the forum :)

great news that you're now under the care of a consultant... that is often the turning point for many of us in getting a diagnosis. GPs unfortunately can miss the Crohns warning flags for many years.

it may well be that your consultant will continue to test and seek diagnosis without you having to request further tests.. if the coeliac result comes back negative, then it would make sense to investigate for Crohns Disease. i wouldn't be surprised if the next step was a colonoscopy, given that you have problems lower down.

just from what you have said, it does sound very likely.. but only proper testing will determine the diagnosis for sure.

good luck with the endoscopy, & please let us know how you get on - and don't ever worry about appearing to be a hypochondriac! we know our bodies, and we know when something's wrong - if our doctors are ignoring the symptoms, then we owe it to ourselves to keep on telling someone until notice is taken. i suffered years & years being told there was nothing wrong and being misdiagnosed.
 
Hi, Nic
Don't be afraid to write your questions down in advance and take your time to go through them all... you've got the chance to sort all this stuff out while the consultant is sat in front of you.
I'd also try and write all the symptoms down, where, when what. It's terrible when you come out and realise you've missed something. I'm b****y useless at stuff like that!
Good luck!
 

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