How were you diagnosed ?

[Shryock86]

I am just wondering of how you were officially diagnosed with whatever it is that you have ?

I was diagnosed with Chrohns based on a capsule endoscopy and IBD serology. Every other test I have had done shows nothing.

My newest GI Doctor is not convinced of my diagnosis, therefor wants me to have the erosions discovered inside of me biopsied.

I have been taking azathioprine (Imuran) but he said as long as the diagnosis of chrohns is confirmed, he will be switching me to Humira.

So I am wondering what test confirmed your diagnosis ?

 

[Denise]

This is a great question! I am wondering the same thing. My current GI won't offically diagnose me with CD. He says that I "most likely" have CD.

I had this:
Colonoscopy: inflammation and bx done of this. Bx showed a granuloma which usually means CD.
Bloodwork: normal
VCE (pill cam): inflammation in TI

Now awaiting a small bowel follow through and see what that tells him. So I guess each doc wants something different to confirm. My guess is that the bx would be best bet.

 

[Rebecca85]

I had an ultrasound and abdominal CT, they were just 'fishing' for the cause of my abdo pain, and Crohn's wasn't even being considered at that point. The CT was 'highly suggestive' of Crohn's, as was a colonoscopy, but they wouldn't officially diagnose me until the biopsies came back showing CD.

 

[Scifimom]

I had no problem whatsoever. One day I woke up with nausea and low right abdominal pain. I went to the hospital and had slightly elevated white cell count and some fever. The doc said I had appendicitis and scheduled me for a surgery the next day. Next day I went to the OR walking, the nurse told me to take a deep breath and not worry, by Monday I would be home. I woke up in ICU three days later with 40+ stitches on my belly, -45cm of my bowel, a chrons diagnosis and 3 months of healing ahead. The bowel biopsy showed I had Crohns and not lemphoma as was the original diagnosis.

 

[DustyKat]

Sarah went undiagnosed for 18 months, she was finally was diagnosed during emergency surgery.

Matt on the other hand was diagnosed super quick. He had next to no symptoms and I asked for inflammatory markers to be done...they were raised and repeated one week later. They were higher again and the GP palpated his abdomen and felt a mass in his RLQ, he stated there and then he thought he had Crohn's. He was sent for an ultrasound the next day which showed thickening of the terminal ileum and again the GP said he thought he had Crohn's. The following week he went for a colonoscopy/gastroscopy and the GI diagnosed him during the scope with Crohn's in the terminal ileum.

Matt's biopsies and pathology post op have never supported that he has convincing evidence of Crohn's because he does not have granuloma's but he surely does!

Dusty.

 

[Jessi]

I was diagnosed by colonoscopy (first one ever) and biopsies confirmed it.

 

[Ducey99]

I was also diagnosed with colonoscopy and biopsies. This was done after a series of other tests that I don't really remember (I was 12 at the time).

 

[deedee]

I was diagnosed by a colonoscopy with biopsies. Before the colonoscopy I also had a CT scan, but that was more to look at the abscess I had. Before that, I had a flex-sig with biopsies but that didn't show anything. A few months after my diagnosis, I had an MRE to get a better picture of the small intestine, and that also showed CD, but by that time there was no question about my diagnosis. I've never had a pillcam.

 

[Spd_demon]

I was due for a physical in July and asked to have a colonoscopy done. They said I was too young yet (I'm 38) but I insisted. During the colonoscopy, they found a section of my intestine that was almost completely closed. They took a biopsy and it confirmed Crohn's. I had to do a barium x-ray for them to see beyond that blockage. The doctor mentioned that by the looks of the scar tissue that I probably started symptoms when I was 17 or 18. My sister also has Crohn's and she was diagnosed about 10 years ago.

They wanted to put me on Imuran and something else (can't remember) but I decided not to do the treatment. I am not a fan of chemical pharmaceuticals so am investigating alternative treatments.

 

[pancakemaker]

I was diagnosed by colonoscopy and a biopsy confirmed it.

 

[Sailorluna]

I was diagnosed after emergency resection for a blockage. Biopsy of removed bowel.

 

[spcwife23]

kept going in and out the hospital in 2009, and 2010.. my regular doctor figured what it was but sent me to gi where i was diagnosed with a colonoscopy

 

[Emily]

I don't really remember my diagnosis. I was pretty little. I just know that I went to the ER one night and ever since then I've had Crohns. I do wish that Children's Hospital still had my records, I think it would be interesting now to see what my doctors were seeing. I read somewhere that they throw them away when you turn 18 and of course, I got my flare a few days after my 18th birthday :yrolleyes:

 

[Sunshine]

I was diagnosed by colonoscopy with biopsy that confirmed crohn's in TI, labs normal except slight elevated esr. however, GI also tested sbft and pill cam which were both normal. Rewind 11 years prior, was diagnosed with ibs, no colonoscopy done since 'I was too young'....oh if I only knew then what I know now...

 

[littlemissh]

I was diagnosed by pillcam, then another pillcam. No histology therefore, which I think makes gastro's a little anxious when looking at using biologicals.

 

[fosterschick]

great question to be asked, i am having some tests done at the moment , only had barium enema so far showing barium going wrong way back into ileum ?? waiting to see consultant to have the full results explained ??
so be useful to know what to ask for to look at my small bowel ... by the replies i am guessing that would that be a colonoscopy or SBFT ??

hugs to u all x

 

[EmAitch88]

colonoscopy, biopsies, and CT scan.

 

[Miss Jones]

At first my GP was convinced i had IBS and needed to eat more 'roughage'. It was when i started to bleed that i was sent to my specialist and underwent a flexible sigmoidoscopy. He told me i had CD the first time i met him. So i was diagnosed fairly quickly. Undergone a couple other tests to measure the severity and what not of the disease though. Not fun

 

[stickman7755]

I was diagnosed by a CT scan, then the colonoscopy confirmed it, then the small bowel follow through and serology 7 test determined the severity of it.

 

[Spooky1]

i had biopsis, bloodwork, bariums and a bucket with a lid on. gastro bloke told me to do three days worth in it and take it back to hospital. i stuffed it in the bath to use it cos you know how voilent, aggressive and explosive D is! i hated using it. bet none of you can beat that one for diagnosis.

 

[stickman7755]

I can't beat the diagnosis, but I think I can beat the explosive BM! Lol

 

[Spooky1]

lol, at least i've found a place where others make me laugh about crohns!!!

 

[stickman7755]

I find the best thing for me is just laugh about it! Trying not to take things in life too seriously is something I have come to live by. I can't change the fact that I have CD so whats the point about stressing about it. I can just try and find the best ways to live with it and keep it in check, I can't have "****" getting crazy down there.