Ischemic colitis

[Cassie]

Two weeks ago the colonoscopy suggested ulcerative colitis and biopsies were taken. Today I received the biopsy report and it said that I had ischemic colitis in the splenic flexure. I do understand that ischemic colitis is about blood circulation (and oxygenation of tissues). What I'm wondering is if this is seen in ulcerative colitis. I sure don't like the possible other causes... My symptoms fit the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.

I see the doc on the 19th.

 

[Trysha]

Hello Cassie
How many biopsies did the GI take for examination?
The average is usually 3 but will vary according to what is seen by the GI.
It is good you don't have long to wait before you see your GI.
At the visit ask him/her how many biopsies were taken.
Also you will surely have had some bloodwork analyses done and these results could be important in the disease differentiation.
Feel better soon
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha

 

[Cassie]

I had 3 biopsies: splenic flexure, ileum, and stomach. There was some bloodwork: IBD serology, ESR, CRP. The previuos day in ED several vials were taken, but other than the CBC I don't know what they were. I also had a CT enterography, so that will give a better view of the small colon and circulation.

 

[Trysha]

It is good that these other tests were done. You will be able to discuss all these results with your GI at your next appointment and hopefully get a clearer picture of the diagnosis.
Hugs
Trysha

 

[David]

It is indeed sometimes a result of Ulcerative Colitis. Do not let them give you a diagnosis of ischemic colitis and send you on your way. You want to find out WHY. Whether it is a result of IBD or something else.

 

[Cassie]

Saw the GI doc today. Here are the abnormal results:

CT enterography:
no evidence of bowel obstruction or other acute abnormality. No bowel dilaiton. No significant rectal wall thickening.

Labs:
Anti-A4Fla2 IgG 51.7 EU/ml (reference 44.8 EU/ml)
ATG16L 1 SNP (rs2241880) mututation Detected Homozygous G/G
ECM1 SNP (rs3737240) Mutation Detected Homozygous T/T
NKX2-3 SNP (rs10883365) Mutation Detected Homozygous G/G
CRP 34.3 mg/L (refrerence 13.2 mg/L)

Colonoscopy:
Splenic flexure biopsy: ischemic colon

His comments:
This does not rule out Crohn's and does indicate a genetic predisposition to it. The ischemic bowel can be caused by a tiny clot or a neoplasm. My PCP should follow up to rule out cardiac causes. EGD & Colonoscopy in 6 mths.

When I asked about the time...since colon cancer is one that has a good cure rate if caught early...is 6 mths too long? Not pushing, deferring to his judgment....and he decided to do it in 3 mths.

So...food often causes bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, and diarrhea (am I going to make it home in time?). But I don't have a diagnosis of IBD...yet. And he's not sure what happened that resulted in ischemic colitis and a GI bleed.

Still in limbo sorta but I think I'm doing the right things. Am I seeing this clearly?

 

[metman08]

Same thing happened to me. I was hospitalized im 2010 with severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding, vomiting. I have had a history of GI issues. I was in the hospital for 4 days.getting different tests. My GI doc said "im betting its Crohns" and "your.colon is pretty banged up". About.a week after i.got out of the hospital i got a call telling me it was ischemic colitis. I was just hospitalized again with.similar.symptoms but not as bad as the first time and when i told the docs( all family medicine no GI.docs by the way) they said a biopsy doesnt.show.ischemic colitis. So i go to this new gi doc on the 7th so we will see.

 

[Cassie]

Good luck. I know that ischemic colitis is related to Crohn's...two separate processes but sometimes people with Crohn's have ischemic colitis sometimes. Not sure.

I have a repeat colonoscopy at the end of the month. I feel good so I expect it to be clear. They have done other tests to rule out other causes for the ischemic colitis biopsy and they've all been negative. 'Just one of those things' someone said. Okay, I'll get on with my life now.

No one wants to have Crohn's but it would be nice to have an answer and be able to then deal with it, don't you think? Hope you get an answer and it is something that can be cured...