Newbie- TI inflammation

[Pletza]

Hi everyone, what a fantastic forum to find!
I've had gut issues since 2011 after I had my second baby. I lost 20+ lbs and had night sweats, nausea and several bowel movements a day. I saw a GI specialist who did a colonoscopy which I was told came back normal and so I was sent on my way with IBS. fast forward to 2016 when things started getting worse. Food has now become my enemy and I have abdominal pain after every meal regardless of what I eat. I always have rumbly bowels and have weeks where I have bowel movements 6-8 times a day. It started waking me up at night so I pushed to see a new GI specialist. All blood tests and stool samples came back good so she scheduled me for a colonoscopy 6 months down the road. That 6 months finally came and today I had my colonoscopy. My report says I have patchy inflammation of my terminal ileum which she biopsied. Also she took several biopsies to rule out microscopic colitis. I'm reading some of you discovered Crohn's in the small bowel which is impossible to see via colonoscopy.. will the biopsy of my inflamed TI show if it is Crohn's that has possible spread from my small bowel? My gut (no pun intended) has always told me I likely have Crohn's. I'd love any insight!! Thank you!!

 

[ronroush7]

Hi everyone, what a fantastic forum to find!
I've had gut issues since 2011 after I had my second baby. I lost 20+ lbs and had night sweats, nausea and several bowel movements a day. I saw a GI specialist who did a colonoscopy which I was told came back normal and so I was sent on my way with IBS. fast forward to 2016 when things started getting worse. Food has now become my enemy and I have abdominal pain after every meal regardless of what I eat. I always have rumbly bowels and have weeks where I have bowel movements 6-8 times a day. It started waking me up at night so I pushed to see a new GI specialist. All blood tests and stool samples came back good so she scheduled me for a colonoscopy 6 months down the road. That 6 months finally came and today I had my colonoscopy. My report says I have patchy inflammation of my terminal ileum which she biopsied. Also she took several biopsies to rule out microscopic colitis. I'm reading some of you discovered Crohn's in the small bowel which is impossible to see via colonoscopy.. will the biopsy of my inflamed TI show if it is Crohn's that has possible spread from my small bowel? My gut (no pun intended) has always told me I likely have Crohn's. I'd love any insight!! Thank you!!

Welcome. If they don't find anything, i might ask that they do a MRI. I hope they can find what is going on and can get you feeling well soon.

 

[Scipio]

I'm reading some of you discovered Crohn's in the small bowel which is impossible to see via colonoscopy.. will the biopsy of my inflamed TI show if it is Crohn's that has possible spread from my small bowel? My gut (no pun intended) has always told me I likely have Crohn's. I'd love any insight!! Thank you!!

The inflammation of the terminal ileum, which is part of the small bowel, by itself is strongly suggestive of Crohn's. To firm up the diagnosis I suggest you talk to your doctor about other ways to visualize more of the small bowel such as capsule camera endoscopy or MRE.

Also lab tests such as CRP, fecal calprotectin, and sed rate can provide insight as to the level of inflammation going on. Plus there are lab tests for celiac that can rule in or out celiac disease as the source of the inflammation.

 

[Pletza]

Hi! I've done all the stool samples and blood work and according to my gastroenterologist it was all 'normal'. Even the report of my colonoscopy was 'normal' besides that noted inflammation in my TI. I will wait to hear if any of the biopsies come back abnormal but otherwise I have no followup .. gotta love the waiting game

The inflammation of the terminal ileum, which is part of the small bowel, by itself is strongly suggestive of Crohn's. To firm up the diagnosis I suggest you talk to your doctor about other ways to visualize more of the small bowel such as capsule camera endoscopy or MRE.

Also lab tests such as CRP, fecal calprotectin, and sed rate can provide insight as to the level of inflammation going on. Plus there are lab tests for celiac that can rule in or out celiac disease as the source of the inflammation.

 

[Lynda Lynda]

The inflammation of the terminal ileum, which is part of the small bowel, by itself is strongly suggestive of Crohn's. To firm up the diagnosis I suggest you talk to your doctor about other ways to visualize more of the small bowel such as capsule camera endoscopy or MRE.

Also lab tests such as CRP, fecal calprotectin, and sed rate can provide insight as to the level of inflammation going on. Plus there are lab tests for celiac that can rule in or out celiac disease as the source of the inflammation.

Thanks for sharing this.
I have recently had stool tests, blood tests, CT Scan and colonoscopy/endoscopy. The combination of these test results has led to my recent diagnosis of Crohns. I am so glad I had ALL the different tests and scans and procedures.
Wishing good health to all.