Path report help

[Caeryn23]

The colonoscopy showed: The descending colon mucosa is "erythematous, hemorrhagic, ulcerated, and to show loss of vascular markings suggestive of stercoral ulcers due to constipation." Four biopsies were taken.

Here is my path report.
Descending colon, biopsy:
- Colonic mucosa with edema and hemorrhage
- No evidence of ischemic injury, inflammatory bowel disease or active inflammation.

I wasn't sure what this means. In the clinical history section, the report mentions that I have colitis. I guess it just didn't show up in pathology?

Thank you.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi, I don't really have much in the way of answers for you, but didn't want your post to go with no replies. In my layperson non-medical opinion, I see that it says no evidence of inflammatory bowel disease - this doesn't necessarily mean it isn't Crohn's, as the colonoscopy can only see the large intestine and the very tail end of the small intestine. Crohn's can manifest anywhere in the digestive tract, literally anywhere from mouth to anus, and often appears in the small intestine. So although this test didn't answer anything for you, I would suggest pushing your doctors for more tests. Have you had anything like CT-enterography, MR-enterography, pill cam, or small bowel follow-thru? Tests like that would get a better picture of your digestive tract including the small intestine and might get you more answers. Good luck, I hope that helped a little bit anyway. Hopefully your doctor can give you more information about the specifics of your results or maybe someone else will come along and see this thread and will know more than I do.

 

[Caeryn23]

Thank you for responding. I never had a CT-enterography, MR-enterography, pill cam, or small bowel follow-thru. I don't know if they'll order any more tests. It was hard enough getting a colonoscopy.

I'm confused because I had high lactoferrrin and sed rate. I wonder why inflammation didn't show up on pathology.

I'm just frustrated with my GI issues.

 

[Jennifer]

Edema means that there's fluid buildup. Hemorrhage is bleeding, could be from blood vessels or ulcers etc. Erythematous means that the area looks red or inflamed.

Other tests can still be done like the ones mentioned above but even a barium enema may show something that the colonoscopy didn't. For instance you could have inflammation on the outer layer of your intestine which may or may not show up in the biopsy but will show up in an x-ray image.

 

[Caeryn23]

I can ask for further testing. I don't think they will do anything else. They keep saying it's constipation/IBS. And to take Miralax. It's frustrating, since I had abnormal scans and labwork. I thought tests are usually normal in IBS.

 

[Jennifer]

Are you able to see a different GI/get a second opinion?

 

[Catherine]

I too have dx of ibs, and my daughter has crohns. I am about to try a trail of the FODMAP diet there seems some studies showing up to 80% improvement in people with IBs

 

[Caeryn23]

I saw the surgeon I was seeing and had another x-ray. It says I still have a lot of stool. I don't know why, since I had a bowel prep/colonoscopy. I wish I knew what exactly is wrong.

I contacted a local health agency (not the hospital clinic). They provide assistance for people without health insurance. They are working on getting a GI doctor for me. Hopefully this will work out.