Results of my first Biopsies and more

[Magic Ken]

I just got the results of the first set of biopsies that were taken during my colonoscopy a few weeks ago. 9 of the 10 that were taken came back positive for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The 10th showed something else but the GI has to look at them. His assistant told me the above info over the phone. She said that no cancer showed so at least that much was good news. My main concern is that so much of my colon is inflamed. The doctor said it looked like someone took a piece of sand paper to it. Will meds reduce the inflammation and keep it in check or is it bad that such a large area is affected. I'm scared of having to lose my colon. I had a catscan last week and they found something else in the top of my small intestines just below the stomach. I'm getting the scope down my throat tomorrow morning so they can look at it and get a biopsy. This is new to me still and I am all nerves which doesn't help the Crohn's either. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[archie]

Hi sorry to hear your diagnosis and I hope you get some answers and treatment soon. Drugs will hopefully help your symptoms of inflammation but it can be a long process of trial and error. How long have you been unwell? I was diagnosed with crohns in May 2010 and suffered a perforated bowel in June due to an abscess after 6 months of steroids and pentasa I had to have a small bowel resection in Nov. My 1st CT scan also showed thickening/inflammation of the duodenum and the endoscope confirmed it and also a hiatus hernia. It wasn't crohns apparently even though the symptoms appeared at the same time as the crohns appeared in the small intestine. During my colonoscopy they couldn't get biopsies of the ileum, however the biopsies taken at the surgery confirmed 100% active crohns. Hope you get some answers soon and try not to be too nervous, it's a difficult time I know.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi Ken, welcome to the forum. I'm undiagnosed myself so I can relate to being nervous about having tests & getting results. The endoscopy should go fine. When I had mine, I was nervous too. The nurse who put in my IV saw the look on my face and asked if I was having a bad day. I just nodded and she said, "Don't worry, you're about to get some great drugs so your day is going to get much better!" That made me laugh, and she was right about the good drugs.

Have your doctors said what type of IBD you have? Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's are the most common, and there are different types of Crohn's depending on where the disease is present in your digestive tract (colon, ileum, etc). Try not to be nervous (I know, easier said than done) and have a look around the forum. There are plenty of great people here who can answer any questions you have, and on here nothing is TMI. Welcome and I hope you get some concrete answers and relief soon!

 

[Magic Ken]

Thanks. I found out the tenth biopsy was normal and I think he said it was of the illeum. Today's test went good. What the catscan had showed the other week that had me nervous wound up being just some inflammation in the duodenum and there was a polyp in my stomach. The GI says that I do have Crohn's and at my next visit on the 16th he will talk with me and decide which med I will start on. He will put me on either Imuran, Azathioprine, or Mesalamine. Appearently my Crohn's is fairly mild and he feels confident one of these meds will keep it in check =)