What test should I be having to monitor my chrons

[mozzie85]

Hi all,

I've been having a recent flare up of my chrons and have had to have 3 weeks off work. I was going to the toilet upto 10-12 times a day with bloody stools. Briefly:

I started on some pred 20mg for one week, increasing to 40mg for 3 wks which is now tailoring down (also taking calcium and D3 to protect bones)

Had 5 days of metronidazole (which I wasn't sure was enough)

Started lansoprazole and a probiotic.

I'm feeling alot better now, but throughout all of this I haven't had ANY tests. I'm still having bouts of feeling extremely tired and unwell and I'm breaking out in sweats pretty much every day. I had an appointment with an IBD nurse yesterday and they said the sweats were just a side effect of the steriods. But I'm not convinced, how can they tell this? I'm worried I still have some infection brewing (read afew people's stories about C Diff...). I also found that the most effective thing ever for my chrons was a month long course of metronidazole and ciprofloxacine. I've asked to be given this again, but no-one is willing to prescribe it!!!

Can anyone offer me some advice on what tests I should have to try and establish whether there is an underlying infection or not? Also, general advice on tests to monitor my chrons would be really appreciated as I they really just seem to be looking at me and saying 'oh here, have some prednisilone and come back in a month'. This has happened twice now.

Cheers

Maurice

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Maurice,

I would ask for a -

FBC (Full Blood Count) This will test your haemoglobin and red cell counts. It also covers your white cell counts which should help indicate if you have infection present.

UEC's - Tests your kidney function and electrolytes.

LFT's - Tests your liver function.

CRP (C Reactive Protein) and ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) - These are inflammatory markers.

Aside from the inflammatory markers the other tests are pretty stock standard tests to run when doing baseline bloods so I don't see getting them done should be an issue.

HTH,
Dusty

 

[M2M]

Thank you for that info on those test names; my daughter has had alot of blood taken over the last 3 1/2 months but we aren't always sure what they are for. We are going back to the doctor in June and its nice to know what to ask for. thanks DustyKat

 

[Jennifer]

Yep, blood work (depending on the medication you're taking you could have this tested every 2 weeks to a couple times a year along with whenever your symptoms get worse. I have mine tested once a month because I'm on 6MP.) like Dusty said and as for routine tests besides that its usually a colonoscopy and endoscopy every year to every 4 years depending on whether or not you're in remission and what your blood work says.

 

[mozzie85]

Thanks very much everyone. I rang up the haematology/biochem departments and they definately haven't done the CRP and the ESR. I do have a raised monocyte count though (0.9) which apparently is a sign of chronic inflammation. Appreciate the advise, I will be asking them why they're not running these tests at my next appointment :-D

 

[crazycanuck]

Yeah I too advise getting blood work done as often as possible. I am suppose to be going every two weeks but as I am deathly afraid of needles my doctor lets me go once a month now. They know me quite well at the blood work clinic now.

 

[lola99]

Well I can't give any advice on tests since im new to crohns. But I did have sweats as a side effect of the predisone. I never sweat. I would have to be working out really hard to break a sweat and id be waking up in the middle of the night lately with a wet t-shirt. Now that im weaning down off the predisone the sweats have gone away.