[RitaLucy]

I am very perplexed by a statement that my gastro made to me. He wants to do a colonoscopy to rule out Crohn's. I find this extremely unusual since I am a C type. Unless I am grossly misinformed I have always thought that one of the biggest symptoms in Crohn's is D and often with blood and usually weight loss during episodes.I am having RUQ pain with a hida scan revealing 15% function of my gallbladder. What are the odds being a C-type and having a low galbladder function and RUQ pain that I present as a potential Crohn's patient.He lost me on this one!

 

[slacker]

You could be "atypical." It is possible, but not probable. I would say that you should be glad your doctor cares enough to do the colonoscopy, just in case you have Crohn's, or something you didn't know about, like polyps, etc. I would say, but I don't. They don't care. They are glad to scope everybody because they get PAID for it. You probably have had/will have an Endoscopy, too. So even if for the wrong reason, at least you'll get it done, and that will rule out some things. The colonoscopy isn't bad at all, the prep is easily the worst part. They put you out with tranquilizers and narcotics, and if you wake up in the middle like I did, they give you more.slacker

 

[DonnaDB]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 2 years ago and have always had severe C.. It CAN happen!!

 

[giggles05]

I'm guessing it is possible to be diagnosed with it even though you are lacking the main symptoms. My doctor diagnosed me with microscopic colitis after taking some biopsies. I don't have D either, I have chronic constipation, so I was pretty skeptical. Actually, I am still skeptical since I've been on the medicine he gave me and I haven't noticed the slightest change in anything!

 

[sunnybobo]

Well, I have to say crohn's and IBS-C do seem at opposite ends of the spectrum. I believe your right upper quadrant pain (I'm assuming that what RUQ is) is directly related to your gallbladder.It sounds like your gastro just wants to cover all bases. It's probably not a bad idea to have the colonoscopy done, just to make sure there are not any other problems that you might be having with your colon. I don't know how old you are, but I believe regular colon screenings are recommended beginning at age 40.

 

[AnneMarie]

I don't know about Crohn's, but I had a friend with UC and her main symptom was constipation with a lot of cramping and pain. So, who knows. I suppose Crohn's is possible.AnneMarie

 

[RitaLucy]

Thanks for all for the replies.I talked to the head of the gastro group who has been my Dr. for years until this last bout when I could not wait for an appointment with him. I am seeing one of his associates and not to second guess his associate I wanted to talk to him. He just talked with me at length about some of the things going on. Right now they want to exhaust all other avenues as to what is causing my RUQ pain. He said even with the hida scan at 15% it does not say definitely that my gallbladder must come out. He said that after they run all the tests to rule eveything out then the decision to see the surgeon based on my symptoms and pain level will ultimately be mine. The only way to know for sure at that point is to remove the gallbladder and if my pain is better than it was the gallbladder causing it all. He said that my symptoms also point to digestive issues and colon issues and not exclusively gallbladder and that is why they are not sure.He said the biggest complaint with gallbladder is pain period. I said well I also get heartburn with it etc. etc. So I will have all the tests and take it from there.I had the endoscope on Wednesday and it was normal and today he told me that the biopsies are normal also. No H pylori or any other infections. So far all the tests are good!Does this sound familiar....Isn't this how they diagnose IBS.

 

[DonnaDB]

When they diagnosed my Crohn's, my only symptom was URQ pain.. just under the rib cage and some pain around ovary area.. I also had my gallbladder out because, like you, they thought that it was causing this problem. Hida Scan was "iffy" so they just took it out. I still have the exact same pain in the exact same area now just without the gallbladder!! And the GB surgery by itself can cause other problems for you so BE SURE that that's the problem before you let them remove it!!

 

[~JR~]

To DonnaDB:I totally agree with you about the gallbladder surgery if it is not totally agreed upon that the gallbladder is causing the problem. Especially given the number of people I know who have had gallbladders removed who complain of many, many GI complaints afterward.I am very interested in your diagnosis of Crohn's. I am currently having RUQ pain as well (though there is a mass on my liver that is currently being investigated that may or may not be causing the pain) and I have had pain around my right ovary for years. What complicates my picture is that I have endometriosis as well, which can also cause all of these symptoms. It has long been suspected that I could have Crohn's because I have always suffered with a lot of cramping and diarrhea, and now have all this right sided pain. My only problem is that I don't tolerate colonoscopies well so it is difficult to get a diagnosis. Were you eventually diagnosed by colonoscopy?JR

 

[RitaLucy]

Well see how much I knew! Wow I learn something new about all this all the time. I would have never thought you could have crohn's with C. Anyway, I am so confused right now it isn't funny. Can it just be a coincidence that I have a low functioning gallbladder. Because honestly as I track my symptoms I am not totally convinced either that all my symptoms are gallbladder related. I ate a slice a pizza last night and it didn't seem to aggravate the pain. Last weekend I ate a scrambled egg and a slice of bacon and it really didn't seem to aggravate my pain any more than usual.I am going to keep a food diary and what I am doning for the next couple of weeks to maybe see if I can pinpoint anything that is triggering the pain I get.Colonoscopy is next week.

 

[mrysgrl]

Hi,yes, my pathology report was ibd - crohn's and I have always been "c". I think if one takes an actual close look at the medical literature, diarrhea is "frequently" present but crohn's can also be present with constipation. GOOD LUCK!

 

[DonnaDB]

JR,I did have a colonoscopy, but supposedly my Crohn's is in the terminal illeum and the colonoscopy wouldn't reach high enough into that area to get a biopsy there. Mine was diagnosed by a positive Prometheus Labs blood test for IBD as well as a positive Small Bowel Follow Through that showed a "mass effect in ther terminal illeum and intestinal loops". If you cannot tolerate a colonoscopy, there are other diagnotics to positively ID your symptoms. Good Luck!

 

[RitaLucy]

Now I am worried...I talked to my aunt and found out that my uncle my mother's brother had been diagnosed with Crohn's colitis through the years. I always knew when I was growing up that he had colitis. I just always suspected he had IBS since I had it also. He would eat and then run to the bathroom. My mother's sister also had some problems through the years as well. She had some of her colon removed a couple of years ago. Anyway, I always knew that this type of illness runs in families but no one ever told me that Crohn's was in our family at all. I don't know how I missed that! I am stunned. If this is hereditary this would be from my mom's side -- and my grandmother was jewish. I always knew that this could be more prevalent in certain ethnic groups as well. I am shocked that this illness could potentially show up in myself. I guess especially since I have never had D in my life!

 

[Guest]

I am 56 and live in the UK - when I was 30 I was diagnosed Crohns and had most of my large intestine removed. My symptoms were diarreah and a great weight loss. It is hereditary as my 30 year old son has also got it but his symptoms were the exact opposite to mine - constipation -but he has just had the same op.I now have IBS symptoms - the bloating and the wind but nothing has been done except to tell me to monitor my diet. I found this site earlier this week so I am now going to work my way through all the boards and maybe get ideas where my diet may be causing these symptoms.

 

[carmen]

Hi I have had crohn's for 20 years. They also removed 3 feet of my colon, and I also have ibs symptoms, but my crohn's is also back in the area of the anastomosis My main symptoms were constipation, mucous , bleeding and severe bloating.