Questions regarding Crohn's, IBS & Colonoscopies
Hi everyone. I have Crohn’s I was in the ER last Wednesday because I felt miserable and they did a CT scan showing inflammation in my cecum. I started pain meds and steroids (medrol dose pack because prednisone never works for me.) I had to go back to the ER this week to get admitted Monday due to not getting any relief. I was in the hospital for three days this week. I had a colonoscopy and endoscope the last day I was in the hospital. The GI doctor said there wasn’t any inflammation, but believes I have IBS as well as the Crohn’s.
The biopsies came back today and everything looks good and there isn’t anymore inflammation. I have some questions.
1. Does anyone have a mild case of Crohn’s? If so, what do you take to help you? I tried Stelara but had a horrible reaction and had to stop it. I’m not sure what my doctor will put me on next. I’m thinking Humira.
2. Does anyone have Crohn’s and IBS? If so, what do you take to keep it under control and what do you take for pain and flare ups?
3. Has anyone had a colonoscopy come out normal, but has Crohn’s?
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Hi
.
I am really sorry to hear about your recent struggles!
1. There are so many medication options available, and what works for one may not work for another, so it's definitely a trial and error thing. I am in the UK, so medication names may differ, as may whether you would be prescribed these, but I'll share a couple of options.
Sulfasalazine (Salazopyrin/Azulfidine/Azulfidine) may be given for mild Crohn's.
Mesalazine (Mesalamine/Asacol/Ipocol/Octasa/Pentasa/Salofalk/Mezavant) may also be given for mild Crohn's.
Azathioprine (Imuran) or Mercaptopurine (6MP).
Tofacitinib (Xeljanz).
These are all oral medications. There are multiple IV and injectable treatment options too, but because you askedd about for mild Crohn's, I will skip those for now!
2. I have UC, not Crohn's, but also IBS. I take peppermint capsules and antispasmodic, which tend to help usually.
3. I have seen a lot of posts on here recently asking the same question. Some people have better look with getting confirmation via other means of testing such as pill cam/CT etc
Hope that helps!
- Sahara (team member)
Yes. You can have a normal colonoscopy but still have Crohn's. A couple of possibilities.
1) You are in remission....so not much inflammation showed on colonoscopy.
2) Your inflammation is mostly not in colon but in small intestine or other part of your digestive tract (colonoscopy only scopes colon).
3) You have had a prior surgery and some of your symptoms are coming off intestinal adhesions.
4) Some Crohn's, one surgeon told me, is deeper under the skin, and, as a result, doesn't always show up as clearly on a colonoscopy. A biopsy might show it or it might just not appear all that clearly on the scope.
I've often had 3 and 4....with little inflammation on a scope. At other times I've had really bad inflammation on a scope, so it depends. My point is only that I am not sure you can rule out Crohn's so quickly. Talk to your doctor and keep getting additional tests.
For mild Crohn's there is 5-ASA meds like Asacol, antibiotics (Cipro, Metronidazole), or steroids (entocort, prednisone). If it is truly mild, wait on the biologic, I'd say. But, like I said, it might not be as mild as you think...it really depends...and you should probably consider further testing...You could also try a biologic and see if it works...if you feel better than you know you perhaps have more Crohn's than the scope might suggest...
