How long to diagnosis?

[Xzbv]

It took 10 weeks from first symptoms to diagnosis and treatment of microscopic colitis via a colonoscopy. The Budesonide has been 100% successful although I understand that symptoms may recur. Talking to my GP l was asking him why it took so long but he told me that I was relatively lucky and the average time taken was 3 years! I expect where you live might make a difference. I live in Central London. Where do you live and how long did it take to get a diagnosis?

[Dawn43]

Hi Xzbv

My symptoms started around this time last year. I finally got round to seeing the doc in Jan this year and was fast tracked to rule out bowel cancer. Had a colonoscopy in Feb and was given a diagnosis of proctosigmoiditis.

Gastroscopy in April showed a healing ulcer and am having another gastroscopy on 9th july.

UHNM/Royal Stoke

Dawn x

[bantam12]

How about nearly 30 years to get a definite diagnosis !

[Skye22 in reply to bantam12]

Took me over 30yrs to get a definitive diagnosis. Had 13 ops and countless tests and seen a variety of consultants to get my diagnosis in 2015.This is my experience with the NHS cannot comment on others experiences but would hope that advancements within health care would drastically improve timeframe of getting diagnosis.

[bantam12 in reply to Skye22]

Not sure things are any better now with no appts and disinterested medics, my Gastro team are good but it’s still hard work getting answers.

[saj12]

Around 5 weeks from first symptoms. I did invoke BUPA through work to get the colonoscopy quickly.

[Xzbv]

Thanks everyone. So that’s 5 weeks to 30 years! If you can afford it or get it through work then an early colonoscopy which includes biopsies would be well worth it. I also had 2 different poo tests. And it was the second one which triggered the colonoscopy.

[Lo181]

Could I ask what your symptoms were before being diagnosed ? I’m currently been referred and having all sorts of symptoms and I’ve had abnormal calprotectin levels too

[Xzbv in reply to Lo181]

My symptoms were watery diarrhoea 4 - 10 times a day. Have you been offered a colonoscopy?

[Lo181]

I’m currently pregnant at the minute so they said I can’t have one yet until after Jan I keep having brown mucus urgency to go stomach cramps constipation lose bowels and more Driving me mad just waiting on my next calprotectin test come back see what my levels are then such a worry waiting this long only gonna get worse my symptoms went for 2 months and now there back again and doesn’t look like it’s gonna go jus yet

[Xzbv]

Ask for a “virtual colonoscopy “ via a CT scan.