Crohns diagnosis

[Buddybella]

Hi

I just wondered if there is anyone who have struggled to get a diagnosis? I have now been referred to a consultant who suspects I have crohns as my calproctin was over 900 and I have been suffering with diarrhoea and a lot of stomach pain for the last 2 months where I haven’t been able to go to work at all and I have also lost over a stone in weight. I have cut most foods and on gluten, dairy and wheat free diet for over 2 months. However I have had a ct scan and a conosloscopy which is normal although still waiting for biopsy results to come back. I am now booked to have an MRI small bowel endoscopy as my consultant thinks crohns could be in my small bowel.

He said if nothing shows on the MRI then I would need a capsule test however he’s worried it would get stuck in my bowel due to the inflammation I have.

Any advice would be so helpful if anyone else has also struggled to eventually get a diagnosis.

Thank you x

[SuzyQ67]

Hi Buddybella, yes I have seen other people take a few years to get a proper diagnosis. They had some of the symptoms but the testing was all normal, including the biopsy. Your dr is on the right path to give a diagnosis one way or the other. The only time drs are hesitant with the pill cam test is if there is narrowing of the intestines. I don't think inflammation will cause the capsule to get stuck, just my 2 cents. The high calprotectin means there is inflammation in the intestines but it is not used to give a crohns diagnosis. Hang in there & hopefully you will get a diagnosis soon.

[Buddybella in reply to SuzyQ67]

Hi Suzy

Thanks for your reply, yes I hope so the doctor thinks I may of been misdiagnosed a few years ago when I had a really bad flare up as only part of my bowel was checked.

[Viklou]

It took me 7 years to get a diagnosis. Pill cam found crohn's in my small bowel xxx

[Frasina]

If you can take the pill cam, that will for definite lead to diagnosis. My issue is patchy pancolitis, so I did not need a pillcam, but I know of others who without it would not be diagnosed! You are being correctly guided by your team so hopefully they will be able to diagnose and then give you the right meds.

[PinkMama83]

Hi. I had the same problems and took a couple of really poorly years to get diagnosed with the pill cam. It's the only thing that shows my disease as its in my small bowel. They can give you a dissolvable dummy cam pill first to test for any obstruction that will cause issues with the camera. Definitely do the pill cam, then you can get the help you need.

[MrNewfie17]

Hi Buddybella, it took me a long time to get my diagnosis. My Crohn's presented itself as a perianal abscess. From there, they did a colonoscopy and the results weren't conclusive. Same with bloodwork as my CRP levels were normal. They were finally certain after they did an MRI enterography. That's what I would recommend.

[Buddybella]

thank you everyone for your replies and advice.i have the MRI on the 21st so hopefully will give me some answers.