5-ASAs medication - anyone prescribed this before official diagnosis

[mistygrey]

Hi there

I’ve been having weird bowel symptoms for awhile now and Gp did a calprotectin stool test which showed a high result. She’s referred me to Gastro urgently however it’s a long wait even for urgent in Edinburgh where I am in the UK. Has anyone in the UK been trialled or started on the 5-ASAs medications whilst they wait for Gastro input or can you only get them when your officially diagnosed - after a colonoscopy etc?

many thanks

[Frasina]

I think it is practice to wait for an official diagnosis which means after a colonoscopy. This is so that they can prescribe the correct meds as IBD can be many different things! Also, there are a few different ASA's that can be prescribed so it is important to have the right ones for whatever condition you have. If the waiting time is too long, and you are worried about your high calprotectin then it may be worth paying to see someone privately who also works at your local NHS hospital; they will push forward your colonoscopy (on the NHS) and you can get meds quicker.

[Viklou in reply to Frasina]

5-asa doesn't work well for small bowel crohn's apparently.