Hello everyone!  I hope it’s all going well your way.  First, I would like to thank you all for the mail I have received encouraging me to keep going.  It makes me happy to know that my posts may help someone or at least put a smile on their face!  Today I am going to inform you of all the different tests, other than a colonoscopy, there are out there for detecting Crohn’s Disease, from the initial tests to the more involved tests.

For initial testing, you would get some blood work performed.  For instance, the doctor may order tests for anemia and/or infection such as a CBC with differential.  Also, a Fecal Occult blood test may be ordered to check for blood in your feces.

If the doctor sees something suspicious, he or she may order other tests such as the following:

1. X-ray (2 kinds) – with barium by mouth is called an Upper G.I.  With barium by rectum is called a Barium Enema.  Barium is a contrast that helps the doctor see anything that may be out of the ordinary within a person’s body.
2. CT Scan (Computerized Tomography) – similar to an X-ray, can actually take place of an X-ray. This test examines a cross-sectional of a specific part of the body so that doctors can see different views of the area in question.
3. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) –This instrument is gives off a strong magnetic field and radioactive waves that produces detailed images of what is being scanned.  It can find even the smallest defect or abnormality in the body.  Caution:  You need to ensure that all metal is removed from the body before imaging because the strong magnetic field will actually pull the metal from the body, even from the inside out.  STORY TIME!  To prepare for the test, you have to drink 3 big glasses of barium, then get an IV in you for the contrast they inject in you during the test.  The test can last for 45 minutes minimum.  Before I had a colostomy bag, I had severe diarrhea all the time.  Well, drinking 3 big glasses of barium before a test and laying on a slab inside an instrument hooked up to an IV for at least 45 minutes is not a good thing for someone like me.  I never had an accident, however, there were many a times when I don’t see how I got out of there without pooping everywhere!  That was the most stressful test I could have taken, I was just in a little hospital gown to top it off!  ANOTHER STORY!  I thought that after I had my colostomy bag, any MRI I took should at least be easier…NOT!  So, I filled up with the barium and laid down on the slab.  They placed this huge, heavy jacket-like thing on top of me and hooked up my IV and stuck me in the instrument.  Since I have a bag now, this heavy thing was laying on top of me in this instrument and flattening it out.  There is no holding anything in when you have a bag so when it needs to go, it goes!  Instead of going down and collecting, the poop went out the sides because of this heavy thing on top of it.  So, even though I managed to dodge the bullet without the bag, I couldn’t with it.  When they took me off the slab, I had a mess going on.  How embarrassing – the technicians just kinda sit there and stared at me, I guess because they had never encountered this situation before?  What a day.
4. Upper Endoscopy – This test involves a scope going down a person’s esophagus, into the stomach and into the small intestine.  The scope used for the colonoscopy can only get into the very last part of a person’s small intestine so if there is any activity in the upper intestine, the doctor performing the test can’t see it.  The scope used for the Upper Endoscopy can see the mouth, esophagus and the remaining of the small intestine.  This test is often combined with the colonoscopy.  Just remind you doctor to do the Endoscopy before the Colonoscopy!!
5.  Capsule Endoscopy – This is a medium-sized capsule with a camera in it that a person swallows.  As the capsule goes through the person’s system, the camera is taking random images as it descends. It eventually goes through the system and it is removed through the person’s feces.
6. Double Balloon Endoscopy (DBE) – The Endoscopy instrument is placed in the small intestine and a balloon (or two) is attached.  It is pulled through the intestine to open up a stricture that the patient may have.  It can also get rid of any polyps or foreign matter that may have gotten stuck in the intestine.

There may be other tests out there but these tests are the main tests that are used to diagnose Crohn’s/Colitis or detect anything suspicious for them.  I hope this helps someone who is  contemplating on what test may be best for them, of course your doctor can help with that question also.  I do have some interesting things that have happened to me over the past few days that maybe some of ya’ll can give me some tips on how to cope/what to do.  Again, thank you all for the mail, it makes me happy to know that I can help and/or entertain someone at the same time!  Just remember to take one day at a time with this disease.  Some days may be a piece of cake while other days you don’t have the energy to get up off the couch...I know, I’m having one of those couch days today!

Chow for now!