So I’ve been appointed a new GI...
She wants to do a colonoscopy to check if I (still) have LC. She is not 100% convinced by looking at my file. According to her it could also be something else like crohns or irritable bowel disease... My last colonoscopy was in 2015. Then they found light inflammation and concluded it was because of the LC. For her though it was not enough to to diagnose it as LC.
There was not much room to talk about things. Another hard headed GI..
Anyways I was already tapering down the entocort, I am on one eod now. The GI wants to schedule the colonoscopy 6 weeks after I have tapered down. I have not a big problem with the colonoscopy if it is done right. But is there anything I need to think of? For instance, is the 6 weeks budesonide free period long enough to get reliable colonoscopy results?
Also I am thinking of doing the enterolab tests. I recently found out that it’s possible to send the samples from Europe. Should I wait with the test till I am off the entocort? And if so, how long?
New GI, new colonoscopy
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
GI docs (especially new ones, or docs who know very little about MC) are always pushing for another colonoscopy, because those procedures are moneymakers for GI docs and they put a lot of money in the bank. Over the years, many, many of our members have been where you are now — with a GI doc wanting to do a repeat colonoscopy. I've administered this board over 14 years, and I don't recall anyone in that situation ever posting that their repeat colonoscopy found anything. It's an expensive, very invasive (and risky) procedure, and virtually always, the only one who benefits is the GI doc. Docs who don't understand MC almost always also don't understand that MC (LC or CC) is never misdiagnosed. Never! Once you are diagnosed, you will have MC for the rest of your life. But once you are in remission, it will remain dormant, unless something triggers it.
Once you have been symptom-free for 5–10 years (if you're careful with your diet), a colonoscopy should show a return to normal cellular histology in biopsy samples from the mucosa of your colon. IOW, your colon will have healed, and you should show no markers of MC. If you slip up on your diet, though, the diagnostic markers will still be there.
At least that's my opinion.
Tex
Once you have been symptom-free for 5–10 years (if you're careful with your diet), a colonoscopy should show a return to normal cellular histology in biopsy samples from the mucosa of your colon. IOW, your colon will have healed, and you should show no markers of MC. If you slip up on your diet, though, the diagnostic markers will still be there.
At least that's my opinion.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
They always think it's something else when their favorite treatment isn't working. You'll see what I mean after you agree to the colonoscopy and get the results.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Yes. I've forgotten how long you need to be off the budesonide. It might be best to call the lab, or send them an email advising them how long you've been using it, and asking how long you need to wait before doing a test. If you've only been using it for a few months, you might be able to do the test without waiting, but if you've been using it for 6 or 8 months or longer, you'll have to get it out of your system for a few months, as I recall.
A few members here order their budesonide from India (no prescription needed).
Tex
A few members here order their budesonide from India (no prescription needed).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks Tex, I will contact Enterolab. Since I’ve been using entocort from 2011 it’s probably necessary to be off from the medicine for quite a considerable time to get accurate results. I also suspect quitting budesonide for 6 weeks may be not long enough for a colonoscopy. This is maybe why the last colonoscopy (in 2015) showed lower inflammation. But of course that is also because of the diet I’ve been following. It’s just so frustrating to have to deal with these GI’s. In the Netherlands the prescription medicine is reimbursed by the health insurance (you only pay the first 400 euro for medical costs in a year). But it is an option.
You're right. If you were following the diet and using budesonide when you had the last colonoscopy, both of them should have resulted in lower inflammation.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.