Intestinal Passage

So, because of some ongoing digestive issues, my doctor recommended a bowel series followed by a colonoscopy... I’ve been avoiding this for quite a while now—mostly because I've heard the radiation from the imaging is significant, and let's face it, colonoscopies aren't exactly a walk in the park. Since I'm already getting regular scans for my spine, I'm honestly not sure how wise it is to add more radiation into the mix. If anyone actually knows the specifics regarding the dosage levels, I’d really appreciate the insight—especially since I am planning to start trying for a baby soon.

It’s not like you're getting blasted with massive amounts of radiation here. I mean, sure, compared to just snapping a quick X-ray where the exposure is over in a blink, you’re hanging out under the RTG for a bit longer... but honestly, even then, we're talking levels that are way below anything actually dangerous for you. Just a heads-up though (and they'll definitely tell you this too)—you definitely don't want to be undergoing any Passage procedures if you happen to be pregnant. That's when the risk to the baby really becomes a concern.
There are all sorts of urban legends floating around about colonoscopies... like people saying they're actually comfortable—spoiler alert: they aren't—or if people can "survive" them—well, yeah, they can.
At the end of the day, even if it's a little tougher to coordinate here in the States, you can usually get the same exam done under light sedation.

Thanks, but I have to wonder—what exactly is your connection to the healthcare industry that gives you such expertise on this...🙂

I can't speak to the Passage, but let me tell you, colonoscopies are no fun—they're uncomfortable and pretty painful. But once you just decide, "Okay, I have to get this done," you just power through it. Honestly, for me, the prep was way worse than the actual procedure. And then there was the diagnosis: ulcerative colitis. The weird thing is, I don't even have symptoms. My advice? Just make sure you find a really solid doctor. If I had stuck with my last one, I’d probably still be stuck on a bunch of meds with a ton of nasty side effects.

Sam Hall15 said:well, he’s basically looking at being the next Secretary of Health... 😁

I suppose I couldn't have asked for a better answer than that, haha.😁

Melissa Moore39 said:thanks, I mean, what do you even know about health when you're this informed...🙂

I just pop over to check out Dr. House or some show on Netflix and pick up a few pointers along the way...😁

Sam Hall15 said:man, he's basically the next Secretary of Health... 😁

Haha, alright, alright...😁

What kind of diagnostic test are we even talking about here—is it a colonoscopy or some sort of investigation into Crohn's and ulcerative Passage?

Melissa Moore39 said:Wait, what kind of test are we talking about here—is it checking for Crohn's and ulcerated passages, or is it a colonoscopy?

I'm thinking just a colonoscopy.

edit: I actually just had a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy done, and my diagnosis came from a biopsy result that the doctor read out to me over the phone.

These methods are essentially complementary; you can't always visualize the entire colon through a colonoscopy, yet you can't perform a biopsy via a Passage... Crohn's disease requires a much more comprehensive diagnostic approach than just a simple colon exam.

No, even if I undergo a Passage procedure and the results come back looking clean, can I actually be certain that I'm completely free from both Celiac and ulcerative colitis?

Melissa Moore39 said:But if I get an endoscopy and everything looks totally clean, can I just assume I don't have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis?

Not exactly. If a Passage was enough to rule everything out, doctors wouldn't even bother with colonoscopies or any of those other tests.

If you’re dealing with Crohn’s and an ulcer, is it possible to deal with vomiting or that intense, nauseating stomach pain that just makes you feel absolutely miserable?

Maybe you should just go see a doctor?

Melissa Moore39 said:Is it possible to deal with vomiting or that intense, nauseating stomach pain when you have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis?

With Crohn's, it’s a possibility—since that disease can flare up anywhere from your mouth down to the other end—though it mostly hits the end of the small intestine and the colon.
Ulcerative colitis usually involves frequent diarrhea, but you don't typically see vomiting with it.

Honestly, I’m at a total loss as to which direction to take—this whole diagnostic process feels like being stuck in a constant loop of radiation exposure and endless rounds of colonoscopies, which, let's be real, are absolutely miserable...
I don't typically deal with diarrhea—it happens occasionally, I suppose, but nothing frequent—but my biggest issue is this persistent pain in my lower abdomen right around the navel. It’s the kind of discomfort that makes me feel nauseous to the point of wanting to vomit, though I can never actually manage to throw up unless I force it. The worst part, though, is when it wakes me up in the middle of the night 🤷... I really don't see how all these tests connect to what's happening, especially since I already had a gastroscopy done and it just showed the same old gastritis I've been dealing with for ages

So, did you end up getting that abdominal ultrasound done?

It isn’t always the case—everyone seems to claim that ultrasounds are basically useless and can't actually show anything meaningful... but I went ahead and scheduled one anyway...

You really need to go get that checked out—don't let anyone talk you out of it. It’s honestly one of the best diagnostic tools out there since it’s totally non-invasive, yet it can clear up so much confusion.

Let me chime in here too 😉, just in case it helps lighten your load a bit. Basically, because of some digestive issues, I had to go through both a barium swallow and a colonoscopy about a month or two ago. You probably know the drill, but if you don't, I can give you the lowdown. First, they draw blood and send it off to the lab, then you have to provide a urine sample. Once everything clears that hurdle, it’s time for the swallow. I was scheduled for 9:00 AM, and I’m pretty sure I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight that day. There were two other patients with me, but obviously, everyone keeps to themselves—we weren't exactly socializing. They call you in first, you chat a little about your symptoms, and then they hand you a plastic cup filled with this thick white liquid from a canister. Imagine something with the consistency of heavy cream mixed with honey—not quite yogurt, but thicker than that, totally opaque, and the taste... honestly, I can't even put my finger on it. Maybe plastic? I don't know. All I can tell you is it isn't pleasant to drink, and it’s a struggle to get it down your throat, but hey, you do what you gotta do. It's the contrast agent, though, and without it, the whole thing is pointless, so there's no skipping it 😉. After that, you head to a small room, lie down in this large machine, and they rotate you around while they take the images. There's a monitor mounted on the ceiling above your head where you can actually watch your own GI tract and see the contrast moving through your system... After the imaging—which takes maybe a minute or two—you get another cup and have to drink that again, slowly; you've got about a 10-minute window. You usually drink it in the hallway while the next patient is in the machine. Then comes the second round of imaging, and once that's wrapped up, you wait a bit and get your results and the doctor's input. That covers the swallow part, so let me know if any of that sounds confusing.

Now, regarding the colonoscopy—I can't remember if I did it the same day or the day after the swallow. Anyway, you go in to consult with the doctor, and they give you two bottles of laxatives. Each one has a little less than half a cup in it, and you have to drink them the day before the procedure; one bottle at noon and the second one around 10:00 PM. For me, the absolute worst part was drinking those laxatives. The taste was so revolting that I felt nauseous for two weeks straight every time I even thought about it. Not trying to scare you—maybe you'll handle it better—but for me, it was horrendous. It was so bad I didn't even finish the second bottle... After that first bottle, you've got about four hours before the dreaded intestinal cramps kick in, and they are intense—the kind of pain where you can't even lift yourself up off the toilet. I spent about an hour sitting there, but nothing much was actually happening; it was just constant cramping. After that, you have to chug water all day to stay hydrated because those laxatives pull water right out of your system. The next morning, around 9:00 AM, you show up at the clinic, wait a bit, and get called into a room. You strip down, put on one of those paper gowns, talk to the doctor, and hand over your previous medical records. Then you head to the bed... I actually have a family member who is a doctor, specifically over at Mount Sinai in this case, so it wasn't an issue to request general anesthesia. Since I got that, I unfortunately can't tell you firsthand what the actual colonoscopy felt like 🤷, because someone else will have to go through that—me, I was out cold 😁. The whole thing lasts maybe 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the person. They take a few internal photos, and in the end, everything turned out fine for me with both the swallow and the colonoscopy, and it wasn't even a big deal that I missed part of that second bottle... There was a little left over, but nothing major 🙂. Bottom line: I really recommend you just go through with both. Endure the drinking, ask for the anesthesia (they might want more tests later anyway), and just get it over with in a couple of days. Trust me, if there was something that shouldn't be in my gut, they would have found it. I highly recommend going; it could save you from a lot of trouble. If you have questions, just ask.👍