Colonoscopy Results

I am a 40 yo female. No significant med or surgical history.

I finally finished the last of my GI work up.
Sypmtoms of nausea,loose stool, and bloating began in November after taking antibiotics.( Clindamycin , 1 dose after a d & C produced diarrhea for 2 weeks straight, then 2 months later I took Levaquin, and almost immediately, the symptoms began)

The symptoms have gotten better after taking culterelle and vsl#3 however some sypmtoms still persist.

I still have rectal bleeding when I strain, occasionally I have mucous ( maybe once a week). Occasionally, depending if I eat a lot, I'll get so uncomfortably bloated that it keeps me up all night.
I do not have diarrhea ( although I think it's becasue I take Calcium ), but I do occasinally get rectal pressure.

Occassionally, I have some nausea ( again, 1-2 times/week)

Endoscopy, abdominal x-ray, blood work, stool cultures, all were negative.
I just got the resuls of my colonoscopy and they are :

A. Sigmoid Polyp
HYPERPLASCTIC POLYP

B. Rectal Biopsy
Moderate to Severe acute/chronic colitis with acute cryptitis
Epithelial glandular atypia associated with inflammation is noted.
Indefinite for dysplasia ( see comment)

comment:
The inflammatory changes are histologially compatible with inflammatory diease/ulcerative colitis.

My questions are:

1. is the polyp cancerous,if not, can it become cancerous, and what do I do to screen for that?

2. what is acute cryptitis? and how did I get it?

3. indefinite for dysplasia? What does that mean?


4. So the bottom line is that I have ulcerative colitis? Is that correct? Wouldn't this have shown up on the endoscopy?

  5.What determines if it's actue or chronic?

6.The GI doctor mentioned proctitis when he was done with the colonoscopy...since it was not mentioned, does that mean that I don't have it?

  7. finally, what is the cure or treatment for this? medicine? diet?


Sorry for all the questions, I can't meet with the MD until next week, and I'm scared of what I have...


Thanks,
J

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) A hyperplastic polyp is a non-neoplastic polyp that does not require any additional special screening.

2) Crypts are tubular structures that protrude from the inner linings of the inestinal walls.  Cryptitis is inflammation of these structures.

3) Perhaps it meant to say "indeterminate" instead.  I am not sure what "indefinite" for dysplasia means.

4) Yes, the biopsy suggests that ulcerative colitis is present.  The biopsy is the most definitive test for ulcerative colitis, rather than the endoscopy.

5) The biopsy should be able to determine whether the findings are acute or chronic.  However, there are instances where this is indeterminate.

6) Colitis can imply proctitis - or it can mean that biopsies weren't taken of the rectal area.

7) Steroids, sulfasalazine and 5-ASA agents are all within the spectrum of treatment.  The choice would depend on the response and severity of the disease.  These options should be discussed with your personal physician or gastroenterologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[jfem]

It definetely said indefinite for dysplasia...see comment, and the comment was that the inflammatory changes are histologically compatible with inflammatory bowel disease/ulcerative colitis.

Is that bad?

What does it mean?

Dysplasia usually means cancer, so are they saying that they can't rule that out?

[Gjer]

I had a colonoscopy about five months ago and something must have gone wrong because my colon has been in terrible shape. Mostly I have had constant lower abdominal pain with some nausea. It wakes me up at night and stays with me all day. I am on my third doctor because the first two doctors (including the one that did the colonoscopy) has pretty much abandoned me. I also had an endoscopy done that went fine with no complications or problems afterwards. I have explored everything including chemical burning from the disinfectant used on the equipment to bacterial infections to scaring from a rough colonoscopy procedure. Two CTs and one ultrasound was done with good results and all the blood tests were okay. I am scheduled for another colonosopy in three weeks, and am a little worried about that. I there any possibility that I could have gotten colitis from my first colonoscopy? Anyone with any ideas on what might have gone wrong I would greatly appreciate your comments. Thanks.