not sure abt getting a colonoscopy

[274327]

hello,
jan 27 2011 my husband went to er after suffering for a week with slight abdominal pain in the LLQ. they did a ct scan which revealed the following: "in the left colon in the region of the descending colon and junction with sigmoid colon, there is wall thickening with adjacent inflammatory changes suggestive of diverticulitis. the possibility of an underlying neoplastic process cannot entirely be excluded. i recommend a follow up endoscopy when the patients symptoms improve." my husband followed up with his PCP after he finished his antibiotics. she recommended a second ct to see if the colon had healed. she stated if it had we might not need a colonoscopy. the second ct scan revealed the following: "mid to distal descending colon is collasped and not fully distended. there is persistent mild thickening of the wall of the mid to distal descending colon, uncertain whether it is secondary to true colonic wall thickening versus secondary to incomplete distention. the pericolonic inflammatory changes noted on prior study has resolved. the sigmoid colon is well-distensible and redundant. the bladder is unremarkable. there are small inguinal lymph nodes. there is no free fluid." to this ct scan my husbands PCP did not recomment a colonoscopy. she referred us to a gastroenterologist due to elevated liver enzymes as well as a hemangioma. she stated that there was nothing to worry abt.. and that everything is fine and she wanted us to see the GI dr so he can keep an eye on the liver. when we got to the GI dr he suggested an MRI for the liver, which we got done a few days ago. he said that everything was fine with his diverticulitis and that it might not even be diverticulitist since the inflammation had resolved but to make sure y the episode in january happened we can get a colonoscopy...which we have scheduled for may 30th. according to these findings would u recommend a colonoscopy? we dont want to get it done if its not necessary.Thank u for ur help and time

[kocherize]

Absolutely need a colonoscopy.  Best of luck!

[ggreg]

Oh, the colonoscopy procedure is not as difficult as one might imagine, your husband will be well-sedated, he is kept covered up really well, a nurse will be right there to reassure him and increase his meds if he feels any discomfort along the way.  The main thing is, I think it's important for the doc to be able to visualize the parts of his intestine that HAVE been shown to not only be irregular, but also now the latest CT scan shows the descending colon is collapsed.  This may create even worse digestive issues.  

So, you're all scheduled, and actually the "prep," where you only drink this dye stuff and not eat anything the day before, is the hardest part of the whole thing!  And the colonoscopy will allow the doc to really understand what has happened, and thus come up with a way to really get his intestinal tract straight, and also sometimes that procedure reveals lots of stuff a scan will not, so his best chance for complete resolution of his problems is the colonoscopy.  But if the doc can agree to hold off and treat your husband as best he can from the results of the scan, and then your husband gets worlds better, sure, could be you wouldn't need the colonoscopy.  But I'd keep that appointment as long as I could, if I were you.  It may really be an important test for your husband, and will definitely allow for better results in treating him, especially when some of that colon has collapsed!  THAT worries me.