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I made an acct and got my pathology report

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/28/2017 11:53 PM (GMT -5)
Biting my nails.. it doesn't help that medical stuff scares me so much. Always has.




Ascending colon, biopsies:
- Chronic minimally active colitis.
Transverse colon, biopsies:
- Chronic mildly active colitis.
Descending colon, biopsies:
- Chronic moderately active colitis.
Sigmoid colon, biopsies:
- Chronic mildly active colitis ; indeterminate for dysplasia.
Rectum, polypectomy:
- Inflammatory polyp.

The findings are consistent with active ulcerative colitis. No viral cytopathic effect or
granulomas identified.

This was the letter I got in the mail.
Your recent colonoscopy revealed one polyp in the rectum which was removed. This
was found to be an inflammatory type polyp. Your examination did reveal some mild
inflammation throughout the colon. We obtained surveillance biopsies throughout the
colon. These all revealed some active inflammation from your colitis. In one segment of
the colon there were some slightly atypical cells but no definite precancerous changes
and certainly no evidence of cancer was seen.
For these findings and for your history of ulcerative colitis, I would recommend a repeat
exam in 1 year's time.
I will plan to see you in return in the office in the meantime. If you do not have an
appointment, please contact us

So... I am here freaking out thinking... so what, they can't decide if it's pre cancer changes or not?
Posted 3/1/2017 2:16 AM (GMT -5)
You're fine. Biopsies show mild pancolitis with slightly more than mild in the descending colon.

The polyp is inflammatory and was removed.

The biopsies of the sigmoid colon that are indeterminate for dysplasia may mean nothing at all, or at the very worst, pre-pre-cancer - in which case it might be years before it becomes something serious, or it might never become something serious.

A scope in another year is appropriate.

If your UC is symptomatic, since the scope did show mildly active disease, you could increase your medication regimen. If you aren't very symptomatic, then enjoy the year and repeat the scope next year.
Posted 3/1/2017 9:56 AM (GMT -5)
Ditto beave's comments.
Posted 3/1/2017 10:49 AM (GMT -5)
Well that is a relief. Sadly I spent the whole night fretting after making the mistake of googling that stuff. I tell myself over and over to stay off google, there's nothing there but fear.
Okay, I mean it this time. Stay off google.

Thank you very much for the reassurance that I am okay. smile

Oh, and I don't have any symptoms. I told my GI doctor that if I didn't have a diagnosis of UC going back to 2009 and hadn't spent years pretty sick, I never would have guessed anything was wrong.
I have some joint pain in my hips and occasionally some lower back pain. I had been hoping it had nothing to do with my colon, but I guess with active disease still going, that is proof the pain is my colon.
I hadn't taken any drugs for years. The only thing that helped when I was really sick was cortenema, and everything I read said not to take those long term. Once my bleeding, diarrhea, mucus and pain all quit, I tapered off the cortenema.
I have an active Rx for generic rowesa rectal meds, but I'd not taken them before since they made the bleeding and cramping worse within hours of taking it back when I was sick. It also made my hair fall out pretty bad. I had visions of going bald before I switched to cortenema.
I tried some again last week, and no bleeding or cramping happened. Perhaps it was a coincidence?

Post Edited (21Jellybeans) : 3/1/2017 9:12:28 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/1/2017 12:35 PM (GMT -5)
Awesome you got your pathology results! Thanks for posting them.

Because of the indeterminate dysplasia, the 1 year mark for another scope is appropriate. When you have the scope, request more biopsies in that area.

Hair loss process would start like 6 months before it falls out. Hair growing in actually pushes the dormant hair out. So, it wouldnt have been the Rowasa.

While you are afraid of the Internet, you're afraid based on not enough information. Ask questions and get the correct info. It will ease your fears and allow you to base an opinion on fact. Normal to be afraid of cancer....not normal to not seek information and make decisions that will exclude you from medications that will help your disease. You're not going to change what's going on in your body by avoiding info. Knowing can increase anxiety. NOT knowing doesn't make it go away...it just encourages denial.

Keep connected here.....we've all been there.

q
Posted 3/1/2017 1:05 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for your replies, they've made me feel a lot better.

I've gotten my health acct all set up now though, so I can look up all my stuff, order refills, make appts, and such. smile
Posted 3/1/2017 1:12 PM (GMT -5)
Access is a good thing!

So what meds are you on?

q
Posted 3/1/2017 1:34 PM (GMT -5)
When I have symptoms, I have a steroid enema I take. They aren't good to take long term, so I save them for if I start showing symptoms.
I have rowesa too, but I constantly forgot to take it. I'll have to do better.
I tried lialda, and I got really sick with bleeding and awful diarrhea, so the doctor had me stick with enemas. It could have just been aren't worsening flare, but the warnings were to stop if bloody diarrhea worsened, and it was bad. I got pretty anemic from that episode.
Crazy thing is. If I take 5 asa enemas while flaring, I get worse, but I tolerate it ok when my colitis is mild.
Posted 3/1/2017 2:12 PM (GMT -5)
I think you should be on an oral mesalamine....try Apriso. Lower dosage with efficient delivery. You arent covered at all if you only wait for flares.

Let me add that your symptoms dont match the reality of whats going on visially and pathology-wise....allowing continual symptoms seems counterproductive in the long-run.

I also suggest probiotics and fibre supplements.
q
Posted 3/1/2017 2:54 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the suggestion. I just sent a message to my doctor and asked him about that. I thought setting up an account with the hospital would be a pain. Nope! I just sent a message to my doctor without having to stay on hold, or pay a huge co pay to make an appointment to ask him.
Posted 3/1/2017 3:48 PM (GMT -5)
Wow.....awesome set up! Don't believe we have anything like that in Canada.

q
Posted 3/1/2017 6:37 PM (GMT -5)
Listen to quincy, she knows her stuff. Daily apriso and rowasa are the best way to keep flares away, take them when you're well and when you're flaring. Good luck.
Posted 3/1/2017 8:58 PM (GMT -5)
At the least kept to a minimum.....it's a good start.
Learn your symptoms.
q
Posted 3/1/2017 9:12 PM (GMT -5)
Can you also take cort enema with those two. When I am flaring bad that's the only thing that helps me feel better.
Posted 3/1/2017 10:55 PM (GMT -5)
Yes.....but you really haven't given the mesalamine enemas fair a go.

q
Posted 3/2/2017 2:12 AM (GMT -5)
Agreed. You should be on an oral mesalamine, assuming you can tolerate them (most do, occasionally somoeone doesn't). It will reduce your risk of future flares and/or reduce the severity of future flares.
Posted 3/2/2017 2:30 PM (GMT -5)
Well that was easy. I sent Dr Lyford a message over the portal and his nurse called. He is starting me on Apriso and he says it will cover the entire colon.
Posted 3/2/2017 11:24 PM (GMT -5)
Colon but not rectum.
q
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