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To colonoscopy or not - more decisions for my kid

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Uniform Charlie
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2015
Posts : 1104
Posted 4/1/2019 4:53 PM (GMT -8)
I have followed up with my elementary school aged kid's GI regarding ongoing mucus and diarrhea my child is experiencing. All tests came back fine but the doctor is suggesting a colonoscopy and endoscopy due to the family history of UC. She is not pushing hard but thinks it's a good idea. Endoscopy would be to check for celiac. I tend to think it's a good idea but worry I am just projecting my own issues on to my child. My wife is not on board and thinks it's overkill.

The symptoms are very mild at this point. If I didn't have UC I doubt we would consider it. What do you guys think? It's so much easier to make decisions about my own health.
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dinkydonuts
Regular Member
Joined : May 2012
Posts : 144
Posted 4/1/2019 6:24 PM (GMT -8)
Having had numerous scopes myself, I would say sure you should get one for your kid since that's really the only way a GI doc can know.

But I can't imagine being that young and having to go through the prep and then being nervous about the procedure and all that.

If your kid is a fighter then I'd push for the scope. If they are rather timid about these things, maybe you can wait until they are a few years older, assuming the symptoms can be managed that long with meds only.
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beave
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 2314
Posted 4/1/2019 7:18 PM (GMT -8)
Before a scope, make sure to do extensive blood tests (cbc w/diff, comprehensive metabolic panel, crp, esr) and stool tests (routine cultures plus occult blood and fecal calprotectin).

Do a scope if any of those raise red flags.
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beave
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Posts : 2314
Posted 4/1/2019 7:19 PM (GMT -8)
I just saw from a previous post from you that they did blood & stool tests. Was fecal calprotectin included in the stool tests?
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valli1234
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 452
Posted 4/1/2019 9:25 PM (GMT -8)
From personal experience with my daughter she had her first colonoscopy 5-6 years ago now she was 16-17 at the time so that is a bit different but if she had the same symptoms years before she still would have had it then even at a young age.

She is booked in for another colonoscopy next month some new issues and I highly suggested she get it done again.
And I agree with you also if I didn’t have UC before I would have said no to my daughter and doctor . Just not knowing any better.

But since it’s in the family and we have multiple family remembers who had colon cancer I wasn’t going to play around with that . That’s just me worrying ....

It’s a personal decision you and your wife have to make . Go by what feels right in your gut , you have your child’s best interest so it won’t be a wrong choice only a right one for your child .
Good luck
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Uniform Charlie
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Posted 4/2/2019 3:45 AM (GMT -8)
Sorry should have clarified. Full blood work and stool testing was done including fecal calprotectin. No abnormalities. Child needs to sit and pass mucus every time they pee. Stools are never formed but not ultra liquid and occur with normal frequency. No pain, blood or urgency. This has been happening since January.

I am still leaning towards having the procedures done but am trying to work through the decision making process.
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iPoop
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Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16404
Posted 4/2/2019 4:10 AM (GMT -8)
I wouldn't get a colonoscopy for a child, with only mucus and diarrhea as predominant symptoms (as at most they'd say IBS). I would if there was blood in stool (probable IBD). I'd agree with your wife smile
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ks1905
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Joined : Sep 2005
Posts : 6329
Posted 4/2/2019 4:37 AM (GMT -8)
How about trying a diet modification to see if it is celiac disease? Or some other allergy like lactose.

Has it gotten any worse since it started?

I’d ask the GI if it is IBS or Celiac and you tried a short course of Prednisone would it improve your child’s symptoms? Or would it only improve UC? It might be aggressive but could give you a little more insight in which direction to go.

Is the pill camera an option for a child? As a child I would have thought that it was the greatest thing to swallow a pill and have it video my insides.

I’d probably wait and see if it gets any worse before I went further. My concern would be the kid having an accident in school and not making it to the bathroom. Kids can be so mean (so can adults).
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valli1234
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 452
Posted 4/2/2019 5:01 AM (GMT -8)
Uniform Charlie
My sister has UC also and has never shown any sign of bleeding where I on the other hand poured unusual amounts with ever flare up. Both of us diagnosed in our later teens. The symptoms can be very diverse but I would assume there would be some abdominal pain involved . It could be IBS which is what I was first diagnosed with till two years later when my second flare up was much worst then my first.
My daughter was also diagnosed with IBS and is also lactose intolerance and now a few years later she getting serve abdominal pain, urgency and diarrhea often. Which is why she is going for another colonoscopy.
Everyone is a little different I am
just giving you my experience at home.
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Uniform Charlie
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Joined : Jul 2015
Posts : 1104
Posted 4/2/2019 8:14 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for all the replies and personal experiences. I spoke with our pediatric GP today, who also suggested further testing, which helped my wife accept that we should go forward. I did some research as well, which showed a high level of safety for pediatric colonoscopies. Risk of perforation/infection etc are very low. GI stated pedi colonoscopies are safer than they are for adults.
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33478
Posted 4/2/2019 10:16 AM (GMT -8)
He/she might have microscopic colitis. Maybe a sig scope at the very least.
Hormonal changes can create excessive mucus within the colon.

I agree with food changes...but in what direction?

q
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beave
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 2314
Posted 4/2/2019 12:28 PM (GMT -8)
A food intolerance is possible.

As to celiac, it should be tested for with blood tests before any diet modification is done.

A pillcam is best for finding small bowel inflammation and is typically only done when Crohn's is suspected but colonoscopy and endoscopy and perhaps MRI or CT scans have all been done and are inconclusive.

As to microscopic colitis, it usually occurs in elderly people (though not always), more likely in older women than older men, and usually presents with watery diarrhea.

It would be quite unusual for it to be IBD with normal blood work AND normal fecal calprotectin, but it's still possible.

Post Edited (beave) : 4/2/2019 3:30:33 PM (GMT-6)

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DBwithUC
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Joined : Feb 2011
Posts : 4545
Posted 4/2/2019 1:26 PM (GMT -8)
excess mcuous is a feature of IBS.

a scope will not reveal IBS.

IBD can also make mucous, but usually with blood and as part of a flare that gets worse if untreated.

IF the amount of mucous is constant, and there is no urgency, I would hold off on scope.

I do think a trial of an antispasmodic is in order.
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cyclinglady
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2015
Posts : 267
Posted 4/2/2019 2:06 PM (GMT -8)
I agree that a celiac blood test panel should be done before even thinking about going gluten. Too many people end up in diagnostic limboland when they go gluten free as all celiac tests (even biopsies of either skin or small intestine) require patients to be on a full gluten diet.

While I have celiac disease, my niece has Crohn’s. She had NONE of the traditional symptoms. Celiac disease was firmly ruled out, but a pill camera caught her severe damage which was out of reach of both scopes. It was her 4th PED GI who caught her Crohn’s. I was given the old “I Be Stumped” diagnosis years ago. Turns out it was celiac disease all along! I personally think doctors do not know everything yet about the GI tract. Do not settle for an IBS diagnosis until everything possible has been ruled out.

And when you do get a diagnosis, if things change in the future (new symptoms, etc), do not let doctors pigeon hole you into a single diagnosis. “Oh, it must
just be your UC flaring.....” I am on my second autoimmune GI disorder (autoimmune Gastritis, which is separate from celiac disease and developed years later).

Keep up the good job of advocating for your kid!
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Uniform Charlie
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2015
Posts : 1104
Posted 4/3/2019 11:32 AM (GMT -8)
Interesting about the hormonal thing, Q. Didn't know that. It wasn't mentioned.

Celiac blood tests were negative.

Despite my reservations, we're going ahead with the procedures. If UC, it would be good to catch early... but maybe we'll be too early. Always a choice between poor options with this stuff it seems. Thanks for the input everyone.
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16404
Posted 4/3/2019 11:56 AM (GMT -8)
Let us know how it goes.
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momto2boys
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2013
Posts : 2578
Posted 4/3/2019 4:48 PM (GMT -8)
I hope it goes well and you get some answers. If a doctor suggested one for either of my kids I wouldn’t think twice about it given the symptoms. I had bouts of mucus long before I was diagnosed with UC. It could also be food intolerances or hormonal, but I would rather be safe and get the screening done at this point.
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madabs
Regular Member
Joined : May 2008
Posts : 393
Posted 4/4/2019 10:28 AM (GMT -8)
Hi

Just wanted share that my son had his first scope (upper and lower) when he was in first grade. It was nerve wracking for us, but it honestly didn't seem to faze him at all. Partly because he knew exactly what to expect and partly because he didn't know enough yet to anticipate what getting an IV really felt like! . I think I found a kid friendly video for him to watch too. Also he got the day off from school and was allowed lots of screen time when we got home so he was pretty cool about the whole. He;s 18 now and has had about six upper scopes since then and they have all gone with out any problems.
For us, we found out what was wrong with him (eosinophilic esophagitis) and were able to get him treated. Though to be honest, It did feel horrible to know he had probably been sick for months and we didn't push to get him to the specialist earlier.
Best of luck to your little one!! I hope the scope looks good!
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