Common procedures & labs

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Common procedures and labs

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Common procedures & labs

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Whether newly diagnosed or a veteran of IBD, you can dispel anxiety by knowing the basics of the medical tests you'll be asked to take.

As much as you want to avoid them, these medical procedures and lab tests are highly useful in helping your physicians understand what is going on with your system and how best to treat it.

You may want to consider making each procedure and test more comfortable -- and more useful -- to you by learning what it entails and what it will show your doctor. Ultimately, you will have to decide how much you want to know. Some people have a better experience if they know exactly what is going on while others are interested only in when they can leave. Determine what works best for you and apply it by discussing your decision with your physician.

Common procedures and labs are described here to help you understand what your physician will be looking for, what will happen during the test and what you will feel.

If you have any questions about tests that are being ordered for you, talk to your doctor.

Download the procedure and lab records form (pdf) to help you track your procedures and labs.

Test	What the doctor can see from the test	What will happen	What you will feel
Blood tests	If you are anemic Signs of inflammation Your general state of nutrition (for example, whether you lack certain nutrients) How your meds are affecting your system	Blood will be taken from a vein in your arm. Tests might include a CBC (complete blood count), sedimentation rate, CRP (c-reactive protein), liver test, and other chemistries.	An unpleasant prick from the drawing of blood -- the same as other blood tests you have had.
Upper GI and small bowel series of X-rays Top	Location of disease in the stomach and upper and lower small intestine Areas of narrowing or ulceration Fistulas	The night before the X-ray, you will need to stop all eating and drinking at midnight. During the X-ray, you will drink a cup of barium, a chalky liquid that's been flavored with chocolate or strawberry. It fills the intestine and shows up white on X-rays. This test takes one to four hours.	Most people think barium tastes awful. You will not have much, if any, discomfort for the three to four hours it moves through your digestive tract. During that time, the radiologist will take a number of pictures.
Lower GI X-rays (Barium enema)	Location of disease in the lower intestine (colon)	Before the X-ray, you may need to take prescribed laxatives and an enema to clean out your lower bowel. During the exam you will lie on the X-ray table while barium enters your colon by an enema.	Barium causes pressure and cramping in the bowel, so you may feel as if you need to have a bowel movement. The sensation will last until the X-ray is completed and you are able to go to the restroom.
Colonoscopy or limited flexible sigmoidoscopy with biopsies Top	The severity of inflammation and ulceration and exactly how much of the colon is diseased Characteristics of the inflammation under the microscope	Before the colonoscopy, your bowel will need to be empty. This will be done by laxatives or an enema, depending on which part of the colon the doctor wants to see. You will be on your side during the procedure. An intravenous sedative may be used to help you relax and reduce discomfort.	You may be alarmed when you first see the colonoscope because it is very long. The colon is several feet long, and the flexible scope easily passes through the parts of the colon the doctor needs to see. The colonoscope is a flexible instrument, but you may still feel some discomfort as it pushes and stretches the intestine on its way through your colon.
Upper endoscopy with biopsies	The severity of inflammation in the esophagus, stomach and duodenum Characteristics of the inflammation under the microscope	You will need to stop all eating and drinking at midnight the night before the test. During the test, you will lie on your side, and an intravenous sedative will be used to help you relax. An anesthetic spray will be used to numb your throat, and you will be asked to swallow the small, flexible scope.	You may feel a small amount of pressure in the back of your throat as you swallow the scope. You probably will sleep through most of the test.
Biopsy Top	Inflammation and intestinal changes the naked eye cannot see	This will be performed during the colonoscopy or upper endoscopy. A small forcep will be put through the scope to take a small piece of the intestinal lining.	You will not feel any pain but may feel a slight pulling sensation.
CT scan	Absences or active inflammation	You lie perfectly still on a table and enter a tubular X-ray machine. You might need a liquid contrast (liquid that shows up on the CT scan; it's given by mouth or by enema) or an IV contrast.	If you drink the contrast fluid, you might not like the taste; if you need an IV, you might feel a little nauseated or have some abdominal pain. You shouldn't feel anything from the machine.
Stool test	Active infection from bacteria	You will put some stool into a specimen-collection jar and hand it to the lab.	Nothing -- besides your bowel movement.