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Vein found on sigmoidoscopy ???

Hi there,

I had an mri that showed soft tissue thickening in the mid sigmoid region. Yesterday I had a sigmoidosopy to find out why and they found what looked liked a vein?? The nurse who performed the procedure said, she's going to give the results/photos to my GI, to see what he thinks.

I suffer from crohn's and endometriosis, so I thought it would be either of them, does anybody have a clue what this means? Is it not normal to have veins in the bowel?

Any suggestions will be appreciated, I hate all this waiting all of the time!!
 
No problem. Yeah, I have some hemrroids near my anal opening that flare from time to time. and the just looks like purple veins. I think they look kind of like varicose veins that some get on their legs.. You can get them higher up in the anal canal where you cannot see them.








I never thought of that, Ive not had any before, in the 'usual place'. I will google it!!

Thanks :)
 

Astra

Moderator
I'm having one tomorrow where my MRI shown thickening and a possible fistula in the same area as yours, doc said it looks like a 'line' on the scan, maybe you have a 'possible fistula' too?
Hope neither of us do!
xx
 
Me too!!! Thanks for responding, I see my GI next thurs, hopefully find out then. How did your sigmoidoscopy go?:)
 
Saw my GI, he doesn't think its a vein, they're leaning towards endometriosis. They say its rare to penetrate right through the bowel, but it can happen. I'm being referred to a specialist surgeon in Portsmouth.

Sometimes things seem neverending :ybatty:
 
Oh wow, yeah endo can cause all sorts of problems. It can adhere anywhere in the body really, though it is more likely to adhere to the colon and bladder and lady parts. I also am having gyne issues too. I suspect I have endo, my late gyne I use to see that retired told me years ago that she suspected I had endo. Now I was just told I have uterine fibroid tumors. In the back of my mind I keep thinking the endo may just as well be causing me bad issues. I am just afraid to find out, the only real way to diagnose endo is though a laproscopy surgery. That way they can see where all the endo has adhered inside... I hope you get some asnwers and help soon!






Saw my GI, he doesn't think its a vein, they're leaning towards endometriosis. They say its rare to penetrate right through the bowel, but it can happen. I'm being referred to a specialist surgeon in Portsmouth.

Sometimes things seem neverending :ybatty:
 
Thanks Ihurt, sorry your going through a mix of problems too. Why cant we just be dealing with one thing and it be simple and straightforward!!!

I had a lapraoscopy 5 years ago and they told me I had stage 4 endometriosis and an endometrioma I had, had attached itself to my bowel.

I received a letter from my GI this morning, it was copy of the referral letter he's sent to the doctor in portsmouth. He's called it a submucosal tumour!!! I'm freaking out now. I googled the doctor he's referred me too and he's speciality is cancer and he has extensively researched the connection between chronic inflammation and cancer. Was he just humouring me with it being endo and didn't want to frighten me? I dont know what to think now, just very very scared.:runaway:
 
Geez, what is up with that! I would call that GI back and ask him why he is sending you to a cancer specialist if he thinks this is endo related. I mean one question is, did they take biopsies of it when they were in there?? I could still be endo. Here is the thing, endo is really hard to diagnose as is it's mainfestations. I mean the only way to dx endo is through a lap, but when endo starts attaching to other places, it can be hard to find without doing another lap. maybe the gastro doc does not see a lot of endo related bowel issues? In any event, try not to worry yourself sick( I know easier said that done, believe me, I am the queen of worry) until you find out what it going on.

I also am very worried myself. I have been having intestinal pains and being sick for the last 2 years now and just getting worse it seems. I just had a CT scan that showed FIbroid tumors in my uterus. I have to see a gyne in a couple weeks for that. I also have pain in my pelvic area and have lost some weight and have chills a lot. I dont have a clue what is going on. I am sure I will have to have a vaginal ultrasound and possibly biopsies of whatever they see, I just dont know.

If I were you I would call the gastro doc back and tell him you are concerned and want him to tell you why he is sending you to this new doctor. Ask him what he thinks. You have that right.. Hang in there and I hope all will be well. It very well could be endo...






Thanks Ihurt, sorry your going through a mix of problems too. Why cant we just be dealing with one thing and it be simple and straightforward!!!

I had a lapraoscopy 5 years ago and they told me I had stage 4 endometriosis and an endometrioma I had, had attached itself to my bowel.

I received a letter from my GI this morning, it was copy of the referral letter he's sent to the doctor in portsmouth. He's called it a submucosal tumour!!! I'm freaking out now. I googled the doctor he's referred me too and he's speciality is cancer and he has extensively researched the connection between chronic inflammation and cancer. Was he just humouring me with it being endo and didn't want to frighten me? I dont know what to think now, just very very scared.:runaway:
 
Thats what I thought, this other doctor probably wont know what endo in the bowel looks like either. The nurse who did the sigmoidoscopy didn't take biopsies because she thought it was a vein!! But the GI showed me the photos and it looks a healthy coloured bowel, but with a lump!!!

Coincidently, I have a follow up appointment with my gynae on tuesday, he did my op in 2008. So pleased about that, I'm going to take a copy of the mri report, cd with the images on and that referral letter. Really hope he thinks its endo and can reassure me.

You cant have a conversation with my GI. I tried saying to him ,if its endo I'm sure they'll be more to remove and to go in laprascopically. But this doctor he's referred me too, tries to remove things endoscopically!!

So sorry your having such a rough time too. I've not heard of uterine fibroid tumours, would that explain the chills and weight loss? Or do they think something else is going on too?

I've had a few vaginal ultrasounds, they picked up the endometrioma on them. Really hope it gives you more clues. Have you had a colonoscopy? Its annoying that all these symptoms overlap with so many different diseases/illnesses.

Really hope you start getting answers soon and thank you so much for your support. You've calmed me down.:)
 
Yeah, I would try not to get too excited. One thing I have learned is that doctors do not know everything. I can still remember this one doctor years back telling me she was certain I had lupus! I mean she basically called me and told me," I think your dealing with lupus", make an appt. to see me in about a month!!". I mean really??? By the way, I dont have lupus:).

But I am just saying that sometimes when a doctor looks at something that is not really his area of expertise, well they just dont know and they will usually go referring you around to someone else. That is the way it goes. Also I do know that endo is a tough cookie to understand. My SIL has endo, she also had an endometrioma removed and is now on constant BC pills to control it. I also have a very close friend who has endo on her bowel as well. They found it when doing a barium study. She is also been on constant BC pills and it is controlling her symtpoms for the most part.

I have not had a colonoscopy yet. The thing with me is that I have other health issues too( I have Interstitial Cystitis of the bladder) and I am very prone to getting UTI's. I had an MRE of the small bowel back in the end of October and that stuff you have to drink gave me severe diarreha, Well in turn that gave me a nasty UTI that took me 2 months to recover from! This is the reason my gastro does not want to do a colonoscopy. He said it Will undoubtedly make me worse due to all the clean out and prep. So far my symptoms are crampy feelings in my intestines, pain and soreness throughout, and that feeling Like I gotta go all the time. I do not have the Dairerrha though, but will get softer stools sometimes and also hard ones as well. Pain is my huge issues. As far as tests, well I have had the MRE of the small bowel, blood work, stool tests, abdominal ultrasound, and just recently in the ER I had a CT scan. They were all normal, except for the Uterine fibroid tumors they found on the CT a week ago.

But I totally get your frustration. I mean what a piss off that your GI had his nurse do the sigmoid! He should have done it! One thing that I will say I think your issue may be endo is because usually with any type of colon cancer, they usually have a good idea what it looks like and from what they are saying, yours looking like a vein, well that is different. Like I said, my guess is this guy does not have a lot of experinece with endo in the bowel. But I am sure he has seen a lot of cancer in peoples bowel. Too me it sounds like he is stumped and is sending you else where so maybe someone can figure it out...

Hang in there, I mean I am queen of worry so I do get the whole worry thing. Try and busy yourself with reading a book or watching some movies or something to keep your mind from going nuts.. I know, I am the same way, in fact I should re-read my post to you and follow my own advice! Lol!









Thats what I thought, this other doctor probably wont know what endo in the bowel looks like either. The nurse who did the sigmoidoscopy didn't take biopsies because she thought it was a vein!! But the GI showed me the photos and it looks a healthy coloured bowel, but with a lump!!!

Coincidently, I have a follow up appointment with my gynae on tuesday, he did my op in 2008. So pleased about that, I'm going to take a copy of the mri report, cd with the images on and that referral letter. Really hope he thinks its endo and can reassure me.

You cant have a conversation with my GI. I tried saying to him ,if its endo I'm sure they'll be more to remove and to go in laprascopically. But this doctor he's referred me too, tries to remove things endoscopically!!

So sorry your having such a rough time too. I've not heard of uterine fibroid tumours, would that explain the chills and weight loss? Or do they think something else is going on too?

I've had a few vaginal ultrasounds, they picked up the endometrioma on them. Really hope it gives you more clues. Have you had a colonoscopy? Its annoying that all these symptoms overlap with so many different diseases/illnesses.

Really hope you start getting answers soon and thank you so much for your support. You've calmed me down.:)
 
Thought I'd update, I had the rectal endoscopic ultrasound with the professor doing the procedure and 2 radiologists in the room, they said I was an interesting case!!! They all confirmed it was endometriosis. My regular hospital will do the surgery, they said the gyne and bowel surgeon will work together. Very relieved its not cancer, but not looking forward to another op!!

How are things with you ihurt? Have you had the ultrasound?
 
Hey B baker,

Wow, so it is endo! Is there anyway they can give you like Birth control or lupron to stop your periods beofore resulting in surgery? I know a friend of mine has endo bad and she has to be on BC pills. She also has some endo but it is on the outside of her bowel I think, I Am not sure, it may be inside, but it is a small area. They put her on constant BC pills and that is controlling it. They say sometimes endo can shrink while on the pill or some other meds like lupron.

I am going for my ultrasound Tomorrow! Will find out more about what is going on there.

Do you have really heavy bleeding when you have your periods? I know my gyne that retired was sure I have endo I just never went through the lap. She said if it was not causing me issues it was better leave well enough alone. But now I AM having issues so we will see. Now I am seeing a new gyne though. Ughh, I am not happy with her though. She was rough when she examined me, I mean I had pain for three days after she did the interal exam. I decided to stick with her for now just so I could get the ultrasound done tomorrow. After that I may seek out another gyne, I will have to see.

Anyhow, I am so Glad for you that it was NOT cancer! I know you must have been terrified, I know I would have been! Are they going to go into the bowel and remove the endo?? Is surgery a must??








Thought I'd update, I had the rectal endoscopic ultrasound with the professor doing the procedure and 2 radiologists in the room, they said I was an interesting case!!! They all confirmed it was endometriosis. My regular hospital will do the surgery, they said the gyne and bowel surgeon will work together. Very relieved its not cancer, but not looking forward to another op!!

How are things with you ihurt? Have you had the ultrasound?
 
Endo of the bowel or just endo of the abdomen in general? Glad it is endo and not something else, though endo is bad enough!
 
@Ihurt, I think surgery's a must, thats what my GI thinks but haven't had my appointment with the surgeons yet. I'm on BC and have been pretty much since I was 16 (now 30). But it doesn't seem to be slowing the endo down. My pain is better on BC but stil there. When I have peroids they're not especially heavy, but I get alot of rectal bleeding that is now mixed with alot of blood clots and unbelievable pain!!

When I saw my gyne he mentioned doing another 4 month course of zolodex (think thats similar to lupron). I last had a course after my op in 2008. But my GI wants to remove this from my bowel also. So I'm thinking do I need to do both? I now have osteopenia, so the gyne said to take BC with it (its meant to protect your bones more). Whereas in 2008 I was on HRT with it. Or, I'm thinking, will surgery on its own be efficient enough? When I see the surgeons I'll be armed with lots of questions!!

Also health permitting, I would really like to start a family at the end of the year and apparently removing the endo through surgery can improve your fertility quite drastically.

Good luck with your ultrasound, I hope she's not as rough as last time and you finally get some answers :)

@2thfairy I think they said, the mass is 2cm and its infiltrated the outer muscle layer of the sigmoid colon to the submucousal layer.
 
Wow! I had a hysterectomy when I was 22 due to endo. When I was first having rectal bleeding, the first thing I asked my GI about after colonoscopy was if it was endo, as I was afraid that even after hysterectomy and many years later that I would never be rid of it. Fortunately it was not endo. I say fortunately, since it can eat right through the bowel and perforate it.

Although it sucks that you will be needing surgery again, luckily it was found before a complete perforation and major complications of that. I don't remember your history, but is the rest of your colon relatively healthy?

I am very interested in hearing how this plays out. Endo sucks... endo plus IBD really sucks. You seem to have a really good outlook at things, though, and that will get you through!
 
I've not met anyone with both, they both really do suck!! 22 is so young for a hysterectomy, I've contemplated having one, would you say it made a drastic difference? Without the pill I'm pretty much bedbound at ovulation and my period, mainly due to severe pain and fatigue. But even on the pill, I'm still soo tired and lacking energy that I cant work. This it was is keeping me back from having a family:voodoo:

I had crohns in the rectum/lower sigmoid and ileum but at present in remission:)

How did the endo impact on your life? Did you find foods could aggravate that also? Even though my crohns is in remission, I stil cant eat lots of fruit and veg or anything too healthy really. If I do, I get lots of pain, wind, no bleeding but frequent pure mucus stools. Feels like I'll be on a crap diet forever!!
 
Having a hysterectomy has been wonderful!!!! Yes, I missed out on having children, but to have my life back in that regard was the incredible payoff. Eventually, I was bedbound all month and was just waiting for surgery. The day of surgery, a nurse asked me how could I possibly be smiling knowing what was about to happen. I said "It's BECAUSE of what is about to happen that I am smiling." She even went and talked with my Mom to see if I was losing my mind. My Mom just laughed at her and said "You have no idea what she has been through!"

(My colectomy was completely unrelated to endo. UC didn't strike until 2 years after hysteretomy.)

Caffeine of any sort intensified the cramps, but other than than, I didn't notice anything related to food. I also had a lot of endo on my bladder, so that was fun.

Endometriosis took away my life temporarily. I lost my job, had to drop out of college for a year, and eventually was completely housebound. I won't tell anyone to get a hysterectomy, because it is a very personal decision and if you aren't completely mindset that it is right for you, it can be devastating to your morale, but for me it was definitely the right thing. Same as having colectomy....it was the best decision for ME.
 
Wow you really have been through it. Was you house/bedbound mainly due to the pain? Or did you suffer from severe fatigue also?

This is my thinking about a hysterectomy too. I haven't got the energy to look after a baby as my health stands at the moment. And as much as I want a baby, if I was to have a hysterectomy I might actually get my life back!!

Did you ever go into a drug induced menopause like zolodex? If so, did that help you in any way?

Sorry for all the questions, its just that I had thought all of my health problems and limitations had been down to crohns and now I'm wondering if its endo. I have no idea what else the extreme lack of energy/fatigue could be down too.
 
Yep, housebound because of pain. It hurt to walk just a few feet to the bathroom. Fatigue was only bad for me when I was actually bleeding.

I did several rounds of drug-induced menopause. Back then, the only options were continous birth control pills for 9 months with no break, Danazol (modified testosterone) which I ended up being allergic to, daily Lupron injections, and a last ditch effort with Megace before surgery just to get things to settle a bit. I think I did every one of those treatments at least twice, except for Danazol. Each one helped while I was on the drug, but as soon as it was discontinued, all of the problems started up again.

I don't mind your questions a bit. My information is outdated, as this was over 20 years ago, but I can at least attest to surgery being beneficial for me.

The extreme fatigue you are having I would think is more likely due to Crohn's, but endo can do that too. With my UC flares, the fatigue was horrible, much more so than when I had neverending endo problems.

Definitely don't rush into a decision about surgery...and don't let anyone pressure you into it; not even a doctor. I had to fight for my hysterectomy. No one wanted to do it because of my young age and because I had a bleeding disorder which made surgery more complicated. Still, once it is done, there is no looking back.
 
Thank you for all that info. I think as I've got to have this endo removed from the bowel and hopefully any other bits they find, I'll see how I am after that and then make a decision.

I thought it was crohns causing the fatigue too and since being on humira and in remission, I would say my energy levels have improved a good 45/50%, but stil not enough to go to work/uni, hopefully after the endo op my energy levels will improve some more.

Do you know of anyone with this level of fatigue even though there ibd is in remission? Or anyone with endo this limited by fatigue?
 
Do you know of anyone with this level of fatigue even though there ibd is in remission? Or anyone with endo this limited by fatigue?
Hmm.... I'll have to think about that. Not sure. You might even post a question about it in General Discussion.
 
Thought I would give an update, I had my surgery just over 2 weeks ago. They removed 30cms of my bowel which included most of my rectum. I had endometriosis inside the bowel in the mid sigmoid region and my rectum was fused to my vagina so instead of doing 2 resections they did just the one.

Recovering well and thankfully it hasn't kicked off the Crohns:)
 
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