My husband was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 8 years ago. He has been in a flare up for almost a year now and now doctors are discussing Crohn's disease. We are wondering can you be diagnosed with both?
Q: Can you have both crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?
Answers (5)
10/23/08 1:40pm
Cola,
Your husband wouldn't be diagnosed with both UC and Crohn's. In my case I was diagnosed with UC ten years ago. A few months ago when I was in a flare some of my symptoms made my doctor think I was trending more in the Crohn's direction. I could have a colonoscopy done to verify her theory, but for me, the treatments that I use for the UC helped the flare calm down and all is back to normal.
But no, he wouldn't have both. It's one or the other. They can be tricky to diagnose and sometimes it's not until symtpoms get worse or new symptoms arise that a definitive diagnosis can be made for one or the other.
A colonoscopy and a look at his small bowel will be the most likely tests they do to figure this out.
Good luck,
Elizabeth
7/16/09 3:11pm
Hi,
You're right, there is a diagnosis now called Crohn's Colitis. More than a year ago when I answered that question I was unaware that this diagnosis existed. But, over the past 6 months I've heard more and more GI's (gastroenterologists) discuss this new diagnosis within the IBD family.
So, you are correct.
Elizabeth
8/10/10 3:36pm
OMG!!! Thank You ! I've have UC for 18 years,,,several years ago I was told by the same dr> I have Crohns!...Ive moved across the country ,,,this dr. calls it colitis!,,,so frustrated!,,,So yes! I believe you can have both!!
6/13/11 4:14pm
I agree, I have been diagnosised with both for the last 2 years.only to be complicated with CMV ( due to a compromised immune system from long time use of Prednisone) which is a viral infection that had bound to my Colon.
4/ 6/10 5:12pm
Although its rare to have both disease, yes you can be diagnose with both. I was diagnose with CD 6 years ago when I was 15years old and when I turned 21 my doctor put me on a medication that only UC patients use. He told me I had symptoms of both diseases. After running many more tests on me, my doctor explained to me the reason why I was having flares almost every day for almost 2 years lead him to this diagnostic. I was constantly in the hospital because the pain was unbearable. So far I'm doing good with the medication I was placed on and I have only had 5 flares so far in 2010 V.S 102 flares I was having in a year
4/ 6/10 11:26pm
I was diagnosed with UC in 1997 and my doctor changed it in 2000 to Crohns. I asked this same question and am told diagnosis is difficult and it depends what they see going in. Also, there are different blood tests to confirm. Hope this helps.
5/31/10 7:26pm
Yes
3/31/11 1:55pm
I was diagnosed with UC 23 years ago. After several long hospital stays and months at a time on prednisone, I had a colectomy 18 years ago. I have had minor flare-ups over the years and frequent episodes of pouchitis. The past two years have been particularly difficult. After extensive tests, scopes, and biopises of tissue, my gastroenterologist tells me I have Crohn's. I was stunned; I did not know it was possible to have both.
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Sorry, but I find it interesting that you can't be diagnosed with both UC & Crohn's Disease. My brother was diagnosed with BOTH 6 years ago. I myself have been dealing with issues and was explaining my family history to my PCP and he told me the same thing -- you can't be diagnosed with both, yet he HAS been diagnosed with both.
How is it possible for one doctor to make an official diagnosis of both, yet others say it's impossible?