Adventures in Diagnostic Tests

There are a wide variety of different diagnostic tests that your doctor will order. The point of these tests is to give the doctor more information on what’s going on inside you and help them correctly diagnose and treat you.

Even after you’ve been diagnosed you’re going to be subjected to these tests over and over again. The progression of this disease changes all the time and any time your symptoms change your doctor is going to want to see what the heck is going on.

Recently, as I was sitting in an MRI lying on my stomach strapped to the table I started thinking about all the tests I’ve been subjected to since I was 9 years old. So today I decided to write a little round up of all the fun diagnostic tests I’ve survived.

Please note that you should be aware of what tests you are having done and what to expect. Your doctor should explain it to you and when you do have the test done a technician or radiologist can also answer your questions. Make sure you understand everything, it helps to know what to expect and understand why you are having all these probing tests.

Ken Treloar

CT Scan

A CT Scan or sometimes referred to as a CAT Scan is an x-ray image made using computerized axial tomography. The machine circles the body and sends the images to a computer, where they’re viewed by a technician and reviewed by a Radiologist. It’s the one that looks like a donut. This is pretty common to get any time you’re in the ER or hospital.

Typically you have to drink some barium to help the technicians and doctors get a better image of your abdomen. Your doctor may also order IV contrast to be administered during the CT scan. If you are allergic to Iodine make sure you inform the medical staff. The IV contrast always makes me feel warm all over for a quick few seconds followed by this weird sensation of having to pee right away. Don’t worry, you won’t pee your pants and the feeling will subside within seconds.

The technician will guide you through the process and have you change into a hospital gown before laying down on the procedure table. You will be given instructions from a speaker during the exam of when to hold your breath and stay still. The whole process (once you are lying on the table and ready to go) typically takes about 20 minutes.

Upper GI Series

I hate this test with a passion, but sometimes it needs to be done. A technician/or Radiologist will give you some terrible chalky barium to drink while they take x-rays of your esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. The barium helps illuminate your digestive tract on the x-ray.

Depending on what exactly your doctor wants to see, you may have to wait around and have more x-rays taken as the barium makes its way through your GI tract. This is why I hate this test, it’s not a quick one. I once threw up all the barium and started crying, but I was also really sick at the time. I’ve gotten through this test a few times with no issues.

Fistula Gram

I’ve had this done twice and once I was lightly sedated. A radiologist injects something into your fistula and takes x-rays to follow the track. It doesn’t hurt, it may be a little uncomfortable depending on where your fistula is.

Barium Enema X-Ray

On the plus side, you don’t actually have to drink the barium BUT do brace yourself for a giant enema. Sometimes I’ve had no issues with this, just a little uncomfortable and then I spend most of the day feeling like crap until I’ve expelled all of the barium.

You will be laying on a table and a technician will administer a barium enema before doing a series of x-rays. The Radiologist will be there with you as well to make sure they capture the right images before they let you go. It’s generally not that bad but I try to dissuade my doctors from ordering it.

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Colorectoragraphy 

Worst diagnostic test ever and I will NEVER ever consent to this again. I wrote about it when I had the worst colonoscopy ever!

Colonoscopy 

The holy grail of diagnostic tests and usually this is the one that helps doctors diagnose new Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients. Even after your diagnosis, you will still have to this every few years so your doctor can get a good look at what’s going on. I did a few posts about colonoscopies that you can read here and here.

MRI

Similar to the CT Scan because you have to drink barium before and most of the time will have IV contrast as well, however you are usually laying on your stomach in a confined space and cannot move for a long time. It takes about 45 minutes once you are on the table. Not the best for those that are claustrophobic. From what my doctors have told me the MRI usually gives better images than the CT scan. Can also be a pain to get authorization from your insurance (don’t get me started).

Ultrasounds 

Ultrasounds are pretty easy but I haven’t had that many when it comes to GI diagnostic tests. However, after dealing with ovarian cysts I’ve been getting them every few months. And those are transvaginal, which sounds worse than it is. It’s your basic ultrasound but with a vaginal wand to get a better view of your uterus and ovaries. If you’ve ever been pregnant than you know exactly what I’m talking about.

As always, please remember that I am not a medical professional and you shouldn’t be making medical decisions based on anything you’ve read from my blog. Please discuss your options and concerns directly with your doctor(s) before making any medical decision. Remember – I am just some rando from the internet.