I don't think he's necessarily jumping the gun but I know infections can raise some inflammation markers too. If my inflammation markers are elevated but I'm having no UC symptoms, my doc will usually run another test in a couple of weeks to see if they've gone down. If they're down, he assumes it was an infection or something.

Inflammation markers are really only a cluel, not a definitive answer to whether your disease is active or not. He may just want to see the state of your colon to be sure.

Are the inflammation markers his only reason for ordering the scope? When was your last? Is it possible that he waited for your flare to subside before ordering a periodic colonoscopy?

I have an appt with my primary on Wednesday to take care of the upper respiratory junk and I'm going to ask her about this. Once that's all taken care of, I'd much rather do another blood test before doing a colonoscopy. I'm having scheduling issues at work and I'm going out of town for a week...plus last time I had a colonoscopy I had to pay nearly $700! Plus I'm scared they'll find something lol

Buck, yeah, the inflammatory markers are his only reason...because the results don't match up with what I'm telling him (no pain, bleeding, diarrhea, and I've been able to tolerate foods I was eating before this last flare).

My last colonoscopy was 2 years ago, when I was first diagnosed.

I don't wish to cause further worry, but if your PCP prescribes antibiotics you may want to ask her about probiotics. Antibiotics don't discriminate. They can wreak havoc by destroying good gut bacteria.

I hope you get the infection fixed and avoid a needless scope. At only 2 years in, you shouldn't need expensive surveillance colonoscopies for another 6-8 years. Good luck.

I agree, buck. I actually drink Yakult twice a day. I took an antibiotic about 3 weeks ago for an inner nose infection and was drinking 3 a day at the time. I think I acquired the sinus infection during that time and it's just taken on a life of its own lol

I'm surely going to talk to my GP about this...I cannot afford another scope, I'm not having any flare symptoms, and it's pretty clear I have an upper respiratory issue.

Inflammatory markers are nonspecific. There are all kinds of conditions that can elevate the numbers. Unfortunately, IBD can be active without the symptoms we usually associate with a flare. I work in a hospital lab. I've given myself an occult fecal blood test that tested positive, which indicates my UC was active (not in clinical remission) but I had no other symptoms. Actually, I was feeling pretty good. I know it's a pain in the butt, but a colonoscopy is the only way for a doctor to truly know what's going on.

Are you on any drugs right now for your UC. How much pain are you in? You say you had a flare. How big was it. Is there any blood in your stool? Just depends on a lot of things too. Was the last colonoscopy the first time you found out you had UC. I don't think your doctor is out of line in checking and wanting to take another look at your colon. If you have another colposcopy make sure he looks at the end of your small intestine to check for Crohns. I have Crohns and I get a colonoscopy every 3-4 years. I take Humira and that has been helping me deal with my disease. Depending on what the doctor sees he can alter your course of treatment. You can always get a second GI opinion. Your UC could hurt your ability to fight off your sinus infection too.

Bart, compared to a lot of the stories I've heard, my recent flare was sooooo minor. A couple of months before the symptoms started, I was getting pain. But now I'm fine...past two or three weeks I've had no diarrhea, bleeding, or pain.

The last colonoscopy I had was when I was diagnosed. My doc at the time said I shouldn't need another one for around 8 years. I guess my problem is that my GI wants to do this colonoscopy for exploratory reasons. Rather than taking care of the sinus issues first--as well as my anemia from my flare--and then seeing what the inflammatory markers are in another blood test, he wants to do an exploratory colonoscopy that'll cost me almost $700 out of pocket.

And I'm taking Lialda and I've been on Uceris for a couple of months.

Are you due for one? They do like to do those when you are not in the acute stage.

And yes, the inflammation markers only tell you that there IS inflammation in your body. Not where.

read thru responses. Did you have bleeding with this last flare?
That would likely be why he wants an exploratory, to see if you have any polyps that need removing, and general check the state of the disease.

I had some bleeding but NOTHING like when I was first diagnosed. This was my first flare since being diagnosed in July of 2013. With this flare I was going to the bathroom maybe 4x a day, nothing like the 10x I was going when I was diagnosed.

Am I reading you correctly? You developed anemia from your last flare? That is serious, regardless how many times you went to the bathroom a day. That would be reason enough to justify a colonoscopy.