Can you get TB or other deadly infection from colonoscopy?

[hypochondriac]

Hello there ,

I have been suffering from IBS-D related symptoms for past 3 years and had 2 colonoscopy before which were normal. All the endoscopy showed I have level 2 GERD for which I took medication but it still present.

Recently I booked an appointment with a new doctor , despite my old records he wanted to do colonoscopy. I was kinda shocked to see every patient has to give a Blood screen test for HIV and hepatitis (does that means they are not sure about their cleaning procedure?) . In my last 2 colonoscopy I was put on sleep and was very comfortable. But in this one I was not put on sleep, neither I was given any sedative or lubrication. The doctor went really fast and I had lots of pain in the anal area and also in the abdomen , the procedure only lasted for 2 minutes only. In the report it was found small tiny hemorroids and normal mucosa . But seen upto hepatic flexture only. That means the procedure was not even complete.

Now after the procedure from the very next day I have irritation and tenesmus like symptoms. I could not sit for too long in the office and was in stress. I went to the doctor and the doctor checked for blood test which was normal and gave me an antibiotics and local medicine for hemorroids.

But the worst things is I have lost some weight. I lost around 3 kg in 1 months which is very starnge for me. Because for the last 3 years with Diarrehea like symptoms, I have never lost weight , infact managed to gain little bit. Not to mention , all my pants are loose for me now :ywow:

Now is it possible to get TB or other deadly infections from colonoscopy? What should I do to get rid of this weight loss problem?

I would appreciate if someone helps me. I feel like I was so much better before , my obsession to go back to 100% normal made things even worse.

 

[hypochondriac]

Please someone advice !

 

[UnXmas]

I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant colonoscopy. I have never heard of anyone getting TB from a colonoscopy. Could you ring the hospital department and ask them to reassure you?

Have you changed your diet at all or noticed you lack appetite? Did you weigh yourself soon after the colonoscopy? Because of the laxative you take before the procedure, and because you restrict food and drink for it, you can lose a lot of "water weight". This is not the same as losing fat or muscle, it's a temporary drop in weight because your body has lost so much water without replacing it. If this is what happened to you, a few days of normal eating and drinking should restore your weight.

If you continue to lose weight, you could check with your doctor about whether further testing is needed, and also ask whether you show signs of an infection, though I don't think it is likely that you acquired one from the colonoscopy.

 

[shamrock15]

I would think it exceptionally unlikely to get TB from the scope. Hepatitis and other infections? Absolutely it is possible. In my city we had a doctor barred from further practice because of her lax attitude towards cleanliness. She wasn't properly cleaning her equipment between scopes. Of course the way the information was released had every crohn's patient in the city worried - they only a clinic had failed the mandated testing and didn't let anyone know which clinic or physician was responsible for close to half a year afterwards.

I too have had a scope done without the benefit of medication, and will second that it is not an enjoyable experience at all. For me it did pass fairly quickly though. See how the meds prescribed work for you - hope they do and that it isn't anything too serious.

Unless your weight has been often measured and is incredibly stable, I am not sure that I would be too concerned about 3 kilos. As UnXmas says, this could easily be water weight, and I imagine in your part of the world that the heat would exacerbate that issue. From other crohn's patients I have talked to and my own experience, the weight loss from crohn's tends to be a little more dramatic when it kicks in. Mine was about 10 kilos in a month and most of it was muscle mass. Keep us updated - if it was hemorrhoids I think you will get better pretty quickly.

 

[hypochondriac]

Thanks a lot. My bowel movement are fine now. It seems I am suffering from small hemorrhoids and proctalgia (rectum irritation when sitting too long). And yes as my name suggests I am a hypochondriac which triggers my stress level. Thanks for replying , I will update if I have any news.

 

[shamrock15]

Keep in mind it's only hypochondria if there ISN'T anything wrong with you! Yes- meant as a joke...

 

[hypochondriac]

Hi guys,

Do I have to worry if my Large colon wall and rectum had some trauma from colonoscopy? The doctor did not use any lube or sedative just went straight fast and seen up to hepatic flexure . Since after colonoscopy I had rectum irritation and large colon spasm. No blood or anything else. It's been one month and I lost some weight. The rectum spasm and rectum irritation is not gone but got slightly better. I did take one antibiotic course in case there was some minor infection. Is it normal or should I go for further checkup ?

 

[UnXmas]

What did the doctor say when they prescribed you the antibiotics?

It's highly unlikely the colonoscopy has caused any damage. If you have external irritation (soreness/redness/itching) it may be a result of the diarrhoea caused by the prep. You could try putting barrier cream on, especially before you have a bowel movement if that makes it sting.

The colon spasms - do you mean you feel spasms in your stomach area or literally in your rectum? How often are you getting them?

 

[hypochondriac]

What did the doctor say when they prescribed you the antibiotics?

It's highly unlikely the colonoscopy has caused any damage. If you have external irritation (soreness/redness/itching) it may be a result of the diarrhoea caused by the prep. You could try putting barrier cream on, especially before you have a bowel movement if that makes it sting.

The colon spasms - do you mean you feel spasms in your stomach area or literally in your rectum? How often are you getting them?

Doctor just said take the antibioitcs and meet me after a week. I finished the antibiotics and told him symptoms is not gone. He then said it could be because of the small fissure I have and prescribed me some ointment and cream and told me to come back after 1 month.

Spasm .. I mean a irritating tenesmus type of feeling.

 

[pjm357]

I have had many Colonoscopies with sedation. Never have I heard of a DR preforming one without sedation. Now if you just talking about the smaller scope used sometimes that is not a full colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a full exam of the colon there is no way in hell any Dr would preform this test without sedation involved. I would refuse know your patient rights. And after 30 years of having these procedures done I still test HIV free so I assume the sterilization process is extremely rigid now.

 

[hypochondriac]

I have had many Colonoscopies with sedation. Never have I heard of a DR preforming one without sedation. Now if you just talking about the smaller scope used sometimes that is not a full colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a full exam of the colon there is no way in hell any Dr would preform this test without sedation involved. I would refuse know your patient rights. And after 30 years of having these procedures done I still test HIV free so I assume the sterilization process is extremely rigid now.

Dear Pjm,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I had 2 colonoscopy before . In my previous colonoscopy I was put on sleep and when I wake up I did not feel anything. My first colonoscopy showed tiny ulcers in terminal ileum , I was positive for H.Pylori and C Diff . I took treatment for these and in my 2nd colonoscopy was normal. The hospital and staff was very nice and professional. Unfortunately my current insurance does not cover the bill of that expensive hospital so I could not follow up there .

I was fine , with consistent weight , my only problem was getting occasional loose semi formed stool .

So, I decided to go to the new doctor. The doctor run so many blood test and all of them were actually very good. I told him my past medical history and he said may be he should look the small bowel and for that he can only see with the capsule endoscopy. But in the next follow up he wanted to do normal endoscopy and colonoscopy. But during the colonoscopy, I was not put on anything , not even any lube or rectal exam. He just went fast and it was extremely painful , I have never had such pain and it was finished within a minute. In the report it was given normal and seen up to hepatic flexure. That means he did not even check the full large colon.

I don't find any reason to do Sigmoidoscopy for me based on my past medical history and report.

I am not worried about HIV or Hepatitis because he did screen tests to all the patients before the tests. Here I am really concerned about the cleaning process as it seems the doctor was in a hurry.

Now I am having rectal discomfort, burning sensation and the urge to go for a bowel movement because of fullness feeling. The worst part for me is that I am losing weight, I was fairly consistent with my weight. After my complain doctor said it was because of Hemorroids and I was given medications. I took the medication but my actual symptoms are not getting way.

I googled my symptoms and seems my symptoms matches with something call proctitis. So, I am concerned whether I am infected with any STD or TB ! :eek2:

 

[kikig]

Best advice I can give you is to go back to your doctor and get tested for anything or all you fear you have been infected with.

Also strongly recommend not self diagnosing TB or STD. Simply put, there are tests for it, take the tests and know for sure.

 

[UnXmas]

I googled my symptoms and seems my symptoms matches with something call proctitis. So, I am concerned whether I am infected with any STD or TB !

Why do you think you have an STD?! And if you had proctitis they would have found it when they did the colonoscopy.

 

[pjm357]

Dear Pjm,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I had 2 colonoscopy before . In my previous colonoscopy I was put on sleep and when I wake up I did not feel anything. My first colonoscopy showed tiny ulcers in terminal ileum , I was positive for H.Pylori and C Diff . I took treatment for these and in my 2nd colonoscopy was normal. The hospital and staff was very nice and professional. Unfortunately my current insurance does not cover the bill of that expensive hospital so I could not follow up there .

I was fine , with consistent weight , my only problem was getting occasional loose semi formed stool .

So, I decided to go to the new doctor. The doctor run so many blood test and all of them were actually very good. I told him my past medical history and he said may be he should look the small bowel and for that he can only see with the capsule endoscopy. But in the next follow up he wanted to do normal endoscopy and colonoscopy. But during the colonoscopy, I was not put on anything , not even any lube or rectal exam. He just went fast and it was extremely painful , I have never had such pain and it was finished within a minute. In the report it was given normal and seen up to hepatic flexure. That means he did not even check the full large colon.

I don't find any reason to do Sigmoidoscopy for me based on my past medical history and report.

I am not worried about HIV or Hepatitis because he did screen tests to all the patients before the tests. Here I am really concerned about the cleaning process as it seems the doctor was in a hurry.

Now I am having rectal discomfort, burning sensation and the urge to go for a bowel movement because of fullness feeling. The worst part for me is that I am losing weight, I was fairly consistent with my weight. After my complain doctor said it was because of Hemorroids and I was given medications. I took the medication but my actual symptoms are not getting way.

I googled my symptoms and seems my symptoms matches with something call proctitis. So, I am concerned whether I am infected with any STD or TB ! :eek2:

As said in the post above this one, never self diagnose. It sounds to me like you had a sigmoidoscopy done and are somewhat confused on the procedure. This test is done sometimes in doctor offices and requires no sedation.

I honestly do not mean to sound out of the way here but did you see the scope before the procedure took place? Was it so long it almost touched the floor from the stand? Or was it much smaller? Because the scope they use for a Colonoscopy is several feet long. A colonoscopy requires a anesthesiologists presence and has to be preformed under sedation. The bowl is inflated and it takes a much longer then a sigmoidoscopy

just food for thought here:

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is performed by a doctor experienced in the procedure, and usually lasts from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. No sedation is required. Your doctor will have you lie on your left side, with your knees drawn up. The sigmoidoscope, a flexible tube with a camera on the end, is inserted through the rectum and passes slowly into the sigmoid colon. A small amount of air is used to expand the colon so the doctor can see the colon walls. You may feel mild cramping during the procedure. You can reduce the cramping by taking several slow, deep breaths during the procedure. When the doctor has finished, the sigmoidoscope is slowly withdrawn while the lining of your bowel is carefully examined.

Again I do not mean too insult you I just feel you may be confused a bit. But then I wasn't the one there having the procedure. And I may just be in so much shock that a GI specialists would preform a colonoscopy without proper procedure that its unbelievable to me.

Either way I am sorry you had such a bad experience and suggest if you are that concerned about infection that you see a different Doctor and get tested.

 

[hypochondriac]

Why do you think you have an STD?! And if you had proctitis they would have found it when they did the colonoscopy.

Thanks for your reply. I am somehow thinking that doctor did not clean the scope and I might have got infection from the scope .

 

[hypochondriac]

As said in the post above this one, never self diagnose. It sounds to me like you had a sigmoidoscopy done and are somewhat confused on the procedure. This test is done sometimes in doctor offices and requires no sedation.

I honestly do not mean to sound out of the way here but did you see the scope before the procedure took place? Was it so long it almost touched the floor from the stand? Or was it much smaller? Because the scope they use for a Colonoscopy is several feet long. A colonoscopy requires a anesthesiologists presence and has to be preformed under sedation. The bowl is inflated and it takes a much longer then a sigmoidoscopy

just food for thought here:

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is performed by a doctor experienced in the procedure, and usually lasts from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. No sedation is required. Your doctor will have you lie on your left side, with your knees drawn up. The sigmoidoscope, a flexible tube with a camera on the end, is inserted through the rectum and passes slowly into the sigmoid colon. A small amount of air is used to expand the colon so the doctor can see the colon walls. You may feel mild cramping during the procedure. You can reduce the cramping by taking several slow, deep breaths during the procedure. When the doctor has finished, the sigmoidoscope is slowly withdrawn while the lining of your bowel is carefully examined.

Again I do not mean too insult you I just feel you may be confused a bit. But then I wasn't the one there having the procedure. And I may just be in so much shock that a GI specialists would preform a colonoscopy without proper procedure that its unbelievable to me.

Either way I am sorry you had such a bad experience and suggest if you are that concerned about infection that you see a different Doctor and get tested.

I agree that I did not have a proper colonoscopy. But the doctor did not tell me that it was going to be Sigmoidscopy . He is not really interested in discussing things with the patients. As you said the process usually lasts around 10 minutes, for me it did not even last 2 minutes.