Colonoscopy question???

[Ihurt]

Hey all.

I am going to see my gastro tomorrow. We talked in the past about doing a colonoscopy but he did not feel it was worth the risk at that point. Anyhow, my question is, if I decide to do the colonoscopy, I have a couple concerns.

One is that I have read that when you do the colon prep it clears you all out, including it clears out a ton of your good gut flora leaving you vunerable to infections and worsening of symptoms( long term diarhea, worse intestinal issues due to imbalance of flora). This is very worrisome to me. I have been on a low dose antibitoic(keflex) for the last 4 years to keep the severe urinary infections I was getting at bay. I also do take high doses of probiotics, but who knows if those even work, they are not like your natural flora. I am even more compromised when it comes to my flora due to being on the low dose antibitoic.

Also I have read that some people will actually get C-diff from a colonoscopy. I read an article in the LA times that a couple years back they found that the scopes are not steralized like we think, that they cannot put in through too much heat or chemicals due to risk of destroying the camera. This is very concerning as well when I read it.

I know I may have to end up doing this test in order to figure out what is going on, but I am scared my horrible symtpoms are going to get worse after doing all that prep.

Has anyone else here had issues afterwards or do you all think it is safe?? I watched the Dr. Oz show months ago and he happened to be talking about the dangers of colonics. He said they are dangerous as they wash away alot of the beneficial bacteria that you need. Well I am assuming a colonoscopy prep would be the same. Also, alot of people say their IBS or CD came after a stomach flu. Well I am assuming it would be the diarhea that wiped out the bugs and that is what caused the issues.

Sorry this is so long, I just wantes your opinions..... Thanks.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I don't think there is a risk and you need to get to the bottom of your illness. Sometimes you need to weigh the risk versus benefit. You can take probiotics right after your procedure. Maybe you will feel better clearing everything out for the prep.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Hi ihurt, I am going to move this over to the Tests for IBD forum.

You should get more replies there

 

[PVail]

Hi There
Ive had three colonoscopies and never had any issues afterwards . The first time i was flaring badly so it was not pleasant but bearable. If it means getting to the source of your problem i would think it would be worth it. The prep is not that bad and If your having D all the time anyway then its really no different.
I think maybe you should talk to your doctor again to put your mind at ease. The only things I felt afterward was some cramping and i think that was hunger.

Now im having a scope on friday so i will take the prep tomorrow, if it gets me closer to a better answer then its worth it.
I hope this helps .
Peter

 

[Ihurt]

Thanks for the reply. I had a colonoscopy like 8 years ago, but at that time it probably was not even warranted( I was only having slight constipation issues, not bad at all) and the primary care doc I was seeing at the time kind of jumped the gun there. At that time though I was not as sick as I am now. I have been chronically ill for the last 9 years with a slwe of health issues. Just the last year my gut issues have been pretty bad. I do not have the diareha, but I have very bad pain all throughout my intestines and upper gut. the pain is bad, I also have severe blaoting, belching, nausea that gets way worse especially an hour after I eat anything. I also get the camping feelings in upper and lower intestines. My GI doc says IBS, but I do not fit that whole rome criteria of feeling relief after a BM. I feel soop bad after I go. I get this horrible sick feeling, nausea, pain, soreness all thoughout my lower and upper gut. My stools are every other day right now. They are usually formed, but on the softer side. ( sorry if that sounded a bit gross

Anyhow, I am going to talk to my gasrto today at my appt. and see what he wants to do. Thanks for the support.

 

[Mom2Two]

I had a colonoscopy this past January and they actually put me to sleep for the half an hour or so they took in there. I had minor cramping after, but no infections or anything like that at all. Symptom wise, didn't get worse at all. I think I was doing great at that time because my body had pretty much nothing in it. I was a bit tired and weak, but hey, I wasn't in a lot of pain for those days! Also the stuff to clear out your system, I think has a different effect on people. I hear a lot of people say it was horrible and not to leave the house. I planned for that and it was easier to deal with than the urges and frequent bathroom breaks I need (cramping causing nausea included) when things are going wrong. My results were normal, the biopsies were normal. But still have no known cause yet. I think if you decide to go through with the colonoscopy, it might help ease your mind a bit. If by chance there is something going on in there, they'll catch it. That, and the biopsies may help as well.

How did your appointment go on Thursday?

My GI is also leaning towards IBS, but I don't think that's it...I'm no doctor though! I'm either extremely constipated (up to a month without a BM sometimes) or very severe diarrhea, to the point that I'm in tears due to the urgency of it. The upper gut you're talking about, is it right under your rib cage on the left side? Mine starts right there and holy hell does it hurt! Today at Superstore, I was almost passing out from the pain. By the time we were on our way home, I almost got hubby to pull over. I wasn't sure if I'd poop or puke! (TMI sorry)

Best of luck to you!

 

[highlandsrock]

I've had several colonoscopies, the last one was a week ago. I never had any issues with either the prep or the procedure itself and not suffered any pain afterwards. The anticipation of the test is much worse than the test itself. The bit I like least is not being able to eat for 30 hours or so.

Before you have the procedure the doctor should explain to you the potential risks, the main one being the camera damaging the gut and then needing intervention to put it right. This is pretty low and, as nogutsnoglory pointed out, you need to balance this against the chance to get a definite answer as to whether you have any signs of Crohns in your large intestine.

I like to watch the whole procedure on the monitor so ask to be very lightly sedated but I know others prefer to be knocked out completely. It's a matter of personal choice.

Good luck if you do go ahead with the test

Nigel