About 3 weeks ago I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy. My GP had been encouraging me to do this for some time but I didn't feel physically robust enough to do it.
Some bloody mucous in a bowel movement and a family history of bowel cancer made me decide to go ahead with it.
The Gastrolenterologist wanted to conduct a wide range of tests in view of my IBS (which started with ME). She checked for coeliac disease and a variety of infections and digestive enzymes. She took a number of biopsies and removed 2 very small polyps.
There was no evidence of infections or coeliac disease but I have low levels of enzymes - maltase and sucrase. Lactase is marginal. These deficiencies can cause digestive problems. I will know more when I see her this week.
The preparation was worse for me due to loading with gluten for 6 weeks prior to the procedure. Horrible. Taking the laxatives wasn't pleasant but was bearable. The Maxalon they gave me to take before the procedure was meant to prevent nausea and help with gastric emptying but it just made me so drowsy and drugged that I had trouble talking and had to be assisted to move. I only took half a tablet and it was still strongly affecting me 6 hours later when I was given the sedation for the procedure.
I was asleep throughout the procedure.
It took me two weeks for my ME flare to calm down after the procedure. Pretty much bedridden. My biggest problem has been that my bowels appear to have "seized up". I went to emergency this week due to severe back and gut pain for a week. Keeping me awake at night. I can't turn over in bed without acute pain and there is no pain free position. X-rays revealed that my bowel and rectum are completely full of faeces. Apparently this is causing the pain. I am taking Movicol but it isn't clearing my bowel. I'm hoping that the pre op laxatives and the colonoscopy procedure itself haven't somehow damaged my bowel function. I will find out more this week.
Some bloody mucous in a bowel movement and a family history of bowel cancer made me decide to go ahead with it.
The Gastrolenterologist wanted to conduct a wide range of tests in view of my IBS (which started with ME). She checked for coeliac disease and a variety of infections and digestive enzymes. She took a number of biopsies and removed 2 very small polyps.
There was no evidence of infections or coeliac disease but I have low levels of enzymes - maltase and sucrase. Lactase is marginal. These deficiencies can cause digestive problems. I will know more when I see her this week.
The preparation was worse for me due to loading with gluten for 6 weeks prior to the procedure. Horrible. Taking the laxatives wasn't pleasant but was bearable. The Maxalon they gave me to take before the procedure was meant to prevent nausea and help with gastric emptying but it just made me so drowsy and drugged that I had trouble talking and had to be assisted to move. I only took half a tablet and it was still strongly affecting me 6 hours later when I was given the sedation for the procedure.
I was asleep throughout the procedure.
It took me two weeks for my ME flare to calm down after the procedure. Pretty much bedridden. My biggest problem has been that my bowels appear to have "seized up". I went to emergency this week due to severe back and gut pain for a week. Keeping me awake at night. I can't turn over in bed without acute pain and there is no pain free position. X-rays revealed that my bowel and rectum are completely full of faeces. Apparently this is causing the pain. I am taking Movicol but it isn't clearing my bowel. I'm hoping that the pre op laxatives and the colonoscopy procedure itself haven't somehow damaged my bowel function. I will find out more this week.