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Symptoms....AFTER 'clean' colonoscopy ?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/29/2012 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone, and it's nice to find such an active and supportive board here.

1st off, I don't have UC (supposedly).

I'm 36, and while not the worst health....I am overweight and have had a bad diet...though I've improved greatly over 12 months.

9 months ago: Pain in gut. CT scan shows enlarged colon. Anti-biotics cures it in days.

7 months ago: Colonoscopy. Doc says "you're fine". Found a polyp and was benign. I asked him, any ulcerative? Colon Cancer? Anything? He said "no, yo u are totally fine". I asked him if I need yearly colonoscopy and he responded with " see you in 10 years, you are fine".

1 month ago: 1ST TIME, I saw some blood in stool but all was fine after that.

NOW, for the past 4 days, it's hard to make bowel movement. When I have to go, it feels URGENT. But when I try....I get powdery stool. Most times, it's just a few flecks....just a little tiny bit. I feel the "urge" about 6 times a day.....but just tiny specks come out.

No cramps, gas is normal. Rectum slightly hurts....but perhaps that's from "trying" so many times?

I'm terrified. Could it be that a colonoscopy 'missed' something?

Or could this just be constipation? I've not taken any softener or laxative, because I've read that the stuff is bad for Crohn's, UC, etc.

Anyone have this before?

Thank you
Posted 1/30/2012 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
If you don't have Crohn's or UC why does it matter if you take a laxative? Actually, A LOT of Crohnies on here take laxatives, myself included. Sometimes we have strictures, inflammation etc that causes us constipation or a different GI problem all together, like gastroparesis. Your GI doctor would've been able to see the strictures/inflammation in your colon though so that's not it unless they are in your small bowel.

It doesn't sound like Crohn's to me given your symptoms. To me it just sounds like you need to improve the diet, exercise and add more fiber but if you still feel cruddy ask the GI for an upper scope and possibly the pill cam. Did they tell you exactly why the colon was enlarged?

BTW, it's normal to be constipated after colonoscopy. I usually take Miralax, a dissolvable powder that goes in your drink, and it makes me go after a day or two. It's over the counter.

Welcome to the forum! Get well!
Posted 1/30/2012 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
I dunno about that. It could be UC or Crohn's colitis. Urgency without being able to go or go only very slightly is called tenesmus and can be a sign of inflammation in the rectum or colon.

I wouldn't worry about taking a laxative, topic creator. I'd give something like Miralax a go. It's an osmotic laxative (draws in water to the bowel) rather than a stimulant one, and hence gentler. It's safe enough to be able to take long term.

If having a proper bowel movement doesn't solve the urgency, definitely go back for another colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy (like a colonoscopy, but the scope doesn't go as far).

EDIT: Also, just 'cos your colon was clean once doesn't mean it will always be clean, if you have UC/Crohn's. Just the opposite in fact. Even without being on medication, UC and Crohn's can spontaneously disappear and reappear at different times.

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 1/29/2012 6:32:59 PM (GMT-7)

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