IBS and Colonoscopy

Hi there, I've been reading these boards for a while and finally decided to join up. Long time listener, first time caller, so to speak. First off, I think its great what yall are doing here, I've learned a lot just from lurking. So...thanks! Anyway, may as well give some background info...about, oh, 9 months ago I took a trip to SE Asia, where I got really sick with food poisoning. I took Cirpro, got better, and thought that was that. But about a month later, I started getting chronic diarrhea, to the point that I saw a doctor, and eventually a gastroenteroligist. I was tested for everything, parasites, H. Pylori, Celiac, the works, all negative, so was diagnosed with post infective IBS. So, here I am, trying to figure out how to live with what may be lifelong IBS.

This summer my health was often quite poor. I ran a fever a few times, and had on-off diarrhea. As in, I'd feel fine for a few days, and then have a weak stomach in which I couldnt really eat much without feeling lousy for a few days. I figured it was at least partially due to living in the third world (lower health standards, general propensity of things that can cause illness, I know a few people who have lived abroad for several years who then suddenly start having chronic problems). So yesterday I went to a follow up appointment with the GI doc, where he told me he wanted to do a colonoscopy to rule out IBD. So, heres the thing: I'm not particularly freaked out by the procedure, or even the prep. Certainly not looking forward to it, but plenty of people have done it before and lived, right? What I'm really worried about is post-procedure. My stomach is super sensitive, and anything that throws off the balance can throw me off track for days, making me unable to eat and generally feeling gross. I've been gloriously regular for the past week or so now, and really don't want to do anything thats going to throw me off track, like violently flushing my bowels out. The doctor said beyond some bloating I souldnt have any problems, but then of course I just had to get on the internet, where I read anecdotal accounts from people having just the problem I was worried about. Woops! So in short, does anyone have any information on people with IBS-D having problems or being at increased risk of irregularity after a colonoscopy? Should I be worried that flushing myself out will set me back and give me diarrhea for days after? Any research on this? Seeing as Thanksgiving is 2 days after and I'm feeling mostly fine right now, do you think its worth rescheduling it till after, so I can eat on Thanksgiving? I'd really like to get this over with, but I also really want to be able to eat Thankgsgiving dinner!

Ok, so that's my conundrum, I'm curious to see what people have to say. This is causing me a lot of stress, so thanks so much for hearing me out!

I had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy in Jan. 2010. I has having terrible diahrrea problems for years. I was finally diagnosed with IBS after the colonoscopy and upper endo came up 'clean' so to speak. I didn't find that having the colonscopy screwed things up any more for me than they already were. I did find a lot of relief after starting Amitryptline (Elavil) 20 mg/day. That really seemed to regulate my sytem for me until I started on Cellcept for my SLE - now things have become screwed up again, but still not as frequently as before I started taking the Elavil.

Good luck to you!

Thanks for the info! Yeah, maybe its just worrying over nothing, but after finally starting to feel okay after months of feeling lousy, the thought of having something set me off again really scares the (bad pun ahead...) crap out of me. Good to know it didnt mess you guys up. I'm realizing the last few months have really taken a psychological toll on me as well, ie things like this that I wuld have shrugged off last year are now more likely to freak me out. I just hope I'm feeling better for Thanksgiving. Well, thanks again, and I'll be sure to post about how things go.

Cipro. Have they tested you for C-Diff? If they have, have they done it more than once? Microscopic colitis can be brought on by strong/long time runs of antibiotics. Whether your problems may stem from your travels, or from the Cipro you were given, you could eliminate one of them by being tested forC-Diff.

Also, make sure they biopsy during the colonoscopy...in several different areas and different layers of tissue.

As far as the colonoscopy...it's a piece of cake. The cleaning out is bearable, although not something you'd want for a pasttime.LOL Make sure you take moist towelettes (much gentler on the behind after the umpteenth trip to the bathroom), something to occupy your time such as a crossword book,etc. Anything that will make you more comfortable and lessen boredom during the 'cleansing' part. If you have short legs like me, take something to prop your feet up on, as otherwise they may fall asleep, and that can be VERY uncomfortable when you try to stand up.

The test itself....the drugs they give you pretty much give you amnesia. You won't remember a thing, although you're not put out. They can tell you to move, and you will...but you'll not remember anything about it or feel anything. When I woke up in recovery, I asked when they were going to start....and was told I was all finished.

As far as afterwards, they make sure you stay long enough to get some food in you, bland as it may be. It didn't take long for my IBS D to start up again. I don't think you should plan on anything being 'worse'. You may actually go a short while of not being able to go...but alas, it will happen.

bynx24

glad to hear it went okay for you.