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Posted 9/16/2013 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have been having extreme crampy pains ever since my colonoscopy on the 12th but without fever. I just got back from 11 (wasted) hours in the ER with doctors who offered me nothing except gravol, tylenol and a precription for cipro.

One hospital turned me away because it was not where I had my colonoscopy, even though they diagnosed my diverticulitis in February. (I live around the corner from it) So we left that hospital to go to the hospital where the surgeon did my colonoscopy. BIG mistake - HUGE.

They did not take me seriously and I am still in pain today with nothing more than one bottle of antibiotic, Tylenol, blood and pain.

shakehead
Posted 9/16/2013 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think the entire medical thing for any condition is a huge nightmare. My gastroenterologist's "secretary" treats me like an annoying stranger, but what else are we supposed to do. We are at the mercy of the doctors, well at least for our medication!
Posted 9/16/2013 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
lealee, I have to ask - what do you think the ER SHOULD do for your crampy pain? Sometimes scopes can put us into a flare. Are you taking your UC meds? Are you eating a low residue diet? Are you using your probiotics? Have you tried an antispasmodic like Bentyl?
Posted 9/16/2013 5:06 PM (GMT 0)

JohnPhx said...
I think the entire medical thing for any condition is a huge nightmare. My gastroenterologist's "secretary" treats me like an annoying stranger, but what else are we supposed to do. We are at the mercy of the doctors, well at least for our medication!

Yea - agreed!
Posted 9/16/2013 5:12 PM (GMT 0)

kazbern said...
lealee, I have to ask - what do you think the ER SHOULD do for your crampy pain? Sometimes scopes can put us into a flare. Are you taking your UC meds? Are you eating a low residue diet? Are you using your probiotics? Have you tried an antispasmodic like Bentyl?

I'm so new to this that I don't know what they could have done. cry I just got diagnosed after being misdiagnosed by another healthcare center.

I don't know Bentyl - is a script necessary? I am taking Salofak now - started it after I was diagnosed last Thursday. Up until now I have never been on anything, yet I complained (and complained) about blood, pain and mucus.

Uh - no low residue diet - actually no direction on a diet whatsoever. Everything I have learned on diet etc - I have read here. I'm on a low fibre diet right now.
Posted 9/16/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful of the Cipro. It can have extremely bad side effects in certain people, very bad.
Posted 9/16/2013 5:15 PM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
Be careful of the Cipro. It can have extremely bad side effects in certain people, very bad.

I did take it once before. I am a little scared of asking what the bad side effects in certain people are - but here goes. What happens?
Posted 9/16/2013 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
lealee

did you try contacting your GI? is that the same person that did your c-scope?
You need a GI who knows your history (so far) to co-ordinate your treatment.

Cipro may be appropriate for you or not. If you have no bad reaction to Cipro then finish the course of pills, not good to stop in the middle. I had a bad reaction to Cipro years ago but some people here think it started their recovery.

Call your GI and get an appointment or at the very least something for pain. Salofalk suppositories help a little for bleeding but the enema type does a LOT more. Try to get a script for a month-worth of the enemas. And ask for a script for Bentylol (Bentyl in US), helps cramps without causing constipation. There are stronger pain meds but they can cause constipation.

Did you get a copy of your colonoscopy report? You should get it and keep it.

Good luck.
Posted 9/16/2013 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
My personal practice is to call the DR whenever I have a complication from a procedure I don't understand. I don't care what time of day or night it is; I call the DR. I would not recommend the ER to anyone unless it is an ACTUAL emergency. Crampy pain is not an emergency, IMO, except you do have the issue of having just had a scope and having rectal bleeding. These issues are probably listed on your discharge order as reasons to call your DR.

I don't know if you tried calling the DR who performed the scope. You need to call that DR. Now. You need to understand the meds you were given and the directions your DR wants you to follow. If you don't understand what you are told ask again. And again, until you understand. If your DR is unwilling to work with you like this then you NEED A NEW DR.

A low fiber diet is the same as a low residue diet. This is a good thing to do for now. Call your DR.
Posted 9/16/2013 5:38 PM (GMT 0)

imagardener2 said...
lealee

did you try contacting your GI? is that the same person that did your c-scope?
You need a GI who knows your history (so far) to co-ordinate your treatment.

Cipro may be appropriate for you or not. If you have no bad reaction to Cipro then finish the course of pills, not good to stop in the middle. I had a bad reaction to Cipro years ago but some people here think it started their recovery.

Call your GI and get an appointment or at the very least something for pain. Salofalk suppositories help a little for bleeding but the enema type does a LOT more. Try to get a script for a month-worth of the enemas. And ask for a script for Bentylol (Bentyl in US), helps cramps without causing constipation. There are stronger pain meds but they can cause constipation.

Did you get a copy of your colonoscopy report? You should get it and keep it.

Good luck.

I've got a call into my GI now - I am expecting him to call back this afternoon. I will ask for the Bentylol. No, I didn't get a copy of the report, I didn't realize I could get one.

The Salofalk are capsules, not the suppositories/enema because of where my problem is (my GI said the enema and suppositories won't work). He also told me not a lot is known about diverticular associated colitus and that it is rare. I've found a few things online - but nothing much on how to cope with flares, beyond what I have already done.

In Feb. I took Cipro and Flagyl and it did clear up what the doctors said was diverticulitis. I am a little confused about the differences in what I experienced with a diverticulitis attack and what I am going through now. It seems the same to me and I guess it is also being treated the same way. The ER doc only wanted me to take Cipro (not Flagyl) because they figured I would stop producing good flora (?)

In any event - I still hurt.

Post Edited (lealee) : 9/16/2013 4:48:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/16/2013 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lealee... So you were just diagnosed a week ago? Sorry to have to welcome you to the boards, but you've found a good place :) I used to come here all the time when I was really sick and it has helped me through a lot.

I never bother with the ER, hospitals, or any general practice doctor. It has been my experience that they have VERY little idea about what to do with patients who have ulcerative colitis, and I have had GP doctors admit to me that I know more about my condition than they do. Definitely give your GI a call if you are worried, but it sounds like the colonoscopy could have just aggravated your condition, and there is not much that could be done except waiting for your meds to kick in. If they removed polyps that could also explain the pain. I would just eat soft or liquid foods for a while, take it easy, and watch your symptoms in case they get worse instead of better.

Good luck!
Posted 9/16/2013 5:41 PM (GMT 0)

kazbern said...
My personal practice is to call the DR whenever I have a complication from a procedure I don't understand. I don't care what time of day or night it is; I call the DR. I would not recommend the ER to anyone unless it is an ACTUAL emergency. Crampy pain is not an emergency, IMO, except you do have the issue of having just had a scope and having rectal bleeding. These issues are probably listed on your discharge order as reasons to call your DR.

I don't know if you tried calling the DR who performed the scope. You need to call that DR. Now. You need to understand the meds you were given and the directions your DR wants you to follow. If you don't understand what you are told ask again. And again, until you understand. If your DR is unwilling to work with you like this then you NEED A NEW DR.

A low fiber diet is the same as a low residue diet. This is a good thing to do for now. Call your DR.

My doctor doesn't work on weekends, so I thought I should go to the ER because of the bleeding and pain. I am hoping he calls soon.
Posted 9/16/2013 5:44 PM (GMT 0)

ediekristen said...
Hi lealee... So you were just diagnosed a week ago? Sorry to have to welcome you to the boards, but you've found a good place :) I used to come here all the time when I was really sick and it has helped me through a lot.

I never bother with the ER, hospitals, or any general practice doctor. It has been my experience that they have VERY little idea about what to do with patients who have ulcerative colitis, and I have had GP doctors admit to me that I know more about my condition than they do. Definitely give your GI a call if you are worried, but it sounds like the colonoscopy could have just aggravated your condition, and there is not much that could be done except waiting for your meds to kick in. If they removed polyps that could also explain the pain. I would just eat soft or liquid foods for a while, take it easy, and watch your symptoms in case they get worse instead of better.

Good luck!

I was diagnosed last Thursday, less than a week ago. Thanks so much for the welcome - and already I am seeing what you mean by this forum being a good place! Until now I was lost. I have more info to speak to my doctor about now and will ask questions when he calls!

I will watch the symptoms and continue to come to this board. I think even with the diagnosis I lucked out finding all of you!
Posted 9/16/2013 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
The bleeding can definitely be scary- especially if it's something that you didn't experience very often before- but it is very common for UC patients to have after a colonoscopy. Our intestines are so fragile when they're inflamed that even eating something like sharp chips can cause us to bleed, so of course having a doctor go poking around with a camera and taking out chunks of your intestine is going to cause some prolonged bleeding afterwards :) I've gone in before with no bleeding and then ended up with tablespoons of blood in the toilet for days afterwards.
It's not fun, but it's all part of the disease I guess.
Posted 9/16/2013 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Even if your DR isn't "open" on the weekends they will have a call service that will put calls through to them. If your DR doesn't provide this service then you need a new DR. Sometimes the DR will just call you back and say "go to the ER." That is a sucky answer for sure! But in my view, if you've disturbed your DR's day to the extent that they have to make a phone call to you, good for you! LOL. Your day is already disrupted because of your pain, right? They need to know about that.

At my last scope (August 2012) I was so horribly nauseated afterward that I spent the entire afternoon on the couch. Any position other than horizontal would just make me heave. I tried so hard to function as a mom and grown-up but it was just not possible. After hours of this I finally realized I could call my DR and ask for phenergan. My husband tried three times but could not get a call back. We finally called my GP and he called the phenergan in right away. I felt so much better once I took that miraculous med.

Anyway, my GI called me the very next day and apologized profusely for the problem. His phone had died and the answering service couldn't reach him. The next time I saw him, a couple of months later for a follow-up, he apologized again. This is one of the reasons I keep my DR.
Posted 9/16/2013 10:52 PM (GMT 0)

ediekristen said...
The bleeding can definitely be scary- especially if it's something that you didn't experience very often before- but it is very common for UC patients to have after a colonoscopy. Our intestines are so fragile when they're inflamed that even eating something like sharp chips can cause us to bleed, so of course having a doctor go poking around with a camera and taking out chunks of your intestine is going to cause some prolonged bleeding afterwards :) I've gone in before with no bleeding and then ended up with tablespoons of blood in the toilet for days afterwards.
It's not fun, but it's all part of the disease I guess.

Oh ok - I didn't know all of this. I sure sound like a baby compared to what everyone else endures. I have had bleeding since February of this year, but the doctor didn't make a huge deal out of it. I did not know it was on the "normal" side with the condition. Thx for letting me know about that!
Posted 9/16/2013 11:05 PM (GMT 0)

kazbern said...
Even if your DR isn't "open" on the weekends they will have a call service that will put calls through to them. If your DR doesn't provide this service then you need a new DR. Sometimes the DR will just call you back and say "go to the ER." That is a sucky answer for sure! But in my view, if you've disturbed your DR's day to the extent that they have to make a phone call to you, good for you! LOL. Your day is already disrupted because of your pain, right? They need to know about that.

At my last scope (August 2012) I was so horribly nauseated afterward that I spent the entire afternoon on the couch. Any position other than horizontal would just make me heave. I tried so hard to function as a mom and grown-up but it was just not possible. After hours of this I finally realized I could call my DR and ask for phenergan. My husband tried three times but could not get a call back. We finally called my GP and he called the phenergan in right away. I felt so much better once I took that miraculous med.

Anyway, my GI called me the very next day and apologized profusely for the problem. His phone had died and the answering service couldn't reach him. The next time I saw him, a couple of months later for a follow-up, he apologized again. This is one of the reasons I keep my DR.

My GI's service on the weekend simply says if it's an emergency call 911. If not, leave a message and we will get back to you. (Which means Monday) I do, however, have a knock-down up-to-date fantastic GP who I am seeing Wednesday. She will give me some more pointers too and hopefully I will get a better handle on all of this.

I'm not lying to you when I say it's scary. This is a lot to uh digest! Thank you so very much for taking the time to explain what you've gone through. I've written down the name of the drug you have and I'll see if I should get that as well. I'm on so many medications that sometimes doctor's do hesitate. I know the ER doctors mentioned my cocktail of drugs as being "a lot". lol
Posted 9/16/2013 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
There are tons of lawsuits against Cipro. If I remember right it can cause permanent and severe nerve damage in some patients. If you have taken it successfully before then you should be alright. Don't remember the exact details but you could probably search the regular web for Cipro and lawsuits.
Posted 9/16/2013 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Go to the local drug store and get Imodium, You do not need Rx for that. It will get you going, It may not stop cramping completely but will slow down colon and that could help. Personally, I have never used Imodium because I ALWAYS stock up Bentyl. Its a godsend medication for me.
Bentyl is best help for cramps.


This 911 thing is abused pretty well with many doctors. I have some office like that and I am looking for an alternative.
Posted 9/16/2013 11:44 PM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
There are tons of lawsuits against Cipro. If I remember right it can cause permanent and severe nerve damage in some patients. If you have taken it successfully before then you should be alright. Don't remember the exact details but you could probably search the regular web for Cipro and lawsuits.

Oh!! I am just reading about it. Thx!
Posted 9/16/2013 11:45 PM (GMT 0)

deltaforce said...
Go to the local drug store and get Imodium, You do not need Rx for that. It will get you going, It may not stop cramping completely but will slow down colon and that could help. Personally, I have never used Imodium because I ALWAYS stock up Bentyl. Its a godsend medication for me.
Bentyl is best help for cramps.


This 911 thing is abused pretty well with many doctors. I have some office like that and I am looking for an alternative.

Great advice! I will need something and I absolutely don't want another ER fiasco. The 911 thing happens a lot - at least by doctors affiliated with a teaching hospital. It's hard to know what to do about it.
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