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Will a colonoscopy bring on a flare?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/3/2014 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I've been feeling SO MUCH BETTER for weeks now- I don't know what happened but I'd been in a huge flare since I was diagnosed in pregnancy around 2 years ago. All of a sudden, the urges have all but dropped off; I go like 4 or 5 times a day, but it's not diarrhea and it's not huge amounts of air and there's so much less blood. I feel good, I feel happier, I'm still tired some days but it feels like things are going in the right direction and I have no idea why.

Here's the thing. They couldn't do a full colonoscopy in pregnancy, because they were worried for the baby and couldn't give me sedation, and they didn't want to do a scope because the risks of perforation were higher when I was really really bad going 20 times a day, dripping blood and running to the bathroom (I should take up Olympic sprint I think). The doctor wants to do a colonoscopy now that things have settled.

I am so worried. Now that things are finally better, I REALLY don't want to get anything started again by doing a test that isn't absolutely necessary. Is there any chance that a colonoscopy will trigger something to start or irritate my colon into freaking out again? I would rather skip the test (I hear the prep is horrible anyway) if there is ANY CHANCE that it will start a flare again. I just can't go for another 2 years like that. My kids need a good mom more that I need a colonoscopy. Any experience with this? I would love some help. Thanks.
Posted 6/3/2014 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do. It's your call to make... No clown in a white coat should be pushing you to get it.
If I were not flaring, I probably wouldn't get one either.

You say you feel good. You are happy. It seems like you are making progress with the disease.

It's worth noting that pregnancies can trigger flares. These flares calm down afterwards.

What meds are you on?
Posted 6/3/2014 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
hey mama -

I said to my gi, "let's give it another 6 months - if my boy Colon is still good, we'll see - if he's not behaving, then maybe we'll take a look" ............. 3 years later, no butt scope :-)

so yes, what the g man said, it's up to you -


and to answer your question, yes, it could and has in many, brought on a flare !
Posted 6/3/2014 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
My first one didn't, but my second one def. irritated and caused a flair.
Posted 6/3/2014 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
I had one while I wasn't flaring and it didn't cause a flare at all. My last scope was a year and a half ago and I went four years between. She said a month ago that she wasn't to do a flex sig next year even though I have no symptoms she wants to make sure my 2 cm of proctitis is healing. Symptoms aren't always in correlation with what inflammation you have. I agree.
Posted 6/3/2014 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
You will get mixed opinions on this one for sure. I imagine there are people who have had scopes with no issues and others who feel that it brought on a scope. One time I miraculously got better after a sigmoidoscopy but I do think I was headed that way regardless. I can't imagine the scope brought on remission. You really can't tell how it will effect you. When was your last scope?
Posted 6/3/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Its funny how we sometimes feel we have to go along with what the doc says, but really if your feeling so good I would just tell him you would prefer to wait a while, and leave it at that.
Posted 6/3/2014 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
I've never actually had a colonoscopy; all they managed was a flex sig two years ago. But since it was proctitis, it didn't really matter. I wasn't able to tolerate mesalamines, although lord knows I tried over and over thinking it was because I was pregnant that I felt so awful and was vomiting and weak. Prednisone made me insane (not literally, but pretty close when combined with the hormones and exciting pregnancy) and caused the emergency delivery of my child (it affected her growth and the amniotic fluid levels, as well as my glucose levels), so the next step is Remicade. I think she wants to take a look to determine whether that's the next step.

The flares that were cause by the colonoscopy, how bad were they? How long did they last?
Thanks for all the help! You are all wonderful.
Posted 6/4/2014 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
It's possible. It's like rolling the dice. Chances are you won't flare but there is also the chance you could lose to.
Posted 6/7/2014 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
All I know is we must do colonoscopies every 2 or 3 years, because UCers (and Crohn) are more likely to develop colon cancer, so we have to control this.
So in my opinion, flare risk or not, do it.
It's better to flare up than to have a cancer...
Posted 6/7/2014 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I think Ccfa guidelines are 10 years after diagnosis and than more frequently for c-scopes. Remember that people w. Proctitis supposedly do not have a higher risk of Colon cancer than"normal" people.
Posted 6/7/2014 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
my first colonoscopy in December was only partially successful. They couldnt see the last part of the colon because of the presence of feces and i need another one now to see if im in remission and also to rule out Crohns. I too am worried about the laxatives or the procedure itself giving me serious problems, but also having a resolute proctosigmoidtitis diagnosis would be nice and instructive.
Posted 6/7/2014 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Drinking the prep always sent me to a flare! I simply refuse when I'm in remission, but my doc will take a quick flex sig in his office...no sedation just looks for 5 min until I can't take the pressure anymore.
Don't do anything you don't want to. Maybe negotiate another 6-8 months until colon is totally healed. I'd be afraid the prep would send you back....congrats on overcoming!
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