Question re: colonoscopy

I know this question is odd but in my case necessary. I am allergic to the rubber in the beginning and bends in the scopes (was allergy tested for it) and my GI doc that retired recently had the old style rigid sigmoidoscopy in his office which had no rubber in it. I can not find a doctor who still uses one and my crohns colitis that was in remission for quite a few years I believe has decided to make a comeback. It is in the sigmoid colon and now it seems the rectal area. Since I have become allergic to the standard medications over the years I am only on Librium and Librax to try to stay in remission.

Is there anyone out there who knows of a GI doc in Massachusetts that still uses the rigid sigmoidoscopy?

I really would appreciate any help. My new doc is already disgusted with me because of my many allergies.

Thank you.

--even southern NH or northern CT I would be willing to travel to

Post Edited (suggi) : 11/3/2014 4:19:48 PM (GMT-7)

Well. haven't had it yet as I swell up with large red welt whereever the band aid adhesive touches me when I wear even non latex bandaids so the allergist said I would swell up on mucous membranes. It is a delayed reaction of getting worse over a few hours. Therefore, whereever it touches inside me will swell up and they do not know how badly. Also, the fact that a little watery diarrehea makes me bleed so with all that clean out I would be bleeding badly to begin with.

My old GI did not make me clean out or even enema - he just vacuumed any stool that may have been in there - apparently rigid was built that way -- he figured the enema would open my fissure and he did not want that.

First off she wants a scope to see if their is anything beyond where the old GI doc could look with the sigmoid -- and is quite insistant. She is sending me in the meantime to a colo rectalsurgeon to at least look in as far as he can -- what 2 inches?? Big deal! Hopefully though he will be able to tell whether the horrible inflammation is crohns colitis as originally was further up the sigmoid colon. I just don't want bleeding -- I had my fair share of the toilet filled with pure blood (no feces) from the rectum every time I pped and do not want a repeat si9nce then I could take Prednisone, etc. and now I can't.

Guess you don't know of any docs with a rigid scope.

I think even changing docs they are all going to be frustrated with me and wish I would go elsewhere as my allergies get in the way. Happens over time - as I take things or use things including antibiotics I become allergic to them. Only have 2 of those left anf allergist said -- one of these days so don't take them unless you are dying. (who would ever believe you could get allergic to vaseline and that is what I had been using since I got allergic to proctocort, then anusol, etc. - My whole rectal/anal area is raw plus the fissure is back so now tried a little coconut oil which seems to sooth it only enough to function somewhat)

To tell you the truth - I am scared at this point.

Don't worry that they're frustrated with you, it's not like you chose to be allergic! I have no idea about the scopes you need, but maybe you can ask for that endoscopy thing where you swallow a camera pill and it takes all the pictures needed? It's available in some places, and if you're this severely allergic then they should consider it as an alternative.