Can a flex sig and/or its prep jumpstart a flare?

I just got my first flex sig on Monday. I wasn't having any significant flare symptoms beforehand, just more like general IBS. I did kinda sorta maybe feel I was teetering on going into a minor flare. The doctor did find a small amount of inflammation in my rectum. When I did the prep (2 fleet enemas), I felt like it really irritated things. And now, post-procedure, I appear to slowly be declining into a flare. It's a familiar feeling that I had last year when I had a mild flare. I don't have diarrhea yet, just increased frequency and what feels almost like "contractions" when I go (not sure if that's a tenesmus thing or what). My body just keeps wanting to push stuff out, especially right after I eat.

My feeling is that this wouldn't have happened so quickly had I not just gone through this procedure. Has anyone experienced that? A related question, which I'm sure can be answered in the negative, is whether what the doctor found is just from my body's reaction to the enemas instead of from a developing flare. I'm sure the doctor knows what he's doing, but since we are now increasing my Humira dosage, I want to be sure it's for a valid season. I just kind of want to understand this all better and I would hate to think that any time I get testing done, I'll decline afterward. Can these preps and/or procedures jumpstart a flare? Is my doctor now going to want to do a full scope?

Another bonus question. If I still have an unexpired box of Uceris foam and that helped me a lot last year, should I go ahead and start taking that? I'll definitely mention it to my doctor but I've read about a lot of people here who go right to rectal meds without a second thought. However, I understand this foam has a steroid component to it so it's not supposed to just be taken whenever I want for however long I want.

Thanks in advance for any input.

It's perfectly normal for any endoscopy (colonoscopy or flex-sig) to make our symptoms temporarily worse for a series of days afterwards. The prep, scope, and biopsies are all invasive. You should bounce back pretty quickly, hang in there!
I would not take the uceris, just yet. If the symptoms persist for longer than 4-5 days then go down that route.

Sara14 said...
I had a flex sig once. It made my mild flare worse.

I would go ahead and start on rectal meds if it was me.

I think the prep can cause some very minor inflammation, but I've only read that here on the forum and not heard it from an actual doctor.

Hope you feel better soon.

Ah, so looks like it can happen, and I'm sorry it happened to you. Thank you for replying.

quincy said...
It wont kickstart a flare.....your IBS symptoms were more than likely unrecognised as a flare. With the visual, it's confirmed a flare...start the rectal meds. Also ask for mesalamine if you can take them.

q

Hmm yeah, that's possible. Hate to admit it. I haven't tried mesalamine enemas since the year I got diagnosed. I could look into it again. There wasn't a bad reaction, just possibly no response to it. But it was a confusing time.

Occasionally someone says they flare post-endoscopy. Also could be c diff from the scope itself (supposed to be sterile between patients but it's not impossible with rushed/incomplete cleanings). They prep can mess up our gut bacterium a bit and allow opportunistic baddies to breed fast and overpopulate. Lower odds of all these things.

Standard flare protocol: get a stool test for c diff, a stool test for inflammation (calprotectin), and contact gasteroenterologist when your symptoms stay worse.