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Colonoscopy caused flare?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/24/2020 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
After being in remission for over two years, I've been in a flare since the day of my latest colonoscopy.

Do others experience this?
Really frustrating!
Posted 2/24/2020 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a flare get way worse from a sigmoidoscopy once. Sorry to hear. When was your scope?
Posted 2/24/2020 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
My colonoscopy was Nov 18th. The pred seems to be helping.
Interestingly, the scope came back saying "no active disease"!
Flare ever since. Worst one in a while, so trying pred for the first time.
Posted 2/24/2020 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
That's a big bummer. I'm glad the pred is helping though. I know my experience made me hesitant to get scoped when healthy.
Posted 2/24/2020 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Low odds of a colonoscopy causing a flare. Just make sure you do not have C Diff, more likely to contract it from the hospital outpatient procedure than anything else.
Posted 2/25/2020 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
I have always been suspicious of the benefits of the dozen biopsies done with my colonoscopies. Hard to imagine that poking a lot of holes in the intestinal lining is good for you. I always feel pretty messed up for about a week after a scope, with a lot of bleeding. But it's usually back to "normal" after a week.
Posted 2/25/2020 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Had a CDiff test to rule it out. Just a bad flare that coincidentally started with the colonoscopy.
Posted 2/25/2020 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
I was deep into remission when I decided that I needed a colonoscopy since it had been some time since my last one. Soon I started having diahrrea again.

When I looked at the ingredients of the prep I saw junk like maltodextrin, polisorbate 80, and other of my sure-fire triggers for inflammation. But after a few days I was back to normal remission. Next time I will ask for a magnesium citrate prep which has fewer junk ingredients and see if it makes a difference.
Posted 2/25/2020 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah...it can't be a coincidence that this has happened to so many of us after scopes. My flex sig definitely led to significantly worsening flare symptoms. I didn't do a prep for it, so it wasn't due to the prep in my case.
Posted 2/25/2020 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Casey .Last time I had a colonoscopy I ended up in the hospital for four days. It almost kind of seems like it defeats the purpose. Now I am terrified of getting another, so I don't know how I'll get thru this next one. But yes, think about it, Your physician cuts your colon in several places depending on how many biopsies he wants to take, and there you are left feeling worse than when you went in. There must be an easier way.
Posted 2/25/2020 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I know that the Calproctectin test doesn't allow them to biopsy, but certainly seems like a good way to know whether you have inflammation. I'm going to try to spread the colonoscopies out, with intermittent Calproctectin tests.
Posted 2/25/2020 9:21 PM (GMT 0)

Eph said...
I know that the Calproctectin test doesn't allow them to biopsy, but certainly seems like a good way to know whether you have inflammation. I'm going to try to spread the colonoscopies out, with intermittent Calproctectin tests.

Yeah, my current doctor does a lot of calprotectin tests, instead of scoping me so often, like some of my previous GIs liked to do.
Posted 2/29/2020 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
My GI tested me for CDidf after my last scope when I complained that I had not ceased to bleed after a week when I hadn't been flaring before. I knew deep down that it wasn't Cdif, so honestly it was just annoying to have to do it. I did the most natural prep I could come up with, too. I did Natural Calm and mag7 pills instead of the prescription. I think I did use a little bit of the Miralax because I ran low on the Natural Calm. Took me almost a month to get back to where I was before.
Posted 3/2/2020 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
I concur and am always resistant to have colonoscopies. Last two I flat out refused the prep and did a clear liquid diet in prep - although was told it was "not sufficient". I think restoring the delicate balance of our good intestinal flora is critical to gut health, and flushing it out like that just doesn't make sense, but this is just my personal theory. I had a scope just last week and so far so good, but I am adding in lots of fiber to get everything working as before.
Sorry to hear this!
Posted 3/3/2020 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
My flares worsened significantly after my last 3 colonoscopies. Not a coincidence!
Posted 3/3/2020 7:28 AM (GMT 0)
100% flare related to colonoscopy. I had a colonoscopy a few months ago with it coming back in general very good results bar mild inflammation and scarring. Days later I started showing symptoms of the usual flare and only the last few weeks have I slowly started to shake it off with a 40MG Pred course. Roughly 85% in remission now, but 100% the colonoscopy caused it. Glad I don’t have to do one for another 6/7 years now.
Posted 3/3/2020 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've only had colonoscopies while flaring (3×) and I always felt better afterwards- I think because the prep flushed everything out, and my bowel had a rest from dealing with food.
Posted 3/3/2020 12:59 PM (GMT 0)

Tblock1985 said...
100% flare related to colonoscopy. I had a colonoscopy a few months ago with it coming back in general very good results bar mild inflammation and scarring. Days later I started showing symptoms of the usual flare and only the last few weeks have I slowly started to shake it off with a 40MG Pred course. Roughly 85% in remission now, but 100% the colonoscopy caused it. Glad I don’t have to do one for another 6/7 years now.

Your doc let's you go 6-7 years?
Posted 3/3/2020 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Yep and I certainly won’t be doing a colonoscopy any sooner, especially if I manage to get into long term remission. Was always under the impression 5-7 years for a colonoscopy if you are a UC sufferer, but maybe others have a scope sooner, but I’m sticking to every 7 years. If the Doc doesn’t question it, neither will I. That being said, my next scope I’ll make sure I’m flaring. Won’t be making mistake of scoping when I’m in remission.

Post Edited (Tblock1985) : 3/3/2020 3:43:48 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/3/2020 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Usually, it's every 1-2 years after you've had UC for 7-8 years because that's when your risk of cancer goes up. My 2 years is coming up this summer. I'm not going to mention it if my doctor doesn't...lol. I'm guessing he probably will though.
Posted 3/4/2020 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Ok I didn’t realise. I have had UC for roughly 8 years, hence the recent colonoscopy procedure. I certainly won’t rush into the next one lol. Don’t get me wrong, the procedure itself was fine. It’s the prep work that I hated and the fact it put me back into a flare. I know it’s important to get the scope, so I won’t be avoiding it forever but if I can prolong the years between each one, I’ll do that smile
Posted 3/4/2020 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, I feel the same. The scope itself is great -- I'm asleep for it. haha.
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