HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Is having a colonoscopy during a flare OK? Should I cancel...

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/5/2009 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if having this done is a good idea right now?   Should I wait until the flare subsides?  I'm worried there might be a problem during procedure and then wake up with a colostomy bag. 

Has anyone gone through this? Please let me know..

Posted 4/5/2009 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a couple of scopes while flaring. Ideally though the doc wants to wait until things settle down a bit before proceeding but some docs do them while their paitient is a flare anyway just to take a peek at things in there.
Posted 4/5/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
It's something that needs to be done so they can monitor how things are going, maybe you're disease has spread and they want to take a look see...chances of you waking up with a bag is pretty slim, if they see via the scope that your entire colon happens to be the resemblance of ground beef they'd wake you up and discuss your options (like surgery) with you, they wouldn't likely just go ahead and do that kind of surgery on you.

:)
Posted 4/5/2009 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, ideally wait until things settle down, if it seems like a "typical" flare.
My doc and I do this, she understands scopes are very irritating (but probably not dangerous).
Posted 4/5/2009 5:52 PM (GMT 0)

The severity of disease is more relevant than its extent, so there's no reason to be scoped just to find out the extent of the disease. 

If you prefer to reschedule, then reschedule.  It will not effect the general treatment of the disease:  5-ASAs (oral and rectal) >> (prednisone) >> Imuran/ 6-MP >> Remicade.

The societies that regulate the professional conduct of endoscopists generally indicate a uc colonoscopy for two reasons, diagnosis and cancer surveillance.  That's it.  If my doctor suggested a "look-see" colonoscopy, I'd find another doctor.  It's poor professional practice.

Posted 4/5/2009 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I suppose if the GI has to do it, then he has to do it.

The concerns are, if the colon is severely inflamed and full of lesions it could make for a less than thorough search for polyps. The other reason is that the scope in itself is very intrusive and could trigger further inflammation. You have to imagine rubbing a garden hose over open sores to get the idea.

Like I said though, there's no better way for the GI to actually see the extent of the ulceration, so it's a no-win situation for the patient unless he discovers something that needs urgent action.
Posted 4/5/2009 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I had a sigmoidoscopy when I was flaring. My doctor said that he did not do a complete sigmoidoscopy, because I was flaring too much. He just needed to be able to see the inflammation enough to make a diagnosis so that he could prescribe prednisone.

I had the colonoscopy after the flare. At the time, my colon was 98% healed.
Posted 4/5/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
If you think that the flare will calm down within the next few weeks then you can reschedule but if not, I don't see the reason to cancel it... it's best to find out what's going on in your colon as soon as possible in my point of view, g'luck. PS. the worst part is getting ready for a colonoscopy while flaring... seriously, good luck
Posted 4/5/2009 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
     I'll tell you what my past experiences were in this department.  My GI doctor tried to do a colonoscopy three years ago while I was flaring.  He only was able to go up 20 cm because he was afraid of perferating the ulcers...lucky for me.  But NOT so lucky because I had taken that awful prep.  Therefore, about two months later, had to do it all over again.  Last year while I was hospitalized they did a colonoscopy but used a pediatric scope.  My colitis is only located in the rectum and not further up into the colon.  I am now, and have been since Nov 1st, in remission.  My GI doctor sees me every three months.  A few weeks ago he told me that he will wait till next year to do a sigmoidoscope.....that since I am feeling and doing well, he doesn't want to  "upset the apple cart".  His words exactly.
Posted 4/5/2009 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Learned my lesson from the "I'll just do whatever the GI says" a while ago.
Posted 4/5/2009 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
I just had one done last tuesday during a flare, and there was no change for the worse.
Posted 4/6/2009 1:57 AM (GMT 0)

Had two colonoscopies and sigmoid plus endoscopy all within the last year and no problems.  Doctor said because I was not responding and having side effects from medication he needed to "see" what was going on!

ElaineNY

Posted 4/6/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)

Hey thanks guys, for the variety of advice.  I'm still thinking about it.  It's booked for April 29th and part of this, I'm just freaking myself out.  The last colonoscopy I had was April 2005, about 7 months after my last major episode.  Prednisone helped out on that one though.  Things were good by that scope time.

This time no prednisone hence the great length of time to get over this episode now.  I'm still have my moments, I'd say it's about 60/40 D & blood right now, that's why I had this question. 

I guess I could say it they must took a look, then just do that and don't take a piece of anything yet because of the action going on.  And thanks for the pediatric endoscope mention, first I've heard of that.

And it's not a GI, it's a surgeon, in a little town like this.  My GI last time was when I lived in BC, so I'm really divided on this. 

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply