Symptoms worse after colonoscopy?

Hey guys, first post from a new memeber. I'd like to know if has anyone experienced
something similar. I've had mild UC for about 17 years, 1 - 2 flares per year and they
would be controlled within a week or so with oral pentasa or balsalizide. I had a
colonoscopy (only my third) last week and since then I've been in the worst flare I can
remember. And this flare different from the others, this time it's urgency with little to
no stool passed (just wet gas really) and any stool is D. It almost looks like powder in
the bottom of the bowl.

Doc took 10 biopsies and removed 2 small sissle polyps. First time with polyps.
When I told him about this latest flare he said there was nothing in the literature
about Cscopes causing flare ups. He said there was some mild inflammation in
the rectum and put me on canasa suppositories. So far they've done very little
but it's only been three days so we'll see.

So all of that is to ask if anyone has experienced worse (or new) symptoms after a colonoscopy? Thanks.

Post Edited (TheYeti) : 11/17/2017 11:11:04 AM (GMT-7)

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.

But 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. After a few days of my mainstay, powdered psyllium seed, I was back to normal.

I take pseed because I can’t tolerate meds. I think most people can quickly get back to normal with their regular meds, as long as they avoid the inflammatory triggers.

I agree with Quincy about the mesalamine enemas, I feel they can really help (at least they have for me) so definitely worth following up with them. I wholeheartedly disagree with your doc that a c-scope can't cause/exacerbate a flare up. Many of us have had an increase in symptoms afterward--and I think it's concerning that he is essentially dismissing that possibility. Also, what about increasing your probiotic (or start taking one) to get the gut bacteria back in a good way. You pretty much wiped out a lot of the guys during the prep.

This is why I prefer to minimize the scopes as much as possible while still being safe. I have put my doc off for a few years but I know next year I am in for it. Ugh. Hope you feel better soon!
B

Our symptoms can be worse for 2-3 days after a colonoscopy, as it is a harsh and invasive procedure and prep. We normally bounce back though. If you are past that point, then it is possible you got C Diff from the facility and should have a stool test done and rule out pathogenic causes to your symptoms. Anecdotally here, some claim a colonoscopy caused a flare up but there isn't a lot of research to back that claim up.

Thanks for all the replies. The canasa seems to be helping now after a week or so. And I'm taking balsalizide 3 times/day But if I'm still not back to "normal" in a few more days I'll ask about testing stool for bacteria. Though I have to say I would be pretty upset if it turns out that a dirty scope is to blame.

As far as meds go, up to now I would only take the 5ASA when I flared (3 balsalizide 750mg 3 times per day) but the doc recommended I start taking a maintenance dose of the same but only twice a day, once the flare has subsided. I also remember when I was first diagnosed 17 years ago that GI put me on mesalamine (pentasa) and that seemed to work very well, better than the balsalazide so I may have try to get switched back to oral mesalamine as well.