Colonoscopy Question

Hi Lass

No of course we don’t mind you posting! I’m afraid I don’t recollect having any side effects like that but that doesn’t mean it’s anything to worry about. Could you ring the colonoscopy dept where you had it done and run it past them? Alternatively give the nurses on here a ring

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/getting-support/talking-to-us#161599

Please let us know how you get on with your biopsies and feel free to pop in for a virtual  ‘coffee and chat’ any time!

Take care

Karen x

Thanks Karen. 

Called the endoscopy unit where I had it done when they opened at 8:30, as it was another restless night with the pain. They said there shouldn't be any swelling, and the pain sounded unusual. So they advised I go to the Dr to be checked.

Just back in now from my 9:50 appointment with antibiotics. Apparently the pain I'm feeling and where the swelling is, is right where they took the big polyp from and stapled me back together again. So he thinks there's some irritation and swelling due to that, and has given me the antibiotics as a precaution.

Apparently I have a very noisy gut around there too, so he says it's definitely unhappy in one way or another. Lol.

Results should be back with the consultant in 3 weeks time, ish. So then I'll hear after they've decided how to let me know and however long that takes. Lol. 

Thanks for replying! 

Lass

Xx

Just thought I'd add an update here in case it helps anyone else in the future. 

Ended up down at the hospital on Wednesday for 6 hours, being tested for a suspected micro perforation of the bowel. Luckily, none were found.

However, I've ended up with a really rare complication called Postpolypectomy electrocoagulation syndrome. Try saying that three times fast! 

Basically, the electric current they used to remove the big polyp has jumped and burnt my insides somewhere. So I've got pain and extensive swelling in the right side of my abdomen. They've given me a dose of a second type of antibiotic, but that's just precautionary. I've just to take pain killers and anti inflammatories regularly, and icing the area may help too. Other than that, I've just got to wait it out for the next 7 - 10 days....... Joy.

Lass

Xx

Hi Lass. Thanks for the update - its always good to have new information although sorry that it’s at your expense. I’ve never heard of this before so hope it starts to settle down soon for you.

Have you had the biopsy results back yet?

Take care

Karen x

Hey Karen, 

Yeh, no info on Google about it, and when I called Mac to try and get some more info, they'd not heard of it either. So luckily, it would appear to be pretty rare - which is great for anyone having a colonoscopy, but sucks for me. Lol

The Dr at the hospital I was to contact today said it should sort itself out in another 7 to 10 days. So at least I have a timeline, even if it's longer than I'd like! 

No results back yet, but I didn't expect them to be. They said it would take 3 weeks to get back to my consultant, then hell need to tell me somehow. 3 weeks from the colonoscopy is still a week this coming Wed. So about halfway through the wait, ish. 

I did however get my liver biopsy date through for the end of July. So I'll not be long over this before they stab me a few times in the same place. Lol. Fun and games huh!

Lass

Xx

Hi Lass

As says all are welcome.

I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with a colonoscopy.

My version of Dr Google says  Would this help.

Hope it clears very soon.

Regards 

Ian

Hello again Ian, 

Ridiculously, the colonoscopy itself was fine and I had a good laugh. Lol. The laxatives weren't my most favourite thing to drink, and all that pooing and wiping gave me ring sting. But the colonoscopy itself I didn't have sedation as I've noone to watch me afterwards, and I didn't use the gas and air either. There was one incidence of quite painful trapped wind under a rib, but as soon as they moved the scope then the wind shifted. The rest of the time it never went above a mild discomfort. 

Most of the way through I was chatting and having a laugh with the various folks in there throughout, until the atmosphere changed when they started trying to remove the polyps. Things got hushed and serious, and the lady learning how to do colonoscopies was thrown off the tools and the teacher took over. 

So would still tell folks not to worry about having one, just relax and you'll be fine. I just got super unlucky. Lol

That PDF is really good. It's got all the information on it that I had to find from lots of different pages, some of which were all in medical speech rather than nicely explained like that one is. Sadly, nothing on it that says how long I should expect it to last. The only thing I found was a woman who was sorted after 4 days. I'm on day 10 now. Lol.

The pain is definitely getting better, so it's heading in the right direction which is reassuring. But pain I can deal with and am used to. This feeling of being a balloon that's been blown up too far, not so much. 

Thanks for everyone's help and good thoughts! 

Lass

Xx

Update as promised:

Turns out that two of my polyps were pre-cancerous, so as long as they've removed the entirety of them then it's fine. But as I have 3 pre-cancerous, one couldn't be retrieved so it needs to be treated as pre-cancerous, and one of these was over 1cm in size, then I need another colonoscopy in a year's time as I'm in the high risk category.

Also, still swollen and sore. PALS are involved now. Hoping to get some answers by the end of the week after meeting with a Dr earlier this afternoon. 

The time after the colonoscopy has not been a good experience at all. So very miserable.

Lass

Xx

Hi Lass

Thanks for the update although it sounds a mixed bag - good news that 2 of the pre-cancerous polyps have been removed but I can imagine you will have reservations about another colonoscopy after all your on-going problems after the last one.

I really hope that your meeting yesterday provides you with some answers and that something can be done about the pain and discomfort that you’re in - hopefully lessons will be learnt from this.

Take care

Karen x

Hey Karen, 

Thanks for your reply! 

Sadly the doctor I saw didn't know why I was there, didn't have a copy of my complaint, couldn't get access to anything, and so couldn't help. He promised to call by the end of Friday with answers, and didn't.

So still suffering, and I've had a liver biopsy to add to the pain in my abdomen, and tomorrow I'm having a hysteroscopy with biopsy - just as the cherry on top of it all! Lol.

Fun fun. 

Lass

Xx