Results of colonoscopy

I wanted to start by thanking everyone for their support and for answering my questions over the last few months. I really appreciate it.

So I had my colonoscopy yesterday first thing in the morning. To start, I wanted to mention my experience with the colyte prep. I was dredding it to be honest but it wasn't nearly as bad as I though. Chill it, a small sip of something flavoured before you chug the glass with your nose plugged, then another sip after. Then repeat till it's done or you're clear. No problem at all for me.

On to the colonoscopy. It was done in half an hour and when I got released the nurse handed me the doctor's note that my colon is completely healed. Good news to say the least. But yesterday I had some serious left side discomfort, similar to what I was experiencing prior to the colonoscopy.

I've had no diarrhea and no blood for the last few months. 2-3 BM a day. Normal for me in remission. I fully expected for the doctor to tell me I had some remaining minor inflammation, but that's not what she wrote in her letter to me.

So my question is, why am I still experiencing this discomfort if my colon is completely healed? I called her office to ask what this means and if she took biopsies, which I've read can cause discomfort. I'm waiting to hear back. I just want to feel normal like I did 3 months ago.

I was hoping for some clear answers after the colonoscopy, which I guess I've been given, but it doesn't correspond with how I feel. Could the invasive procedure be causing the discomfort? I feel a tiny bit better today than yesterday, and I will monitor things over the next week and go from there. Still taking my 6 800mg asacol a day in the morning and at dinner. Kefir and vsl#3 smoothie in the morning too.

Any advice or information is greatly appreciated.

Also, the term "completely healed" is not really a medical term connected to UC. No inflammation is a UC status. No active ulceration is a UC status. (So maybe healed ulcers). There is often signs of prior chronic inflammation for years. The crypt cells have a different shape. Also, there can be scar tissue, or thickening of the mucosa, that will not go away. It can result in some motility issues, and in extreme is called lead pipe.

Likely what you have now is gas. But if you had similar pain before the colonscopy, likely there is some scar tissue or thickening of the mucosa. Oat bran fibers might help this, but scaring is very durable.

good luck

I'm not sure if she took biopsies or not, but I called and asked. This flare has been weird, by far the mildest I've had since diagnosis in 2010 yet for the 2 or 3 others I've had since then they were much worse with blood urgency and diarrhea. This one wasn't so bad with very little urgency, little blood, however I wasn't given prednisone this time, all other times I have been. I've lost 20 lbs in 3 months but I've also been more careful with my diet which I think accounts for some of the weight loss. Granted, I was slightly overweight at 170lbs.

You know when you can tell your body isn't back to 100 percent? It's like I can't get back to that point, I still feel 5-10 percent off. 3 months ago I felt completely normal, then I binge ate some genoa salami, and I mean binge ate, like 15 slices without any bread or crackers, and that is what I felt caused my mild flare the next day. Tried salofalk enemas with mixed results. I've had tingling in my left hand and left leg and foot and thought I was getting carpal tunnel from typing too much at work. Then all of a sudden it was gone. I was good the two weeks leading up to my colonoscopy then two days before, I restricted my food intake to make the cleanse easier and some of the joint pain and tingling and left side discomfort came back.

I get my colonoscopy and the GI tells me she doesn't see inflammation. I was surprised. I thought I had some mild remaining inflammation.

Maybe I am overthinking this, but I know my gut and it still feels a bit disrupted and loud at times. Still no blood or diarrhea though.

TroubledTurds - In your signature, it says that you drink natural well water. Is that a choice you make or you're forced to because of your location. And how is it better than tap water or bottled water?

lamy said...
TroubledTurds - In your signature, it says that you drink natural well water. Is that a choice you make or you're forced to because of your location. And how is it better than tap water or bottled water?

it's a choice to live in an area that has no municipal water available - a choice that i've made for almost 40 years - there are enough things that i have no control over and good water is high enough on my importance list that i want control -

better because i know the quality - i have it tested every couple of years, but we live in an area that has very low potential for any sort of contamination -