Colonoscopy This Week

[Twins4M]

Just wondering if anyone else is having a colonoscopy this week or has had one with similar symptoms to mine? I’m having mine due to mild anemia, stomach pains, constant indigestion/ acid reflux and small specks of dark blood in stools. I’m terrified not of the procedure itself but of what they may find so just looking for some support or positive stories.

@Twins4M Hi Op, I had a colonoscopy in October for pain under my ribs (both sides), loose stools (had blood a couple of times) and rectal pain. GP who referred me thought I might have IBD so tested my calprotectin levels. I had this done 3 times over the course of a few months before the referral and they started at 20, went up to 157 and then came back down to 67? So they were all over the place and though not in the 1,000’s (like most people with IBD), GP wanted to rule it out.

Did your GP say what they suspect is the issue? The colonoscopy for me was a breeze (and I have bad health anxiety 😳), I went in a nervous wreck but all the staff were so reassuring and the sedation meant it was over very quickly and without pain. The worst part for me was the having to stick to the bland diet 5 days leading up to it, drinking 2 litres of moviprep and then the resulting toilet trips! 🫣🤣 But it was worth it as they said my bowel prep was good. For me, they didn’t find anything (except a benign polyp, which they removed) so it’s just been put down to IBS (already been living with that for years! 🙄). So I have no idea what caused my calprotectin levels to be higher than normal nor what the blood was? I hope your colonoscopy goes OK and you get an easily treatable diagnosis 💐

@Theoriginalinvisiblewoman thank you for your reply. The consultant said it’s probably just a bit of IBS but it’s difficult to not think the worst! That was 2 weeks ago and I swear my symptoms have intensified since but I’m not sure if that’s just the anxiety as I have obviously been overthinking.

Out of interest has your pain under the ribs gone now?

I have it under my left rib and it seems to travel down the side but I bought some deflatines and it’s gone now so must of been trapped wind 😭

Take the sedation if you can is my main bit of advice! I have them done yearly and they're miserable without the sedation!

@chillibop yes definitely plan on taking the sedation! Can’t even imagine trying without

I know what you mean, I was terrified at the thought that I may have had IBD, which in turn just increased my symptoms due to the anxiety 😣

No, the pain still comes and goes. I am starting to think it my just be muscular as I do get muscle pain/tightness elsewhere on my body, I think due to the constant stress and anxiety about my health 🙄

Yes I get most of it on my left side too, perhaps it was just trapped wind? I hope you get on OK in any case 💐

I was offered sedation but just went with gas & air. The gas & air was removed though straight away as my blood pressure started to rise to much so had the procedure with no pain relief at all.

Strange feeling, like a stomach cramp which moves around. Felt really nauseous afterwards, but i think this was the ill effects of the gas & air.

@Felix125 thanks for the reply! Got it later today so just glad to be finally getting it over with to be honest.

Gas & air means you have a quicker recovery - I think I just had a bad reaction to it.

But, even without it - it takes about 20 minutes and its just a bit uncomfortable in places - nothing to worry about and the nursing staff, as always, are brilliant.

Just an update had colonoscopy and it was completely normal. So pleased. Thanks for everyone’s support x

@Twins4M That’s great news!

Hi I know this is an old post but I’m going through similar.
I had stool sample which had no traces of blood but my calprotectin was 270 :/ I’m due another stool sample next week to check levels again but may end up having a colonoscopy.
I suffer health anxiety so am so scared.
did you ever get constipation ? I mainly get it when taking iron tablets as also suffered with my iron on and off, and then I end up getting small piles that bleed. I get some discomforts now and then and sometimes gassy and bloated. If I eat spicy food I get bad diarrhoea (yuk)
at current my iron is fine and FBC was also fine so I have no clue what to expect :(

I had a high blood count in the 300s, in my poo, mine was due to coeliac disease. This wasn't diagnosed at that appointment, my colonoscopy was totally normal and I did it with gas and air it really isn't as bad as what you imagine. Worst bit is the prep drink. Keep it fridge cold and use a straw. And move into the bathroom for a few hours🤣