Sigmoidoscopy while pregnant ??

[Jazzy1990]

Has anyone had a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy while they were pregnant, how did it go and was it safe? I really need to get one done but just don’t know if it will affect the baby.

The safest time is in the second trimester, but only when strongly indicated. Which your gastro team would advise on :)
(I found out I was pregnant 4 days before I was due a Flexi sig this is now on hold by my consultant till after pregnancy)

Hey I’ve had blood in my stool since before I got pregnant and they also arranged this camera before Covid, which was put on hold and then I became pregnant. I’m now 14 weeks and it’s been an ongoing situation. Petrified it’s something scary.
If you don’t mind me asking why did you need a flexi sig?

@Iheardit ^

I also had bloody mucus stool, was diagnosed with colitis in October 2019 (after a colonoscopy) had high dose steroids and mezalazine treatment, which gave me awful headaches. Symptoms all gone in January (by this point the biopsies had come back and weren’t showing a colitis picture), so was having a scope just to make sure all inflammation gone. Currently off all medication but noticing rectal bleeding again, but without all the horrible symptoms (I had diarrhoea appox 20+ times day and night, night In-continence stiff joints, mouth ulcers). Hope you get answers soon do you have any other symptoms?

Hi,

I was advised to wait until id had my baby. Id been having symptoms for over 18 months so they clearly didnt think it was a rush.

I had a consultants appointment in march and then it wasnt until july i had the actual procedure! (The hospital only had 1 machine working so i ended up having it done at lovely private hospital!)

@Iheardit Oi I see. Glad you’ve had a diagnosis. I feel like I’m stuck in limbo so scared but cat really do anything about it. I was hoping sigmoidoscopy would atleast be safe if not colonoscopy but we shall see. I wonder if they’ll do an anuscopy? Usually they do anuscopy in the gp but in the UK they don’t. My symptoms so far is just blood in stool, I don’t think I’d be worried if it was bright red blood, but cause it’s dark blood it’s scaring me.

Hi @mrsed1987 did you have symptoms before you got pregnant? My symptoms have been there well before I found out I was pregnant so I guess I’m extra worried cause if that.

I've not had one whilst pregnant, but have had about 10 flexi sigs. I'm sure they wouldnt give you one if it could be dangerous to baby, but you should ask them to ease your mind.

It only goes up the first bit and bright red blood is usually an indication the bleeding is coming from lower down so they may be able to see what they need to without going all the way up.

Yes i did, had symptoms since about February 2017. I had really significant bleeding when going to the loo in September 2018 when i was was 5 months preganant. My colonoscopy wasnt until july 2019 and was clear. My symptoms are better but still there (constipation and the D, blood when i go, wind) i think it must just be IBS

@mrsed1987 that makes me feel slightly calmer. Been dealing with the anxiety of what if it’s too late now that I’m pregnant dilemma. The consultant will let me know if they are willing to do it still this week.

@Amichelle84 10 flexi sig, wow that’s a lot, I’m panicking about one. Lol. I get blood but which is a little dark and mucas stained so I’m hoping they can do the flexi and find out, don’t want a colonoscopy. Neither do I want the flexi sig to have an affect on the baby. My biggest worry.

They aren't pleasant but a flexi is manageable. I have quite extensive colitis which has annoyingly come back during pregnancy.

Have they done any blood tests or stool samples?

They have done blood test, which was fine I guess as they haven’t mentioned anything about it. As for stool sample they didn’t do it I don’t know why maybe cause they thought I’m doing a sigmoidoscopy anyway.

Hi all,
Just joining this conversation as I am booked for a flexi sigmoidoscopy when I will be 13 weeks.
Has anyone had one of these done whilst pregnant?

@Jazzy1990 did you get your sigmoidoscopy done in the end?

@flic88 they want to wait till baby is born and don’t want to risk any harm to baby. So I have not got to the bottom of my blood in stool yet. What are your symptoms?