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Post by alivenkicking on May 18, 2012 14:08:42 GMT -5
hey ladies... i'm hoping to get some input as to whether or not a colonscopy may be helpful for me. there was a thread dedicated to pain with colonoscopy, but that's not my concern (at the moment at least), but move this as needed...
so i'm a year and a half out from excision surgery with a specialist, who found implants/adhesions connecting my bowel to my recto-vaginal wall. i have had only minor relief from that surgery, and increased disability with physical activity, which i suspect is from scar tissue build up.
after weaning off of psychotropic meds and bio-identical progesterone (most recent changes) i had a magnificently, spectacularly NORMAL period. it was nuts, i was elated. so i kicked the soccer ball around with my bf and all creepity creep like, the big internal pain became a loud roar. again, reinforces my belief that scar tissue is my biggest problem.
so in my quest, i finally got in with a gastroenterologist, had a CT scan (normal), a barium enema (normal), and now he wants me to have a colonoscopy. i told the nurse i don't want to schedule it until i hear from the doctor why he thinks this is necessary. i have heavy pressure feeling at my rectum with periods, including my most recent awesome one, and bloating, in addition to the cramping/abdominal pain, and these seemed to be the red flags to him. i keep calling the nurse to see if there's any word from him re: why he thinks it's necessary, but no word yet.
i don't understand what he would be looking for that wouldn't be indicated at least in a barium enema. in my research i've found that intestinal endo is quite rare, and i don't have the constipation/diarrhea that usually goes with it.
i read about the horrible pain some women had during their colonscopy because there was scar tissue connecting their intestines to other parts...not only would i hate to go through that, i'm wondering if that's the only way to determine that it's scar tissue causing the problem? (besides another lap)
superly appreciate any input, shared experience, whatev.
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Post by semicolon on May 20, 2012 8:47:21 GMT -5
Ugh. In my case the order of events was abdo pain, CT scan (showing stricture), colonoscopy (failed-couldn't get through), then barium enema. I'm sorry for your, the barium enema is the worst (I much preferred the colonoscopy, they give great drugs for that)! But it gave good images. I would think the colonoscopy would be indicated if you were having rectal bleeding, constipation and/or diarrhea. The colonoscopy can identify polyps and if endo has invaded the bowel wall, but that is rare (even for me with a serious structure just short of obstruction it had not gone through the wall).
I would disagree that endo on the bowel is rare, but it is under diagnosed. I think talking to the doc to say why he wants to perform it Is a good idea. What were your main concerns in seeking out the GI?
Have you done any pelvic PT?
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Post by Karen on May 20, 2012 11:44:09 GMT -5
I don't have any experience with bowel issues and I'm sorry you do. If you're unsure about the colonoscopy, I think it's well within your rights to have a discussion with your doc about why he wants one done, what he thinks he could find, and why he thinks it may provide different information from what you've already experienced. If he can't sell you on it, ask what other options are.
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Post by DeAnna on May 20, 2012 16:56:22 GMT -5
Alivenkicking, I also has a lap w an excision specialist and he did not find endo on my bowel, but did find adhesions. There was also endo near my bowel. You can have referred pain from endo sites. Most of my pain is in the very left lower quadrant where the descending colon is located. During my surgery, Dr Nezhat did a sigmoidoscopy (basically looked in the very lowest portin of my bowel) and that was clean and healthy. After surgery, i continued to have alot of bloating so I did the GI work up as well, including a colonoscopy. It was quick and painless and that is how it is supposed to go.... ALWAYS. They give you what is called "conscious sedation".... basically you will be able to maintain your airway but will be under enough to not have memory of the procedure. I 100% agree with the girls' comments above in that your Dr should be explaining to you what he is looking for and why. If he is not communicating with you, then find another doc. I feel that a colonoscopy is never a bad idea for anyone over 40 or with any bowel symptoms (which you have). Most of the time if their is an abnormality w the colon you will have blood/mucous/diarrhea/constipation, but not always. Any prudent doc would include this as part of a work up in someone that is having unexplained adominal or rectal pain. They are looking to rule out things like colo-rectal cancer, polyps, diverticulosis as well as Chrons and colitis. I was pain free for about a year and now my pain seems to be returning (same place) and so I have an appt with a guy on Monday who does deep visceral work. Pelvic PT is another great way to go for someone who has a history of adhesions. Best of Luck, and keep us posted as to how things go D
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Post by DeAnna on May 20, 2012 16:58:38 GMT -5
Oh, also, Jenaya posted a link on how to find a Pelvic Physical Therapist. I think it was under the Pelvic PT thread/section. Some of them even do internal work. Sounds freaky but Im open to anything that helps
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Post by alivenkicking on May 23, 2012 16:07:56 GMT -5
thanks so much for your input, ladies. i originally went to the GI doc at the referral of a gyno. (i'm living in a new place and seeking new docs; gyno was cool enough to tell me he couldn't help me pursue a natural route but referred me on to someone who should be able to, and encouraged me to see a GI regardless because of the endo found on my bowel wall.) it seems his major concerns were abdominal pain and bloating, and i had some mild constipation while tapering off of psychotropics and bioidentical progesterone. he also mentioned that removal of the implant/adhesions from the bowel could have weakened the wall, but i think he was saying that could contribute to constipation... yes to pelvic PT! i've had great relief in the past, but short-lived because insurance only covered 12 visits. i've got some numbers of people to call here, and it's almost been a year so hopefully i can start up again shortly. thanks for the reminders on what answers i should be getting from the doctor; i get all mucked up on what to ask about what. i really like this guy, he is compassionate and seemed very conscientious, but i was hoping to get my questions asked without having to pay for another visit. we'll see.... again, *thank you*
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Post by Karen on May 23, 2012 18:23:52 GMT -5
I hear what you're saying on not wanting to pay for another office visit. I've discovered I can often get most of those questions answered via phone! See if you can leave a message for the nurse and they can follow up on it and give you a call back. Saved me a few co-pays through the past few years!
As for bloating and constipation, although it very well could be the result of other stuff going on, I'm learning how quickly mine went down just by adding gelatin to my diet for a different source of protein & amino acids (no-no for you since you're a vegan), significantly reducing my nut intake, and digestive enzymes tailored specifically to me. Voila - I have a still-chubby-but-mostly-flat tummy as a result! I'm not implying that's all you need - you may have more going on in there - but there may be some other options to consider in conjunction with anything the GI doc might suggest. Just throwing it out there - take it or leave it!
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Post by 1234 on May 24, 2012 6:11:31 GMT -5
bloating and constipation can happen just wiht the inflammation from endo--even without direct bowel involvement. Diet changes have helped a lot with me (echoing Karen), but you have to find what works for you. I still blow up like a balloon sometimes, but not nearly so much. And I still have lots of digestive issues, but I also have lots of intestinal endo so it's sort of hard to sort out. Removing foods that cause inflammation (wheat, dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine) was huge for me.
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Post by crazycatlady on Jun 9, 2012 12:00:42 GMT -5
I had a colonoscopy at the beginning of May. It went perfectly fine. I was completely sedated with propofol. Apparently the sedation is not enough to require intubation, but enough that you are not aware of anything going on.
Like you, I had read the horror stories and I was concerned that I was going to get conscious sedation and I was very much opposed. The nurse let me know that they no longer use conscious sedation. That's not to say that it's not used elsewhere, but where I went it is no longer used.
I had an anesthesiologist monitoring me (it was a bonus that he was super cute too). Once he started the push of propofol I fell asleep and I didn't wake up until the procedure was over. I had no awareness, no pain, no discomfort.
The prep for the colonoscopy was much worse than the actual procedure.
I had the colonoscopy because I had a lot of pressure in my bowels during my period and my GYN was concerned that my bowel was involved with the endo and she wanted the colonoscopy before my lap. I also consistently had blood in my stool, which is apparently bad.
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Post by KSA on Jun 9, 2012 14:54:00 GMT -5
The prep is the worst & I have to add something to this about preps. Not all of us can handle it and never have I not thrown it up and ended up with a enema anyways so if you cant handle it call and let the office know ahead of time.
"Removing foods that cause inflammation (wheat, dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine) was huge for me." Great advice!
Another issue with endo is if it is not inflammed when the procedure is done they may not find the problem. I have a kink in my bowel when my endo flares up but sometimes the path is clear. Numerous tests have shown different things. Talk it all out with the GI doc.
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Post by alivenkicking on Jun 16, 2012 19:58:28 GMT -5
more good stuff, ladies, thank you!! crazycatlady (i'm one too!): i LOVE super cute anesthesiologists! the x-ray tech that did my barium enema was a young hottie, and super nice to boot. a bonus, although i hated that he was the one that had to pull the tube out of my arse three times... >cringe< so as it turned out, since i had a remarkably improved last two periods, and the doctor himself returned my call (!!) and answered my questions, we decided a colonoscopy isn't something i need to rush into right now. i think he was being extra thorough, but perhaps didn't understand how commonplace bloating is with endo, because that seemed to be his bigger concern. karen, what are nuts' role in bloating, or is it a personal allergy thing? since i'm vegan and 90% faithful to the endo diet, i do eat quite a bit of them.
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Post by Karen on Jun 16, 2012 20:14:31 GMT -5
I was a HUGE nut person - had 'em every day as I always crave protein. But, the nutritionist I saw a few months back (she has endo and is hypothyroid as well) said nuts can be a caution food - some people can tolerate them and others can't. Essentially, nuts & seeds have certain properties that prevent them from being digested properly since nature is telling them to survive so they can land in the ground, sprout, and grow. Those properties can inhibit digestion of much needed nutrients both in nuts and in other foods. This article explains it better. naturalbias.com/a-hidden-danger-with-nuts-grains-and-seeds/ I still have nuts on occasion but in MUCH smaller doses. I know there are places online where you can get properly prepared nuts (soaked first).
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Post by alivenkicking on Jun 16, 2012 22:20:52 GMT -5
oh sheesh, of course nuts would be a caution food! i think i will eventually be subsisting on quinoa and kale. but then again i recently saw an article on the environmental impact has on the land it grown on in bolivia. thank you, karen, i'm headed right to that site. and i love that your nutritionist has endo -- i mean, er, you know. not for her of course, but for you! that's a dream come true!
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