Have any of you found a relationship between a colonoscopy and increased IBS symptoms
#56569 - 03/31/04 02:54 PM
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Roz
Reged: 02/29/04
Posts: 35
Loc: New York
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My hubby feels that his IBS got worse or was exacerbated after a colonoscopy he had several months ago. Wondering if any of you have had a similar experience?
Roz
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No, I certainly didn't have that experience... which I'm glad about, 'cause I've never been sicker than I was before that dang colonoscopy! 
Is he particularly stressed about what happened with the colonoscopy? With the results? With other things...? I know that a seemingly dumb question, because we're all stressed, right, but I think you know where I'm going with that. I can imagine for some (most? all!?) people, the diagnosis of this ambiguous and potentially long-term syndrome with no pill you can take to cure would be stressful... and stress aggravates the IBS as we all know.
If you think stress is a possible cause, would he be open to trying the hypnosis?? It's really benefitted a lot of people. (Weird, that's the 2nd time I've recommended this today! But I really love the relaxation I'm feeling from it so far, and so many people have been helped. I can't be stopped with the recommending!)
Anyway, food for thought...
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a colonoscopy, especially if he wasn't fully sedated, can definitely be an insult to the gut. It's actually possible for a bad colonoscopy experience to cause IBS - so I'm sure it could certainly exacerbate the condition once it already exists.
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Thanks for your response Heather; he wasn't fully sedated as it was done in a doctor's office. Is it possible for him to now recover from this colonoscopy ( by following your guidelines) or does it mean there was permanent damage done.
Roz
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Hi Jen,
He was stressed about taking the colonoscopy but not about the results. The doctor removed a benign polyp but did not find anything else. To add insult to injury, when he still had IBS symptoms, we went to see another GI specialist who recommended doing another colonoscopy and endoscopy, this time including the small intestine, (which evidently the first doctor did not do.) This was about 7 months after the first ones. Again, other than a few tiny benign polyps, this doctor did not find anything either. The problem is the IBS ( which he's had for years) got worse. 
Thanks for your suggestions!
Roz
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It most definetely is possible. I had a colonoscopy that "caused" me to have IBS all because the Dr. was in a big hurry and caused my bowel to be irritated. Now because of him I have suffered every day. This scope has cost me $3,000 in tests and medications. I do not recommend them as a "routine" test as mine was.
Sorry if I sound bitter, but I am having a hard time dealing with this life changing problem.
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As I understand it, they expect to see a little inflammation when they look at the results because the procedure itself causes inflammation. Shouldn't be permanent but I'd pay attention to symptoms just in case.
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Oh, that is such a shame!!!! How awful and frustrating!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Georgie, you have reason to be bitter. Did the tests you had reveal that the colonoscopy caused your problem and were you fine before you had this procedure? My husband had IBS before the colonoscopy but thought it got worse after.
Hope you feel better soon. This website will offer you some good coping techniques as well as a way to eat for IBS.
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Yes, my family Dr. said it was caused by the colonoscopy. I was feeling just great before having it done, no stomach problems what so ever, not on any medications. Just had a Dr. that was in a hurry and not enough regard for the patient at hand.
I am sure this type of thing happens more than we hear about
But because of this my sister has refused to get one as a general health check up.
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