Colonoscopy

[Picass]

Does anyone have diarrhoea as a result of taking their tablets? Did you rule out other things by having a colonoscopy? Thanks

[Fynndog]

Hi Picass. Yes me too. Started meds in sept 2020 .Bisoprilol Prasugrel Candesartan Rosuvastatin Asprin and Lansoprazole. Had awful acid reflux and breathlessness at the start then last month uncontrollable diaorrhea

[Picass in reply to Fynndog]

I have continuous diarrhoea worried tablets are rotting my insides so I have got a colonoscopy today...

[Fynndog in reply to Picass]

Hope all goes well for you xx

[080311]

Hi, Picass

I have had a couple of colonoscopies not pacifically for diarrhoea, I was very anaemic they were checking for any polyps and they took a biopsy just to make sure nothing sinister, before my surgery. Found out I have diverticulitis and that accounts for my lose bowls. It can be very debilitating I know, I manage it with my diet now will have a bad go round but mostly I can manage.

Hope you can get some help.

Pauline

[Picass in reply to 080311]

I have got one today I am dreading it is it painful

[080311 in reply to Picass]

No not at all, I just felt really embarrassed! The doctor who was doing it was giving me a running commentary and a lovely nurse was holding my hand both times. If you can face looking it’s fascinating to see the inside of your colon😂 but it doesn’t hurt at all. You will be good, over before you know it.Let me know how you get on.

Pauline

[Picass in reply to 080311]

I don’t think I will be looking I am hoping to be asleep ha ha on my way soon will let you know

[bantam12 in reply to Picass]

They need you awake so you can move and follow instructions.

[Picass in reply to bantam12]

Great ha ha

[080311 in reply to Picass]

I had a sedative, so was very relaxed😂

[seasider18 in reply to 080311]

After being AF free for 15 months I had a colonoscopy.What did happen though was said to be very unusual. I was watching the procedure on the screen with little sedation and quite alert. I suddenly noticed that my BP and heart rate were rapidly dropping. BP to 40/29 and heart rate 30 bpm. I think are they going to do something about this? With an oxygen mask on it was difficult to speak. They suddenly panicked 

Discharge notes say:

“Gellofusion was administered and .1ml of atropine given. Anaesthetist was called who then administered 1L of Hartman’s solution, an extra 3 mls of atropine and 20 mg of Boscopon .

Patient much improved and monitored in his room for rest of day”

In an NHS hospital I would be on a trolley in the corridor. Heart rate went up in the room and by mid-afternoon after being on a drip and having tea and toast and lots of water my BP was 123/67 which made them happy. The reason the probe stimulated nerves in my colon or vagus nerve during the procedure. I certainly did not feel that pleasure. I live three streets away from the hospital and felt well enough to walk home but next day when walking up a slope realised that I was back in atrial fibrillation after over a year in NSR after a previous cardioversion.

That was in 2013 and I have another colonoscopy due next month.

[Picass in reply to seasider18]

Bet you are dreading it

[seasider18 in reply to Picass]

No, not at all. It is Endoscopies that I refuse. I'm not good at swallowing and bot an uncle and a GP I had both went into cardiac arrest and died during one.

[080311 in reply to seasider18]

Glad I hadn’t read that 4 years ago, had an endoscopy and colonoscopy one after the other! Talk about top and tails.

[seasider18 in reply to 080311]

My wife was topped and tailed a few years ago.The one doing it kept on telling her to swallow and the nurse standing beside her kept on saying she is.

[080311 in reply to seasider18]

That’s not something you must not be looking forward to, make sure they are aware of the problems the last time.

[seasider18 in reply to 080311]

I told the consultant in a phone consultation and he did not have that on file as it was 'too old' Ill take a copy of the report with me.

[080311 in reply to seasider18]

That’s a great idea.

[Peony4575 in reply to seasider18]

The dehydration caused by bowel prep and starving /not drinking is not good for people with AF. If you don’t have sedation you can drink water and you can still have gas if you feel a twinge

[seasider18 in reply to Peony4575]

Dehydration was their initial reason for my problems.I'd had a fair amount of water that morning.

[Peony4575 in reply to Picass]

Totally agree with Pauline . I had one 2 months ago and didn’t have sedation. You are very covered up so not as embarrassing as I had feared

[Picass in reply to Peony4575]

Thanks

[bantam12 in reply to Picass]

Yes it can be very painful, make sure you are given IV painkillers and ask for more if needed.

[Picass in reply to bantam12]

Thanks I will

[Picass in reply to 080311]

What is diverticulitis

[080311 in reply to Picass]

It’s the little pockets in the colon, they can get inflamed and cause either diarrhoea or you become constipated. I was told the general population over 65 80% will have it just a lot don’t have any symptoms. I can normally manage mine by watching my diet, in the past 4 years have had 2 flare ups and then it’s antibiotics. It’s been trail and error, example I love nuts but they get caught in the pockets now and cause me problems, again spicy food especially chilli. I tend to have a macrobiotic drink every morning it boosts my immune system but it coats my colon as well. There are lots of does and don’ts but again you have to find what works for you.

[Picass in reply to 080311]

It hurt like hell ha ha I too have diverticulitis what macrobiotic drinks do you drink etc and have you got any advice on what to eat etc everything is so confusing at the moment

[080311 in reply to Picass]

Morning Picass,So sorry to read your post but at least you now know what as been causing your problems.

I am just having my morning coffee our son in Australia is FaceTime in half an hour so I will post you a little later. It will take some time to tell you how I manage.😂

Best wishes Pauline

[Picass in reply to 080311]

Ok thanks

[080311 in reply to Picass]

Back again,

Firstly it’s trial and error, working out what sets you off. I will go through what I do but it’s not necessary what will work for you.

I have Actimel every morning, it’s a pro biotic plus it’s a immune boost. I am a lover of nuts but for me it’s a no no. Seeds are out too. Another thing is spicy food especially anything with chilli. Potatoes with their skins on, so new potatoes for me are out, mashed are good for me as it lines the colon, as does bananas. Brown bread is out as is fibre cereal. I use to buy seeded brown bread this is out. Really the bottom line is watching how much fibre I have. Green veg I need to watch.

Every other day I have Greek yought again it lines the colon. As I said I have had 2 flare ups in the past 4 years and had to have antibiotics the little pockets got infected and it was awful.

I started by cutting out one lot of food at a time seeing how I went. When I was told I thought ok what pill do I take 😂 but it’s not that easy.

If I can help let me know it’s a journey because it a case of working out what sets you off.

Best wishes and I wish you a very happy Christmas

Pauline

[Picass in reply to 080311]

Thank you for info

[Picass in reply to 080311]

Why is fibre cereal bad

[080311 in reply to Picass]

It’s not the fibre in cereal as such it’s too much fibre in general. That’s one of the things that sets me off. But as I have said we have to work our own way through trying different things. I have a friend and we don’t react in the same way apart from chilli.

[Picass in reply to 080311]

It’s all very confusing..thanks for you help have a nice Xmas ..are you ok with turkey and all the trimmimgs

[080311 in reply to Picass]

When I first started trying to help myself it seemed that what I thought was healthy some of it upset my stomach 😩 Christmas dinner is fine just will watch how much green leaf veg I have. As you say it’s very confusing, some diverticulitis patients are prone to being constipated it’s a funny old thing. So it would be the opposite of what you and I have to work on 😂

Pauline

[Picass in reply to 080311]

Have a nice xmas

[seasider18 in reply to 080311]

I'm 86 and was first told I had some 'Pocketing ' in 1983. In 1994 they said widespread and in 2013 severe. That time the laxative did not clear out all the hardened poop in the pockets.I'm very careful to avoid things that might might get caught in the pockets and avoid seeds and nuts in particular,

[080311 in reply to seasider18]

I am like you I love seeds and nuts but avoid all now. Have only had 2 flare ups one this summer, had to have antibiotics both times the diverticula were infected. It’s finding what sets me off and how I can help myself. Greek yought works seems to coat the colon and probiotic drink helps to. But as we all know each one of us are different and it’s navigating our way through.

Best wishes for a very happy Christmas

Pauline

[seasider18 in reply to 080311]

Mine have only really been infected three times in all those year. I had not thought of Greek Yogurt helping . I'm glad I have it several times a week.

[Pollypuss]

Yes I had diarrhoea for two months until my cardiologist took me off all but aspirin. I had a colonoscopy before my bypass because I had anemia and they wouldn’t operate until they found the source. The colonoscopy was the worst because it really upset my bowels. Discuss your medication with your doctor

[Picass in reply to Pollypuss]

How did it upset your bowels

[Pollypuss in reply to Picass]

Well when you have the procedure you are told to be close to a toilet. You have to be prepared to have loose bowels for a couple of days. As long as you know this . They had to have a good look at my ‘interior’ to try and find the source of my anemia and I thought they may find a polyp . All my stomach/ bowel problems were directly caused by medication after my bypass. Back to normal mow