Has anyone had a sigmoidoscopy for bleeding from the bowel?

[FionaGFG]

Did that help in your diagnosis? Was it endo within the bowel or a separate issue?

[Starri]

Hi, I had one done and it was not very helpful. A year before I had it I had had surgery during which they repaired 2 holes in the bowel wall by cutting out a small piece of the wall and sewing it back together as oppossed to a full bowel resection. I was still having bleeding from the bowel and asked them to look into it.

I have done a lot of research into this (I am a biochemist, not a clinician but I can get the gist of the medical papers) It seems that sigmoidoscopy is generally not much use in the diagnosis of endometriosis in the bowel as the patches of endo tend to be the same colour as the bowel wall and unless they are bleeding at the time of the scope they are invisible.

It is however usefull to rule out other possible causes of bleeding and if you have not been surgically disgnosed with endo it is preferrable to cutting you open. I read as well that you will have more luck seeing the endo with double barium enema which is when they put a liquid in the bowel which can be seen on xray and can show if the endo has penetrated the bowel wall. Might be something to dissuss with your doc.

The only other thing to say is I found this proceedure extremely painfull. Its is not supposed to hurt, only be uncomfortable and they said before I went that due to the amount of damage and scarring they would sedate me (I have very severe endo and a lot of damage in the abdomen esp around the bowels) They did not once mention sedation when they wheeled me downstairs and into the room. I made the mistake of thinking they knew best and not to complain but I wont do it again. Make sure you ask about sedation, if they don't think you need it they will tell you and really, you shouldnt, I don't want to scare you, but don't make the mistake I did of keeping quiet when you don't have to!

I hope this helps let me know how it goes x

[GayeB]

I have had 2 of these, which showed nothing, I have now been back to docs as i have started bleeding again after a course of injections! He has now refered me back for another!!! I am getting very fed up now with being ingnored, and feel that nobody is listening to me that maybe it is deeper inside!!

Thank you to the previouse lady though, that is very helpful, and will take that information to my consultant next time I see him..xxx

[Janglyj]

Hi Fiona.

Yes I had another one this morning. I have had a few over the years. I have been treated for Ulcerative Proctitis for the past decade. They are now checking further as I have Gynae issues too. This time i chose to have the Sigmoidoscopy without the sedative. I usually have one as I have Epilepsy. You do have a choice. and apart from being slightly uncomfortable when they fill you full of air. It was absolutely fine. Its such a tiny camera you don't feel it. You will be able to speak to the unit about any worries you have before you go in. A nurse holds your hand throughout and chats to you, and it only takes about ten to twenty minutes, depending on how far up the bowel they want to go. You can see your bowel on the screen and the specialist will talk you through any immediate observations. Colonoscopies et al are not the only tool to diagnose anything by as i understand it. They will look at all your symptoms, monitor all sorts, check your bloods, manually check the bowel, and during the colonoscopy they usually take some samples (biopsies) for further tests. I have also had all sorts of other tests and scans. They will put it all together and let me know. It is a complex area of medicine and there is a lot of things to rule out and all sorts of treatments. There may even be two completely different things going on. Like me Not everything has to be linked. The best thing to do is to talk to the experts on the unit. .If you are worried take some questions with you. Take someone with you. If you opt for the sedative you will be on the unit longer (approx 4 hours)while you sleep it off, and it will be helpful to have someone with you when you come round and are discharged that can remember what the Doctors tell you. As the sedative makes you forget everything. Including what you want to remember. They usually do a follow up appointment to discuss what they have found. You will have a whole team of specialists to look after you and I usually get a cup of tea and either toast or biscuits as soon as i come round. They give you a gown to wear and some paper pants. I take my woolly dressing gown and my bed socks with me to keep warm and cosy and a book just in case. My condition flares up and then following treatment it dies down again. Sometimes conditions of the bowel can be a long term haul. It doesn't mean you will always feel ill. Just that they may monitor you every six months. There isn't always a quick fix. Don't worry you'll be fine. Just keep a diary of all your symptoms. I keep everything on a spreadsheet then take it in for them. Its a lot easier for us all then as we can see dates and times and any developing patterns. This is the only way I got them to take my Gynae seriously. I plotted everything on it. It is such a huge area of medicine. It helped them pin things down. Good luck

[Rrl12345 in reply to Janglyj]

are you still on health unlocked I know this is a long time ago this post but I am desperate for some help, my endo has got worse according to mri scan and now grade 3 and on rectum too but also bleeding from rectum so had flex sig and they've told me I have proctitis so really confused if linked, what to do for best re diet etc,,,, just feeling so lost! thanks

[Mac_]

I have just had it done, and the same thing happened, told me I didn't need sedation, the pain was awful, never again without sedation, 4 days ago and I still feel queasy.