Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy for CKD patients

[Joe100]

In December my stomach had a reaction to antibiotics. Generally, I feel better, but doctors thought it might be a good idea to have screening tests due to my age, 56. My mother died at the age of 57 due to ulcerative colitis becoming cancer, and so that is another reason.

Normally my GFR is around 55, and Kreatin level not in the healthy range, but not excessively so.

Is it safe for me with CKD to take the laxatives that will be prescribed to me? Also, they want to use anasthesia, so that I won't be awake during both procedures.

After my experience in December in which I was prescribed antibiotics and I had a bad stomach and intestines reaction (I thought my kidneys were hurt because my sides hurt, particularly my left side), I am really concerned. I have read that laxatives can be harmful to kidneys and I wouldn't be surprised that anasthesia might be dangerous for kidneys, too.

I know you are not doctors, but have any of you with Level 3A CKD had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy, taken laxatives to prepare for it, and then had anasthesia? Was there any harm to your kidneys when you had these procedures done this way as I have described?

[RhenDutchess123]

They have a Prep for Kidney Impaired Patients and your Doctor will go over your medical history and suggest the best path for you....Anesthesia is necessary so that you are relaxed and won't interfere with the scopes advancement.They will most likely suggest that you drink plenty of fluids after your Colonoscopy to help flush the Anesthesia out of your system and to re-hydrate your body...

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to RhenDutchess123]

What RhenDutchess said is exactly correct. Have the tests done but keep everyone informed of you CKD levels.

[Joe100 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thanks. Yes, I showed the doctor my blood and urine test results and told him about my CKD.

[Joe100 in reply to RhenDutchess123]

Thanks. They issued some instructions about what to eat, and not eat for 3 days in advance of the test. There is also a kind of laxative that I am supposed to take. He claimed it is kidney friendly.

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to Joe100]

The Laxative is most likely Low Sodium , so that's great..It takes longer to clean your bowels than Normal Prep so I am sure they told you to avoid heavy foods for 3 days prior and to drink lots of water....Your Anesthesiologist will probably talk to you also before procedure and you want to make sure you mention your kidney function to him also,, even tho the Doctors probably already did....Best Wishes for you

[Joe100 in reply to RhenDutchess123]

Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to RhenDutchess123]

My gastro Doctor also prescribed a prep for CKD patients. I also had child size anesthesia and it worked. (I am a small person).

[Joe100 in reply to orangecity41]

Thanks for the information. I'm glad it worked for you.

[Vivekks]

Yes Antibiotics harm kidneys . What is your Ceratinin Level ? If it is >1 Anesthesia might be harmful . Please concern your best nephro before test .That will bee good advisable .From which country you belongs to .

[Joe100 in reply to Vivekks]

I'm in Hungary. My creatinin level is 103 (in the healthy range) on March 23 and GFR was 69. In December it was 128 and GFR was 53. Normally my average GFR is 55 and my creatinin is not in the healthy range. The March 23 results were unusual. So unusual I am thinking of getting another test to confirm it.

Yes, I am seeing my nephrologist in a few days to ask about anasthesia and other questions.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Joe100]

Good you are being pro-active.

[Joe100 in reply to orangecity41]

Thanks 🙂

[shortmat]

I have had both tests done. You will need the anaesthetics. In my experience they were not anaesthetics to make you sleep, they were versions of Rhohypnol, the so called date rape drug. It makes you relaxed enough to have the procedures & afterwards you have no memory of any discomfort. You would not want to have the investigations without this help.

[Joe100 in reply to shortmat]

Thank you. That is interesting. And I understand about the discomfort. I once had it done with while completely awake. I also had it done once with anasthesia, about 20 years ago. And as I remember, i was asleep. I remember having to count backwards.

[Nana16]

I had a colonoscopy when I was at 3a. I told the surgeon who did the procedure (we don't have a gastroenterologist here) that I had CKD, and he looked at my records. He prescribed Suprep, which isn't necessarily a good thing for kidneys. I have a really hard time with the cleanout since I also have IBS, and I was really concerned for my kidneys. The next labs I had done showed very little change, but no one pays too much attention to your kidneys when you are at 3a. I would recommend you lean heavily on your doctors about using the safest cleanout method. When you are in a high risk category due to close relative having issues, it would be best to get the procedure done. The anesthesia I had is called conscious sedation. I was not aware of a thing that was going on, except for the first time I had one, and I heard the doc say 'She's coming around, give her some more'. The conscious sedation doesn't affect your body in the same way that general anesthesia does, so you will likely be okay with that, but ask questions if you're concerned. The best advice I can give is to eat a low residue diet for several days before you have the procedure, and follow all their advice for the prep.

Best of luck, and I hope you can get that out of the way and have some peace of mind about your digestive system.

[Joe100 in reply to Nana16]

Thank you.

Yes, I just read about Suprep and it has cautions about people with renal impairment. I would prefer that doctors are much more careful with anyone who has any renal impairment. Sometimes I have seen them to be very casual. I mean, who wants to see their kidneys slowly damaged and get worse than they are? In December I was given an NSAID to take. I didn't want to use it but the doctor persisted. The result was my digestive system had a bad reaction. With all the pains I felt I also thought it was my kidneys.

My doctor did not explain how the anasthesia would work. Safe for the body and kidneys is the main thing.

Thanks for your advice.