Strange Symptoms following a screening Colonoscopy on 9/26/06

[Limbe]

I am a 53 year old Indian male-physically very active and otherwise very healthy except for migraines and high cholesterol-I take gabitril,imitrex,crestor.Preparation consisted of drinking two bottles of Fleets Phospho Soda consumed several hours apart. I vomitted a lot after the second bottle-felt like gallons of clear liquid and developed a severe migraine.Colonscopy went well without any anesthetic. Few days after I noticed the following:abdominal bloating/fullness;reflux, abdominal cramping(very mild); diminished appetitite,constipation and the most bothersome of all was bitter taste/foul odor especially during sleep(noticed by my wife) and dirty whitish tongue(worse on awakening)My internist did a panel of blood tests+ ESR-all were normalOn October 24 I awoke with all the above plus a sensation that bugs were crawling under my skin. In desperation I called the GI Dr. who suggested I take Activia yogurt and I immediately felt better but within a month I felt the yogurt was exacerbating my symptoms and stopped using it.Two weeks ago I awoke one night with a itchy scalp and noticed small bumps(papules) Got bigger over a few days and then subsided after a week. My wife said they looked like acne. I continue to have these symptoms and feel a strange sensations in my body. Dr did second round of tests-all normal. He suggests VSL#3,flagyl,Nystatin for tongue. What do you think is going on and what do you recommend?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Can't say without evaluation.

I am not aware of skin symptoms and itchiness being associated with the colonoscopy.  Perhaps it is an allergic reaction to some of the materials used during the procedure.  

The whitish tongue can be thrush - which is caused by a fungal infection.  Nystatin, or fluconazole, can be considered for treatment.  An upper endoscopy should be done to determine the extent and confirm the diagnosis of thrush.  

As for the skin lesions, a referral to a dermatologist - and possible skin biopsy - can be considered.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[HookedOnFiber]

Don't overlook the possibility of a roundword (or other parasite) infection.  Roundworms can live in the intestinal tract for a long time and go unnoticed.  The purging and subsequent activity may have caused them to migrate.

I wish you good health.

[Ted174]

A related discussion, Post colonoscopy problems was started.