colonoscopy - concerns

[savesouls]

Hi,

I am due to have a colonoscopy to investigate pain in abdomen.  I had bowel surgery 7 years ago for an intussusseption.  7 foot of large bowel was removed.  My question/worry is :    is it risky to have this colonoscopy with my bowel shortened like it is.  I have been told that air is blown into the intestine. As my large intestine has been previously operated on and rejoined, is there a risk to splitting this joined up part.  Surely it is weaker now and this type of investigative proceedure may do more damage than good!  Please can someone advise me as I have been told there are less invasive diagnostic tests such as bariam x ray.  Please advise me or at least put my mind at rest!

[Morecambe]

Hi - the purgative actually tastes quite nice - I think mine was raspberry flavoured!!  It seems that you can buy fruit flavoured anything - ice cream, purgatives, condoms and....!!

Anyway, I don't recall being kept awake all night but the purgative does keep you at home and near the toilet.  It may be that some doctors can also insert an enema a few hours before the procedure and evacuate the lower bowel that way - do ask.

A colectomy can be total or partial.  The colon is about 5 feet long and a partial colectomy would involve cutting out maybe 1-2 feet.  A total colectomy involves cutting out the whole colon.  It is also called an ileorectal anastomosis.  In plain language the farthest end of the ileum is anastomised (=Greek word for "joined") to the top end of the rectum.  Try and find a diagram of the intestines on a medical website and you will be able to see the exact portion that is cut out.

Thereafter, I am told, that the main absorption of essential nutirents is relatively unaffected because this occurs in the upper intestines.  The colon stores water and waste matter so, after the operation, "toilet habits" can be different.

All the best
Morecambe

[ggreg]

Dear Souls,
Like the above poster said, a nurse will talk to you before the exam, and then of course you will be talking to the physician who does the exam, so be sure to tell them both about your previous surgery.  That way, they'll be on the look out for that part of your bowel.  But it is also true what the other poster said, that the place where you were sewed up inside has healed up, developed scar tissue, not unlike when you get a cut on your body, it heals up better than it was before.  

These docs have seen it all when it comes to investigating a colon with their little device, they are careful, skilled, just like you are with your own work.  There is a light on the camera, and they can see very well what's going on inside, and even if you were to forget to tell them about your previous operation, they would spot it a mile away, just as I can see a scar on someone's face when I'm talking to them.  

By the way, I might add that with your history of having a problem with your bowels before, this newest pain is probably something like that, or you have a tendency to have sickly guts on account of how you "are," so it is good they are going to do this exam.  And the exam itself should be comfortable, they dope you up pretty good before they begin, and if you feel the least bit uncomfortable or scared, tell them immediately, and they'll inject more drugs immediately while you are in the midst of the exam, too.
GG

[savesouls]

Hi,

many thanks for your reassuring comments.   Did you have problems with the poweder that "cleans out " the bowel before the proceedure.  Someone told me that they were awake all night on the toilet.  Is it painful?  

What exactly is a colectomy?  My large bowel is shortened by 7 foot ( but a nurse told me there is at least 24 foot of large bowel. Is this correct?).  Also I was told that I need to take more vitamins and also need more salt on my food (again a nurse) as the large bowel is responsible for absorption of water.  I am really surprised because reading some of the posts on this forum people have had their whole bowel removed i.e small or large and been connected up to the rectum.  I didnt think that was possible to survive with hardly any bowel at all!

[Morecambe]

Hi - just over four years ago I underwent a total colectomy for diverticular bleeding.

Then about two years after this I underwent a follow-up colonoscopy as well as an endoscopy to check up on things.  No problems arose.

Furthermore, I had placed a posting on Medhelp after my operation because I was also worried that the intestinal join (anastomosis) might be weaker that the original structure and that it might split/rupture if exposed to the pressure from constipation.  However the Medhelp surgeon reassured me that the join is at least as strong as the original bowel structure.

There is always a risk that in a small number of cases the colonoscope punctures the bowel in which case an operation is required - presumably to repair the rupture and avoid peritonitis.

It might be a good idea to ask your surgeon "can you be sure not to stress/traumatise the remaining section of my bowels"?

Good luck
Morecambe