Upcoming Colonoscopy

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Elvish2
Contributor
Posts: 78
Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:03 am

Upcoming Colonoscopy

Postby Elvish2 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 4:52 pm

(Not quite sure which forum to post this in!)

I'm scheduled to have a colonoscopy in about 3 weeks, at which point I'll be 5.5 months post-Dificid. I've been doing okay overall and have had a negative antigen/toxin test, but I've also been experiencing some probable IBS-type symptoms. Given my history of IBS-type symptoms over the years (most concerning being M with B) and some family history, my GI wants to rule out UC and other similar things. I have anxiety over the possibility of relapse or other bad side effects (not to mention the results), but also know I honestly probably should have had a colonoscopy years ago rather than just being brushed off for being "too young" to have problems (I'm in my early 30s).

I know that the lead-up, prep, and aftermath of a colonoscopy can be rough physically, and am worried about the effect on my mental health (I have diagnosed PTSD relating to medical issues). I do have a therapist who recommended asking my GI if I can take Xanax beforehand and making sure to discuss any questions I have with the GI beforehand.

So does anyone have advice or experience about dealing with the colonoscopy prep/aftermath? There seems to be so much differing opinions about how a colonoscopy can affect gut flora, etc etc - it's all pretty overwhelming! And as is probably common among people here, I've lost a lot of faith in the ability to trust doctors as well as myself when making medical decisions. :/
2011: contracted c-diff after taking Amoxicillin and Cipro. Successfully treated with Flagyl taper. (Posts under old username, Elvish)

2020: contracted c-diff after taking Augmentin. Finished Dificid taper/pulse on 3/15.

Ali-Mar
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 463
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2020 4:17 pm

Re: Upcoming Colonoscopy

Postby Ali-Mar » Thu Aug 13, 2020 2:34 pm

Elvish , I am sorry to hear you are still having issues. I had 3 colonoscopies in the last 15 years. Colonoscopy is really not difficult at all, the prep is a little unpleasant but that is all.

I had some type of UTI that the dr couldn't diagnose in 2014 which caused reactive arthritis so I started having so many other issues, such as joint issues, eyes issue, and skin issues etc. I developed anxiety and I was having panic attacks. I went on Alprazolam 0.5 mg (Xanax) for two weeks. The Xanax worked very well but I developed a dependency on it after two weeks, so I had to taper it off. The withdrawal was unpleasant
Last edited by Ali-Mar on Sat Aug 15, 2020 12:12 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Male 54, contracted C-Diff on Feb 5, 2020, diagnosed on March 2nd, Took Flagyl for 8 days, Vanco for 10 days, relapsed 5 weeks post-Vanco. finished Dificid Taper on June 20 relapsed two weeks later, had the FMT on July 14th, 2020

Elvish2
Contributor
Posts: 78
Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:03 am

Re: Upcoming Colonoscopy

Postby Elvish2 » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:28 pm

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, Ali-Mar. I think I got myself in to a bad headspace when I started to read online what people were saying about colonoscopy prep (lots of 'horror stories'!). I've survived two bouts of c-diff, surely I can get through this! The Xanax would definitely be a short-term thing (I've used it before for dental visits).
2011: contracted c-diff after taking Amoxicillin and Cipro. Successfully treated with Flagyl taper. (Posts under old username, Elvish)

2020: contracted c-diff after taking Augmentin. Finished Dificid taper/pulse on 3/15.


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