Post-endoscopy pain

Colonoscopy last week. Rectal ulcer is causing pain and some bleeding. Doctor offers no solution. Pain continues.

Just chiming in here with my experience for posterity because this thread came up in my research.

I had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy done about 5 months ago to check for internal bleeding. Results came back clean overall but they noted a “small hiatal hernia” on the write-up and we never discussed it.

Since the procedure, I have felt what I’d describe as a pressure or squeezing right where I think the hernia would be. The feeling is below the xiphoid behind the abdominal wall. It feels structural/mechanical. It feels like someone put a small balloon in there and inflated it, like bloating after a heavy meal but up near the xiphoid instead of the belly.

It is not painful but more of a constant annoying discomfort that is driving me crazy. It is all I can focus on all day every day. It is what I would imagine a hiatal hernia would “feel” like, but gastro says this is basically impossible and it’s likely just xiphoid inflammation or muscle strain.

I did not have this discomfort - and had never even heard of a hiatal hernia - before the EGD procedure.

Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and topical 4% lidocaine have done nothing.

I don’t have heartburn, chest pain, vomiting, or acid reflux. It’s my understanding that these would be the usual symptoms that would actually cause concern about a hiatal hernia in the first place.

Gastro doc has been very dismissive and said he thinks it’s musculoskeletal and not gastrointestinal, but it just feels like he obviously doesn’t want to take any kind of responsibility for what is potentially a complication from the EGD.

Just chiming in here with my experience for posterity because this thread came up in my research.

I had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy done about 5 months ago to check for internal bleeding. Results came back clean overall but they noted a “small hiatal hernia” on the write-up and we never discussed it.

Since the procedure, I have felt what I’d describe as a pressure or squeezing right where I think the hernia would be. The feeling is below the xiphoid behind the abdominal wall. It feels structural/mechanical. It feels like someone put a small balloon in there and inflated it, like bloating after a heavy meal but up near the xiphoid instead of the belly.

It is not painful but more of a constant annoying discomfort that is driving me crazy. It is all I can focus on all day every day. It is what I would imagine a hiatal hernia would “feel” like, but gastro says this is basically impossible and it’s likely just xiphoid inflammation or muscle strain.

I did not have this discomfort - and had never even heard of a hiatal hernia - before the EGD procedure.

Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and topical 4% lidocaine have done nothing.

I don’t have heartburn, chest pain, vomiting, or acid reflux. It’s my understanding that these would be the usual symptoms that would actually cause concern about a hiatal hernia in the first place.

Gastro doc has been very dismissive and said he thinks it’s musculoskeletal and not gastrointestinal, but it just feels like he obviously doesn’t want to take any kind of responsibility for what is potentially a complication from the EGD.

@johntw Replying to my own comment as a follow up so read that one first for context.

Following up on my post from 2 months ago, I've actually had some pain and heartburn show up since then. I went to see a new GI specialist last week who seems more attentive than the first, but he also basically laughed in my face when I asked if an EGD could somehow "activate" a previously asymptomatic hiatal hernia.

Just like my first GI doc, he was also very dismissive of the hiatal hernia idea in general and said the issue is likely slow gastric emptying aka gastroparesis. Abdominal CT done since my last post was unremarkable. New GI doc ordered an ultrasound and a gastric emptying test so I should be doing those next week. I'll report back after I get results and see him again in a couple weeks.

@johntw may I ask what the original reason was for the endo? I’ve had one several years ago, also have “small” hiatal hernia which I’ve been told is incidental. I’m scheduled for another endo in July and really don’t want to do it. Having US in a couple of weeks. All around chronic constipation which comes and goes x 4 years. No firm diagnosis. Colonoscopy, barium swallow, CT, and MRI all unremarkable.