After effects of gastroscopy and colonoscopy

Posted by therjes @therjes, Jun 12, 2020

Hi friends
So I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy both done Thursday morning. Once the profonol (sp?) Wore off I thought I'd feel ok like last time. Full disclosure, I've only done these separately before. So now its Friday night and my whole lower abdomen is still so sore! I just had a bit of bloating and gassiness last time, no pain like this. No bloating or gas left at all. Anyone have this reaction? How long does it last? I feel like my whole abdomen is "sprained". Haaalp!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@therjes - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
In this Digestive group you will find many members with experiences from endoscopy and colonoscopy.
I have had more than I can count myself! Often both at the same visit.
I have experienced that sore feeling a couple of times - it doesn’t last too long.

Hope you don’t feel worse now later at night. If you feel feverish or nauseous with more pronounced pain in the abdomen, you should call your doctor tonight. With colonoscopy where biopsies are taken, there is a small chance that the intestinal lining gets damaged and an infection is setting in.

Check your discharge instructions for information on what to do if you don’t feel well. They usually give phone numbers or other instructions.
In summary- if you don’t feel well tonight, don’t wait until tomorrow to speak to someone.

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@astaingegerdm

@therjes - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
In this Digestive group you will find many members with experiences from endoscopy and colonoscopy.
I have had more than I can count myself! Often both at the same visit.
I have experienced that sore feeling a couple of times - it doesn’t last too long.

Hope you don’t feel worse now later at night. If you feel feverish or nauseous with more pronounced pain in the abdomen, you should call your doctor tonight. With colonoscopy where biopsies are taken, there is a small chance that the intestinal lining gets damaged and an infection is setting in.

Check your discharge instructions for information on what to do if you don’t feel well. They usually give phone numbers or other instructions.
In summary- if you don’t feel well tonight, don’t wait until tomorrow to speak to someone.

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Hi! My GI only has office hours where you can call them Wed and Thurs from 1 to 3 pm so no help there. Instructions said go to ER if abdomen is hard and you can't pass the gas. Or if you develop a fever of course. Not great advice during Covid. I don't have any symptoms but the feeling like I'm bruised inside or I've massively pulled every abdominal muscle

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@therjes

Hi! My GI only has office hours where you can call them Wed and Thurs from 1 to 3 pm so no help there. Instructions said go to ER if abdomen is hard and you can't pass the gas. Or if you develop a fever of course. Not great advice during Covid. I don't have any symptoms but the feeling like I'm bruised inside or I've massively pulled every abdominal muscle

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@therjes - I see that the GI is no help at all! It is basically left up to you to decide.
You don’t have a fever? Nausea? Able to eat and drink?
If there is mostly the soreness, you are probably fine. If you don’t feel comfortable making these decisions yourself , you should go to ER. Let us know how you are doing!

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@astaingegerdm

@therjes - I see that the GI is no help at all! It is basically left up to you to decide.
You don’t have a fever? Nausea? Able to eat and drink?
If there is mostly the soreness, you are probably fine. If you don’t feel comfortable making these decisions yourself , you should go to ER. Let us know how you are doing!

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Thank you so much. Yes, the only symptom I have is the soreness. I can only speculate that they were accidentally a bit too rough or as you said, the biopsy sites. The preliminary report I got upon waking up stated NO polyps so they didnt have to remove any of those.
I am VERY slowly improving, I think. If this gets worse, I will call HealthLink, where I will be able to speak with a nurse for advice.

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@therjes - Sounds good! Great that you can talk to a nurse if needed. I remember one time when I was sore I was told they had to navigate through a crooked, winding colon!

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Hello @therjes

I have a number of endoscopies as well as a few colonoscopies, but never both at the same time. When they do the endoscopy they pump air into the stomach and when they do a colonoscopy they also pump air into the colon. Probably your soreness is a result of the excess air that you are experiencing. As the nurses tell me, this is not a time to be polite, so just burp and pass the gas as you feel the need to and it might help.

I agree with @astaingegerdm when she said to go to the ER or contact your health care team, ER, or other support staff if you feel concerned.

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Hi, thanks for your reply. I took a 45 minute dog walk this morning and had only a bit of pain so I'm hopeful it is healing. As for the gas part, yup I was told something similar and I think that is not an issue any longer. I think time may solve this. Also it probably doesn't help that every time you get this done, you are 5 yrs older!

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@therjes

Hi, thanks for your reply. I took a 45 minute dog walk this morning and had only a bit of pain so I'm hopeful it is healing. As for the gas part, yup I was told something similar and I think that is not an issue any longer. I think time may solve this. Also it probably doesn't help that every time you get this done, you are 5 yrs older!

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I agree, @therjes, aging does make a difference doesn't it? I'm glad that you are doing better now and able to get out and walk.

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I have had the same problem many times after the tests. Everyone says they never have a problem.

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@crony

I have had the same problem many times after the tests. Everyone says they never have a problem.

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Well finally! I thought it was just me being a huge baby lol! Thanks!

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