The people my GI doc is seeing..had no "IBS type" symptoms before the scope.. they got the scope because it was suggested by family doc or other doctor because of family history..etc... Then when they had the chronic D after the scope the GI docs started referring them to my GI doc because he has had more experience with MC and other types of colitis.. like I said he is a researcher at heart.. He said they always thought it was an older white woman's illness.. now he is getting all ages with D after a scope.
grannyh
Colonoscopy prep products MAY trigger MC
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Very interesting. I was just reading on another forum (mast cell related) about someone who had a colonoscopy and then got D and was diagnosed with mast cell disorder. The last time I attempted to have a colonoscopy I had an immeidate mast cell reaction. PEG is the active chemical ingredient and is considered safe for medical purposes, but it is also has industrial uses. I seriously doube our bodies like us ingesting industrial chemicals and that they are completely harmless.
I am now thinking of Polly's recent flare after her colonscopy . . . could it have been the cause????
Mary Beth
I am now thinking of Polly's recent flare after her colonscopy . . . could it have been the cause????
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Hi you guys!
It just occured to me, too, after reading what Mary Beth wrote in the concurrent mast cell/GI article thread. In that thread, I wrote earlier today:
Hi Mary Beth!
Bingo!
It hadn't even occurred to me, but my flare this summer started after my colonscopy. I took PEG (Miralax) this time. I can't remember the exact timing of the flare, but maybe there is an association. The colonoscopy was July 2, and my dog died Aug. 26th. However, I was having increasing GI problems throughout that period, which I attributed to worry about my dog and knowing the end was near. Maybe it was the PEG and not solely the stress??? Would the reaction be immediate, do you think, or could it develop over time? When the GI doc gave me the colon photos that day, I remember thinking how "inflamed" the mucosa looked throughout - kind of an angry, almost blistery-looking red. (The biopsies were negative for MC, but maybe the PEG irritated my gut that day and started the flare).
Verrry interesting. "Great" minds, Mary Beth, Gloria, and tex!
Love,
Polly
It just occured to me, too, after reading what Mary Beth wrote in the concurrent mast cell/GI article thread. In that thread, I wrote earlier today:
Hi Mary Beth!
Bingo!
It hadn't even occurred to me, but my flare this summer started after my colonscopy. I took PEG (Miralax) this time. I can't remember the exact timing of the flare, but maybe there is an association. The colonoscopy was July 2, and my dog died Aug. 26th. However, I was having increasing GI problems throughout that period, which I attributed to worry about my dog and knowing the end was near. Maybe it was the PEG and not solely the stress??? Would the reaction be immediate, do you think, or could it develop over time? When the GI doc gave me the colon photos that day, I remember thinking how "inflamed" the mucosa looked throughout - kind of an angry, almost blistery-looking red. (The biopsies were negative for MC, but maybe the PEG irritated my gut that day and started the flare).Verrry interesting. "Great" minds, Mary Beth, Gloria, and tex!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Just remembered about the black box warning on visicol.. but it relates only to the kidneys.
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorder ... prep-drugs
Seems they may need more research and more warnings about more than just kidneys!
grannyh
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorder ... prep-drugs
Seems they may need more research and more warnings about more than just kidneys!
grannyh
Here's another interesting thought that was on the mast cell forum I follow. Interestingly, they are also talking about problems after colonoscopies.
Mary Beth
I know Dr. Fine also thought that enlarging the colon was a bad idea, but for different reasons. I never even got to the point of having the colonoscopy, so for me I know fornsure it was the prep.Dr Castells told me to follow the premed recommendations for procedures or surgery. I took 50mg of Benadryl and 150mg of Zantec. I had a slight twinge the next day and nothing more. Worked wonderfully.
I asked Dr Miner at the conference in Sedona what caused my negative reaction and he said it was the air enlarging the colon and activating the mast cells.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
The article at the following link describes a study of patients with UC, who were subjected to a colonoscopy. The results of the study certainly seem to verify what we are discussing here. In this case, it showed that a colonoscopy, (or the prep, of course), caused a flare for a significant number of people with UC. 
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream ... 49_ftp.pdf
That article was apparently published in January, 2007.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17206634
Tex
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream ... 49_ftp.pdf
That article was apparently published in January, 2007.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17206634
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Doctors rarely bother to read that stuff, because they figure that they don't have the time to spare, and fortunately, they don't have to read it, because they have their trusty pharmaceutical company reps to rely on for up to date drug information. 
Only people like us, who have to drink that poison, ever bother to read such research articles.
Tex
Only people like us, who have to drink that poison, ever bother to read such research articles.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Perhaps my GI doc does read this stuff.. since he is the reason I posted this topic in the first place:) Maybe he read it and then verified it when he got all of the D referrals in the past year.
The frightening thing is that under the new Obamacare rules and Medicare rules.. tons of people are now eligible for a "free" colonoscopy. With something like 19,000 retiring every month for years to come.. look at the potential for prep induced colitis!
grannyh
The frightening thing is that under the new Obamacare rules and Medicare rules.. tons of people are now eligible for a "free" colonoscopy. With something like 19,000 retiring every month for years to come.. look at the potential for prep induced colitis!
grannyh
You're probably right - there are a few doctors who still think for themselves, thank goodness. Our own Polly is a great example of that.GrannyH wrote:Perhaps my GI doc does read this stuff..
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Aw, Tex! 
You are so sweet - a southern gentleman for sure.
I was thinking about what makes one "think for oneself". And decided that there has to be just a little bit of innate "rebel" in that person. I have always been impressed by the "rebel" nature of those here - by our interest in alternative therapies/whatever works, the ability to take charge of one's own health despite what one's GI doc says, the willingness to think outside of the box. I really think these are crucial to taming the MC beast. It would be interesting to do a study to see the outcomes for MC in those who are members here vs. those who are seeking treatment solely within traditional medicine.
You and I are both aware of a few over the years who dropped in here but couldn't fathom undertaking any treatment not sanctioned by their GI docs. It upset/ stressed them to think they could make decisions for themselves, despite the fact that they were quite angry and frustrated with their docs' inability to treat their MC effectively. Of those I recall, their MC worsened and they left the Board. Interesting.
So, here's to our family of rebels!
Love,
Polly
You are so sweet - a southern gentleman for sure.I was thinking about what makes one "think for oneself". And decided that there has to be just a little bit of innate "rebel" in that person. I have always been impressed by the "rebel" nature of those here - by our interest in alternative therapies/whatever works, the ability to take charge of one's own health despite what one's GI doc says, the willingness to think outside of the box. I really think these are crucial to taming the MC beast. It would be interesting to do a study to see the outcomes for MC in those who are members here vs. those who are seeking treatment solely within traditional medicine.
You and I are both aware of a few over the years who dropped in here but couldn't fathom undertaking any treatment not sanctioned by their GI docs. It upset/ stressed them to think they could make decisions for themselves, despite the fact that they were quite angry and frustrated with their docs' inability to treat their MC effectively. Of those I recall, their MC worsened and they left the Board. Interesting.
So, here's to our family of rebels!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.