Question:
Pain in Left Side after Colonoscopy

After having a colonoscopy, did anyone experience extreme pain in the left side between rib cage and hip area?? I had a colonoscopy last week and came out of the procedure in horrible pain, was admitted to the hospital for three days with antibiotics and fluids,was put on a liquid diet while in the hospital. My doctor ordered CT SCANS and X-rays. Nothing showed up. Today, after being discharged from the hospital for a week, I am still in pain. I was sent for another CT Scan with Contrast today and again, nothing was found. IS there anyone out there that may have had this same problem or may know what might be going on with me?? I have to go for an EGD on Tuesday to have my pouch scoped even though I have NO PAIN in my Pouch. I am getting frantic here.    — cindirella (posted on July 15, 2005)

July 15, 2005
Did the colonoscopy show that you may have diverticulosis and you were having an attack of it? That is where I had my pain when I had a case of it. My case was a small one from what I understand and I had a lot of pain exactly where you are having yours. I will qualify and say that I did not have it after I had any of my colonosopies. My diverticulosis was found with a CT scan first. If you are having one then you need to be on antibiotics for it because it is an infection in the lower bowel. Hope you find relief soon. :)
   — ChristineB

July 16, 2005
Hi Christine and thank you for your response to my question about the colonoscopy. I had the procedure done because of a follow up to a Polyp problem I had several years ago. Before the colonoscopy I was not having any problems at all. Now, since the colonoscopy last week, I have been in constant pain. Yes, my doctor has put me on Antibiotics for 7 days and I am to go in on Tuesday for a Endoscopy, I just pray this doctor knows what she is doing with the pouch, she is not the surgeon who did my gastric by pass surgery. Today, I am still in pain but it is not as intense as it has been. Perhaps by Tuesday, the pain will be gone and I will cancel this endoscopy??
   — cindirella

July 16, 2005
Hi Cynthis: I've had 3 colonoscopies in my life prior to my RNY on 2/13/03 & my first post-op one inj Feb. of this year. All but the first have been performed by the same gastroenterologist and she was fully informed & familiar with the RNY in general & mine in particular. In 3 out of 4 colonoscopies I've experienced extreme pain DURING the procedure no matter how much twilight sedation they hit me with. This last one I recall dimly as painful & my doc said she was making a note that next time, in 5 years as these last 2 have been polyp-free, she was having me go under full anesthesia. But I've NEVER experienced any discomfort, much less pain, AFTER the colonoscopies are over. If anything, I'm clinically euphoric at the absence of the pain. Are you running a fever? Any blood in your toilet after using it? Are you experiencing dizzyness, vomiting, diahrea? If so, I'd get myself to the ER ASAP & not leave until they properly treat you. I would also suggest that you have your doc, or the ER doc, phone your bariatric surgeon to consult on what might be causing your pain. Are you able to breathe deeply from your diaphragm? That's the kind of breathing where you breathe as if your stomach is a balloon that you're inflating as you inhale, making sure that it balloons out, not up toward your ribcage. Often, that kind of deep, slow breathing can bring some pain relief. All the best! Lauralyn
   — EmbodySuccess

July 16, 2005
Hello Lauralyn, I had NO PAIN during either of the colonoscopies done on me and this is the first time I have ever had this kind of pain. Yes, my two surgeons have been in discussion with one another about this pain and they are both coming up with the same answers..NOTHING! When I try to yawn or take a deep beathe it is like a knife slicing into my ribcage, until then the only place I feel the pain now is in my hip area but not the bone, the soft tissue, near my bladder. The pain is getting less and less every day, I am on pain medications and antibiotics and I am sceduled for an endoscopy on Tuesday morning. Hopefully, they will be able to find something then, if not, then I guess it is all in my head, I guess they will have to pull my head outta my butt! Thanks for your replys. Don't mean to sound sarcastic but living with a pain that no one can seem to find the cause tends to make a person feel, un-hinged.
   — cindirella

July 26, 2005
Cynthia: I have not had a colonoscopy since my gastric bypass surgery, but I do have pain in my left side. They were unsure for the longest time as to what it was, and finally scoped me and found a large ulcer near one of the connections. When the body is under stress, it can form ulcers even if you are eating and drinking correctly. I have been on ulcer meds since, and need to be rescoped soon. The pain was enough to put me on strong narcotics, but the protonix and a liquid med they put me on for ulcers did wonders. I take protonix once a day now and it does really help. I did try and go off of it for about 2 weeks, and I have to say the pain came back, and that bothers me, but I am back on it and it is healing up again. I hope you have some relief soon, and I know you think there is a connection between your colonoscopy and the pain, and there could be, but it also could be body stress, and an ulcer. Diverticulitis is also a possibility as well. I am sure they will figure it out for you soon. Take care, Patricia P
   — Patricia P