Infection from a colonoscopy

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Bob Jones - 07 Mar 2005 19:59 GMT

If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for me to
see the symptoms?

I'm a 40 year old healthy male... A few weeks ago I had a colonoscopy to
investigate some blood I was seeing in my stool. I didn't have any other
symptoms at the time. The procedure supposedly went fine and I was told
that I was the proud owner of some (bleeding) hemorroids.

About 3 weeks after the procedure I noticed that my stool was getting
harder, it was sometimes (mildly) painful, and the frequency that I had to
go increased. I kind of ignored it until a week later when I began having
sharp pains in my lower abdomin. I was also having to urinate and empty my
bowels frequently and if I strained, it was painful. There was definitely
something going on down there. So.... I went to my doc - his best guess was
that I had a case of Prostatitis so he put me on 500mg Cipro twice a day and
wanted to see me again in 2 weeks.

My appointment is tomorrow. The abdominal pain has gone away, but I still
have to poop and pee very frequently. Also, unlike 2 weeks ago, I'm
experiencing some pretty major pain any time I take a dump or pass gas. I
haven't had any other symptoms like blood in my urine, a fever, pain
ejaculating or any of the other things you commonly read about.

I'm asking this question here because I'm not entirely convinced that my
primary doc would point the finger at one of his colleagues... It juest
seems terribly coincidental that all these problems are happening on the
heels of having the colonoscopy.

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 07 Mar 2005 20:15 GMT

> If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for me to
> see the symptoms?
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> seems terribly coincidental that all these problems are happening on the
> heels of having the colonoscopy.

I'm sure Dr. McCollister would respond, but to me 3 weeks later is not
"on the heels of" the colonoscopy. On the heels of would be over the
next couple of days.
Have you had any suggestive symptoms in the intervening 3 weeks?

Steve

Signature

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

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Bob Jones - 07 Mar 2005 21:03 GMT

> > If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for me to
> > see the symptoms?
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> next couple of days.
> Have you had any suggestive symptoms in the intervening 3 weeks?

The first symptoms I noticed began 3 weeks after the colonoscopy.
Everything was fine until then.

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Howard McCollister - 08 Mar 2005 03:51 GMT

>> > If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for me
> to
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
> The first symptoms I noticed began 3 weeks after the colonoscopy.
> Everything was fine until then.

Do you have diverticulitis? 40 years old is not the most common age group
for that, but it's certainly possible, and if so, is not likely to be
related to the colonoscopy.What were the results of the urine culture? Blood
in stool? Mucus? White blood cell count elevated? Do you have abdominal
tenderness? And if so, where?

I can't think what infection you might have contracted from a colonscopy,
especially where the symptoms show up three weeks later.

HMc

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tech27 - 08 Mar 2005 04:39 GMT

It's possible the op is concerned because there was some media flurry
recently about a bunch of hospitals not following, or being misinformed
about, the proper procedure for sterilizing the equipment after a
colonoscopy. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was one place where there was an
issue which received much media coverage.

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Jeff - 08 Mar 2005 04:51 GMT

> It's possible the op is concerned because there was some media flurry
> recently about a bunch of hospitals not following, or being misinformed
> about, the proper procedure for sterilizing the equipment after a
> colonoscopy. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was one place where there was an
> issue which received much media coverage.

But those patients had diarrhea. I forget one orgnanims were transmitted.
This gentleman is having pain when he pees and poops.

I agree that if the pain starts three weeks after the colonscopy, it is
probably not related to the colonscopy. I don't know if diverticulitis can
cause pain when you pee, but I bet it can (although I think it would be
rare).

Jeff

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Bob Jones - 08 Mar 2005 13:56 GMT

> >> > If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for me
> > to
[quoted text clipped - 59 lines]
>
> HMc

Looking at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/, I
don't think it's diverticulitis. I only have pain just before I pass my
stool or gas. It's pretty intense pain. After passing, it immediately goes
away. Except when I have to go to the bathroom, there is no persistent
abdominal pain. Also, the page says that it can be cleared up with
antibiaotics in a few days. I've been on Cipro (500mg, twice daily) for 2
weeks now and the pain has only gotten worse.

The doc sent away a urine sample for testing and I'll know the results of
that tomorrow. I've had blood in my stool for several years and the
colonoscopy placed the blame for that on the hemmoroids. There's been no
change in the frequency/amount/color of the blood before or after the
colonoscopy. I have noticed, on occasion, a slight amount of mucus in my
stool, but that has always been the case - it hasn't gotten worse or changed
in any way. I had abdominal tenderness for a few days prior to and after my
initial visit to the doc 2 weeks ago, but it has since gone away. Either
that was a temporary thing related to nothing or it was something that the
Cipro helped with.

Thanks for your comments.

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 08 Mar 2005 14:56 GMT

>>>>>If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for
>
[quoted text clipped - 112 lines]
>
> Thanks for your comments.

Any chance it could be the Cipro?

Steve

Signature

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

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Howard McCollister - 08 Mar 2005 23:55 GMT

> Looking at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/,
> I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> antibiaotics in a few days. I've been on Cipro (500mg, twice daily) for 2
> weeks now and the pain has only gotten worse.

Yes, those symptoms are compatible with diverticulitis (different from
diverticulosis). Additionally, the most common organism in diverticulitis is
bacteroides species, an anaerobic organism for which Cipro has limited
effect. Because this is the most common bug in the colon, treatment for
diverticulitis is Cipro *and* metronidazole (Flagyl). The latter antibiotic
is an important drug in the treatment of diverticulitis.

HMc

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Jeff - 07 Mar 2005 20:32 GMT

> If I got an infection from a colonoscopy, how long would it take for me to
> see the symptoms?
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> seems terribly coincidental that all these problems are happening on the
> heels of having the colonoscopy.

It is quite possible that your colon was torn or something like that. But
unlikely, considering that you didn't have more severe symptoms afterwords,
like high fevers, more severe pain or death from infection. My best guess is
that something else is going on and the colonscopy timing was just
coincidental.

Because it seems to be happening everytime you pee and poop, it could be an
infection or inflamation around your rectum or prostate or your bladder
(your rectum is next to your bladder and prostate - inflammation in one can
affect the others).

Jeff

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