Colonoscopy to rule out endo.

Hey. I have had three surgeries for endo. in 2005. I've been on estrogen only HRT since. I am now dealing with pain again and problems with my bowels. I finally got fed up with the pain and the chronic constipation and went to a gastronalogist last week. He said he's dealt with endo. cases before. He wants to start with a colonoscopy to see what's going on there. Anyone else had experience with this? If so, any advice?? Anything would be helpful. I've heard the endo. can come back and obstruct your bowels among other things. I had a severe case of endo. at the time of my hysterectomy. I'm only 33. Just frustrated and tired of the constant nagging pain.

Any advice would be great!!

Thanks!!

What I am dealing with sounds the same as you. Pain and constipation has come back again. Was refered to a Gastro doctor who put me through the process of testing : ultrasound, CT Scan, Colonoscopy. None of those tests proved the cause of my pain. Thursday I am scheduled for Laproscopy to see if Endo has returned or perhaps Adhesions. Feels like it never ends and I totally understand the frustration. Hope your doctor is able to help you. Wishing you well.

I had a colonoscopy last year to see if endo had penetrated my bowel. As part of the work up I also had a CT scan and blood work.

The colonoscopy required a bowel prep and liquid diet for two days (since I had been having constipation issue I had to go an extra day). I was treated very well at the surgial center and thanks to the IV pain meds and Versed, I don't remember a thing! And thankfully, aside from internal hemorroids, nothing was found.

The CT scan with IV contrast did show a hemorrhagic cyst, but it resolved on its own. My blood work was fine.

So for me, we are assumming the endo on my bowel walls could be affecting my IBS, causing the bowel issues. My pain is being chaulked up as endo and adhesions, and right before I pulled my hair out, the pain subsided.

If your colonoscopy is clear, and I hope it is , you may need to work with the gastroenterologist for awhile to see what can be done to at least help with the bowel issues. Working with my gastro my constipation is better, but still a bit of an issue.

If your pain persists, you may need to have a lap or try meds such as Lupron or progesterone. Do you have an endometriosis specialist? An endo specialist should know the latest and best treatment options if endo is the problem.

in there and many best wishes to you for your colonoscopy!

I have read more than a few times on this site of how endo and ibs (or bowel problems) go hand in hand...
I too had IBS issues before my hyst and continue to now (even more painful) after the hyst...
thing is, my endo as not too bad - just small lesions but I had adenomyosis pretty bad - and from what I understand, that is just suppose to be on the inside of the muscle of the uterus - not outside of it - so I don't get it!
Anyway, you're not alone in this long road that twist and turns with pain....good luck with your tests and let us know how it all turns out...

Thank you for your replies and support~Do any of you know, what exactly the colonoscopy will show. IF there is endo., will it show up? Or would I have to have a CT scan?? I've been having back pain, which I thought for a long time was my kidneys, but every test came back negative for anything to do with that. And the gastro. dr. told me that problems with your colon can cause similar pain. Anyway, I'm a little nervous about the procedure, but more nervous about what they'll find. It's weird. You dont' want them to find anything, but you want to know what's wrong with you. And I feel like everyone around me is tired of hearing my endo. pain. It's nice to have this site to come to for support. : ) Thanks!

Pre-surgery my GI doc didn't think I needed a colonoscopy, but now that I know I had severe endo., I am going back to him soon and requesting one. I was told for years that my problems were IBS, but it was really the endo. I still have bowel pain and constipation, but it is probably less than 25% of what it was before.

The colonoscopy will show if you have anything going on "inside" the colon. Endo on the outside can not be detected. The process was to do the least invasive tests first to rule out obstructions or diverticulitis., I was disappointed but then happy when nothing showed up with my colonoscopy. It is hard not being able to figure out why you have problems but you don't want to find other problems that you didn't even know you had. So now I have to have surgery on Thursday to figure out if anything is on the outside of my organs or are they stuck together. I am surprised you already didn't have a CT Scan which is usually the first in order of tests.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by prettynpink32 Do any of you know, what exactly the colonoscopy will show. IF there is endo., will it show up?

A colonoscopy will show if there is anything in the colon that should not be there. If endo is in the colon, it should be found as it will have penetrated through the colon wall. A colonoscopy is used to detect polyps, tumors, ulcers, basically anything abnormal in the colon that could be causing issues.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by prettynpink32 Or would I have to have a CT scan??

Endo rarely, if ever, shows up on any test, so no, endo will not show up on a CT scan. But a CT scan can show other issues that can be causing pelvic pain.

A colonoscopy does sound scary and I never planned to have one as I was so afraid. But I did well and it was not traumatic for me at all! The bowel prep part was definitely the worst for me!

Many, many best wishes and lots of s to you! I hope all goes well!

A colonoscopy also could give some hints if there is an endometrioma or endo adhesions on the outside of the colon if the gastro doc notices inflexibility when trying to scope. I had a chicken-egg-sized endometrioma that had snagged my colon and attached it to the back of my uterus. The doc could tell something was in the abdomen outside the colon because of spasms when she was trying to get the scope in and it was completely immobilized.
The prep normally is the worst part, though my last one was relatively easy. Make sure you drink plenty of clear liquids as long as you can so you don't get dehydrated and the nurse has trouble with the IV the day of the procedure.
HTH
Karen

i too had a colonoscopy to rule out endo... he thinks it's on the bowels. so were thinking about having another lap. to see what's going on.. good luck!