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Is Polyethylene Glycol Safe For An Elderly Patient During A Colonoscopy?
Posted on
Tue, 20 Mar 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 20 Mar 2018
Answered on
Tue, 2 Jan 2024
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 71 year old woman in good health, on no prescribed meds. I'm also a retired ICU nurse. Five days ago I had a colonoscopy, and the same diverticulosis found five years ago was noted. Thirty hours later I had a severe band of pain under the breasts and between my scapula which lasted maybe five minutes, no other cardiac signs. My stomach feels tender, slightly nauseous, no appetite, intermittent right sided pain especially when lying down, two bowel movements since the procedure, very little gas passed rectally. Is this due to over inflation of the bowel? My pulse and BP are up somewhat elevated, may be stress. I'm not short of breath, sweating, severely nauseous, but the low grade pressure in the chest and stomach are worrying. I'm
5 foot 3 inches and 132 pounds. Just had a full physical, labs, ECG and all normal. Thank you.
5 foot 3 inches and 132 pounds. Just had a full physical, labs, ECG and all normal. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Please go through the detailed answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As you are a retired medical professional you may understand that polyethylene glycol given for preparation of colonoscopy is an osmotic laxative which works by absorbing water from intestines. This disrupts the normal good flora of the gut.
In old patients, this creates more problem. Colonoscope being an invasive machine may cause mild inflammation in intestines hence with the movement of intestine there would be pain.
I would suggest you take a probiotic VSL#3 for 5 days with B complex.
An external .enzyme supplement should be taken.
Apart from that, an antispasmodic anti-inflammatory could be taken sos for pain.
Do this for 5 days.
Eat very light food.
Take lots of yogurts.
Tell me how you feel in 5 days.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Please go through the detailed answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As you are a retired medical professional you may understand that polyethylene glycol given for preparation of colonoscopy is an osmotic laxative which works by absorbing water from intestines. This disrupts the normal good flora of the gut.
In old patients, this creates more problem. Colonoscope being an invasive machine may cause mild inflammation in intestines hence with the movement of intestine there would be pain.
I would suggest you take a probiotic VSL#3 for 5 days with B complex.
An external .enzyme supplement should be taken.
Apart from that, an antispasmodic anti-inflammatory could be taken sos for pain.
Do this for 5 days.
Eat very light food.
Take lots of yogurts.
Tell me how you feel in 5 days.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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