Has anyone had a colonoscopy?

[Anonymous]

Im only 21 but have to have a colonoscopy next week. I've been having stomach issues for like 7 months. hardness in my stomach, discomfort, abdominal pain, etc. also I've gotten even skinner over the past year, and I'm already too skinny. they think antibiotics have caused my colon to be blocked. ill have to take a laxative before the colonoscopy to clear out the colon. has anyone had a colonoscopy? do you think ill be able to gain some weight after this? maybe its the reason I am too skinny. thanks

[jacquesvol]

I had a colonoscopy: its not my idea of fun, but nothing to be afraid about.

A colonoscopy and gaining weight don't have much to do with each other ( in a direct way, at least): a colonoscopy is a visual inspection of the colon. (-scopy comes from the Greek verb "skopein"= to look, as in "telescope" and "microscope") Just a way of making a diagnostic. The laxative is needed to make the inspection possible by getting the colon clean of poop, indeed.

Antibiotics would have blocked your colon? :-S Are you sure you understood it right? Antibiotics can upset the flora of the colon, which can cause diarrhea, just the contrary thus. (in Europe doctors will always tell you to eat

yogurt while taking antibiotics) Prolonged diarrhea can make one skinny, indeed.

[Asker]

They said the antibiotics may have killed most of the good bacteria in my digestive system causing there to be more bad bacteria, making it hard to digest food and causing the colon to be blocked