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I had a colonoscopy yesterday & feel terrible today!

A myRAteam Member asked a question 💭
Antrim, NH

It feels like a flareup with increased joint pain & fatigue. I also have a migraine, am super tired/sleepy still & have minor sore throat pain. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

April 21
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Answer Summary

Members rallied around someone feeling terrible after a colonoscopy, experiencing what felt like an RA flare with joint pain, fatigue,... Read more

Members rallied around someone feeling terrible after a colonoscopy, experiencing what felt like an RA flare with joint pain, fatigue, migraine, and a sore throat. Several members shared that the prep and sedation medications like propofol can stress the body, cause dehydration, and even trigger flares, with one member noting that sedatives seem to block their RA medication and cause similar reactions. A recurring theme was the importance of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and giving the body extra recovery time, especially for those managing autoimmune conditions.

A myRAteam Member

Michelle
Take it easy today. Drink plenty of fluids. Colonoscopy does dehydrate the body. The prep is enough itself to stress the body. I hope that you got good results. Between the sedation and other meds they make you tired

April 21
A myRAteam Member

Thank you Greta; will do!. My results were good with no polys found but they said my prep wasn't the greatest even though for a few days before the procedure I followed a very strict light diet with low fiber foods & didn't eat anything on the "don't eat" list but they said it happens to some people no matter what you do & said I should have another one done in 3 years just to be safe since they couldn't view everything! I thought resting yesterday after the procedure would have been enough but I guess since I'm not just your average person & another rest day or 2 is needed!

April 21 (edited)
myRAteam

Can a colonoscopy trigger an RA flare-up?

It's understandable to feel concerned when you're experiencing increased joint pain and fatigue after a medical procedure. While the search results don't specifically mention colonoscopies triggering flares, stress on the body from medical procedures could potentially contribute to Show Full Answer

Can a colonoscopy trigger an RA flare-up?

It's understandable to feel concerned when you're experiencing increased joint pain and fatigue after a medical procedure. While the search results don't specifically mention colonoscopies triggering flares, stress on the body from medical procedures could potentially contribute to a flare-up.

Several factors can trigger RA flares, including:
- Physical stress on the body
- Infections or illness
- Lack of sleep
- General stress

The combination of symptoms you're describing—joint pain, fatigue, migraine, sleepiness, and sore throat—could indicate your body is reacting to the stress of the procedure. The preparation and sedation involved in a colonoscopy can be physically taxing.

A myRAteam member shared: "Recently had a stomach virus and noticed my RA flared as well." Others responded saying that being sick can bring on a flare, suggesting that any physical stress on the body might trigger symptoms.

If your symptoms persist or worsen, it's important to contact your rheumatologist. They can help determine whether you're experiencing a true flare-up and recommend appropriate treatment, which might include adjusting medications or adding short-term relief options.

In the meantime, focus on rest, stay hydrated, and use heat or cold therapy if it helps with joint pain.

April 21
A myRAteam Member

Michele were you given a light sedative like nitrous oxide? With me if I have any kind of drug like that, it blocks the rheumatoid arthritis medicine and gives me a flare up. The same thing happens when I have any alcohol so I stopped all alcohol cold turkey. I didn’t drink much. Oxygen desaturation is caused by alcohol use. The reduction of oxygen is caused as we age because our lungs get weak, etc. so you have to be in some kind of an aerobic exercise routine so you can suck in big gulps of air which saturates your blood again with oxygen.

April 27
A myRAteam Member

Michelle maybe you also picked up a virus

April 28

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