Question:

After a colonsocopy procedure during which I was diagnosed with colon cancer I began sneezing in recovery and am still doing it hours later after antihistamines. Is this normal? What can I do to avoid this during my surgery in the coming weeks?

Answer:

It does sound as though you may have reacted to something in the environment. I think it’s unlikely to be the anesthetic medications though. For a colonoscopy, in the United States, the most common medicines used are propofol, fentanyl, and midazolam. These drugs very seldom cause allergic reactions but when they do the reaction may include a rash, swelling, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure.

Sneezing is not typical. Another possibility is that you are allergic to latex and have responded to rubber gloves, or some other latex-containing medical item that you came into contact with. Individuals with latex allergy often have a background of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever, and of previous exposure to latex in the workplace (gloves, usually). There is a blood test for latex allergy available. A final possibility is that your symptoms are completely unrelated to the colonoscopy procedure and you came into contact with something outside, or were just in the early stages of a respiratory infection.

In any case, I think you are unlikely to have similar problems during your forthcoming procedure. It’s a good idea to tell your anesthesiologist about your experience too she can be on the lookout for allergy-related problems during and after the surgery.

For more information:

Go to the Anesthesia health topic.