Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 8/20/2009

Question
My daughter, 13, had a colonoscopy yesterday.  She ran fever  of 103.4 for several hours during the day.  The doctor said to give her tylenol.  She felt bad all day.  She was able to eat and drink.  Today she says she is achy, her chest hurts when she breathes in and just does not feel well.  Her temperature is normal.  Is this normal?

Answer
You did not mention why your daughter was having the colonoscopy in the first place--did she already have significant symptoms of "something" that's gotten worse? (e.g. flu, chronic diarrhea, acute malabsorption?)  I do not know, also, what anesthetic agents were administered her---so I can't state that any of them caused the fever and achiness.
My best guess is that this will be a short-lived matter, resolved in a matter of days at the most.
A serious complication of a colonoscopy is a perforation:  if a fever and/or worsening malaise, dehydration, abdominal pain or bloating occur the gastroenterologist must see her immediately.