Colonoscopy

Can you tell me if anyone who had a colonscopy with the twilight med/sleep was painful? I'm prepping for one this weekend and have heard some horror stories, I'm so scared!  I don't know what to expect, the last one I had I had anestesia.........this time not having it.  Thanks.

Oh thank you very much, that makes me feel better. I read one thing on the net where this guy was begging the doctor to stop and you have no choice, they have that scope in you and they just keep going....stuff like that scares the hell out of me! Thanks.

You could always speak with your Doctor and ask what their protocol is; do they stop or continue if the patient complains of pain? If you don't agree with what they say, tell them what you want them to do (stop at pain) or you can find a different Doctor to do the procedure.
Heidi

I have had all of mine using "conscious sedation," another term for twilight sedation. I always laugh when I hear the conscious sedation term because I go out like a light with it. I have never experienced any pain during the colonoscopy.

Word of caution - while you might feel completely fine and "with it" afterward, there is a reason they tell you not to drive or sign legal documents. After my last colonoscopy that finished about noon, I awoke easily, talked to the doctor, carried on a conversation at length with my friend that drove me, got home, ate lunch, talked to my mother and another friend. about 4 pm, I suddenly had this odd feeling. How the heck did I get here? [I was standing in my kitchen]. I then recalled the colonoscopy and wondered what the doctor found. Saw papers giving a summary including a prescription for Cipro. Had NO clue why I was to take Cipro. Call my driver friend and she was stunned that I had ZERO recall of talking to my doctor. I had absolutely no memory of the drive home though I gave my driver directions throughout the entire drive! While all of this is funny now, I did tell my GI that perhaps I was a little TOO sedated "consciously."

Jennifer - just want to stop back in to say good luck with your prep and scope. Thinking of you.

Well I'm done with my colonoscopy, had it yesterday and you guys were right, I felt NOHTING! Nor did I remember much! I didn't even remember my boyfriend when he woke me up in bed after I got home! The prep i used was Miralax.......and Ducolax. TOTALLY tasteless if anyone needs directions, give me a hollar. The easiest prep ever. The worst reaction I had to prep and fasting was the headache the next day.........my head felt like it was going to explode.......but the drugs at the hospital took care of that.

I don't remember much, doc said he found inflammation and took some biopsies.........guess I was hoping disease had gone inactive, but i guess not.

Hey Jenn, well, moderate inflammation is not so bad... as for the stricture, I believe that is a narrowing in the intestinal tract, so the balloon procedure would be to try to stretch it some so that digested material can pass through. Those here who have had strictures can say more about that; so far I have not had one but have read about it.

Also something to keep in mind... unfortunately, even when disease is inactive/in remission, usually there are patches of disease still present... Crohn's never disappears (sounds weird, I know). I've been in remission for several years officially, according to the doctor, but every time I have a colonoscopy disease is present. I am fortunate that my disease has been mild from diagnosis onward... many people have it much worse. But it's always there, and I have had flare-ups from time to time that have interrupted the remission. Strange illness, isn't it???

I'm glad that your prep and procedure went so well... it's a good feeling to have another one done and to move forward. Hope you got to eat something afterwards that you enjoy!

Take care,

Betsy (-: