HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Scared for colonoscopy to test for Crohns

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/11/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone I am new here!

I am 16 years old and I am having a colonoscopy on Friday, I start taking the magnesium stuff in wednesday. Scared doesnt even begin to describe how I feel! I am so worried about not knowing exactly wha tis going to happen once I arrive at the hospital. If anyone could offer some insight as to what exactly happends once you arrive that would be great. I will be completley out for the while thing but I know I will be a wreck before we even get there, is there anything they can do once im there to calm me down before Im put to sleep? Thank you, its much appreciated!

Posted 7/11/2011 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
The actual procedure is NOTHING to be worried about. You'll arrive there, have an IV put in, get rolled into a scary looking room on your bed (well, at least my room was dark and freezing), then have some drugs pumped into you that made me almost instantly fall asleep. I remembered nothing. There's absolutely nothing to be afraid about, you won't remember a thing!
Posted 7/11/2011 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you! Is there anyway I can be put to sleep before the roll me into the room or is that not even an option?
Posted 7/11/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and any advice on what I sould wear?
Posted 7/11/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I've had sooo many scopes that I start to have fun when they shoot the anesthesia in my IV - I like to see how high I can count before lights out! :)

A scope is not really that scary but I can understand how the first one can be. If you are really nervous, you can ask your doc if you can have a bit of valium in your IV before they roll you in. But when you get there, you go thru the paper work, they bring you back and put on a gown. They insert an IV - that's a little uncomfortable, then when it's your time they roll you in to the scope room. They have you lie on your left side. The anestheiologist then talks with you for a few minutes. The ones I have will start talking to me, to distract me I think as they give me the anesthesia. You go out almost instantly and wake up as they are wheeling you out. Afterwards, you will have a lot of air to release and don't be afraid to let it go! You will have to release the trapped air or they won't let you go until you do and besides that, it can hurt if you try to hold it in.

I'm sure you will do fine. We all have had scopes and we are still here to tell the tale. I think the hardest part is the prep to be honest.
Posted 7/11/2011 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks a bunch! That made me feel a lot better actually. Its nice to talk to people who have done this before!
Posted 7/11/2011 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there!

I was scared before my colonoscopy as well but I agree with Aces.  The procedure itself was a piece of cake.  The drugs they put into my IV were very fast acting and my apprehension just melted away as I fell asleep.  It was some good stuff!  I didn't remember much if anything and I felt totally fine afterwards.  My room wasn't scary at all.  It was dim so they can see the screen when they do the scope but I had a blanket and was nice and warm. 


As far as putting you to sleep first... I don't know for sure but I would doubt it.  I THINK they have to hook you up to some monitors and things so the nurse can monitor your vitals while you're on the drugs that keep you out of it.  They are short acting drugs as well.  This isn't like general anesthesia. 

The only thing I dread about the next one I will have is the prep part.  That was yucky and it was miserable starving myself for 24 hours.  If you can get through that, the procedure is super easy!  Good luck to you!  :-)    Big hugs!

Posted 7/11/2011 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
You're very welcome. As to what to wear, it might help to wear loose clothing such as sweat pants.
Posted 7/11/2011 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
One more question! Sorry guys I just a million questions :P Even though Im 16 will they let my mom go back with me until Im put to sleep?
Posted 7/11/2011 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
I would imagine they will allow her in the area where you change and do paperwork, so she can wait with you.  I doubt she will be able to go to the actual treatment room though.
Posted 7/11/2011 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
The preperation (drinking the magnesium) is BY FAR the worse part of the whole thing kid. As far as Mom in the room; Call the doctor's office today and ask.
Posted 7/11/2011 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter had an endoscopy this year at age 11 and I got to stay with her in the prep room and then went with her when they rolled her down to the procedure room. I was holding her hand while they gave her the anesthesia and then her dad and I had to leave and go back to the waiting room.

My daughter was very nervous, also, and I think she needed to know a lot more about how the whole morning would go than I thought she would. So here's more info for you: when you are drinking the prep solution, you will have a lot of cramps and then you will start having diarrhea. It won't be like regular diarrhea, and the cramps won't be awful, just frequent. You will empty your bowels a lot for a few hours, eventually what comes out will be mostly clear. That means you have done a good job. While you are drinking the prep solution, PLEASE drink as much water as you can. Keep drinking water until you go to the procedure. DRINK WATER!!! A LOT!!! The prep solution can dehydrate you very quickly.

Once you get to the GI procedure room there will be some waiting around. Like others have said, there will be paperwork. The nurses will talk to you, and ask you your name, etc. etc. more times than you think they should. They will weigh you, take your pulse, check for fever, check your blood pressure. For my daughter, from the moment we walked in until her scope started was almost an hour of waiting. Her procedure took 15 minutes, and then recovery from anesthesia took another hour or so. Bring a book or iPod if that will help distract you.

Good luck!!!
Posted 7/11/2011 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi your all lucky i have had 2 and been awake for both and i found it ok the drink was the worse u will be fine i was scared but that is only right as its so new. Good luck.
Posted 7/11/2011 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Son was 16 when he had his first colonoscopy. Didn't really matter what he was wearing because he had to change into a hospital gown(although oddly they let him keep socks and trainers on which looked a bit strange :) )
I stayed with him when the paperwork was completed and I think they gave him an injection of something or other.
He then walked off to have the procedure carried out(I waited in waiting room) he wasn't knocked out for it at all and watched the whole thing on a screen. he did say that they had him first on one side, then on the other and then laying on his front(think this was where he felt particularly concious of having his socks and trainers waving in the air :)) Once they had finished the procedure I was called in to sit with him and then we both went to see consultant.
Posted 7/11/2011 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! My mom called the doctors office and they will let her go back with me until im put to sleep, which makes me feel better. But I know that Ill be hysterical once we get there and they said they wont give me anything to calm me down before hand which is frustrating.
Posted 7/11/2011 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I have had a lot of colonoscopes done. Thing will go fine with you.
they give you the drug your out and when you wake your finished.
Posted 7/11/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Factorykid25, there's no reason to be hysterical when you arrive at the procedure suite. Rationally you know that panic is not the appropriate response. I encourage you to take control of your emotions around this test. Own your feelings, don't permit the panic, deal with your realistic worries and learn some relaxation techniques (easy ones like deep breathing, stretching, massage) that you can use if you feel yourself losing control. Your mind is powerful and you should not let your fears make you miserable. {{{{HUGS}}}}} Be strong, I know that you will come through this well!
Posted 7/12/2011 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Kazbern. Sometimes our minds make things out to be bigger then they really are. Take a deep breath........you will be fine :)
Posted 7/12/2011 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
As said above the worse will be over by the time you get there. Nothing to panic about. Close your eyes and relax. Then snooze and then "what it's over already?"
Posted 7/12/2011 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
I am sure it will go fine and you have had lots of good advice. 

Just follow your Drs instructions and do ask for your mum to stay with you as long as possible - am sure they will allow that and it will make you feel much better to have her there.

Small comfort tip is to smear vaseline (or similar) on your bottom before you do the prep.  Then reapply when you wipe after each motion.  This will stop you getting a sore bottom :)  ReallY does make a big difference!

all the best

Lesley

who has three colonoscopys last year! 

Posted 7/12/2011 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Tips for drinking the 'stuff'! put ice cubes in your mouth or suck on a popsicle before hand. Make sure the stuff is mixed in cold water (if this is the one you are getting) and have another popsicle and a cold glass of ice water to wash it down with. Remember to put vaseline on your butt after every bowel movement. Otherwise by the time you are done, you will have a raw behind. so keep the vaseline near and spread it thick. some people have no reactions to drinking the stuff, and the procedure is easy, don't worry. its just another test, in our lives of tests and needles, you'll always remember your first! But you'll be fine. don't worry, they put you out, like everyone says, and you won't feel anything, or if you do, very mild like having gas. I've had about 10 of them in my life time of Crohns and am a PRO now! good luck and dont worry.
Posted 7/12/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hope everything goes well. Try not to worry, it isn't as bad as you think. I find the prep worse than the actual procedure itself. You won't know anything about it and will wake up and be so shocked that it's all done.
Let us know how you get on.
Posted 7/13/2011 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
I like to call them "party in my pants"
Good luck and hugs to you!!
Posted 7/14/2011 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
Well I am officaly pooping my pants now! Haha the stuff i had to drink was actually not that bad, i just slammed it really quick. I have vaseline on hand. Thanks for the advice everyone! Im a lot more relaxed now. The hospital even scheduled Hazel the dog to come visit me before my procedure! :D
Posted 7/14/2011 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck, you will be fine. Take care and let us know how you are doing.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12