Alien Abductee Syndrome From Procedures?

Heya Gang,

Ever seen one of those alien abductee movies or documentaries where they find a naked guy in a field, the woods or a desolate roadside, dirty, skinny and looking terrified. So terrified he flinches each time someone touches him. Even years later after all the therapy they are still haunted by their probing type experiences.

Why do I bring this up, I'm curious how many others may be affected by this or have a system around it.

What do I mean exactly, I have to have another endoscoy again and potential ercp at the same time depeding on the findings. I had this same procedure done years ago for my blocked bile ducts and now the current symptoms appear to be similar to past bile duct blockage, which previously lead to pancreatitis, and actute pancreatitis and a week in the hospital.

Since then I have endured many colonoscopies, endoscopies, sigmodoscopies, etc.  I lost count. One thing that has bothered me over the years was that in the beginning I shrugged off these tests and moved on, however the last few have begun to leave distinct emotional impressions on me, to the point where I am nearly afraid to redo these "probe" based procedures.

I was not even aware I had reached a new level of fear until I spoke with my GI last week and he said I would be sedated for the procedure. As always I never ask questions on the phone with the doc I should, he always makes me feel hurried, he is a surgeon, so I guess that is expected. I would have asked what he meant by sedated, groggy? or asleep?

In the second I hung up the phone fear hit me, the word "sedation" to me means the benadryl type of sedation, mixed with some kind of narcotic usualy. On this sedation I am totally out of it, but I can still feel the tube, I can hear myself groaning in pain, I can distintly remember the a womans voice at my side telling me to "breathe" repeatedly. I distinctly remmeber during one procedure the woman next to me telling the surgeon I was coming out of it and he sounded panicky saying they had to pull out quickly. I wasn't in tremendous pain, it was the fear in the mans voice, I assumed the surgeon , that scared me.

I began to have nightmares a few years back about being paralyzed and cut into repeatedly while awake. I am not sure Doctors are aware of just how uncofortable and often times painful procedures can be, even sedated like this. Or do they just need to meet a quota each day and putting procedure patients asleep would just take to long, the cynic in me coming out.

So why am I so afraid of a simple endoscopy, I have had dozens. Why now?

This makes me feel incredilby weak minded, like I am less of a person. I should be way stronger mentally. What happened to me, is there some kind of post stress disorder from too many medical procedures.

I have no choice, I have to have it done. I will obviously be calling back and clearing up the sedation thing, and making sure I am put to sleep. I am preying my GI does not say no.  

Am I so terrified of the discomfort of a procedure that I would rather take the risks associated with being put to sleep, obivously, please tell me I am not alone.

Just tell me I am not going nuts, that this happens to many others, that it is common and there is way of dealing with this bizarre fear.

Hope I don't come off to nutty here :)

Thanks

Jon

hi Jon- i make them knock me out 100% or i won't do it- versed and propfol i think is what they use...i remember NOTHING- just the way i like it. the only bad part of the procedures for me is the prep...maybe make sure they are going to knock you out all the way...there is no way i could not these with partial sedation.

holy crap imissicecream!!! that's insane! but like you said- if you don't like the doc find a new one...hopefully you have the info before something like that happens! wow!!!!

Nope you are not alone! I have had this disease for nearly 36 years so you can imagine I have had lots of these tests. The cscope is the one I dread the most now. First off the prep kills me every single time, then 1/2 the time the scopes can't be completed becuz of the adhesions I have. Plus I am never adequately sedated as I always wake up during them screaming from pain. Some folks like to be awake to watch their scopes, NOPE NOT ME!!! Hugs!

Hey , you've been through a lot so don't be hard on yourself. They can put you under enough that you want feel a thing . If you want to see what happens, have them make a video .

Thanks,

I was really hoping I wasnt the only wuusy in the room, cause the way the doctors and Nurses tell it, "I'm a big baby" or "No one else ever complained about this level of pain before".

They go out of their way to try and convince me these are simple procedures that even "children and elderly" tolerate well.

Lol, when I bring up this support group in my Gi meetings, he completelydismisses any comment I make, he told me over the phone that he thought pro-biotics would do nothing for me, I asked for the vsl prescriptiona nd he said I didn't need it. That sounds odd. I guess sometimes it's the Devil you know, he is very good at so many things, jsut can't wain every battle.

Even my primary now defers to him, really? My Gp won't prescribe without the GI's ok, lame.

Your stories, while haunting, have greatly comforted me, now after 3 days waiting and left 2 messages, the "scope" still hasn't called me :)

Strangeley, I am more comforted in pain and drinking ensure, then knowing the date of the scope :)

You guys are awesome in your shared horror stories improving my sanity. What a weird world eh? One man's pain is another's relief.

Thanks

Jon

PS I'll of course post the results when they come in. Later and thank you again

Jon looks like you've touched a nerve with many here. I think the way you wrote your post about alien abduction syndrom is very creative. I wonder if the drugs mess with your creative mind in some way and cause this fear to come upon you. In any event don't be upset with yourself but simply try to find a way to get your tests done. You feel the way you feel and that is OK!

Last time I had an upper endo I woke up and my IV was out and there was blood on me. I think I fought them while I was semi-unconcious. I asked what was happening and they told me to go back to sleep. I said OK and I complied. Another time I woke for the colonoscopy and said this is VERY uncomfortable and they told me my blood pressure was dropping and they couldn't risk more sedation, again "go to sleep" OK I say. I sleep. Not the same as your story but point is you can have interactions while sedated and yours may have been negative, scary, or complete fiction evented by your drugged brain. You will find a way to deal with this. My 2 cents.

I've never had any problems with the folks here at Mayo. Although, there was this one time I vaguely remember, as if it were a dream, where I kinda woke up mid-procedure, and I said something along the lines of "Oh look, I'm awake." and then when I was still awake, I said "I think I need more anestheeeeeesssssssszzzzzyah" and was getting slightly annoyed, because I could feel them moving the scope around (felt like really really bad gas), and then I guess they gave me more because I don't remember the rest. And yes, I'm pretty sure I said it like that. I remember thinking that it was a funny word.

But, I'm pretty sure Mayo has anesthesiologists do ALL anesthesia, except mild local anesthetics. They like to compartmentalize. Nurses CAN do IVs, but oftentimes just to save time they'll have a phlebotomist sitting in the waiting room putting them in. And I've never had a scope where I was awake, so I'm not sure they even do that either.

Ooops. Sorry 'bout that.

Jon, there is no way in h*ll's half acre I would tolerate that attitude by doctor, nurse or any staff!!! And you shouldn't have to either! In fact, you DON'T have to and shouldn't!

Just straighten up to your full height, take a deep breath (all exagerated enough they can see it) and then evenly say thru your teeth: "Do not patronize me, do not treat me like a fool. I am NOT the only one by any means! Either respect me and my wishes and provide an anesthesiologist and adequate anesthesia or I will transfer to a doctor and facility who respects their patients. Respect my wishes in this matter or this procedure is cancelled and you can move on to the next patient."

And then walk out, dress and leave - UNLESS they apologize and treat you properly and respectfully.

Yeah, you will have "wasted" a prep if they don't - but 99 times out of a 100 their entire attitude will change - quickly!!!

ALWAYS keep in mind, it is YOUR health; YOU are paying for this, whether thru insurance or out of pocket is immaterial; YOU are the one who "enjoys" the benefits - or consequences - of this procedure, test, decision, regarding your health and well-being. THEY are your employEEs, YOU are their employER.

Would you tolerate a cashier or mechanic who treated you so disrespectively?? So why accept and tolerate it from these people?

For people with normal anatomy (no adhesions, previous surgeries, etc.) a basic colonoscopy is not an exceptionally painful procedure. There is some discomfort, but in my experience perhaps a 2 on a 1-10 scale, and that only briefly as the tube goes around bends. I have done them for years with no meds, and my gastro says the few patients he has who do that report good results and only minimal discomfort. And yes he has had scopes done on himself by a colleague with no sedation. The fear ie much worse than the experience, IME.