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HELP! Colonoscopy tomorrow ... important question!

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 8/3/2009 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all .... I'm scheduled for 9:30 for colonoscopy with light sedation. My instruction sheet says I can drink clear liquids up to 2 hours before procedure, but a friend of my husband's .. who works in the hospital area that does these, says that her department says nothing by mouth at all, for 8 hours before. She said you could aspirate ...

I'm confused ... why the difference? For those who have had this, did you drink up to 2-3 hours before?

Thanks guys ... I'm a bit worried.
Posted 8/3/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, SugarBlues. I'm having mine done Wednesday; it's my fifth one. My prep has always said nothing by mouth after midnight and clear liquids the day before the scope.
Posted 8/3/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
No fluid for 8 hours is wrong,,,,,,follow the directions on the Theather box, you can have fluid up to within I think it was an hour or so......The procedure is a asnap it beats the devil out of the other.....It is no biggie. I had my first on 30 days. Get the thing out of your mind and get peace of mind.....
Posted 8/3/2009 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry sugarblues I forgot to mention one other thing you will probally do afterwards,,,my dr. told me to take in fiber.....He suggesterd Metamucil,,,,,,,,nasty......Use the benefiber, it disolves totaly and does not taste like something out of a cows otherend. All it does is give you a nice constant soft bowel movement......Never felt so good in the last 30 days..You also lose the feeling of about ready to poop your pants before you can get out of bed. dl
Posted 8/3/2009 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks SO much for posting guys! It sure helps to have somebody to talk to. I live alone, separated, and have no family to rely on.

I'm still up and going! UGH! I have 7 HUGE hemorrhoids outside, that are swollen like crazy tonight. You'd think the liquid stool wouldn't bother them, but they're worse than ever. OUCH! Been using Vaseline alternating with Prep H.

I'm almost done with the drink .. never thought I'd finish it all! A couple new questions?

Everything coming out now, is yellow .. very light yellow, but not clear. Could that be from the apple juice I've been drinking ... or my urine? Or is that the stool and it's still has to become clear?

I'm exhausted too! I want SO bad to fall into bed and go to sleep! I'm just afraid I'll go in bed. LOL

My stomach hurts allot too .. crampy .. some light pain ... and I feel sick to stomach. Very weak and hunger is starting to kick in. UGH!

I worry about the actual procedure, because I'm so sensitive ... blood pressure goes up with anything I have done, heart skips easily and goes out of rhythm when under stress ... and I'm so sensitive to medications, I hope whatever they give me, doesn't give me a reaction. Do you get to talk to the 'drug pusher' before?

ok .. well, on to another glass of wine .. LOL .. yeah right!
Posted 8/3/2009 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
sugar - relax about the actual procedure. The day before and prep is the worst part. I've had 9 colonoscopies since 1997, I was shaking like crazy for the first one and the nurse tried to calm me down, saying the worst was over. I didn't believe her (until I woke up in recovery and knew she was correct). Now I no longer get nervous - at all. I can't wait for them to give me the IV because I know my procedure will start sooner and the sooner they sedate me and start it, the sooner I'll be in recovery and then home. So, relax, okay? I know it's hard to believe it but once you are sedated you do not feel a thing. Many times it seems as if they haven't even given you sedation and you're still waiting for them to start. Then a kind nurse will pat your hand and say - honey, it's all over with now, relax.

To be serious, when you arrive for your procedure, after paper work, you'll be asked to change into a gown, you can keep your bra on but have to remove underwear, obviously. They permit you to wear socks, I'm a freeze cat and always make sure I can have warm socks on. They keep the A/C low in these out patient and hospital areas! Next they'll ask you a series of questions (symptoms, if you're taking any medications, your health history). Then they'll start your IV. That needle prick is the worst part about your entire procedure. Then they'll wheel you into the procedure room, ask you to turn on one side, they'll clip an oxygen sensor on your index finger, a blood pressure cup, etc. Your doctor will arrive and possibly ask you a few more questions. The nurse will hand him the sedation injection and he'll insert it, in your IV. At this moment I'm sometimes worried he'll start before it take effect, not to worry, it always does, in a few seconds. He always promises to wait until it takes effect too (God bless that man). Next thing I know I'm in the recovery room. That's it, over with!

I recommend you return to eating and drinking in moderation. Sip water, don't down an entire glass. Later for the car ride home, have one or two saltines. Sip more water from a water bottle you can pack for the car. By the time you get home, you'll be able to drink and eat a little more.

The times I've returned to eating and drinking, full amounts, I've paid for it. I got sick in the recovery room, all over the place and on my clothes (I had just changed and was checking out with the post-op nurses when it all came back up, not fun).

Good luck, let us know how you do! You'll do fine......try to relax.
Posted 8/3/2009 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thought I'd drop in before I go lay down again ...

I did pretty good. Sugar started dropping about 8:00 this morning, so husband suggested we go early. Got there and legs were rubbery, pretty shaky all over. Told them about it, so they got me in a room pretty quickly. Everything went along just about how Marsky described it, only my veins wouldn't cooperate. She had to put hot packs on my hand, and then finally got one. The prick DOES hurt!

With all the questions over and signed ... the doctor introduced himself .. didn't stay long. I kept asking the nurse where the 'drug pusher' was. LOL

My heart started pounding then, they took a prick, blood sugar was 112. Started to get nervous, cause she was preparing all the 'tools'. UGH ... but then she positioned me and gave me the injection. I got pretty oozy, but was still awake and aware.
I said she'd better give me enough! LOL

She gave me a second injection, and then I don't remember much .. I DO remember ONE episode though! OUCH!
It's fuzzy now, but I felt PAIN really bad at one point, twice .. and all though my memory finds it hard to completely describe it, I KNOW it happened! I must have yelled out, I remember saying something LOUD .. and then I was OUT. So they must have given me more.

When I was in recovery, I was quite sick ... felt very weak, sick to stomach, just lousy. I sipped some cranberry juice she gave me .. and then some water. Didn't help too much ... felt like crap. Dizzy too.

Husband came in ... didn't help much, he's NOT good with this stuff. Nurse tried to joke with me, to help me feel better, didn't help much. Finally I asked if I could have my 'survival kit' I made up. It was a few pieces of cheddar cheese and a few roasted almonds. I ate 2 very small bites of cheese and about 3 almonds .. and knew that wasn't gonna work.

So she asked me if I can get dressed .. well .. uhmmm NO .. but I guess I have to. So I'm really dizzy, and weak .. but manage to get my jeans on. Wheelchair comes, and out we go. I don't remember the ride home much, which is best, since husband drives like a maniac. tongue

Got home, drank juice ... laid down, cat joined me .. GONE!

Wake up ... cat still there (bless her heart), husband online .. of course, call husband in, he says .. well, you look like you're gonna make it. I get up and have him go buy McDonalds. I eat 1/2 and I'm full. Have been drinking lots of water, sipping juice .. but not all that hungry. Strange, since I haven't eaten since 12:00 yesterday. And sugar has been good, strange.

Been on internet for awhle, husband gone ... so now I'm ready to lay down again.

Findings so far: One polyp that they removed and is being tested. Hemorrhoids. NO KIDDING, I knew that! LOL

So there you have it! I'm home and alive. smilewinkgrin

Thank you all so much for being there for me.
Hugs
Posted 8/3/2009 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
A couple things I forgot: They gave me oxygen. Hmmm?? Not sure why. Not sure how long it was in my nose, but it was a bother ... figured they must have thought I needed it for something, but now I wonder what. I wonder if I call them tomorrow, they'll tell me?

Also, do they usually look for IBS and Inflammatory BS, Colitis and Diverticulitis as a normal thing, or do you have to ask them to?

Just had a big ole spoonful of natural peanut butter ... YUM, that hit the spot!
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