TERRIFIED, ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED

 

Help! I'm having a baseline colonoscopy day after tomorrow, and I'm currently contemplating going into the witness protection program where nobody can track me down and insert long foreign objects into my most intimate regions. I have to drink something calle Nulytely, have had a negative reaction to Demerol (one of the drugs they routinely use), and don't trust the doctor. I don't trust doctors in general (and with good reason), but I trust this one less than most others.

The doctor I don't trust told me he'll give me Versed, which -- as I understand it -- is merely something that will merely make me forget that I spent an hour screaming in agony as the doctor I don't trust inserted the above-mentioned long foreign object into my intimate regions. He's not planning on knocking me out, and will most probably not use Demerol since it made my blood pressure plummet the one time I had it post-laparotomy one year ago. I also understand from reading various postings that anyone who's had previous abdominal surgery (like my laparotomy for an ovarian cyst) is at increased risk for performation during a colonoscopy.

What can I do other than flee the country or assume another identity and move to a different city?

Thanks,

LitDoc in Laredo

Hi LitDoc,
Welcome to HealingWell!
I understand your nervousness and hesitation... it is totally normal. BUT, if your doc is suggesting the scope then it is most likely well needed and justified. Have you never had one before? It's really not that bad. The worst part is the prep (drinking the crud). For the procedure I wasn't completely knocked out, I was in a state of twilight. Some people even watch the screen while the doc pokes around in there. Anyway, my point is that as long as your doc knows your history of complications with meds and past surgeries, you should be fine. You might even be able to tell your doc how nervous you are and maybe you'll get more sedative.
So are you starting the prep tomorrow? Make sure to drink plenty of liquids and stay away from any red food (no red or orange jello either).
I've never tried Nulytely.... GOOD LUCK!

I will also say that it isn't that bad. I had my first on May 22. The biggest fear was the waiting part. Once you get back there you go loopy and then, next thing you know you are in recovery and everybody's talking to you like it's ok.....haha. Don't get far from the restroom, and it is possible to wake up the day of your scheduled procedure still needing to go, but I promise, it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. I am 36, and after it was done, actually didn't feel like I was violated....hope that helps.

You will be asleep during the procedure,then you can go to breakfast somewhere.

 

Thanks so much to all for your responses -- I didn't think anyone would bother to answer such a common, ordinary posting. I'm still scared, but reassured by your promise that I'll be pretty much out.

I guess what really terrifies me is that the Versed (the following is a bad joke, so my apologies) is the post-torture drug of choice at Guantanamo Bay. They give it to you to make you forget how horribly you suffered so you don't complain to the World Court or the Board of Administrators of the hospital (depending upon your category -- POW or colonoscopy victim).

Is it actually true that one doesn't feel a great deal of pain? Some of you do remember parts of the procedure? See, THAT for me is very reassuring because, if you remember parts of the procedure, you'd also remember the pain if there had been any.

One last question, please. You mention breakfast, but what about wine that evening? We're going to a party (at least I hope we'll go to the party if I survive the colonoscopy), and I wonder if I'm condemned to an evening of Diet Coke. Maybe I should bring any leftover Nulytely?

Thanks again,

Your Sister in invasive procedures hell.

They gave me so much of that stuff (or I was just sensitive to it), that I not only was "asleep" (it seemed to me that I was asleep) for the entire procedure, but they had a hard time getting me awake enough to leave the hospital. My mother had to dress me because I kept falling back asleep. I ate breakfast while mostly asleep, lol. When I got home, I slept for about 8 hours, woke up for a few hours, then went to bed for the night. I'm told that's not a typical reaction, but boy, I sure didn't know anything that was going on. The worst of it was the IV. I don't like needles anyways and the nurse who did it was young and really, really bad. I've never had anyone bad before or since, so that's a small chance. I couldn't have gone out anywhere because of all the sleepiness. But some people are really awake afterwards and could drive themselves home if their doctors would let them. Your bumhole will be sore, though, I will tell you that! Not from the scope; from all the pooping you do beforehand. That alone may make you feel anti-social.

I do agree that wine is a no-no. One, that's usually bad for people with IBS anyways, but on an empty gut, I think it would be particularly havoc-reeking. I'd stay away from cokes too, since caffiene also bothers a lot of people, and, again, this is on an empty gut, which will probably react more harshly to things that you normally can tolerate okay.

LOL  Hey Lit, nice to see you're keeping your humor through all this.  Sometimes that's all we have to keep from going crazy. 

Hi All,
I'm back from the colonoscopy and (pinching own arm) apparently still alive.

The only thing that hurt was when they pumped in the air, or when the nurses had to press their fists into my stomach so the doctor could push the probe around some curve in the intestine.

It wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared, even though I was not only awake throughout the procedure, but also remember ever detail of what happened in the the OR! First of all, the prep didn't work as well as it should have because, as it turns out, I have diverticulosis, and then they did find three polyps that have been sent to path for evaluation.

I know they gave me versed and also benadryl to relax me, but no demerol since I don't tolerate it well. Maybe that slight change in protocol is what makes the difference between being awake and remembering or being asleep and unaware. No matter - it's over and now I don't need another for five years!

Again, thanks to all who generously gave of their time, experience, and advice. It's nice to know people care -- even about strangers.

LitDoc

 

Hi Moddie (short for Moderator),

Actually, the prep in and of itself was not so bad. The stuff wasn't fine Bordeaux, but it was bearable. I also had no trouble chugging a glass every ten minutes over a three-hour period -- the only problem was having to put the phone down at regular intervals, LOL. The ONE horrible thing was the burning behind, so to speak. After the first hour, I felt like I'd been sitting (not walking) on hot coals! Even today I'm still a bit tender.

One thing I didn't mention is that the prep nurse -- the one who took my stats and inserted the catheter -- told me she'd "suffered horribly" having her own colonoscopy a few months ago. When she started going into great detail ("and then I screamed and tried to get off the gurney"), I sternly told her she was supposed to be reassuring -- not scaring -- me. That made her stop.

Actually, for everyone out there who may still need to go through his/her own colonoscopy, let me reassure you: Not only was I not asleep and do remember every second of the procedure, nobody, but NOBODY, could have been more frightened than me. Even so, it turned out to be no big deal, nothing that an average, ordinary person can't deal with easily. 

Thanks again for all the advice and reassurance -- you people were wonderful.

LitDoc

Hey, Co-Moddie,
By catheter, I meant the one in my vein through which they pumped the Versed and Benadryl (no Demerol -- makes my blood pressure plummet).

Yes, doc found and removed three tiny polyps, and also commented on the fact that I've apparently got diverticulitis. Never knew that, although I should have suspected since both my parents have it.

He asked me if I "use alcohol" to which I truthfully replied "yes." I'm French, so of course I drink wine with my meals daily, and also have an occasional cocktail. He didn't comment, but now I'm worried he pictures me going to class with a bottle in a brown paper bag, LOL.

thanks again,
LitDoc

I really don't know. The doctor seemed a bit nonplussed, I'll give you that.

 

Dear All,

I do think the reason I was awake and aware is because of my allergies. I have no doubt I'd have been knocked out had I been able to tolerate the Demerol. On the other hand, I also think different people react differently to meds -- I need more dental anesthetic than many people in order not to feel pain, for example.

However, I don't want to give the impression I wasn't tranquilized -- I was very relaxed and somewhat goofy (I told the doc I was grateful the procedure wasn't the beginning of a long-term relationship between him and me). When I say he seemed nonplussed, I mean he appeared a bit puzzled as to why I was so lucid, and also able to remember the entire colonoscopy afterwards.

The bottom line (If I may allow myself a bad joke) is that it was not a bad experience, I think my doctor did a good job, and when I have to have my next colonoscopy, I won't be frightened at all.

Thanks to all again!

LitDoc

PS: I'm French, but live and work in the USA. The procedure was done in TX.

They used a light sedative for me,never felt a thing,farted like a bay mule after though,lol.