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HORRIBLE COLONOSCOPY

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Posted 10/17/2009 12:17 AM (GMT 0)

Hi all

I have had colonoscopies before and obviously didn't enjoy it!  I have also had 20 operations following a terrible car accident as a child - so I am used to pain and can 'handle' it.

But yesterday I had a colonoscopy and it was a nightmare.

I went in - had IV painkiller and valium - but I remember screaming it was so painful and I remember the doctor getting angry at me and yelling at me to stop of she would have to stop - she was really angry and not at all empathetic.

When she reported the results to me her only words were that "I didn't like it".

I am so humiliated and was treated so badly.  Plus the results of the scope were bad (spread, looking very angry and lots of bleeding - as I know!).

Any - does anyone else understand how I feel?

Why did it hurt me so much?  confused

Posted 10/17/2009 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
i was diagnosed a month ago and when i went in for the colonoscopy i woke up half way through it was very painful what i remember.
Posted 10/17/2009 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
i remember saying it hurts and being told to stop pushing it was so terrible
Posted 10/17/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
That is disgusting!!!! I live in Alberta, Canada, it's unheard of to get a colonoscopy without being put completely under, sigmoidoscopies are different cuz they're not as invasive, but I request being put totally under for those as well and they do it...it's in-humane not to be put completely under for a colonoscopy though.


:)
Posted 10/17/2009 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
yeah they gave me demoral and something else not sure the name .i was completly out but woke up for whatever reason .same thing happened during a route canal when i was a child. kinda freaky actually.
Posted 10/17/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I've never had a horrible colonoscopy like that. I'm so sorry u had to experience something that horrible. My doc's have been great! They tell me to let them know if I feel uncomfortable at all and then they will stop. They do drug me though, but I'm just awake the whole time though.
Posted 10/17/2009 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I was slightly under-sedated for my first one, and I remember it hurting when they inflated my colon with air. I've had several since then, and I always make sure the doc (I'm on my third one) hears that story and knows I want to be well sedated. I've not had any more problems.

If the doctor is not treating you the way you want to be treated, you can always change doctors. After all, you're the one paying her.
Posted 10/17/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Before I started seeing my current GI, my other GI's would put me completely under but after the procedure I'd still wake up balling/upset and I was told quite verbal (swearing and crying loudly), of course I didn't remember any of it, just waking up crying after the procedure was over...so I told my current GI about this and he said they obviously didn't use the right "stuff" on me, he scoped me and for the first time ever I woke up with dry eyes and according to them I didn't make a peep.

:)
Posted 10/17/2009 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
my last scope was performed while I was awake (drugs didn't work). The GI kept telling me to fall asleep, instead I peppered him with questions.

Rather enjoyed it. Very informative and next time I prefer to be awake. Seeing the ulcers really hit home with how serious my pancolitis is/was.

When I only had UP I had a number of short scopes which were rather uncomfortable. The inflating of the bowel isn't fun....I kept feeling like I was about to have a dump on the GI.
Posted 10/17/2009 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
I woke up during my first scope. I grabbed the GI (he was a really small guy) by the throat and threating to do something that is a rule violation if he did not stop. My Mom said she could hear me screaming. I insist on a scope to be done in the OR and I am under GA, like I would for normal surgery.
Posted 10/17/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
My first GI only lightly sedated me for colonoscopies which allowed me to be awake for the whole procedure. I like watching on the monitor and asking questions. He also gave me nothing for sigmoidoscopies. I had no problems and only felt a little uncomfortable.

My second GI put me right out for his first colonoscopy and I hated it. Next time I asked him to not put me right out. He also wanted to give me sedation for sigmoidoscopies but I wouldn’t let him. That way I could leave shortly after the procedure and drive myself home. The only time I felt any pain was when my second GI allowed an intern under his supervision to perform the procedure. The intern kept pulling the scope in and out over and over again causing pain in my anus.

I have had at least 10 scopes.
Posted 10/17/2009 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
I was slightly sedated for mine and joking with the doctor until the pain got unbearable. I even remember watching the scope go in on the screen and the inside of my colon. The part that was very very uncomfortable was the air they have to put inside. Makes you feel very gassy and unable to control your bowels. As soon as he pulled the scope out, I fought the nurse off and stumbled my way to the restroom like a drunk while they were banging on the door. I think I sat on the toilet for 5mins just farting. It was pretty disgusting.

I feel doctors should be empathetic of your condition especially if they have been doing colonoscopies for a while and if youre in excruciating pain, they should either put you completely under or stop. That doctor sounds very unproffesional op.
Posted 10/17/2009 5:14 AM (GMT 0)

Clicky said...


Why did it hurt me so much? [img]/community/emoticons/confused.gif[/img]

Im gonna have to guess and say its because your colon was inflammed all over and the air they put inside with the scope pushes your colon out like a balloon and the pressure irritates you which causes pain. Its almost like having a very hard formed bowel movement that scrapes your colon walls. Thats my guess anyway :P
Posted 10/17/2009 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
I had the complete opposite experience with my colonoscopy. The worst part about it was the prep. The colonoscopy itself was no big deal and I woke up afterwords feeling very relaxed. I launghed and had the most ridiculous conversation with my doctor about gas. It was kind of funny. The prep on te other hand was miserable. I threw up and felt awful!
Posted 10/17/2009 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Well that sounds terrible! I've only had one colonoscopy but it was done in a surgical center and I was asleep...as I think you should be unless you specifically ask not to be. I understand some like to watch, but I'll just look at the pictures after I wake up! lol

I think it depends where you go so next time I'd say find a place that will put you under or ask your doc to schedule it in the hospital or surgical center.

Sorry you had such a bad time sad
Posted 10/17/2009 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Over the years I've had various medications during colonoscopies. For some I've been awake and chatty and have watched the screen (fascinating!) with the demerol/versed meds but in more recent years the docs have used propofol and I've been actually asleep. I'm less groggy after the propofol and have felt no pain, but I prefer to watch.
Sometimes it has hurt as they've gone around the corners. Otherwise pain seems to vary according to how inflamed I am at the time.
I usually make a point of telling the doc beforehand, at the previous appointment, that I am a wimp when it comes to pain - that helps and they usually make a notation to give me enough.
Posted 10/17/2009 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
I cannot stand colonoscopies. I have never been completely under, just partly sedated, and I always end up shouting and overwhelmed by the pain (some call it "discomfort" - hah!). The doc has never been particularly sympathetic, just a bit impatient. The stupidest thing is that every colonoscopy I have ever had over the years shows one of two things: if I get the scope while flaring, inflammation in the same place; if I get the scope while not flaring, no inflammation. It all just seems to me to be the most medieval invasive nightmarish procedure to go through to find out - well, basically nothing.
Posted 10/17/2009 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all for your responses.

It is interesting to hear how many people have awful experiences! Unless they knock you out completely - I wonder if the drugs can make it worse for some people because you can't control your reaction and cant reason with yourself.

I might have been annoying to the doc - but frankly being drugged, in a flare with that things stuck up... she doesn't need to treat me with such contempt!

Its nice to know other peoples experiences. Thanks everyone!
Posted 10/17/2009 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
This sounds suspiciously like a trainee or newbie scope operator- as was the case for my first and only highly painful scope decades back.  I know everyone needs to learn at some point, but let them learn on normies, not someone in an IBD flare.  Really, a competent scope operator should be patient and gentle in working their way through the many twists and bends of the colon.  If one simply uses brute force, it is bound to be excruciating.  They should also be prepared to pump in more meds instantly if it is hurting, so that aspect also sounds very poorly handled.  As for the anger by the doctor.... no punishment is too much for someone who would exhibit that attitude towards their customer.
Posted 10/17/2009 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
     The way you were treated is inhumane.  Did you ask to be completely sedated..out cold?  The worse part for me is the prep.  I always get the Nulitely because my GI doctor said most of the other preps are too harsh on IBDers.  I learned over the years to eat very lightly for two days before taking the prep.  Therefore, the day of the prep, I only have to drink about 1/3 of that ghastly stuff.

     I can never forget the first colonoscopy I had though.  It was terrible.  I was already hospitalized, threw up most of the prep, didn't have anything in my stomach anyways because I was fed through an IV for eight days (so why they even made me take the prep is a wonder).  The day of the colonoscopy the doctor gave me Demerol with something else.  I remember my head feeling like it was going to explode.  Here, I am allergic to Demerol..unbeknownst to me because I had never had it before.  My blood pressure shot up to 210/110.  They immediately took the IV out and inserted another IV to bring down my pressure.  Needless to say, I think the GI doctor performing the test pooped himself..lol.  I threw up a lot and they wheeled me into the hallway on a stretcher and checked on me every now and then.  When I finally was taken to my room, my roommate asked.."where the heck were you?"  I was up there for six hours!!!!  UGH!! What an experience.  Now they know never to give me Demerol.

Posted 10/17/2009 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
I just had my second one last week. I had my first in 2003 I went in was put under woke up talked to the nurse went home and was just fine. It was done at a full Hosp.

  The one i just had last week i was told i did not need to be put out it was by a different Doc. the last one retired on me LOL. I went in i took my morning Xanax with a little water they said that was fine for my stress. They got me ready told me i would fall in and out of sleep and not remember much YEAH RIGHT!!!! I was wide awake and was in so much pain i asked Please put me out or give me more to ease it. The doc started yelling at me just breath and i am almost done (Yeah Right also)

  I screamed and cried to be put out but they gave me 3 shots of whatever it was. I even asked the woman When am i going to get groggy like you said. The answer was that since you took xanax this morning it is making my medication not work at all??? They knew i had taken it I told them and it was on my chart. He started rushing took 3 nurses to hold me down.

  I went to the recovery room everyone else was all groggy and the nurses were saying o.k. wake up now try to sit up i could hear 4 people talking all drugged up in the meantime i was sitting up crying wide awake saying get me my clothes i want to go home Now!. They would not even let me do that they had a nurse push on my belly to get some air out and it hurt like hell.

  Well i got outta there my husband freaked when i told him. If it was the Xanax they should have known or gave me somthing else to knock me out. I am going back in a month to this Doc. for my follow up to talk to him then going to find another GI. more like my old one to treat me from now on. Trust me i will be fully asleep next time and in a Hosp. not a clinic type GI office with a dozen other people.

  I am sorry yours was bad also but trust me my first was a breeze and did not even remember it. I like myself would be looking for another Doc. ASAP.

                                                                         YankeeKat.

Posted 10/17/2009 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Highly suggest you ask to be put totally under for your next one.  That's completely unfair and mean.

Posted 10/17/2009 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
If you were sedate did you have an IV?

I don't even know if I was sedated or out but I didn't feel a thing and I don't remember anything. I woke up from the procedure and felt like I was asleep for a full night.

Posted 10/17/2009 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have had aprox 12-13 colonoscopies in the last 15 years.I had one bad experience,it was either my first or second one.My doc gave me too much demorol and i was throwing up for quite a while after the exam was finished,i still have the same doc,he called me up at home that night to check up on me.The hospital where i had the exam[Winthrop-long island-New York] had one bathroom where the patients got undressed and dressed,the nurse was banging on the door for the next patient to use the bathroom.I was hugging the toilet and didn't care if the Pope needed the bathroom,I wasn't moving-i felt terrible for most of that day.I had one other exam where i woke up with the Anaconda[little joke] inside of me,but they knocked me out pretty quick.I would never want to be awake during an exam.I now have the exam in the doc's office-GOOD LUCK
Posted 10/17/2009 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Notsosicklygirl i had the IV. matter of fact they collapsed 2 veins that has never even happen to me before they kept shooting somthing in the IV. i was watching i was not working like i said she told me right there Your Xanax is making my stuff not work? Never heard of that before.
The fact they had the IV in i would thing they could have shot somthing in there to just knock me out but kept saying almost done !! well they kept going saying that till they were done about 20 min later of the worst pain i ever had. I will never be awake for one again. I still don't understand why they just did not knock me out rather than have me scream and hold me down? Thanks for the reply.
YankeeKat.
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