Coloscopy on Friday

Hey I'm getting a coloscopy done on Friday. I admit I'm a little scared. I had a full coloscopy done a few years ago (I don't even remember the year) and other than that I've had only two rectoscopies. So I'm pretty nervous and anxious about how they put me to sleep and all that. I don't want to feel anything nor wake up. Also I'm afraid what will happen when I'm done. I keep reading stories that people having problems after.

Colonoscopy is a safe procedure. Like kazbern, stop reading the stories! If you are concerned about the sedation, ask for some details. In the 10 or so colonoscopies I've had, I have been sedated with propofol, and not completely put under as you would be for a surgery, but I have never woken up or felt anything whatsoever during the procedure. I believe propofol sedation is the most common way of preparing the patient, but ask your GI what he does so you know.
And I think anyone here will tell you that it is the prep that is the worst part, the part most people dread, not the actual procedure. But you have done this before so you know that first hand.
Don't be scared, you'll be just fine.

What is this with prep...you don't need to prep anymore, just fast for a day and thats it. The second time I had the colono...I just fasted, went in, and they sprayed my colon when they needed to check.

Shouldn't feel a thing and when you wake up you are bit groggy and feel bloated and like you need to pass gas.

Somedude-three years ago when I had my colonscopy I was told if I wasn't cleaned out enough they wouldn't do the scope. I don't know how you get away with just fasting the day before. Wish it was that easy.

A good endoscopist will suction out whatever air gets pumped in during the c-scope, which eliminates bloating. Best wishes for your procedure to go smoothly, and let us know how you're doing. Take it easy and pamper yourself for a few days afterward. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

I have never been completely out- I ask them to just make sure I am giddily happy and groggy- between the time acceleration effect of the happy juice and watching the procedure on the monitor, it now feels like 7 minutes to me for a 30 minute procedure. I end up saying some silly things as I watch, I think, but they are used to that. For me the post biopsy pain, after all the sedatives wear off, is the worst part. I dont really mind the prep that much (I chug those foul tasting 10 oz cupfulls of that crxp quickly each time) but I need tons of biopsies and that really hurts like hell the day after. If yours is a first scope, then the number of biopsies is small and it wont hurt much, by contrast. I dont really feel any pain during the procedure except a bit of mild cramping and a sting during each biopsy that feels no worse than a sharp mosquito bite- the mildness of the pain is due to all the propofol and valium. You can ask ti be kmocked out but then the recovery room time is much longer and you miss the fun of watching it on the monitor. I wish I could have a DVD to keep- for liability reasons they are chicken to do that. If you are awake and feel pain, speak up right away in no uncertain terms- they can pump in more sedative almost instantly for that. They should also warn you when a more uncomfortable stretch comes as they work around tight bends.

Post Edited (Probiotic) : 5/1/2012 8:12:15 PM (GMT-6)

Do I have to be afraid that my gut flora will get damaged?

quincy said...
no....try not to imagine all sorts of bad stuff.
I`m nicely drugged but prefer to be awake and watch the monitor..well worth the show.

q

I would love to see the monitor too but... doesn't that hurt? And how long does the procedure take?

I had my first colonoscopy last year and am typically a very nervous patient. I was terrified but everything went smoothly. The prep tastes yucky but even that wasn't bad. I had mine done in the office with medication. They used versid and demerol. I had no problems. As soon as the procedure was done, I was awake and my husband drove me home. I had no memory of the colonoscopy and felt totally fine-no nausea, cramping, bleeding, etc...

Quincy-you're very brave. I've had 3 babies with no epidural, meds or anesthesia but there is no way in hell I could do any scope awake. I even told my GI there is no way he'll ever do a flex sig on me awake. lol!

Good luck Andrina!

I was on my period for my last c-scope, and I honestly don't remember what they had me do! I know I had a tampon in, because that's what I always wear, but don't remember if they had me take it out or not. Don't worry about making a mistake - this has to happen a lot, so just let them know when they're doing all the check-in stuff (temp, BP, etc) and they'll tell you what they want you to do.

Alright I'm done with my first half of preparation. Tomorrow morning I'll do the second half.

That's not a given that you're screwed, so don't give up hope yet. Pretty much all grocery stores and such (Walmart, Target, K-Mart, etc) sell the fleet enemas - they don't have to come from an actual pharmacy and they are sold over the counter. Besides, you might be cleaned out enough anyway. Is there anyone who will go pick some up for you? How were you going to get to and from the scope w/o someone to drive you?

In this case, since it's a semi-emergency, I think it's ok to call, wake her up, and ask her to do you a favor. You'd do the same for her, right?