WOW! Colonoscopy problems

In most cases they put you out entirely, except for the diehards who don't want to do that. I'm surprised they didn't do that to you.

My first ever colonoscopy, during a huge flare, was messed up like yours with unbearable pain, and presumably grossly deficient sedation. A trainee or simply poorly skilled scooe operator can also induce excess pain by forcing the scope around bends instead of patiently working their way through. So sorry you had to experience that-- next time emphasize you'd like to be out altogether, or at least not feel a thing, i.e. You want all the good stuff and happy juice.

They could have given you a bit more fentanyl. I prefer to be awake with meds. The last time, I only wanted a small amount of Versed and the normal fentanyl...but around the curves, it was extremely painful. Don't know why exactly, maybe I need a tad more Versed to relax.

Did you at least watch the monitor? Makes it so worth the experience..lol.

q

Oh gosh! That is awful. I am literally out the second they start the sedation and never remember a thing.

My first colonoscopy I experienced horrendous abdominal pain during the procedure (was in a flare). I have since then, had probably 6 colonoscopies with two other GIs, all of which I do not remember a thing after the 2nd IV syringe (not sure what they give you).

Sorry to hear that your experience was a negative one. Tell your doctor you feel that you were not given the correct medications, or quantities of such medications for such a procedure. I always ask my GI to 'knock me out completely' as I am scared to have another painful experience, and they seem happy to oblige.

Being 'sedated' is always a strange experience for me. I can feel the drugs take affect for a few seconds, then POW -- nothing.

garylouisville said...
This is actually kind of scary because it makes you wonder if they can screw up this badly by not giving you enough sedation, how simple would it be to screw up and give you too much sedation?

Thats why anaesthesiologists are amoung the highest (if not the highest) paid doctors : p Its a tough job for sure

I have only had one scope, and it went well, with a slight bit of pain afterwards, but for some daft reason I decided to have a glass of red wine to relax me, I thought I deserved it, needed it, mistake! that was the first and only time I found myself writhing around in agony with UC.. I think you were unfortunate to say the least, and I would imagine the next one will be different, so I hope it has not completely put you off, as your experience is not the norm.

You are all so amazing to take the time to respond and support me.

Honestly, I'm not doing that well. Physically, I'm pretty fine- some bloating and occasional pain, and a bit of a hangover feeling from the drugs. But I'm a mess psychologically.

I think this experience was the epitome of the crap-tacular last couple of years.

I was diagnosed in pregnancy, as you know. Got prednisone; made the baby distressed so emergency delivery and baby in NICU for a short time. When the GI fellow sat on the edge of my bed and discussed the possible side effects of the pred with a smirk on her face, she neglected to tell me it could be risky for baby. I started to lose trust in the doctors then.

After delivery, symptoms were out of control. On the toilet every half hour and always while I was nursing the baby (the same hormone surge that let out milk caused some intestinal motility too). They tried 5-ASA and I was terribly ill with nausea and vomiting. I didn't want pred. Couldn't breastfeed and have Imuran or biological, and mesalamines made me sicker. I decided to just wait and rest and take back my life as best I could. A year passed and while I was flaring, I was happy to not feel the frustration and disruption of constant ineffective attempts with meds. The GI doc was irritated with me for not taking meds that made me sicker, but I took my kids to Disneyland!

Suddenly started to feel better about a month ago and thought it would be a good time to see the GI again to see how things were. Saw a new doc, who wanted to do a scope and assured me it would be "Mild Discomfort." From my post, you see how things went.

I am discouraged. I feel like just another body, especially since I'm at a hospital that is one of the main research facility for IBD in Canada. Sometimes I think they don't give a crap about anything but the biopsy they can add to their data bank. I hate waiting, missing time with my kids because everyone else's time is more important than mine. I hate paying $35!!!! for prep, just to suffer with drinking it and the after-effects and the fasting and paying for a babysitter and paying for parking and my husband not getting paid because he HAS to be there to drive me (a cab is not good enough apparently). I hate that this disease will be a part of the history of my children's young lives, and that my 4 year old knows about "red poop." I hate it all.

I feel like I can't even trust the doctor to tell me when something is going to hurt. Even the dentist warns me that something will hurt, and that is 100 times less painful that what I endured. I just want to say "forget it" and not bother with any more blood tests, TB tests, dr appnts, scopes, or anything, and just let whatever happens happen. I am so done with the &^%$! medical system with the uncaring machinery just spitting me out like I don't matter.

So, more than I meant to write but I think I needed to get it out there. Thank you for listening.