colonoscopy super scared

Hi everyone,

As some of you know I have had ruq pain together with my GERD for the past year. The dr. thinks it is worth it to do a colonoscopy for colon cancer given some other indicators I had, and I am super freaked out about it. I am struggling w/ GERD but it seems like the least of my worries now. If the colonoscopy comes back normal my diagnosis will likely be chronic functional abdominal pain, or I might push for a test for the gallbladder to see if I have biliary dykinesia.

Has anyone had a colonoscopy? I am really quite scared about the thought of them finding something and can't focus on my life at this point. My ruq pain has become permanent more or less this past week and just feeling it there and not knowing what it is, and knowing it has gotten worse over the past year, has me freaking out.

Of course the odds are in my favor and the dr. expects to find everything normal. I am hoping everything will be fine. Thanks to everyone here for their continued support. Has anyone had a colonoscopy? Is it bad? Thanks!

theacidrefluxman

i would counsel against worry

some cancers are very aggressive and fast growing... as most here know, esophageal cancer, when found, usually within a year most patients do not survive

not so with colon cancers which tend to be slower growing and not to be as aggressive

for example the follow up colonoscopy for a patient found to have one small polyp is 5 or more years

if you are mid 50s or older chances are significant that an adenoma will be found...and removed! an you will be non the worse for wear!

ive had my most recent coloscopy earlier this summer and my GI doc took a very large potentially dangerous growth out of me

i will have an accelerated management program due to higher risk level

the key here is get scoped early and,,, if need be,,, get scoped often

hang in there!

ps

i like mudmagnetmums idea that the pre-op fast and bowel prep may tell you something about you pain

Post Edited (mock turtle) : 8/31/2011 8:37:28 AM (GMT-6)

If you are a real authentic worrier the sedation you're under during the colonoscopy will be a wonderful break from your worry and fear and you'll feel great for several hours afterward.

I used to sweat the procedure but not anymore. It's just another notch on my belt so to speak. You're totally out, there is no after-pain and chances are you are perfectly fine.

And if you have no colon polyps at all then you're all set NOT to worry the next time you have the procedure done. Small polyps are very rarely cancerous and if they are their removal is the treatment for them.

I know it's hard but try not to worry.
It's a real waste of time.

Rita

Thank you all. Do you know if the colonoscopy would also find any infection or other causes of ruq pain aside from cancer? I know it can show crohns, but can it show infections? thanks!

I was worried before mine too but it was not that big a deal. I was unconscious and did not remember a thing. Just the way I like tests! The prep was a bigger deal than the test itself but I have heard a lot of people feel a lot better afterwards because the cleanse did them good. All the best to you and don't worry. Best to know than not to know.