Hi tummywoes,
I'm the chicken who started this thread
but let me tell you the colonoscopy was nothing! It was so easy! I didn't feel a thing.
Maybe I can help to alleviate your fears, because I know exactly how you feel, and it's a rough awful feeling to be that scared. True, the prep night isn't fun, but it is doable. It's not all THAT bad.
I had to drink a full glass of the prep and 2 glasses of water, all within an hour and then repeat the process in another 4 hours. Is that what you're doing? I know there is a prep where you take a bunch of tablets just once. I wanted to do that, but I have trouble swallowing pills and they were pretty big, but if you can do the pills, ask your doctor about
doing those instead, maybe, if you're worried about
the liquid.
As I said, I did have to drink down everything within an hour, and I did it so fast to be over with, that I still had like 20 minutes left. I should have drunk it slower cause I did feel it was going to come back up, but I just deep some deep breathing and relaxed and the feeling passed.
The morning of my test, I took a xanax with a small, very small sip of water. Just enough to get it down. Since it was 3 hours before the scope, they didn't give me another one at the hospital. I was anxious, that's normal, but they wheeled me in and the doctor and anesthesiologist talked to me. Everyone was very gentle and explained everything they were going to do. I wear a hormone patch and they even asked about
that, since I had it listed. They'll want a list of your meds. So they are very thorough, they know what they're doing. It's routine for them, not for us though
They asked me to roll onto my left side and told me I'd feel a little bit of a burning sensation when they put the sleepy time medication in my IV which was on the top of my hand. It stung, not too bad, for like, 2 seconds, and then I felt myself drift to sleep. I woke up in the recovery room with nurses calling my name trying to wake me. I couldn't believe it was over and I'd worried for so long about
it. It was easier than I thought it could be. I even said to my husband who was there, that I thought I was asleep at home and was so confused!
So, you see, you'll be fine, you really will be! And after you're done, you'll be so happy you did it!
As far as the shelf life of the xanax, I don't know how long they are good. You should ask the pharmacist. And if you need newer xanax, if I were you, I would actually walk into my doctors office and get a script
because it will help you.
I took one every 4 hours the day before my scope and like I said, one in the morning when I woke up. Try to relax. I've been where you are. I got by like I said, with my xanax, and with the help of the wonderful people here, and journaling. I wrote down all my fears, etc., and it's kinda cool to read it now. To see where I was at, emotionally, and then to read what I wrote afterwards, how proud I was of myself to have faced my fears!
Let us know how you do, but I have NO doubt you will do fine! Don't be like me and cancel 2 times before finally having to have it done anyway. Best to have it over with and move on knowing you're healthy.
I have horrible IBS and a lot of the symptoms you have too. Let me tell you, it's so nice to not have to worry when I feel those symptoms. I'll have a bad day and think, well, the doctor just went in there and I know at least it's just my crazy IBS acting up!
It's like those commercials ya know, like, prep test $60.00 Colonoscopy $1000.00, Peace of Mind - PRICELESS!
