Colonoscopy scheduled..hints?? suggestions???

[JessicaR]

The happy medicine makes it all easy. My doc looks like JFK Jr., and I had NO concerns about seeing himm in the procedure room dressed in nothing but a sheet!

This really made me laugh. I kept thinking the happy medicine made your doc look like JFK Jr dressed in a sheet! I did have to read that a few times before I got it!

 

[Kitty 34]

I will be having my first one either this spring or summer. Haven't made the appt yet. You guys are making me feel better but I'm sure I'll start a panic thread before mine!!!!! Good luck OP!!

 

[floridafam]

I always wear something comfortable to wear home. The pill prep is much better than the liquid stuff.

I get intense pain in my right shoulder after each procedure but it goes away with an hour or two.

The actual procedure is a peice of cake.

Best of luck to you.

 

[disdanny]

I get intense pain in my right shoulder after each procedure

Your doctor is way too ambitious!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I get them often - I have Crohn's Disease.

My biggest advice? Liquid only diet for a couple days prior. Makes that prep a piece of cake! SOOOOOOOO worth it. I recommend this to anyone I know and they always thank me later =)

Buy cleaning cloths since it can get sensitive back there after a few hours (esp if you don't do liquid only!)

Procedure is nothing to worry about - it's over before you realize it. I always eat immediately after without problems and no lingering affects, though I never remember eating

Have someone drive you home, you'll likely sleep the rest off in the afternoon and be back to normal by dinner.

 

[Robinrs]

Don't you sometimes wonder what makes a doctor decide that this is the view of his patients that he wants to make a caREER of?

I never thought to ASK BUTt maybe I should....

 

[Cool-Beans]

Almost always, the night before is harder on the person than the procedure or anything after the procedure.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Tell the person that will be taking you that when you wake up from the sedative you will repeat yourself. ALOT.

I had to take both my DSis and DH (different times of course) for colonscopies. In the recovery room my DSis would wake up and say something .... fall asleep .... wake up and say the same thing .... and over and over again. Same with DH. I don't remember what my DSis was saying but I do remember that my DH kept saying (slurred speech) "That nurse is HOT and I had to show my butt".

 

[smphbear]

32 - my first was last year. I had the pills because I told the Dr. I was worried about my sensitive gag reflex.

One suggestion that helped - my dr. recommended starting a few hours earlier than the "must start" time for the prep. I found that even with the pills, my stomach became very full. Starting early allowed me to slow down a little so I wouldn't get sick and undo the prep.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I've got a few years to go before I have to go for my first but already I've been anxious enough to discuss it with my Dr. She has assured me that even though I have a history of waking up during surgery, they will medicate me enough that it won't happen. They just need to be forwarned.
Also, not to be too personal, but hey it's the Dis, has anyone who's had this done had a history of childhood sexual abuse? Because my major fear is mental trauma. Does that make sense? I really don't want to relive anything, even when I'm out cold. I don't want to come out of a colonoscopy having to re-do 5 years of therapy!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I agree with everything said here. I have had 2 and couldn't get the prep liquid in either time. I have a terrible gag reflex so I had to do laxitives.

They will put you out for the procedure and you won't remember a thing. Worst part of all that was getting the IV since I hate needles (and I fainted at that part for one of them) FYI, if you faint when they are trying to do the IV they STOP and wake you up before they try again. Man was I disappointed, I woke up from fainting and thought the whole procedure was over, only to find out that darn needle was still not in my hand!

The other worst part was that you will need to "pass gas" from the air that is introduced during the procedure. I get very embarassed about that so make sure you have a good enough friend/family member that you can be comfortable about tooting in the recovery room and on the way home.

Oh, after the first one I was in an big recovery area with the beds surrounded by curtains. All you could hear was low voices and "BRAAAAP" "FSSST" "HOOOONK" and other lovely noises as wind was passed by all the patients. DH nicknamed recovery the "Toot Suite" !

Good luck and DO NOT CANCEL. I am the worlds biggest chicken and if I can live through it 2x (I am only 38) you can too. Think of your family when you feel scared-- they want you around and healthy for another 20-30 years. One simple procedure can make the difference -- and you are doing it.

 

[momrek06]

I had one in Feb. Prep was a pain as everyone here has said. Procedure was not bad at all as you are completely out. Recovery, I became very nauseous from the after effects of the meds they used for the procedure. I was given meds (Compazine) and started feeling better. I was not allowed to drink anything after midnight so by the time the exam was over (10am) I was so dehydrated I had a really bad headache. Took one Excedrin when I got home and felt much better. Did not work that day. Slept off and on.

Make sure you start back eating and get fiber in your system. Someone suggested Benefiber...great idea.

Good luck, OP, this is an important procedure esp. for everyone over the age of 50yo.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Relax!

 

[LadyyRedd]

I woke up in the middle of mine and asked for a copy of the picture and went back to sleep. I still have the picture of my colon! I'd post it for you, but no nude pictures allowed on the DIS.

Kimya

 

[floridafam]

Tell the person that will be taking you that when you wake up from the sedative you will repeat yourself. ALOT.

You are so right. I would have them put tape over my mouth if I could. My Dh does this great impersonation of me when I'm under anesthesia. I talk in a whisper and repeat myself over and over again with my eyes half open. He said that I must have asked him 50 times how our kids were after my last colonoscopy.

I can't wait until he has to get one. I'm going to videotape it.

I'm so happy to see that so many people are getting this test. It is so easy and can save lives.

FYI-there was an article circulating recently about Doctors now looking for flat growths in the colon in addition to polyps. I'm definately going to ask my Dr. about this before I'm due for my next colonoscopy.

 

[acadia1960]

I had to drink a gallon of delightful lemon-lime (came with several different flavor packets) dish detergent like solution. What helped me was starting the prep 1 hour earlier, and drinking 8oz every 20 minutes, instead of every 10 minutes as directed. Also after every 8oz, I would have a few sips of gingerale, this really helped to keep the nausea down. Use baby wipes instead of tp, helps alot.

 

[manning]

The fun part is the recovery area.

Noisiest place you will ever hear.


A pfft pfft here, a pfft pfft there, everywhere a pfft pfft.

One guy let one go for about 10 seconds. The nurse says out loud "I think we got a record here"

They pump air into your colon.

 

[douglisa]

I rather enjoyed myself. JK LOL

 

[themarquis]

I had to drink a gallon of delightful lemon-lime (came with several different flavor packets) dish detergent like solution. What helped me was starting the prep 1 hour earlier, and drinking 8oz every 20 minutes, instead of every 10 minutes as directed. Also after every 8oz, I would have a few sips of gingerale, this really helped to keep the nausea down.

Lol ... I was the same way ... I kept trying to find a good beverage to drink after the nasty liquid. I started with soda/juice ... but it didn't quite quell the nausea. Finally, for some reason I don't understand, I settled on broth -- strong beef broth -- and took a few sips every time I drank the lemon-lime crap. For some reason, the strong salty flavor really distracted me from the nastiness of the lemon-lime liquid! I worried the whole time I would gag or vomit. Fortunately, I didn't.

It astounds me that the major problem most people have is dealing with the liquid, but yet doctors don't generally offer the alternative! Grrr....

 

[Sleepy]

I've got a few years to go before I have to go for my first but already I've been anxious enough to discuss it with my Dr. She has assured me that even though I have a history of waking up during surgery, they will medicate me enough that it won't happen. They just need to be forwarned.
Also, not to be too personal, but hey it's the Dis, has anyone who's had this done had a history of childhood sexual abuse? Because my major fear is mental trauma. Does that make sense? I really don't want to relive anything, even when I'm out cold. I don't want to come out of a colonoscopy having to re-do 5 years of therapy!

I bolded the portion I feel needs to be stressed. This is my best advice. I am sorry for what you went through as a child . I never went through anything like that, but I can say for me, the colonoscopy was something that never happened. The prep on the other hand was like hell....lol. The procedure---I was given enough meds that I never woke up during the procedure. I was out cold. I remember it took about 30 seconds or less to be knocked completely out. I remember being wheeled to the procedure room (about 10 steps from my pre/post room) and seeing the clock on the wall and thinking my focus was "off", then I was completely out! I woke up well after when I was already back in the pre/post room and I heard people talking. It was my hubby and the doc and nurse. To be honest, what REALLY woke me up was my intense need to release gas. I never felt like I "had something up there", if that makes you feel better. I never had even the least bit of discomfort post procedure. It's like I went into the hospital, took a nap and then went home. This is just my experience. Others may have different post procedure experience. I know it will be difficult, but just go in there with the attitide that you are having a medical procedure done and that everything will be ok.