Endoscopy AND Colonoscopy SAME TIME

[teacups]

Anyone have any words of wisdom to share with someone who has to go in for this/these in two weeks? I'm shakin' in my shoes!!!!! Fear of the procedure, the medication, them screwing up, what they will find, if life will change after the results, worry about my kids, total embarrasment of having this done, etc. Crud, this sucks. Anyone else feel all this?

 

[hiwaygal]

I've had the endoscopy...about two months ago. I was all freaked about it too, but it really wasn't bad at all.

I did wake up during mine, but there was no pain and only a very slight discomfort in my throat.

If I had to do it again, I wouldn't be hesitant...it's really not bad at all.

The other one? Sorry...haven't done that so I can't share anything on that.

Good luck with both of them! It will be fine!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Did it....I thank God everyday. They found a precancerous polyp.

While I was sitting there freaking out waiting with my DH, doing what you are doing.... the news came on and said Dana Reeve had died from cancer.
I knew why I was doing it.

{{{HUGS}}}

You will not believe the relief you will have. Good Luck!

 

[Andy B]

I have had both and although not at the same time and not pleasant I don't get why you would be embarrassed.

 

[laurie31]

No experience from your end (no pun intended, I swear!) but where I work, these procedures are done together all the time. People don't seem to have any problems with them. Better to get it over with at once (especially the prep!). Don't be embarrassed. It's just another day at the office to the people performing the procedures. Do let them know you're anxious, though. They should give you some nice drugs

I hope you get good results and don't have to wait too long for them!

 

[Momof2princess]

I had both of these done at the same time last year...and like you, I was scared to death. Once it was done..it was over. They put the IV in and off to dream land I went, and I never woke up during the whole procedure. If you have any concerns I would talk to your Dr. about them and he/she can ease your mind....

I am sure you will be fine.

 

[Banshee]

I have never had it done, but my friends 10 year old DD had it done last year. She was nervous but the adults were freaking (not in front of her) She was fine she said nothing hurt or was sore she woke up and said hum, no big deal! Dont worry have a positive attitude and it will work out fine. Hey are those leopard app's your's? I have been looking for a leopard mare.

 

[stargrazer]

I had both of these done at the same time last year...and like you, I was scared to death. Once it was done..it was over. They put the IV in and off to dream land I went, and I never woke up during the whole procedure. If you have any concerns I would talk to your Dr. about them and he/she can ease your mind....

I am sure you will be fine.

Ditto. AND they found a polyp and cut it out.

Totally worth it - the 'cleaning you out' before the procedure (at home) is much worse than the procedure!!!

 

[Laura]

I had these done at the same time in February. The prep is the most unpleasant part; try to get cleansing wipes for your tushie and very soft toilet paper. If you drink the laxative instead of pills, get a straw and stick the end toward the back of your mouth so you don't taste as much.

You will wake up feeling super duper happy after the procedure. I got Versed and Demerol; they told me they were giving me the drugs, and after about 5 seconds I thought, "I'm feeling sleepy" and the next thing I know I'm being wheeled to the car. Make sure you have stuff that's easy to eat after the procedure and isn't too hot; they will spray your throat with some stuff to numb it. You probably won't be able to eat until a couple of hours later. But that was okay by me, because I needed a nap.

They found nothing, BTW, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Acid Reflux.

Before the procedure, I was sitting there on the bed with DH. On the wall was a diagram of a normal digestive system with all the organs labeled, etc. Next to it was a similar diagram with every kind of digestive system disorder and disease. Lovely!

I know you're nervous, but you will feel soooooo much better after you know what (if anything) is going on in there. It's a great feeling of relief.

 

[DJT]

I had both done in September 2006. I had a great doctor. When we were scheduling it, I told him I was a wimp. He told me that was okay, he had good stuff for wimps. Prior to the procedures, the "stuff" I drank wasn't that bad at all and believe me, I really AM a wimp. When I was in the operating room, I reminded him that I was a wimp. He showed me two shots and said, "Do you know what these are?" I, of course, said no and he told me they were wimp juice. That's really the last I remember. When I woke up, everything was finished and I was just fine. He did a biopsy of the lining of my stomach while doing the scope because he said it was red and inflamed. Turns out I had H Pyloria Bacteria for which I had to take huge doses of antibiotics.

I was just so afraid before I had those two procedures done. Now that I've been through it, if I was told I had to have it done again next week, I wouldn't have a problem with it at all.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah - not sure if you have to "clean out" for the endoscopy or just not eat before it, but the prep for the colonoscopy is the worst part (thanks heavens - that part is done in the privacy of your own home!)

And, like Laurie said - the people who work at these places do them everyday - no big deal to them!

 

[Yensid Srevol]

I had them both done at the same time a few years ago and it went fine. At my doctor's office, they call it "The Spin" because they spin the table around when they're done at one end. I just told my doctor to make sure if he started "south" that he change scopes!!!!!

I had polyps in my colon and in my stomach. They cut them out of my colon but only removed one in my stomach because they were the type that will bleed heavily (called "hyperplastic polyps").

I agree with stargrazer -- the clean out is far worse than the procedure!!!!

You should do fine....good luck with it!

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I worked the OR/GI Lab....we called it a "flossing". I've literally had people on the way back to their room ask me when the procedure was going to start then be when I told them it was over.
And I agree with a previous poster who said, tell them you're anxious....you get good drugs that way.
Good luck.

 

[nbodyhome]

I agree - prep was the worst!!! I have had a very hard time with the preps - but once given drugs for the colonoscopy, I've been happy.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I had both done at the same time and because of my age (19) and my tendency of panic attacks they knocked me out under general anesteshia instead of the normal sedation.

 

[DVC-Don]

My wife has these both done on the same day at Massachusetts General Hospital every year. It's a 3+ hour ride to get there so she wants both done at the same time. We go the night before, do the prep at a hotel. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

 

[Christine]

I had both procedures done in February. I did have some trouble "going under" but still, it was all quite easy.

The anxiety beforehand and the prep are the worst parts.

 

[JunieJay]

I just had an endoscopy today!! Totally painless. I feel fine, the same as I do days where I don't have surgery. No worries!!

Good luck!

 

[Gurgi]

Anyone have any words of wisdom to share with someone who has to go in for this/these in two weeks? I'm shakin' in my shoes!!!!! Fear of the procedure, the medication, them screwing up, what they will find, if life will change after the results, worry about my kids, total embarrasment of having this done, etc. Crud, this sucks. Anyone else feel all this?

Well, I haven't had either of those but I had a laproscopy 2 weeks ago and I'm GLAD that I did! I went in to have scar tissue removed from my right fallopian tubes, and during the hysterscopy (the camera search), my doctor had found lots of endometriosis, polyps, a cyst on my left ovary...but more shocking, my left ovary and tube had collapsed and were fused to the BACK of my UTERUS!

If I didn't have the laproscopy done for the scar tissue, I never would have known and probably seriously messed up my chances of ever having kids.

 

[Disney Doll]

I had them both at the same time. Got all drugged up, didn't feel or remember a thing.

And I am a nurse, so I see the guy who scoped me all the time. We just laugh and I tell him he has seen more of me than my husband has!