Had my first colonoscopy today and it was a breeze!!!

[Antonia]

I turned 50 and so had to schedule a screening colonoscopy. I'm an RN of 29 years. Nurses hate being patients - even worse I work in the endoscopy dept where I had the procedure.

The prep was a breeze and I had no discomfort during the procedure. Did not use propofol for anesthesia. I'm too cheap to pay for anesthesia - just had Versed and Fentanyl given by the nurse. I don't even remember putting my clothes on.

Got home at 10:15 am - slept until 3 and now feel great. I encourage anyone to have a screening for early detection or prevention of colon cancer!

 

[eliza61]

I turned 50 and so had to schedule a screening colonoscopy. I'm an RN of 29 years. Nurses hate being patients - even worse I work in the endoscopy dept where I had the procedure.

The prep was a breeze and I had no discomfort during the procedure. Did not use propofol for anesthesia. I'm too cheap to pay for anesthesia - just had Versed and Fentanyl given by the nurse. I don't even remember putting my clothes on.

Got home at 10:15 am - slept until 3 and now feel great. I encourage anyone to have a screening for early detection or prevention of colon cancer!

Well I wouldn't call the prep a "breeze" and I definitely had the knock out drug but them I have a low tolerance for pain.

Afterward I was absolutely fine, hungry that's all.

Glad you got yours done. I'm with you on urging everyone who is due to get one done.

 

[TiggerTails57]

I watched and remember all of mine ............the prep was still can't drink crystal light lemonade (I mixed this with the prep)

 

[DISshopkeeper]

After losing a close friend who waited until he was 59 for his first, I had one at 49. That was 6 years ago and the most wonderful side benefit is that I am more "regular" than I have ever been in my whole life.

DO IT, people!!!

 

[Christine]

I would always recommend doing it but my experience was not a breeze.

First off, I think the fact that you are a nurse makes you immediately more relaxed in a medical "atmosphere". Many of us just can't get to that place because we are scared of hospitals and procedures to begin with.

I had the OsmoPrep pill prep which was a easy compared to the liquid. However, it has a very high sodium content and I was dying of thirst all night after I had finished the prep. It was like I had eaten an extremely salty ham dinner! Then we got hit with an ice storm and after I had prepped all night, the facility called and said they were closing. I called my doctor right away and he called me back and said that he would do the colonoscopy but I had to go to another facility that was open but 45 minutes way from me. That was fun. On ice. Feeling like I had to "go."

Got there, nurse had a devil of a time inserting the IV. Took a second nurse to get it in.

The doctor then said that they could not administer propofol because there was no anesthesiologist. So I had Versed, Fentynl, and Demerol. Lots of it because I would not go under. I was awake for most of the procedure.

Felt okay when I left but was sick as a dog for 24 hours because of all the Demerol. The doctor had to call in an antinausea med so I could stop dry heaving.

It was not easy for me at all. But I agree that you should have it done no matter what.

I'm glad it was so easy for you, OP. I hope my second one goes more like yours.

 

[crz4mm2]

Congrats

I had mine two weeks ago.
Prep was a bear..... (not really the b word I was wanting).
Procedure was a piece of cake. Had propofol (and LOVED it!). Was wide awake leaving the room, had a diet pepsi and out the door to lunch

 

[Robinrs]

I turned 50 and so had to schedule a screening colonoscopy. I'm an RN of 29 years. Nurses hate being patients - even worse I work in the endoscopy dept where I had the procedure.

The prep was a breeze and I had no discomfort during the procedure. Did not use propofol for anesthesia. I'm too cheap to pay for anesthesia - just had Versed and Fentanyl given by the nurse. I don't even remember putting my clothes on.

Got home at 10:15 am - slept until 3 and now feel great. I encourage anyone to have a screening for early detection or prevention of colon cancer!

REALLY want to know what prep you used... breeze? I wish!!

 

[MIGrandma]

DH and I were both 51 when we had our first ones, so will probably have our second ones in another year, if they are still recommending 5 years between them.

I wouldn't call my prep a "breeze" but the actual procedure was. I just had demerol and it put me right out, but I woke up easily afterward and did remember getting dressed to go home. DH was harder to wake up after his and didn't remember much.

 

[Poohforyou]

I had to have an emergency one 2 years ago after having some issues. I still had to go thru the prep and that was awful. I barely could get the stuff down and keep it down. The procedure itself was a breeze.

 

[disfan07]

I'm 22 and just had one about a month ago and I have to say....pretty easy. But thats pretty easy compared to a craniotomy, a liver biopsy, a bronchoscopy and a pelvic laparoscopy.

The prep actually wasn't that bad for me either. The worst pasrt was not being able to eat for like 2 days before hand.

For the procedure, I had propofol and versed. I have to have an anesthesiologist...no choice...so luckily our insurance covered it becasue its medically necessary. Apparently I went out very quickly but they had a lot of trouble keeping me under. My GI was amazed at the amount of anesthesia that I required. Apparently, that is why I always have problems....they require a LOT of anesthesia for me, but I have asthma and a heart problem so it complicates things.

 

[ols386]

I would always recommend doing it but my experience was not a breeze.

First off, I think the fact that you are a nurse makes you immediately more relaxed in a medical "atmosphere". Many of us just can't get to that place because we are scared of hospitals and procedures to begin with.

I had the OsmoPrep pill prep which was a easy compared to the liquid. However, it has a very high sodium content and I was dying of thirst all night after I had finished the prep. It was like I had eaten an extremely salty ham dinner! Then we got hit with an ice storm and after I had prepped all night, the facility called and said they were closing. I called my doctor right away and he called me back and said that he would do the colonoscopy but I had to go to another facility that was open but 45 minutes way from me. That was fun. On ice. Feeling like I had to "go."

Got there, nurse had a devil of a time inserting the IV. Took a second nurse to get it in.

The doctor then said that they could not administer propofol because there was no anesthesiologist. So I had Versed, Fentynl, and Demerol. Lots of it because I would not go under. I was awake for most of the procedure.

Felt okay when I left but was sick as a dog for 24 hours because of all the Demerol. The doctor had to call in an antinausea med so I could stop dry heaving.

It was not easy for me at all. But I agree that you should have it done no matter what.

I'm glad it was so easy for you, OP. I hope my second one goes more like yours.

Sorry you had a tough time with your experience.

I hear some folks say that their experience was easy, and others who say it was not easy and very unpleasant.

I know I need to have one, but I'm really nervous about it, for some reason. I've had a few surgeries, so I've had some experience with hospitals and procedures, but this procedures really makes me nervous thinking about it.

Each year when I go in for my annual physical at my doc's office, they always tell me I need to have it done. I guess I'm just going to have to suck it up and do it.

Glad your procedure went well, op.

 

[fireflymedic]

it that dang stuff they make you drink the night before. and then the day of the procedure. It made me through up. the only thing I'v ever drank that tasted better comming up than going down.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

sure it was a breeze....she prob created several breezes as she tore off to the bathroom! lol

i have crohns(since age of 15) and while i dont mind going through the procedure, i think its kinda cool to watch, but the prep, i agree with the others, nasty!!! and trying to get stuck with the iv the next day at the hospital is always great fun! my veins are bad and so bruised from monthly blood draws they look like a junkies.

op, glad your scope went well!

 

[disfan07]

sure it was a breeze....she prob created several breezes as she tore off to the bathroom! lol

i have crohns(since age of 15) and while i dont mind going through the procedure, i think its kinda cool to watch, but the prep, i agree with the others, nasty!!! and trying to get stuck with the iv the next day at the hospital is always great fun! my veins are bad and so bruised from monthly blood draws they look like a junkies.

op, glad your scope went well!

I know the feeling! We joke that my name has been red listed by the IV nurses at my hospital. It is also marked on my chart that student nurses are not allowed to do my IVs! I just recently spent 6 days in the hospital and I had to have 6 IVs (a new one about every 24 hours!).

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

I know the feeling! We joke that my name has been red listed by the IV nurses at my hospital. It is also marked on my chart that student nurses are not allowed to do my IVs! I just recently spent 6 days in the hospital and I had to have 6 IVs (a new one about every 24 hours!).

ow!!! i wont ever let a student nurse near me to to an iv. but i don't think its ever come up as an issue. any time for monthly draws, my remicade infusions or anything else i warn them i have bad veins. last scope it took 3 times from the first nurse, and finally another got it in on the fourth try. my remicade nurses dread seeing me come in! lol but they are great in letting me get it in my elbow vs my hand since the skin is so thick there.

 

[DeaverTex]

I wish y'all hadn't posted this. I've been putting off a colonoscopy for ages now. I guess I oughta get it over with, but I'm NOT looking forward to the prep.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Congrats

I had mine two weeks ago.
Prep was a bear..... (not really the b word I was wanting).
Procedure was a piece of cake. Had propofol (and LOVED it!). Was wide awake leaving the room, had a diet pepsi and out the door to lunch

I had mine fairly soon after MJ died and I said to the nurse ...NOw do not "Michael Jackson" me. WE both laughed but it did cross my mind. However I do understand how he could get used to that drug b/c it was a very nice feeling and I have never taken drugs in my life.

 

[Minnesota!]

Had my first 2 years ago - shortly after my 32nd birthday. I was very nervous for the whole thing...but found it super easy. The prep was nothing - I kept waiting for that "I have to go NOW" rush to the bathroom...never came. I don't remember quantities, but I know I had to drink a huge pitcher of gatorade mixed with some stuff, then a bottle of something, and the next morning one more bottle. Never any discomfort.

They put an IV in my hand in case I needed pain meds, but I never did, and I was fully alert and watched my whole procedure on the screen in front of me. No pain, no discomfort.

I would do it again without hesitation if needed.

GET IT DONE those of you scared. This simple test would have saved my dad's life...instead he died a very painful death at the young age of 51.

 

[Andtototoo]

I would much rather have a colonoscopy than a mammogram.

 

[ols386]

I would much rather have a colonoscopy than a mammogram.

Really?

I just had a mammogram yesterday and didn't think it was a big deal at all.

I guess we all have different things that bother us.