If you have had an endo & colonoscopy how was it for you? Update: Post #40

[OceanAnnie]

I have them scheduled and I'm pretty nervous about it. I have had stomach issues since summer. Hoping to get a diagnosis.

Ugh. Not a pleasant thought at all. Scary in fact.

Anything you could share about your experience would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

[Pakey]

I have them scheduled and I'm pretty nervous about it. I have had stomach issues since summer. Hoping to get a diagnosis.

Ugh. Not a pleasant thought at all. Scary in fact.

Anything you could share about your experience would be helpful.

Thanks.

The prep is the only bad part. The procedure itself is easier than going to the dentist IMO.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The prep is the only bad part. The procedure itself is easier than going to the dentist IMO.

Thank you and thank goodness.

How are you doing now? I remember you had quite a time of it. I hope things are better for you now.

 

[StacyMarie]

The only thing bad was the prep. The procedure itself was a walk in the park

 

[arminnie]

Procedure is nothing. I've had multiple endos and 2 colonoscopies. First c. I accidentally took one more dose of "prep". For the second c. I did it exactly right - only complication was that did not clean things out enough. So I have to do it again next year (as opposed to 5-10 years) and have a 2 day prep.

Hardest part after the prep - making sure you have a ride home.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The only thing bad was the prep. The procedure itself was a walk in the park

I need it to be a walk in the park! Thank you!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Procedure is nothing. I've had multiple endos and 2 colonoscopies. First c. I accidentally took one more dose of "prep". For the second c. I did it exactly right - only complication was that did not clean things out enough. So I have to do it again next year (as opposed to 5-10 years) and have a 2 day prep.

Hardest part after the prep - making sure you have a ride home.

How did you feel afterwards? Was there a long down time?

 

[cybrkitn]

I agree about the prep before it. I had to drink an 8 oz glass of Colate every 10 minutes (eventually drinking a whole gallon) to clean out my system My stomach couldn't handle that much fluid and evenutally everything came back up. So there went that idea.

I did have the colonoscopy done the next day and was in twilight for the whole thing. The actual procedure was easy.

 

[StacyMarie]

How did you feel afterwards? Was there a long down time?

After the procedure, I was hungry, REALLY REALLLY hungry. I ate when I got home and then I crawled into bed to sleep off the rest of the medications. I think I took a 4-hour nap, LOL. After that, I felt completely normal and fine. You will be fine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The prep is the only bad part. The procedure itself is easier than going to the dentist IMO.

Agree.

I just had my second colonscopy a couple of months ago (no endo) this time.

The best thing about getting it done is that you went through with it. I think the anxiety of not knowing if you have serious issue is worse!

I had my first colonoscopy/endoscopy at 41. I insisted on the colonoscopy since I was already going to be out. I mean why not? I have had digestive issues my whole life. Turns out I had precancerous polyps. Yep, gastro told me that I was lucky to have insisted. I probably saved my life.

Of course I had the follow up recently at age 45. Yep, another polyp removal however not a serious one, thank goodness.

DO I HATE IT? Yep. However getting colon cancer is not something I want to deal with if I can prevent it easily through reg. colonoscopies.

 

[bonoriffic]

With multiple stomach problems eventually leading to surgery, I've been scoped dozens of times. As others have said, the prep for the colonoscopy is the worst part of it. The endo part is quite easy, and other than a slightly sore throat afterwards wasn't a big deal.

I've "woken" up during the colonoscopy and watched, no big deal. I've become lucid during an endo and that isn't any fun. The apparatus in your mouth is not pleasant if you aren't drugged. I've also had them push Demerol and have it not be enough, because I flat out refused to have that camera shoved down my throat. Normally the room will spin for a few seconds and next thing you know it is over.

 

[Pakey]

Thank you and thank goodness.

How are you doing now? I remember you had quite a time of it. I hope things are better for you now.

Thanks for asking. I'm doing good right now (and heading to WDW in 15 days ).

I hope your tests bring you results. Waiting/not knowing how to treat is always the worst part of it all.

 

[JESW]

Done both and not too bad as I was out for both of them - I highly recommend that!

If you have to do the liquid prep for the colonoscopy, try drinking cranberry juice after each drink - for whatever reason that really helped. And, ahem, never, ever assume that you just need to pass gas while you are in the middle of the prep...

Good luck to you!

Jill

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have them done pretty often (Crohns) and they aren't a big deal. The prep is not real pleasant but some are better than others (I'm a fan of the split prep - half in the evening, half in the morning). The test itself is a piece of cake, as you aren't awake, and there is nothing to recover from other than sleeping off the meds. And you aren't under general or anything so there aren't those kind of side effects to deal with or really groggy feeling.

I am always STARVING by the time the tests are done so we eat a big lunch and then I sleep the rest of the afternoon. I'm fine by that evening.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Agree.

I just had my second colonscopy a couple of months ago (no endo) this time.

The best thing about getting it done is that you went through with it. I think the anxiety of not knowing if you have serious issue is worse!

I had my first colonoscopy/endoscopy at 41. I insisted on the colonoscopy since I was already going to be out. I mean why not? I have had digestive issues my whole life. Turns out I had precancerous polyps. Yep, gastro told me that I was lucky to have insisted. I probably saved my life.

Of course I had the follow up recently at age 45. Yep, another polyp removal however not a serious one, thank goodness.

DO I HATE IT? Yep. However getting colon cancer is not something I want to deal with if I can prevent it easily through reg. colonoscopies.

Not knowing the diagnosis and waiting is stressful to me. I want to know, and I don't. If that makes sense.

I do hate the idea of these tests, but I know they should be done. I think I am afraid of the unknown in both the tests and the diagnosis.

Good to hear positive experiences though.

Thanks for asking. I'm doing good right now (and heading to WDW in 15 days ).

I hope your tests bring you results. Waiting/not knowing how to treat is always the worst part of it all.

I'm glad you are doing better! Lucky you going to WDW! I hope you have a fabulous time! Will the Food and Wine Festival (is that the name of it?) be going on then?

The waiting and not knowing is the worst part.

I have been feeling better and I'm hoping the best case scenario is the treatment thus far has worked and I'm healed. Which led to thoughts of -- "Do I really need to go through with the tests?". Just wishful daydreams. I do think I need to, I think it's human nature to wish that you didn't.

ETA- Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences!

 

[SC Minnie]

DH had his first one Wed. He had to start the prep Tues and was planning on working the whole day. I told him he needs to be at home and close to the bathroom once he starts the prep. His appt was at 7:40 and we were leaving by 10.

 

[czycropper]

As many have said the prep is the worse, I also have to have them done often because of my digestive problems & pre-cancerous polyps.

I usually bring some fruit or other healthy snack for the ride to where ever we go to eat afterwards since I'm starving and since I suffer from low-blood sugar, it's not a pretty sight

My DH had to have one a couple of years ago after his cousin was diagnosed with colon cancer and he no longer jokes about me being in the "library" most of the evening & night before the procedure like he used to prior.

Good luck!

 

[Juliegirl1]

Prep was nasty - I couldn't stand the taste of the stuff and apparently it cleaned me out a lot faster than expected - I couldn't keep the stuff down and had it coming out of both ends . Called the doc and they said that I didn't need to finish the stuff as long as everything was coming out clear - oooh gross!

I woke up during the colonoscopy which was kinda cool to watch but when I woke up during my endoscopy I freaked out and had a panic attack when I realized that the tube was down my throat. I now have a permanent note on my chart saying that I have to have full blown anesthesia any time I have an endoscopy. I think I scared everyone in the operating room.

Apparently I don't accept the Twilight stuff very well.

 

[Coach K]

I had a colonoscopy a few years ago and I agree with everyone else that the prep was the hard part. The procedure was great - especially when your doctor's name is Goosenberg!!! The nurses called him Dr. Goosie!!!

 

[disfan07]

I have had 2 colonoscopies and 3 endoscopies. I am supposed to be having both again sometime soon but it's not working into my schedule. I already have to have an EMG and some more surgery so it's being put on the back burner right now.

I had my first colonoscopy and endo. when I was 14. Second colonoscopy and endo. when I was 17 and third endo when I was 19. I am 21 and need to have both again sometime soon.

For all of them, I was put in a very very deep twilight sleep. I dont remember ANYTHING!!

The prep for the colonoscopy was the worst part of the entire thing. The only thing that I had problems with was afterwards but that is because I dont handle anasthesia well and I always have breathing problems afterwards so that's more of an unique issue for me rather than anything having to do with the test itself.