Good advice here

Kazoo · Post by **Kazoo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:54 am

Just got home from a Colonoscopy. Glad I read the advice here from other people who have had surgery. The last surgery I had, I stopped breathing in the middle of it. Actually was the way I found I had Sleep Apnea. This time I insisted that they work with my Sleep Doctor. Used my Bi-pap machine during the test. No problems!

Pad A Cheek · Post by **Pad A Cheek** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:10 am

Thank you for that post. It is a timely one as I am going in for my first colonoscopy this next month.
I will be bringing my CPAP machine.

Thanks again.
Karen

Kazoo · Post by **Kazoo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:57 am

Good luck! Love my Padacheeks. Only wish I had ordered two very different colors for the top and bottom. Would help when putting the mask on in low light.

justdan · Post by **justdan** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:01 am

With some Colonoscopy's, they use something called "Conscious Sedation". When they do that, you are actually (mostly) awake and talking (which is disturbing to me because I always want to know what I'm saying). The Demerol causes you to forget the experience.

I'd check with the doctor and ask them if you are undergoing "Conscious Sedation". If that is the case, then there would be no need to pack-up the CPAP machine.

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:55 am

At my last colonoscopy, I also had conscious sedation. However, I awoke to the sounds of the recovery room staff saying, "Take a breath, Barb"! They told me that they could tell that I had apnea.
So I think even with conscious sedation, we are sleeping at times, especially in recovery. Next time I have any type of surgery requiring any kind of sedation, I'm going to request to use my machine.
Barb

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:03 pm

I agree that even with concious sedation we end up sleeping. I also had this a few years ago and definately slept. Especially since I am a 2 time c-section person and needed a second does of medication. Harder to scope people with previous abdominal surgery.

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:07 pm

With "Conscious Sedation" the muscles in your soft palate and tongue will be nearly totally relaxed and that will almost certainly cause apneas. They have to use enough sedation to get this muscle relaxation otherwise your intestinal muscles would cramp horribly from the scope.

Kazoo · Post by **Kazoo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:23 pm

Rooster, that makes a lot of sense. I am really glad I brought this subject up. I am learning a lot. Ron

JM · Post by JM » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:19 pm

I went earlier this month. However, I had the added bonus of an endoscopy too. I let the Doc know in advance of the apnea. He simply told me to remind him right before the procedure and to also let the anesthesiologist know since they were going to put me completely under.

The minute they inserted the I.V. I was out. It seemed like only a minute had gone by and I was waking up.

I turned to the anesthesiologist and asked him if the apnea had been a problem, as he's pulling a tube out of my nose.

He said, "nope, I was pumping oxygen directly to your lungs so it wouldn't be a problem."

So the tube is out and my oxygen level starts to drop to the low 80s. so the oxygen comes back on 'til it goes up before they let me go home.

All in all, it went much better that I feared.

Good Luck,

JM

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:59 pm

At my colonoscopy a few weeks ago, I had the conscious sedation. I laid on my side (left, of course) and watched the whole thing on the video screen. It was very interesting, despite the sedation.

I do not think that I have forgotten anything. I was talking with the nurse sitting by my face the whole time. I also had no problem with apneas.

I am one to NEVER remember the recovery room, and I have had 8 surgeries and several procedures...Just FYI

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:24 pm

JM wrote:......................................

The minute they inserted the I.V. I was out. It seemed like only a minute had gone by and I was waking up.

.................

JM

I had a similiar experience, but next time I will use a different Doctor because I believe this one was drinking while he did my colonoscopy. Just before I went under they were starting to do the procedure and I remember hearing the Doctor say, "Nurse, hand me a Bud Lite."

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:38 pm

rooster wrote: I had a similiar experience, but next time I will use a different Doctor because I believe this one was drinking while he did my colonoscopy. Just before I went under they were starting to do the procedure and I remember hearing the Doctor say, "Nurse, hand me a Bud Lite."

Are ya sure he wasn't asking for a 'butt light'?