Any recent Colonoscopy participants here?

[dtsm]

If there's a medical reason for the test, then fine, but to just do it because one is a certain age, I don't agree with.

You are both being an alarmist and giving poor medical perspective [aka 'advice'].

[n0hardmask]

What scares me is I know more than one person who had problems with the procedure. One person was in intensive care for some time and almost died. The Dr. removed what he "thought" was a polyp and it was not.

If there's a medical reason for the test, then fine, but to just do it because one is a certain age, I don't agree with.

I agree with dtsm. Several years ago, I got an email from a coworker who had retired, and he was saying, GO GET A COLONOSCOPY. He was dying of colon cancer. I always remembered his note; even more so when I got a reply to an email checking with him. It was his spouse, and she described his blackened skin, along with her pain living wih Tom dying with colon cancer. It's UGLY.
I had my first and they grabbed a couple spots. Am relieved that it's not every couple years; but on the other hand, for all the pain in the ass it is, it's nothing compared to the alternative . just my 2¢ worth.

[mindy]

They put me under using propofol.

Propofol is one of the meds that cause 'conscious sedation' with some nice amnesia qualities. Because of a combination of a genetic disease and current polyp growth, I have routine scopes of my short (< 10 inches) colon and my stomach at least once a year. The place where my doc does both scopes switched from versed to propofol a couple of years ago - serious happy for me since propofol has much shorter activity than versed so I am awake and able to drink sooner.

Sorry to say -- protofol is not "conscious sedation". It is full anesthesia although short-acting. Versed is the med that causes one to be more or less awake bot with little or no memory. Fentanyl is a pain killer often given along with versed. When I've had a polyp removed, they do another "colo" in about 6 months to be sure it was completely removed.

Mindy

[needzzzzs]

The first intimation I had that I had sleep apnea happened during endoscopyy a few years ago. When I woke up from the anesthesia (I was having both colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy during the same appointment), I was told that they had to use a nasal trumpet (I'd never heard of one before, and I'm glad I wasn't awake for it!). I'm guessing that my oxygen sats dipped way down so they found a way to get me more air. I don't know which (or if it was both) procedures that caused the problem.

Next time I have this done, this will be taken into account right up front when I schedule the appointment.

Debbie

Whatever happens, it would be a very good idea to make sure they knew about the OSA.

I agree... however, I wouldn't be concerned about it. I'm sure I had OSA when I had mine (a little over a year ago), but had no idea at the time. It wasn't a problem at all. I'm sure you'll be fine!

[chunkyfrog]

Now, just to hope the geographical 'hot spots' are where people are more enlightened.
Nebraska has a high rate of some cancers--but I don't recall which ones.

[Slinky]

Nasopharyngeal airway From Wikipedia

Intervention

Nasopharyngeal airway.
ICD-9-CM 96.01

In medicine, a nasopharyngeal airway, also known as an NPA or a nasal trumpet because of its flared end, a type of airway adjunct, is a tube that is designed to be inserted into the nasal passageway to secure an open airway. When a patient becomes unconscious, the muscles in the jaw commonly relax and can allow the tongue to slide back and obstruct the airway. The purpose of the flared end is to prevent the device from becoming lost inside the patient's head.

Indications and contraindicationsNasopharyngeal airways are sometimes used by people who have sleep apnea.

These devices are also used by emergency care professionals such as EMTs and paramedics in situations where an artificial form of airway maintenance is necessary but it is impossible or inadvisable to use an oropharyngeal airway, the preferred type of airway adjunct, or intubate, considered the most certain way to secure a patent airway, but also the most medically invasive. In an unconscious patient, suction of the upper airways may also be applied via an NPA.

Insertion of an NPA is contraindicated in patients with severe head or facial injuries, or have evidence of a basilar skull fracture (Battle's sign, raccoon eyes, cerebrospinal fluid/blood from ears, etc.) due to the possibility of direct intrusion upon brain tissue. An oropharyngeal airway may be used instead, but these devices frequently trigger a patient's gag reflex, while nasopharyngeal airways usually do not.

InsertionThe correct size airway is chosen by measuring the device on the patient: the device should reach from the patient's nostril to the earlobe or the angle of the jaw. The outside of the tube is lubricated with a water-based lubricant so that it enters the nose more easily. The device is inserted until the flared end rests against the nostril.

A good illustration: (scroll down about mid-page)

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/In ... ipment.cfm

What can I say? Curiosity killed the cat.

[SMenasco]

Just a few points from my experience with colonoscopies and cpap.
* I had my first colonoscopy 25 years ago, no anesthetic, no polyps, no fun.
* Next one was 22 years later, I asked to be put completely under; was I concerned about cpap during colonoscopy? Not in the least. Found three polyps; two marbles and one golf ball, too large to remove without surgery.
* Went in for laproscopic surgery, supposedly to be hospitalized two to three days; took my cpap stuff; found a gall bladder full of tumors, no more laproscopic; cut a five inch hole in my belly, took out gall bladder, appendix and 24" of colon; intestines shut down for eight days, had one of those NG tubes down my throat for nine days. NG tubes are used to evacuate stomach through suction, better known as "scourge of the earth." Could I use cpap? No, not with tube up my nose. Was I concerned? Hell, no, least of my worries at that time.
* Dr. ordered a PIC line installed since I couldn't eat or drink. Never again. Nurse gave me a yeast infection through the PIC line access ports. Had to take massive doses of Difluken.
* Nurse trainee gave me the wrong medicine during the night. Some kind of high-powered BP medicine. BP went to 60/25, went into coma, kidneys shut down, finally got everything straightened out. Was I concerned about cpap? Not in the least. My concern was getting out of that place before they killed me.
* On the 20th day, I got all three doctors together (surgeon, kidney specialist, infectuous (sp) disease doctor.) Told them I didn't know what their schedule was, but my schedule said I was going home, release or not, before the bastards killed me.
Would I have another colonoscopy? You bet! I was told the large growth would have probably killed me within five years. Will I go back to that hospital? Not on your life. Fool me once....

[RoboLobo]

As the original poster, I just wanted you all to know that I had my Colonoscopy this a.m., and came through with flying colors. No cancer, no polyps, no Lemmiwinks or other wildlife stuck inside me. As for anesthesia, I mentioned my Apnea and there were no overriding concerns. They gave me Versed and probably Fetanyl (sp), but I barely felt put under. Watched the whole procedure on the video screen in living color.

So thanks to all of you for your reassurances. Tonight I put on the mask for the first time, hopefully that will go just as smoothly!

[mindy]

As the original poster, I just wanted you all to know that I had my Colonoscopy this a.m., and came through with flying colors. No cancer, no polyps, no Lemmiwinks or other wildlife stuck inside me. As for anesthesia, I mentioned my Apnea and there were no overriding concerns. They gave me Versed and probably Fetanyl (sp), but I barely felt put under. Watched the whole procedure on the video screen in living color.

So thanks to all of you for your reassurances. Tonight I put on the mask for the first time, hopefully that will go just as smoothly!

Great! Happy to hear all went well, as it should. I found that watching the video distracted me from the minimum discomfort.

Mindy

[SleepyToo2]

I don't recall watching no darn video - and they had difficulty waking me up ! Maybe next time, with my apnea effectively treated, I will be able to watch it ? But the whole idea of the sedation is that I don't remember it anyway ? I can think of lots of videos I would rather watch than that one, anyway .

[SleepingUgly]

I have had two colonoscopies and if I was awake for them at all, the versed erased all memory of that.

[torontoCPAPguy]

Make sure you know the reputation of the hospital you are entering. I had a severe bladder/prostate infection in December that ultimately required surgery as I was bleeding profusely (don't ask). We have a hospital two blocks away. The regional trauma center is 20 minutes up the road. Despite the pain I was in I did not call for an ambulance, which would have taken me next door. I had my wife drive me to emerg 20 minutes up the road. We got on the highway and made the trip, at 3 a.m., in about 8 minutes. I am so very glad we made that trip. No wait for an ambulance. No wait in the waiting room for triage. No wait to get into emerg and into a bed. We were through triage in 5 minutes and into a bed in another 5 minutes with a doctor by our side while the nurse worked on me. Ten minutes later I had a urologist by my side at 4 a.m. It's all about the facility you are in and the doctors and nurses. I promise you that.

I will have a colonoscopy every 3 - 5 years at minimum. I have lost two friends to colon cancer; both of whom would still be here had they had a colonoscopy while they had polops prior to cancer or prior to the cancer spreading. Colon cancer is among the most preventable of cancers if one takes the time and effort to take care of themselves. The odds of having anything go wrong are quite minor (unless of course it is YOU that has the issue).

I would certainly request full sedation with pain meds so that they are able to do a proper examination and I would certainly bring up CPAP/APAP/OSA at that time. It will be dealt with appropriately you may rest assured. When they get you to sign off for the procedure ensure that APAP/OSA is listed or insist on it being listed in big letters.

And just to be absolutely safe, I would get a non-erasable magic marker and put a big huge arrow on my back pointing to my butt with the word colonoscopy here ----> so that you don't wind up having your appendix removed.

Just MHO.

BIIIIG magic marker. Big.

[FizzyWater]

I'm going to tag onto this thread - I hope that's okay.

My doc recommended this for me last year when I hit the big 5-0. Scheduled it, it had to be cancelled because of horrible winter weather, and one-thing-and-another, never got it rescheduled. Anyway...

This year's physical comes up and she refers me again. When I called, they said they WILL NOT do it if you don't bring someone with you. You can't arrange to take a taxi home...not if you're alone.

I am single. When I was younger, I had all kinds of friends, but as they started marrying and procreating, we lost track....and today my BEST friends are my high-school friends who live two hours away and my local friends are all people I work with. It's bad enough I have to take time off for this procedure, how am I supposed to ask a co-worker to do it to?! It's silly. I can't be the only adult who really doesn't have a "friend" who's willing/able to take time off.

Did you all have to have someone with you? Is it worth trying to look around to find another doctor who'll let me leave alone?

[ems]

Did you all have to have someone with you? Is it worth trying to look around to find another doctor who'll let me leave alone?

My doctor insisted someone be there to drive me home. I think most doctors insist on that, and I don't know anyone who drove themselves home. You're kind of loopy for a few hours after the procedure and driving an automobile isn't a good idea... for you or other people on the road.

[MaxDarkside]

Did you all have to have someone with you?

Yes. I was too "gorked" (drugged up) to drive, that's for sure, and the flier I got said I could not / should not take a taxi or a bus and that I should not fly (as a passenger) for 24 hours. The taxi part I thought was a bit much, but it said they would not do the procedure unless someone was with me.