Endoscopy and colonoscopy safety for cpap patients

Intubated ? You're kidding. I've had at least 12 of these procedures , with most without an anesthesiologist or a CPAP machine. With these procedures you are not even fully out. You are partially awake, but will not remember anything. Just 30 minutes in "la la land".

I've had four colonoscopies. Was not out for any of them, watched the video screen.

CO2 is much better than air for colonoscopy, it is absorbed and causes less bloating.

The risks associated with colonoscopies are tiny BUT the death rate from late diagnosed colon cancer is high and avoidable. I have polyps and a family history and have them very 3 years. Had 4 so far and none have been Any problem.

Thank you for all the advice my friends you all are certainly easing my anxiety

In any medical procedure, there's usually a "designated God" for the procedure. This may be the surgeon, "admitting physician," etc., but he thinks he's God and no one dares challenge him.

Often, the designated God has delusions of grandeur, and can't be bothered with details, and info from lesser gods. Even if one doctor ordered the procedure and seems to be in charge, his advice may be ignored once the actual procedure starts. You may have a similar situation after the procedure when a different god takes over.

archangle wrote:In any medical procedure, there's usually a "designated God" for the procedure. This may be the surgeon, "admitting physician," etc., but he thinks he's God and no one dares challenge him.

Often, the designated God has delusions of grandeur, and can't be bothered with details, and info from lesser gods. Even if one doctor ordered the procedure and seems to be in charge, his advice may be ignored once the actual procedure starts. You may have a similar situation after the procedure when a different god takes over.

archangel...you can be our "designated god".

archangle wrote:In any medical procedure, there's usually a "designated God" for the procedure. This may be the surgeon, "admitting physician," etc., but he thinks he's God and no one dares challenge him.

Often, the designated God has delusions of grandeur, and can't be bothered with details, and info from lesser gods. Even if one doctor ordered the procedure and seems to be in charge, his advice may be ignored once the actual procedure starts. You may have a similar situation after the procedure when a different god takes over.

This is one of the best descriptions of our healthcare system I've ever heard! My mother-in-law just got out of hospital this evening & before we left I told off a 'lesser god'. What he thinks of me now, I don't care. Four colonoscopy's later & the so called educated idiots still can't tell where one small 78 year old woman is losing blood. Last week she lost enough blood to cause a heart attack. I am at my wits end dealing with these stupid 'gods' who aren't perfect & put their pants on one leg at a time same as I do.

As for the OP's post, if you take your CPAP with you as a 'just-in-case' kind of thing & talk with the anesthesiologist you should be fine. I get the upper endo every year & a colonoscopy every 3. My sleep apnea is severe and I've never had any problems at all. Good luck with your procedures.

Jen

jencat824 wrote:

archangle wrote:In any medical procedure, there's usually a "designated God" for the procedure. This may be the surgeon, "admitting physician," etc., but he thinks he's God and no one dares challenge him.

Often, the designated God has delusions of grandeur, and can't be bothered with details, and info from lesser gods. Even if one doctor ordered the procedure and seems to be in charge, his advice may be ignored once the actual procedure starts. You may have a similar situation after the procedure when a different god takes over.

This is one of the best descriptions of our healthcare system I've ever heard! My mother-in-law just got out of hospital this evening & before we left I told off a 'lesser god'. What he thinks of me now, I don't care. Four colonoscopy's later & the so called educated idiots still can't tell where one small 78 year old woman is losing blood. Last week she lost enough blood to cause a heart attack. I am at my wits end dealing with these stupid 'gods' who aren't perfect & put their pants on one leg at a time same as I do.

As for the OP's post, if you take your CPAP with you as a 'just-in-case' kind of thing & talk with the anesthesiologist you should be fine. I get the upper endo every year & a colonoscopy every 3. My sleep apnea is severe and I've never had any problems at all. Good luck with your procedures.

Jen

thx jen

2 days of "clean eating" and extreme hydration and I'm feeling better

During the past 20 years I have had 4 (or is it 5?) colonoscopes. My father died from colon cancer. I haven't had one since I started on CPAP but I ALWAYS schedule mine for first thing in the morning. Anyone who has had a colonoscopy knows that the prep the night before isn't exactly fun and not being able to have a cup of coffee when I wake up on the day of the procedure is a bummer. Because I have mine early there are plenty of people in the recovery room keeping track of me. Frankly I never thought about apnea being a problem. That being said, while my son in law, who has apnea, was in surgery, he did stop breathing and they had to scramble to get him going again. I don't know if the apnea was the cause, however.

zorki1c wrote:During the past 20 years I have had 4 (or is it 5?) colonoscopes. My father died from colon cancer. I haven't had one since I started on CPAP but I ALWAYS schedule mine for first thing in the morning. Anyone who has had a colonoscopy knows that the prep the night before isn't exactly fun and not being able to have a cup of coffee when I wake up on the day of the procedure is a bummer. Because I have mine early there are plenty of people in the recovery room keeping track of me. Frankly I never thought about apnea being a problem. That being said, while my son in law, who has apnea, was in surgery, he did stop breathing and they had to scramble to get him going again. I don't know if the apnea was the cause, however.

is your son OK?

@Archangle: the "God-docs" have no place in medicine--or should not.
I had an ophthalmologist who was like that.
Also a PCP, and a orthopedist. All were quickly dismissed.
Life is too short, and shorter still when you trust your health to arrogant DB's.

chunkyfrog wrote:@Archangle: the "God-docs" have no place in medicine--or should not.
I had an ophthalmologist who was like that.
Also a PCP, and a orthopedist. All were quickly dismissed.
Life is too short, and shorter still when you trust your health to arrogant DB's.

That's one of the more dangerous aspects about medical procedures. Unless you are really careful, you may not have any idea who's going to be God when you actually have the procedure. Even if you ask, you may be given wrong information, or someone else may be deified without any input from you.

archangle wrote:
That's one of the more dangerous aspects about medical procedures. Unless you are really careful, you may not have any idea who's going to be God when you actually have the procedure. Even if you ask, you may be given wrong information, or someone else may be deified without any input from you.

How true. When you are unconscious you have no control over which doc is "god" at that time. That is when the god-doc can cause you the most harm. Example: placing a NG tube against patient's wishes, with no signature from patient or POA (me) who was waiting in patient's holding room. Doc who appointed himself as "god" got a real shock when I asked him to remove the NG tube. He started with "no" & changed his mind real quick when I asked him could he remove it in the time it would take me to dial my lawyer. When I pulled out my phone, he suddenly agreed to remove it ASAP. This is NOT just an example but a true story from last Tuesday. Procedure was an EGD. NG tube was placed by god-doc who was trying to get his way because patient did not want another colonoscopy (4th in a week!). He eventually won but not without very informed consent of conscious patient & pissed off POA.

Archangle, you have hit the nail on the head. When you are unconscious, have your advocate present & knowledgeable about your wishes. Also have a good attorney's # programmed in their phone. This IS the bold truth of the way things work in our current medical system today. God-docs are a fact. No matter how many you fire, more creep in to take their places.

Jen

chunkyfrog wrote:@Archangle: the "God-docs" have no place in medicine--or should not.
I had an ophthalmologist who was like that.
Also a PCP, and a orthopedist. All were quickly dismissed.
Life is too short, and shorter still when you trust your health to arrogant DB's.

Many specialists seem to suffer from the "God Complex".