OT Sort of: My colonoscopy and CPAP

I had my first colonoscopy this morning. I know a lot of us wonder whether CPAP is needed during a colonoscopy, which is normally done using with many refer to at "twilight sleep." My drugs were Versed and another one that I can't remember. They told me I did not need to bring my cpap, so I didn't. My nurse was very familiar with OSA, as her sister is a respiratory therapist who "forced" her husband (my nurse's brother) to get tested for OSA, which he has.

She says there is a balance they need to maintain, keeping you sedated enough to be comfortable, but to also not have your BP and O2 drop too low, which they monitor all the time. If your O2 starts to drop, they shake you a little to wake you up some.

Some people sleep through the whole thing, but I remember being awake, watching "my video" and asking questions. I might have dozed off some, but since it only took 20 minutes, and I remember so much of it, if I did fall asleep, it wasn't for long. I remember at times there was a lot of discomfort, but nothing even close to pain. And when they could sense I was having discomfort problems, the doc or nurse would say something like "We're almost through doing this certain thing," or "Once we get around this bend, it'll feel better." And they were right. As for me and my experience, there was no reason in the world to have CPAP.

My vision is still a little wacky, and I'm still sleepy and a little dizzy, even after a nap, but all is good otherwise. And best of all, everything looks great and I don't need to come back for another 10 years! (And after two whole days of nothing but liquids---I can eat again!!)

Pam

Yeah, I wondered the same thing about CPAP but was told not to worry about it.

They gave me the option of watching the video or just entering the twilight zone and then having my memory of the entire event erased. I opted for the latter, thankyouverymuch!

I had no concerns about being on the operating table either for a colonoscopy or orthopedic surgery. The bigger concern was sleeping in the recovery room. In both cases, I was very closely monitored in recovery and there was no need for the CPAP. They did insist I bring it just in case complications necessitated an overnight stay.

Pam,

Not OT at all, IMHO. I am scheduled for one next week, and have been wondering about bringing my CPAP to the hospital, so your story is well timed. I wasn't sure if it was better to bring it or have it waiting at home ready to go for a nap while I slept off the sedative. Thank you so much for sharing your experiance, you've helped me make up my mind!

Alan

P.S., glad to hear everything was OK!

Great input!
Since being on CPAP, I have had 9 hr. surgery, plus 2 colonoscopies, knee surgery, and several small surgeries of being out.
Each time they insisted I bring CPAP, and I did, but it was not needed due to the great monitoring the hospital staff did.
Of course, if you know you will stay the night anywhere you should take CPAP. If in doubt take it.
I have had CPAP 11 yrs now, and it is almost a part of me. I fortunately have a light weight one now for when I travel and have to carry my own luggage (when hubby is not with me), it makes a difference.

Consider your CPAP your lifeline. When I first started using it, I did not use it faithfully (we all do that) thinking I really did not need it. Oh Sure. Now if I know of someone who is a new user, I over encourage them to use it everynight.

Great forum, keep up the good ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ's
Apnatic!!

Ask the doc or nurse if you should bring it. I did and was also told it wasn't needed but left it in the car. I was not offered the option to watch and wish I was. The 2nd time that week I was aware of some discomfort towards the end but can't call it awake at all. I too had the Versed and found that it relieved my back & neck pain for the remainder of the day both times I did it. I guess it's addictive cuz my doc wouldn't prescribe it

The very worst part is the prep. Drinking a gallon of the nasty stuff. But colon cancer is a killer and should be taken seriously.

Oh, yes, how could I forget the "pre drink" the night before the Colonoscopy...I truly believe it is worse than the test.
I have put it in fridge, as suggested by pharmacist, and it helped some...one thing that would help with the "end result" i determined later...is several days before the test and the "pre drink", eat light foods, no solids, so to help with the cleansing, it goes much easier on you. It is amazing what we "hold" in this body, ugh. enough of that.

I agree, it is important to have the test, colon cancer is a silent killer. I have had the test twice, and will have more, due to being a breast cancer survivor-no chances taken by me.

Have a week!
Apnatic!!

alnhwrd wrote:Pam,

Not OT at all, IMHO. I am scheduled for one next week, and have been wondering about bringing my CPAP to the hospital, so your story is well timed. I wasn't sure if it was better to bring it or have it waiting at home ready to go for a nap while I slept off the sedative. Thank you so much for sharing your experiance, you've helped me make up my mind!

Alan

P.S., glad to hear everything was OK!

Thanks, alnhward! And I hope all goes well for you next week!!

I'm glad the topic has been helpful!!

Yeah, the prep can be nasty but I was able to talk them into letting me try another prep that my friend used, as opposed to that nasty gallon junk. It worked well enough, but they still had to "wash some stuff off" during the exam (sorry if that picture is a little gross!). Apparently there's a little water thing on the end of that tube along with the camera! My prep was two days of a clear liquid diet, two bottles of 10-oz magnesium citrate that you buy OTC, one taken two days before the procedure, and the other taken the day before, and Dulcolax the day before. This was a much better prep that that gallon of junk that my husband went through when he had it.

Pam

Good luck Alnhwrd.

Except for the prep, which was annoying, mine was not a problem.
I chose to have more sedation than less.

I wish you all the best.

WearyOne wrote:I had my first colonoscopy this morning. I know a lot of us wonder whether CPAP is needed during a colonoscopy, which is normally done using with many refer to at "twilight sleep." My drugs were Versed and another one that I can't remember. They told me I did not need to bring my cpap, so I didn't. My nurse was very familiar with OSA, as her sister is a respiratory therapist who "forced" her husband (my nurse's brother) to get tested for OSA, which he has.

She says there is a balance they need to maintain, keeping you sedated enough to be comfortable, but to also not have your BP and O2 drop too low, which they monitor all the time. If your O2 starts to drop, they shake you a little to wake you up some.

Some people sleep through the whole thing, but I remember being awake, watching "my video" and asking questions. I might have dozed off some, but since it only took 20 minutes, and I remember so much of it, if I did fall asleep, it wasn't for long. I remember at times there was a lot of discomfort, but nothing even close to pain. And when they could sense I was having discomfort problems, the doc or nurse would say something like "We're almost through doing this certain thing," or "Once we get around this bend, it'll feel better." And they were right. As for me and my experience, there was no reason in the world to have CPAP.

My vision is still a little wacky, and I'm still sleepy and a little dizzy, even after a nap, but all is good otherwise. And best of all, everything looks great and I don't need to come back for another 10 years! (And after two whole days of nothing but liquids---I can eat again!!)

Pam

I'm wondering what drugs you had. DH is needing a colonoscopy -- his first since the OSA diagnosis. He wants Propofol -- it has amnesiac as well as sedative properties. I was present for his last colonoscopy (I'm a nurse and he had it done where I work) and his O2 sat dropped to the 80s. I'd love for him to have Propofol -- and me too, when mine is due in two years -- but wonder if the OSA diagnosis will interfere with that request.

Glad your test came out good. Also glad for all the information in this thread. I go for mine in June.
Thanks, Larry..

Well, I am due for my third next year but first since OSA diagnosis. As for me, I do not want to be anywhere close to being awake during the procedure. I'll ask my questions later. I was wondering about being in recovery without CPAP. I wouldn't want to wake up dead. And yes, you can wake up dead if you were alive when you went to sleep.

An earlier thread relating to CPAP use during/after medical procedures:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36909&p=321062&hili ... ia#p321062

Ozij posted a very useful pair of links to endoscopy drugs:

http://www.sedationfacts.org/about-sedation-facts and

http://www.sedationfacts.org/sedation-medication

I had my first colonoscopy last September. I made sure my doctor knew about my apnea, but she assured me I had nothing to worry about and she would keep a close eye on me during the procedure. I went out like a light, but I was lying on my side in a somewhat upright position, so I guess there was no problem with my ability to breathe while I was under the twilight sedation. I don't remember a thing (which is okay with me!), but coming around afterward was a snap, and I felt fine in no time (ravenous, having not eaten anything solid in two days, but otherwise good to go).

The preparation I took was a small bottle of a generic form of PhosphoSoda (1.5 oz., if I remember correctly) two times, in the morning and then again late in the afternoon the day before the procedure. I drank plenty of liquids, of course. The prep is much more of an ordeal than the procedure, itself, IMO.

Colon cancer is present in my family, and my doctor removed six polyps. Glad I did it.

I've kinda lost track of my scopes, maybe 3 upper and 5 lower, plus one bronchoscopy. Seems it's made a difference which doctor did them, or maybe it was what the drug of choice was for that era. Most I remembered little to nothing about other than brief periods of awareness of discomfort, which was fine with me. I do know now that if I'm having upper and lower in one session that the meds they expected to hold me thru both procedures don't, so next time I'll require assurance of no replays before agreeing to proceed. Enough said.

Only had that memorable day and the bronch since on cpap. Didn't use my machine either time, but made sure every nurse I saw knew to keep an eye on me and had a family member with me in the holding area afterward. Didn't have any breathing problems, but then again, while waking up, the gurney was in a semi sitting position, so I'm guessing that helped. If my memory serves me right, the lower scopes are done while on the side (not sure about entire time) and the upper was in an almost upright position. Does anyone know if I'm right or just partially right on that?
Kathy