Colonoscopy/Endoscopy double whammy!

I certainly agree about the PS prep being so easy. Some docs script a couple of Dulcolax tablets to start, then the two doses of PS. I've never bothered w/the Dulcolax, just the two doses of PS. Some also script a Fleets enema as the final step. I've never done that either and I've always been squeaky clean w/just the PS prep.

This is very good advice. Mine was first thing in the AM. Get a seat belt for your toilet for the prep. (Sorry to be so crude) And make sure that you DO drink all the water they ask you to in order to clean things out otherwise they won't get a great picture of what they are looking at.

There is something called a "virtual colonoscopy" now - it is a computerized MRI based procedure and is said to be at least as accurate as a colonoscopy excepting that if they find polops they are going to have to rebook you in order to go in and remove them as the aforementioned is totally non-invasive.

I have been checked top to bottom a couple of times and no biggie. With the colonoscopy I was heavily sedated. No idea what it was but 30 minutes after they finished I was good to go except not drive for the day.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. I know a number of folks that have top to bottom annually. Now... if they come at your front parts I would put on my running shoes.... they are going to have to be REALLY fast for another one of THOSE tests I can assure you. I pee'd on Arnold Palmers shoes at the golf course a month later and was aimed in the other direction.

These are tests that they do every 20 minutes all day long - nothing to be worried about. And the feeling of reassurance that all is well inside, especially the colon thing, is worth its weight in gold. No big deal, rest assured. Be sure to prep properly so that they get a good movie.

Only thing I can add is you might think about requesting that they do the upper first, in case they use the same tube.

(ducking)

Thanks everyone for the great responses. They are having my drink a 10 oz. bottle of magnesium citrate and THEN do the TriLyte. Isn't that overkill or has anyone else done that?

Unless you have a real constipation problem, yeah, that is overkill. But then the doctors worry more about their convenience than your comfort when it comes to the scopes.

Slinky wrote:Unless you have a real constipation problem, yeah, that is overkill. But then the doctors worry more about their convenience than your comfort when it comes to the scopes.

I am very sensitive in general: emotionally, to medications, etc. I might ask them if I can skip the mag citrate.

I strongly disagree with those who say the prep was the worst part. For me, the prep was nothing compared to the experience itself. I had excruciating pain during the colonoscopy that caused damage to my bite since I clenched my teeth so tightly against the pain. The pain was so bad that I also had post-traumatic stress for several nights after the procedure. When I'd be sleeping and roll over to my left side (they did the procedure with me lying on my left side), I'd immediately wake up screaming, sobbing and flailing. So if your sleep is disturbed for a few nights afterwards, it could be some post-traumatic stress from the colonoscopy. The good news is that it does go away, but the damage to my jaw took about two months to heal and I had to have a bite plate made by my dentist because I couldn't chew for a month after the colonoscopy.

New Question wrote:I strongly disagree with those who say the prep was the worst part. For me, the prep was nothing compared to the experience itself. I had excruciating pain during the colonoscopy that caused damage to my bite since I clenched my teeth so tightly against the pain. The pain was so bad that I also had post-traumatic stress for several nights after the procedure. When I'd be sleeping and roll over to my left side (they did the procedure with me lying on my left side), I'd immediately wake up screaming, sobbing and flailing. So if your sleep is disturbed for a few nights afterwards, it could be some post-traumatic stress from the colonoscopy. The good news is that it does go away, but the damage to my jaw took about two months to heal and I had to have a bite plate made by my dentist because I couldn't chew for a month after the colonoscopy.

Did they give you an analgesic like Fentanyl or Demerol during the procedure?

New Question wrote:I strongly disagree with those who say the prep was the worst part. For me, the prep was nothing compared to the experience itself. I had excruciating pain during the colonoscopy that caused damage to my bite since I clenched my teeth so tightly against the pain. The pain was so bad that I also had post-traumatic stress for several nights after the procedure. When I'd be sleeping and roll over to my left side (they did the procedure with me lying on my left side), I'd immediately wake up screaming, sobbing and flailing. So if your sleep is disturbed for a few nights afterwards, it could be some post-traumatic stress from the colonoscopy. The good news is that it does go away, but the damage to my jaw took about two months to heal and I had to have a bite plate made by my dentist because I couldn't chew for a month after the colonoscopy.

Whoever did your colonoscopy was a quack, sorry. A colonoscopy done by a proficient butt doctor should be painless. The most you should feel is some cramping as they try to get around the wee corners and that should be addressed by sedation and pain meds (be sure you tell them you have OSA issues). I asked, personally, that they take me up to 60,000 feet plus some pain meds and they giggled and obliged. No issues there. As far as the upper GI... has the barium thing and had the camera thingy as well and I would go with the camera thingy ANYTIME. Sedation and local anasthetic to kill the gag reflex and you are humming. The tube is, contrary to popular belief, a whole lot smaller in diameter than the garden hose they stick up your butt as they need to get surgical instruments up that garden hose if they find a polop or 'mushroom' while in there. And if they ask whether or not you want them to remove polops, the answer is a resounding "yes"... the polops and mushrooms are what turns into colon cancer. Get rid of them as fast as you can. You will have cramping and some minor bleeding afterwards but that will go away quickly and you will rejoice in knowing that you are once again at the peak of health and will be getting a garden hose shoved up your butt annually thereafter (and if they don't offer this entertainment... demand it). I have not had any polops found as of yet, but a close relative did and those were the results of having them removed. That was ten or more years ago and they have never returned and he now has a great aversion to anything resembling a garden hose and turns positively green when he passes the fire hoses in the hallways.

If they want to have a look at your bladder? Well, let's just say that as a guy, I now wear running shoes to all of my examinations and they have yet to catch me for THAT test again. I'll go with the painful, excruciating, dibilitating death rather than have that test again. And by the way, I never NEVER knew I could move that fast before their second attempt at THAT test.

One last thing... there is no such thing as 'over prep'. You really do want to be squeaky clean inside when the examination takes place so that NOTHING is masked. I made the mistake of eating some coloured JELLO the day before and the prep did not get it all out... some of the colouring remained and made things a little more difficult and slower than necessary. So, you will get the instructions, but stay away from anything that might leave any coloring behind (pardon the pun).

And you just might want to install a seatbelt on that toilet of yours so if you should fall asleep you don't fall off it.... or get blasted off it like a rocketship.

New Question - this is important. Because you WILL need to go thru another colonoscopy eventually. Colorectal cancer is NOT a nice way to die.

You should ask for the entire medical and sedation record, including nurses' notes, from that colonoscopy. Either you were given no sedation, not enough sedation or you had an adverse reaction to it and it is IMPORTANT that you know which. Versed is the most common sedative used in the USA for scopes. My first scope I had a reaction to it, I got agitated and then hostile. I was gonna kill everyone in the room!!! Fortunately, I had a wonderful gastro. It took 3 nurses to hold me down while she withdrew the scope. Due to the incomplete colonoscopy and my having Crohn's disease she was able to get me added to the procedure schedule for a lower GI barium series the very next day so I did NOT have to go thru another prep.

Propofol (diprivan) is being used more often now for difficult scopes or for those who cannot tolerate Versed or Valium. But in most states this requires an anesthesiologist rather than just a CRNA (nurse anesthetist) so the colonoscopy must be done in a hosopital setting. And actually the propofol experience is GREAT! You come out of it faster, almost instantly and you don't have the drugged, hangover feeling. You are awake and alert in no time. Propofol is NOT a sedative, it is a FAST acting general anesthetic.

elena88 wrote:....... let us know how everything comes out!

.... TOO MUCH DETAIL!!!!

Joked with the doc as I was getting prepped. We went back and forth a few times with one-liners. Just before the lights went out I heard him say, "And don't forget, I'm right behind you." Barrump-bump!

Sometime into the procedure I woke up. Nurse said, "Doctor, he's awake." I managed to mumble "I'd like to watch." Nurse shushed me and told me to go back to sleep. Doc already knew I was a bit of a geek about such things, so he said, "It's OK," and I got to see everything on the monitor. I was completely comfortable (Fenanyl and Versed), and really could not care less what was going on, I felt so gooooood!

There's nothing to it.

HAHAHA Bart...that's great. We've even had a few patients SING...quite loudly...through their colonoscopies. As for the bad experiences posted, in 20
years of being in the GI field, I can only count on one hand the patients who had a 'bad experience/pain/perforation'. These procedures are performed effectively,
painlessly, by experienced gastroenterologists for many many years. Beats colo-rectal cancer ANYDAY.

my mom had colon cancer and had to have a colostomy, so getting checked is WELL worth it..

and yes, there usually is a bit of levity before the precedure.. I mean come on!

I recall, after the doctor left when my iv got plugged, the nurse called her back.. and told her I wanted to do it without the meds..

and the doc said.. "gee youre tough!"

then I said.. "LET DO IT!" Well, then I realized this is one of the songs I sing by cole porter.. "lets do it, lets fall in love"

so yes, I started singing that, then the nurse started singing it, and I swear to God the doc did too.. and its one of those songs you cant get
out of your friggen head! When she got to the first turn, I quite singin

Now that I think about it, these little medical excursions (my sleep study) and my colonoscopy dont end up being the typical experience!