I have been having a lot of stomach problems for over a year now and am scheduled to go in for a colonoscopy on July 2. Needless to say, I am a nervous wreck at the thought of . . . well . . . um . . . I don't think I need to go into the gorey details.

So, I was just wondering if anyone here has had a colonoscopy and if you could tell me whether it was painful as well as anything else I can expect. I understand that you are sedated before the procedure, but I was (supposedly) sedated before I had to have an endoscope and, believe me, I wasn't in the least bit sedated. So, that has me a bit worried.

Anyway, anything you can tell me would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Alley

It's a piece of cake. Easiest test I've had in a long time. Very restful little nap, and absolutely no discomfort at all (except for the prep the day before, LOL, but that wasn't painful, just tiresome.)

I saw another thread or two here on colonoscopy. Did you try using the search feature?

I recently had a minor surgical procedure done under conscious sedation, and I was not mentally sedated at all. My poor brain was still working and I had a mental panic attack. It was horrid. However they gave me some Versed after, cuz I asked, and then I was totally fine. It is going to depend on the drug they use. Make sure you tell them you want an anti anxiety drug mixed in with the sedation drug (mine was remifenanol). If you have both, then you will be just fine.

Worst part is the prep the day before.

It depends on the doc. My last one I was n ot put under just given some relaxing drugs. My current stomache doc says he will make sure I am out like a light next time. I take klonopin (anti-anxiety) daily so I need a bit more than usual to knock me out. It's not fun to be awake for it IMO. I had a polyp (benign) removed last time so it went on a bit longer. My DH recently had one done and he was out like a light and taling in his sleep. he remembers nothing of the proceedure.


M

The prep was harder than the procedure itself...and I didn't feel anything. I fell asleep with the sedation they gave me, and it was only supposed to relax you.

Good luck.

Hugs,
Karen

HI Alley oop

I was really freaked before the colonoscopy that i had just this past Dec. (or nov, can't remember). I had some bleeding hemmoroids and was really really worried. Being an anxiety sufferer i was certain of the worst case scenario. In truth what happened was this. The doc gave me some pills which I took with lots of water at ceratin intervals the night before. I did not feel that the "cleansing" part was bad at all. Just passing liquid for several hours (sorry to be so graphic). The next day's fast made my blood sugar a little low so I was lightheaded when I arrived for my appt. I was scheduled for 3 pm - if you can get an early appt. I would recommend this. I was shown into the colonoscopy room. There was some really good "dance music" playing in there and the staff was really friendly. I told them I was a wreck about the outcome and made sure the anesthesiologist knew he might have toruble knocking me out. The next thing I remember I woke up and was given the good result. Of course that was all that mattered. High from the sedation and thrilled about the outcome I was shown out to the waiting room where my best friend was waiting for me and I gave her a million hugs and kisses. Really it was nothing and almost (sick me ) enjoyable because of the sedation and excellent outcome.

I know it is frightenening - believe me - I posted about how scared I was.

You will be fine too - the anticipation is the worst part.

Hugs and good luck - pooks

Hi, alley! I just had a colonoscopy, TWO DAYS AGO! So, I'm very glad I checked in here today and saw your post.

My colonoscopy experience wasn't bad at all. I'll fill you in on the details, as much as possible:

First of all, I'm the QUEEN of all phobias and fears. I put my colonoscopy off for a year - actually, longer than that. I have dreaded it, feared it, had nightmares about it, etc. I've obsessed over it, completely and EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE - knowing I had to face it. --- A year ago, my internist suggested it was time for me to have my colon checked. I panicked. Seven years ago, I did have a sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema, because my stool tests showed blood - and it turned out to be hemorrhoidal. So, I was fine. But, last year my internist started making arrangements for me to see a colorectal specialist (so that I could have the colonoscopy), and I talked him out of it and never went back into his office . . . until this past March, when I had a particularly nasty hemorrhoidal episode that scared me. Anyhow, and needless to say, my internist promptly set me up to see a colon doc, which I did in May. He examined my anal and rectal areas, while I was there in his office, and he didn't see anything awry - BUT, he did say it was time for my colon screening (colonoscopy). It was scheduled for June 18th, two days ago. I was given paperwork with instructions for my diet and what I consumed, starting ten days before the 18th.

So, ten days before the 18th, I had to quit taking vitamins and any aspirin products. Four days before the procedure, I couldn't eat anything with nuts or berries in it, or anything with corn - like popcorn, or regular corn, etc. Apparently, foods with those ingredients can interfere with the scope that is used in the procedure. Okay. So, I was careful about that.

Two days before the procedure - actually, starting this past Sunday, I started eating very light, bland foods - mostly chicken soup and soft-cooked eggs - but I can't eat heavy, spicy food anyhow, so that was not a big change for me.

On Tues., the day before the procedure, I ate a light breakfast - two soft-cooked eggs and half a piece of bland bread - and I had chicken noodle soup for lunch (I picked the carrots out of the soup before eating it, though). Then, after 2 p.m. that day, I couldn't eat anymore solid foods. I was advised to not drink or eat anything that was colored red (like red jello, or a red drink), because the red will coat the colon and make it red, temporarily. I always drink water, anyhow, so that was not a change, either. So, no solid foods after 2 p.m., and I just drank my water.

Then, at 5 p.m. on Tues. night, I prepared my "cleanser," which was called "Golytely" - and it's a powder that comes in a huge plastic jug, and you mix it up with bottled water, an hour before you start drinking it. So, at 5 p.m. on Weds. evening, I poured 7 16-oz. bottles of water into the plastic jug, because it took 7 bottles to reach the "fill" line on the jug. I shook it hard, and I let it sit for an hour. Then, at 6 p.m., I shook it again and (per the instructions) started drinking 8 oz. of that mixture, every 10-15 min. The taste wasn't awful, but I found that it was easier to drink it quickly and hold my nose each time I took the last sip of 8 oz. The mixture can be refridgerated, but I don't like drinking cold water, so I didn't refridgerate it.

It's not impossible to keep drinking the 8 oz., every 10 min. - but I did have to force myself to keep drinking, because I found myself getting bloated up from all that liquid (but that's normal), and I didn't actually see any toilet action for almost two hours. However, once my bowels started moving, they did so until about two hours after I finished drinking the liquid (9:15 p.m., Weds. night). After finishing the Golytely (at 9:15 p.m.), I was allowed to drink water until midnight - and then after midnight (which was early Weds. morning, the 18th), I couldn't have anything at all - no water, absolutely no food, nothing.

I went in on Weds. morning, and I was taken to the prep. area, where a nurse took my vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, etc.), and I had to undress and put on a hospital gown. I was also asked about any drug allergies, and the nurse asked me about my medical history (illnesses, surgeries, etc.). I was given socks to put on and a warm blanket, and I had to lie down on a gurney. The nurse put in my IV, and I was wheeled to the procedure room. I spoke with my doctor for a few minutes (he was in there, working on the computer!), and I also chatted with the attending nurse and the doctor's assistant. Then, IIRC, the doctor injected two different shots (of some type of anesthesia) into my IV - and the next thing I knew, I woke up in the recovery room, but I don't clearly remember that, either. My husband was there, sitting with me as I awoke, and the doctor came in (according to my husband, but I don't have a clear memory of it) and said I was fine. He didn't find anything - no polyps, nothing.

I'm extremely sensitive to any and all medications - so, whatever anesthesia I had really knocked me out. After I lay there in recovery for awhile, my husband and a female nurse dressed me, put me in a wheelchair, wheeled me out to our car, and my husband then took me home and put me in bed. I slept for another three hours or so. That evening, I still felt groggy, but I was able to get up and do a few things around the house.

Yesterday and today, I've still had alot of air in my bowels. The bowels are pumped full of air during the procedure, and I've found that it takes awhile for all that air to slowly leave my system. My bowel movements are still very loose and are not back to normal, so today I'm going to eat foods that are supposed to be "constipating," just so that I can firm things up down there.

I did not feel a thing during the procedure, nor do I have any memory of it. My doctor was wonderful, and the staff of nurses there was wonderful, too. One nurse told me that they do 40-50 colonoscopies there, DAILY!

So, please don't worry about your procedure. I got through mine, just fine - and if I can do it, anyone can. I wish I could be there to hold your hand through it, but I'm sure you'll be okay, especially if your procedure goes like mine did, where you're completely anesthesized. BTW, I've had a fear of being completely anesthesized, but I did fine.

You will, too. Please, please keep me (us) posted here. I hope my story helps you. Believe me, it's better to go have it done and get it over with, then to keep worrying about it and have it hanging over your head.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Thanks so much, Dawn. I am not easily nor quickly sedated, so I am worried that whatever meds I am given before the procedure will not kick in until I head to the recovery room LOL. It happened to me when I had to have a broncoscopy because of a spot on my lung and the doc said he had given me doulble of both the pain meds and twilight sedation. When I had my endoscope, I was given a shot of something and less than a minute later he was putting the tube down my throat. I freaked and yanked it right out LOL. Even after that shot, I wasn't in the least it sedated. I left, went and got groceries, went home and did a couple of loads of laundry and then went to the gym for over an hour. Sigh. Oh well, a lot of people I have heard from say that the prep is the worst part, so I will keep my fingers crossed. I think, though, that I am going to call the doc's office just to find out what type of sedation they use and, as diplomatically as possible, tell them not to be stingy with the sedation or pain meds LOL.

Hi,

Thanks. At your suggestion, I did use the search feature and read through the posts. Reading the posts was reassuring.

How horrifying. That happened to me in my 20s when I had to have a biospy on my breast. I was completely paralyzed on the operatin table, but I was still semi-conscious. I was freaking out. When the doctor came into to see me in recovery, I told him I could hear what they were saying and he kind of smirked and asked me what I had heard, so I repeated some of the conversation and his eyes just went wide. He didn't believe me at first.

Anyway, I am going to ask that I be given twilight sedation and pain meds. I am usually a demanding patient, but I don't want to suffer needlessly. I think I have become a wimp as I get older LOL.

Thanks again.

Thanks so much. I hope I am put under. Unlike the endoscope that I was able to yank right out of my mouth (not one of my better moments LOL), I think a scope at that end of the body would take some pretty impressive contortions to remove on my part!

From what I have been hearing from people here and elsewhere is, like you said, the prep the day before is the worst part.

Thanks again.

I think you are right - the anticipation is the worst part. Fear of the unknown, I guess. Thanks for sharing your experience with me. My appointment is, actually, at 8 in the morning. I think I am the first patient that day. So, that's good. I so hope that the sedation takes effect quickly for me. I tend to be slow to sedate and sometimes have paradoxical reactions to meds. During a particularly bad bout of insomnia, I took some Tylenol PM and ended up more awake than I had been before taking it.

Anyway, I have to try not to stew about. I think if I can get some info from the doc's office about the type of sedation and pain meds they give before the procedure and let them know that I can be slow to sedate, I might feel even less nervous. My doc's assistant is a bit flaky, but I might be able to speak to someone at the hospital where it is being done. My procedure is just over a week away, so I have time to, hopefully, get some answers and share my concerns.

Thanks again!

Wow! Thank you very much for sharing your experience with me. Your story has helped me a lot. I will be glad to get it over with, but for the past couple of days I have been thinking of cancelling. Stupid, I know, because the discomfort I have has been there for quite some time. When I saw the gastro, at first he said it was up to me if I had the procedure and that it would probably be 3 - 4 months before I could get the appointment. Then he did an exam and felt it had to be done and as soon as possible. I had the opportunity to have an appointment two days later, but I have to take iron and you are supposed to stop iron 2 weeks before the test. Plus, I wasn't in a position to start the prep at the time I was supposed because of a few appointments and meetings, so I was given an appointment a few weeks later.

I am going to think good thoughts that I will get through this and my experience will be like yours was.

Thanks again!

The preparation was a bit of a hassle, but not painful. The procedure didn't take long, but I was asleep. I'm not one to go under/stay under easily, either. I began to awaken BRIEFLY at one point, but the anesthesiologist handled that IMMEDIATELY. So, it was not a problem.

Thanks so much. Do you know what medication they used to put you out? Was it general anestesia or did you have twilight sedation with Versed.

I feel like such a nut. I've been worrying and obsessing about this for days. I just don't have the tolerance or threshold for pain that I used to and I am scared that it is going to be a painful experience. When I had an endoscope last year, I was given some kind of sedation (according to my doctor's office, it was the same sedation that I will be getting for the colonoscopy) and it did not sedate me at all - not even a little bit. I, actually, pulled the scope out. Needless to say, the doc wasn't particularly impressed with this move LOL. I told his assistant when I spoke with her yesterday that the sedation did not take last time and I am very nervous that I will not be able to tolerate the colonoscopy and all she said was don't worry. I don't even think she relays these messages along to the doctor. I wish I could talk to a nurse who assists in the procedure, but I don't think I can do that until the day of the procedure.

Geez, I am a pathetic chicken!

Hi there! I had one last year the day before I took the day off work sat at home with a couple of good books and waited ... No big deal, I enjoyed having the day at home reading!!

The sedation really helps, I didn't know anything until the Dr was tellling me that all was normal.

Now for the best bit. Before the procedure the nurse brought me a menu to choose something to eat afterwards, having not eaten for two days I was very hungry! Nothing has ever tasted as good as those egg sandwiches, nothing.

Best of luck

Hi,
I had one two years ago and was knocked out so quickly, I didn't hear or feel a thing. The worst was the prep, just uncomfortable, esp. since I have irritable bowel, but it is manageable. My biggest fear, as always is the outcome, not the test. Both my parents had ostomies, so I was worried, but so far, just ibs, and a nervous stomach.

When is your test? I am sure you will be just fine. How about an ipod to listen to music just before to drown put anything anyone may say? It may help ease your nerves.

Good luck.

Thanks so much. I'm hoping my procedure goes as smoothly as yours. I don't want to tick my doctor off (again) if the sedation doesn't take and I can't tolerate the procedure. Someone suggested that I ask that they use a pediatric scope, which may help any discomfort should I come out of the sedation or if it doesn't take. I don't know if I will get a menu to choose something to eat afterwards. That would be nice, but I'm in Canada and we are cheap, so I imagine all I'll get is a glass of juice and a cracker LOL!

Ugh! I am beginning to sound like the biggest chicken around.

Thanks for the reply. What I have been hearing is exactly what you said - the prep is the worst part. It must have been awful with IBS!

My test is on Wednesday, July 2 (next week). I hope everything will go smoothly. I am not the quickest or the easiest to sedate. Thanks for the idea about bringing an ipod. I don't have an ipod, but I do have a walkman, so maybe I can bring it and put a relaxation tape in. That might help. My doctor is nice, but he isn't the warmest person around (hardly smiles), so I don't think I can rely on him to put me at ease LOL. I will let the nurse know when I go in to get prepped how scared I am and, hopefully, they won't be stingy with the sedatives or pain meds.

Anyway, I appreciate your sharing your experience with me.

Take care.

Alley,
I had a colonoscopy a few years ago. The prep before hand was the hardest part. The actual colonoscopy was the easy part. I slept thru the whole thing. It seemed like it was over in a flash. It is not at all painful in any way.

Lavenderladywing

I know you're going to do just fine, alley-oop. You'll get through it (like I did, just last week) and it will be over and done with. I dreaded mine for several years before I knew I couldn't put it off any longer, but I'm glad I did it and that it's over with. You will be, too.

We're here, all cheering you on! {{{{HUGS}}}}

Thanks for the reassurance. I am trying not to continue to get myself worked up. I figure my doctor already thinks I am a nut (after the endoscope incident), so if I freak out during the colonoscopy, he probably won't be surprised.

I am kind of bummed out about the prep because I have to do on my prep on Tuesday, which is a holiday here (Canada Day). There are always all kinds of activities and festivities going on and - boo hoo - I will have to be stuck by a toilet. Oh well, at least it is a holiday and I don't have to take a day off work.

Anyway, I hope mine goes as smoothly as yours went. Thanks again for replying.

[quote name='Sweet Bugaboo' date='Jun 27 2008, 07:02 PM' post='229601']
I know you're going to do just fine, alley-oop. You'll get through it (like I did, just last week) and it will be over and done with. I dreaded mine for several years before I knew I couldn't put it off any longer, but I'm glad I did it and that it's over with. You will be, too.

We're here, all cheering you on! {{{{HUGS}}}}
[/quote

Thanks, Sweet Bugaboo, for the encouragement and reassurance. I think everybody dreads the procedure and then they come away going - hey, that wasn't so bad! I will sure be nice to have it over and done with. And, I will be upfront with the prep nurse about my fears and the fact that I tend not to sedate well or quickly. I have been doing a relaxation tape the past couple of days, so maybe I will be such a noodle by the time I go in that I will be out like a light in a flash. Fingers crossed!

Take care and thanks again.

Hi,

Well, just wanted to let you know that I had my colonoscopy today, and it went very well! I was so nervous, and told the attending nurse that when she was explaining the procedure to me and getting my iv ready for the sedation. The doc came in and gave me the drugs and that's the last thing I remember until woke up in recovery! All that fretting for nothing LOL! Even the prep wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I had to drink the Fleet stuff and it didn't taste too bad, just a bit salty. I didn't get bad cramps or nausea and I wasn't bolting to the washroom like I expected. I am so relieved that it is over.

The doc saw me once I came to and told me everything looked fine except for some diverticulitis, but that was nothing to worry about. No polyps or anthing - Phew!

A huge thanks to all of you who posted and put my mind at ease. It really helped to know what to expect and to hear from others who have been through it. What a great bunch you all are.

Anyway, have a great day everyone.