[MartyG]

Could use a little bit of friendly help around now. I am a long time IBSer. Diagnosed with UC in '59, but never had another bout of it. Diagnosed with IBS-D from the 60's on through. Had some small bright blood in stool and on TP recently, rushed to family doctor and then made appointment with new GI doc.Saw GI doctor on Wednesday, he did a manual exam, hemacult test, no blood, but said I should consider colonscopy, due to my age and previous history.Now, I really have stomach problems. Noisy, diarrhea, gassy, etc (talked out tied up in knots). I have had BE's before (3 times) but never a colonscopy. Really fearful that something will go wrong....(they'll poke a hole in me) or I won't wake up, or worse.....Can anyone please give me good sound advice on how I can work to bring my anxiety levels down and go forward with this.I am not a young kid. I know what I must do and have faced many challenges before and do not like being "scared to death"

by this procedure. This is not something I can control at this point. I know "just do it", but would really appreciate words of wisdom.Thanks.

 

[Stillnaked]

Marty, I am in the same boat, I am scared too. Other people have told me it's nothing, but I am not looking forward to it!Laurie

 

[Isis5244]

Hi MartyG,I had my first colonoscopy last summer, and I was very nervous about it too. Really, the risks are low, it's done quite routinely. The most discomfort I felt was during the prep, not from the procedure itself. They put me into a "twilight sleep" with a combination of Versid and something else I can't remember. I recovered from that without the usual nausea caused by other anesthesias I've had. They tell me I was awake during the procedure, but I don't remember a thing. I also have a hemorrhoid that I expected would be raw irritated and bleeding afterward, but it wasn't at all.I have IBS-C, and despite all the time I spent on the toilet before the procedure, I actually felt better than I had in months after being cleaned out from the prep. By the time I arrived at the hospital that morning, I knew something positive would come out of this no matter what the results were. If they found nothing, fine, that's the best possible result. If however something was wrong, knowing about it gives me the power to do something about it.I wish you luck!

 

[MartyG]

StillNaked:Have you scheduled yet??

 

[hellmom629]

please dont worry ! i have had 3 of them.the nastiest part is the prep. and the coming out of it ( i was incredibly nauseous the third time, but it hink that was dehydration).they drug you up and you are out of it. its over before it begins. please ask them to give you a little "something" if you are feeling nervous in the morning. i always do that, as operations freak me out too. they make you so much more comfortable. dont think you are being a wuss for asking for a valium.its very nice tohave this test done, cause it really rules out all the really scary stuff. and if results are negative you probably will never have to have another one. the only reason i have had three is because i kept going to different specialists who all wanted tpo "see" for themselves.hang in there, its really nothing to worry about. i have never heard of a complication.

 

[Stillnaked]

Yes, I'm scheduled for the first of July!Laurie

 

[MartyG]

HellMom:Thank you so much for your words. Even when you know that the fear does not have a firm basis, it is not easy to reign in.Guess I am not sure if its only the procedure or possible "bad" results that I fear. Maybe both.

 

[overitnow]

Marty,You're going to be fine. (((Hugs))) You'll see.Mark

 

[androsine]

My colonoscopy was last month. I remembered being scared for the two weeks leading up to the thing. The day before the test I was so nervous I didn't do anything that day. Finally the time came to take the Golylite and 1hr and 30 mins later the bowel movements started. It didn't hurt at all and it lasted three hours. Afterwards I drank a lot of water and went to bed. The next day I went to the Doctor all scared and nervous. They brought me in to the changing room, then the prep room where they gave me my IV and walk me to the precedure room. Still scared I babled on and on. The doctor introduced herself and gave me a shot that knocked me out in 10 secs. I then woke up sometime later with no memory what happened. I was gasey, but no pain. I actually felt great. Later that day I had some soup and went to bed that night. The next day I was back to normal. I wasted one to two weeks worrying about it when it wasn't bad at all. If I had to do it again I wouldn't worry at all. You'll be Fine

 

[androsine]

P.S. You want to have some sort of baby wipes with lotion for your bottom. After awhile the TP can chafe. Make sure they are alcohol free and not the anti-bacterial type. Good Luck!

 

[california123]

Hi Marty,My brother-in-law had one this week. He said it was no problem at all. But the real secret was he took the pills for prep, not the liquid mix--sorry I don't know the name. My sister used the liquid and said it tasted like swamp water and then found out pills were availabe though not all doctors offer them. But at least with the pills, you get to pick the water you're drinking. With IBS-D however, I can't imagine the prep being any worse than a bad attack. Good luck, you'll be fine.

 

[lisak64]

Just had mine last week. Prep tasted terrible but tolerable. I drank the phospho soda. I used A & D ointment (like desitine) for (diaper like) rash. Healed right up over night. I told them I needed extra knock - out drugs due to fear factor and a lot of pain. They complied and it went just fine. I did not have any queazzies when I woke up. I have had severe IBS-D with a lot of pain for over 20 years. They took biopsies and cut out a polyp. Bowels were a little disrupted for about 5 days after. Then everything went back to the normal aggravation of IBS. Best of luck.Lisa

 

[KatieCC]

Marty... if you have UC, even if it's not active, you are supposed to get scoped EVERY YEAR to be screened for colon cancer! UC greatly increases your risk for colon cancer, and the risk goes up every year. Kate

 

[BARRETT]

I Had one done 5 years ago and I watched the whole thing on a monitor. I guess If there had been a problem they would have put me out more. I don't like the feeling of losing control so I was glad I was awake. I am schedule for July 23rd. The prep time is the worse for me. I will say a prayer for you.Barrett

 

[2old4this]

I had a colonoscopy a couple of months ago, and was petrified....Flex sigs are agony for me so I figured the Big One had to be worse. NOT SO!!I remember nothing past the first drop of the anaesthesia. Incidentally, prep instructions from the GI people at my HMO included a suggestion to get Vitamin A&D ointment for the burning and rawness from the prep, and it worked very well. Good luck and God Bless.

 

[dbains2k]

Marty, I know how you feel (at least kind of). I'm having a colonscopy done in about 4 days, and I'm very nervous about it, though coming to this board has made me feel a little bit better.

 

[MartyG]

Katie:I do thank you for your reply, but of course, those words just seem to put much more fear in me. I have had several barium enemas during the 60's and 70's and the UC was gone, diagnosis at that time was muscous colitis or spastic colitis. Never had another episode since 1959. There have been cases (my GI doctor told me) where there is only one incident and it is gone.

 

[Buffs4U2]

You really have nothing to fear. I had a colonoscopy done last year and I'm having another one next week (due to blood when I have a BM).It is a little uncomfortable, but nothing that feels any worse than IBS symptoms. You will be just fine.take care!

 

[Sean]

Marty, a colonoscopy is no fun, but nothing to fear either. I would classify it as more of an inconvenience. I had my second one yesterday morning, and actually did it without sedation. I am very busy with my work and did not want to take the day off, so my gastroenterologist was flexible enough to let me start without sedation. I had the I.V. inserted, so I could get the meds if I asked for them. I was able to tolerate the entire procedure well without any meds at all. It was uncomfortable at two or three spots when the scope went around bends in my colon, but the discomfort lasted only a few seconds, and I was never in any actual pain. I was able to carry on a casual conversation with my doctor and the nurse. I think they were both a little surprised at how well it went. Relaxing is the key to the whole thing.My first colonoscopy five years ago was with sedation. I remember very little from that other than pressure when the scope rounded the same bends. With the drugs, there is no discomfort at all -- just a slight feeling of pressure. I don't remember most of it. The big advantage of doing the colonoscopy without sedation is that I did not lose the day. I got right up off of the table in the procedure room and walked out of the hospital. I was in my office and working on my cases by 10 AM after stopping for breakfast. With sedation, I would have been homebound recovering for the rest of the day and unable to drive. Everyone will tell you that the prep is the worst part and that is definitely true. You literally get washed out from the liquid diet and laxatives. By the morning of the procedure, you will be pretty tired and hungry, but it is certainly bearable. I had to do a two day prep because I have severe constipation. Even doing that, the nurses in the prep area decided that I probably wasn't clean enough and got orders for enemas before I went into the procedure room. Even after several enemas, the doctor said that the prep was just barely adequate. The moral of that story is to take the prep very seriously and do it right. I did everything they told me, but still almost had the procedure cancelled.You will be fine. Just try not to worry about it. Sean

 

[RitaLucy]

Marty,I have had 2 of them and the first time around I was petrified. In fact I was so terrified at the thought of it that I put it off for a very long time. All the time during which I put it off I worried myself sick at the unknown thoughts that we put ourselves through.I recently had another colonoscopy and this time it was even easier due to the latest prep. I only had to consume 4 oz. vs. 1 gallon of prep.I would say with your symptoms and with your age that you really should have one done. I would suggest taking the precautionary steps that we all have to take. Making sure you have a good Dr., a good hospital or clinic...etc.You will be out during the procedure and won't remember or feel a thing. It is the anticipation that is much worse. Afterwards, there is virtually no pain or discomfort either. For me the hardest part was the IV because I have hard veins to find. My arm was sore for a couple of days afterward but I can remember leaving the hospital after both my colonoscopies and going shopping and for something to eat.It is ok to be afraid..Just don't let your fear control you into making the wrong decision about this test...Have it done...it will give you peace of mind to do so.Best of Luck!!!