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I'm back from my colonoscopy! :)

906 Views 30 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  steve712
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Yay! It's over with. No polyps! The doctor said he did not see anything bad or unusual! Before the colonoscopy he said he was going to take some tissue samples to send to the lab, so I have to wait for those results. Afterwards he sent me for some blood tests. He wants me to go back for an upper x-ray (drink chalk and they x-ray it as it goes down) to see if there's a problem there, mostly because of the nausea/lightheadedness I have.For those of you with an upcoming colonoscopy, the worry is for nothing. The first worst part was the prep. The second worst part was the waiting (I had to wait about an hour). I got a cocktail of valium and some kind of narcotic with amnesiac qualities. It kicked in before he even inserted the scope! I remember at one point I told the doc that my tummy felt crampy, and he did something to relieve that, but I have no recollection of how it felt. It took about 20 minutes. I rested for 45 minutes after that and headed to Starbucks!
Honestly, it was better than getting a filling done at the dentist (and I'm the biggest wimp in the world). All I feel now is tired and I've got lots of gas (tummy bloated), but I could go out shopping now if I wanted (well, if the smog warning would subside -- it's very humid here today)!Thanks for all your advice and answers over the past couple of days. It really was a breeze. I wish I had done this a year ago!!!
Fiona
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I'm glad everything went well! Thanks for telling us what you felt/didn't feel/remember/don't remember about the procedure. It's good for those of us who haven't experienced this procedure yet.
I'm glad everything went well! Thanks for telling us what you felt/didn't feel/remember/don't remember about the procedure. It's good for those of us who haven't experienced this procedure yet.
Fiona, thanks so much for telling us how it went. Firstly, glad to know you survived it without too much agro and second that all is well no polyps.I was glad you told us exactly how it felt, especially saying it was not as bad as the dentist.
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Fiona, thanks so much for telling us how it went. Firstly, glad to know you survived it without too much agro and second that all is well no polyps.I was glad you told us exactly how it felt, especially saying it was not as bad as the dentist.
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I stressed over getting one months before I did it. YOu're right: The prep is the worst part!Good job
I stressed over getting one months before I did it. YOu're right: The prep is the worst part!Good job
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Thanks everyone!
My GP suggested I get one last August, so I've been really putting it off. I finally decided to take the plunge 3 weeks ago, but couldn't get an appointment till September. Then I got a phone call Monday with a cancellation, so I (thankfully) only had 3 days to worry. The *cocktail* they gave me was great! It kicked in so quickly! The procedure was fast and I was only 45 min in recovery. What a breeze. I'm kicking myself for not doing this last year. Other than the gassy feeling, which is going away, I feel better than I have in months. A giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The doc is pretty convinced that this is IBS, and I think the way I feel now proves that it probably is, AND that much of it is due to worry. I can't remember much of what he said, but I do remember him saying "You do not have colon cancer or anything serious like that". Yipee!!!
To put some relevance into how painless this test was (at least for women to understand)... I totally freak every year when I have to go for a pap smear (I told you I'm a wimp!). Other than the prep, this was about the same, discomfort-wise, in my opinion.What a relief!!!
Fiona (a brand new woman)
[This message has been edited by Fiona_F (edited 06-28-2001).]
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Thanks everyone!
My GP suggested I get one last August, so I've been really putting it off. I finally decided to take the plunge 3 weeks ago, but couldn't get an appointment till September. Then I got a phone call Monday with a cancellation, so I (thankfully) only had 3 days to worry. The *cocktail* they gave me was great! It kicked in so quickly! The procedure was fast and I was only 45 min in recovery. What a breeze. I'm kicking myself for not doing this last year. Other than the gassy feeling, which is going away, I feel better than I have in months. A giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The doc is pretty convinced that this is IBS, and I think the way I feel now proves that it probably is, AND that much of it is due to worry. I can't remember much of what he said, but I do remember him saying "You do not have colon cancer or anything serious like that". Yipee!!!
To put some relevance into how painless this test was (at least for women to understand)... I totally freak every year when I have to go for a pap smear (I told you I'm a wimp!). Other than the prep, this was about the same, discomfort-wise, in my opinion.What a relief!!!
Fiona (a brand new woman)
[This message has been edited by Fiona_F (edited 06-28-2001).]
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Hi Fiona. It made me laugh when you said you headed to Starbucks after the colonoscopy. When I had my colonoscopy I was advised to eat some soup. So I ate some soup and then a slice of pizza. My adult son said,'the nurse said to eat some soup>." Yes, I DID"." Now I am having the pizza". LOL. It's like your intuition tells you what is okay to eat. I am happy for you. See you.
Hi Fiona. It made me laugh when you said you headed to Starbucks after the colonoscopy. When I had my colonoscopy I was advised to eat some soup. So I ate some soup and then a slice of pizza. My adult son said,'the nurse said to eat some soup>." Yes, I DID"." Now I am having the pizza". LOL. It's like your intuition tells you what is okay to eat. I am happy for you. See you.
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Isn't it awful what we do to ourselves?My colonoscopy is on Monday and I'm dreading Sunday evening with a passion.I know I'll make it through but thinking about it is just too much at times.I'm glad all went well for you and pray the biopsies are negative, too.
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Isn't it awful what we do to ourselves?My colonoscopy is on Monday and I'm dreading Sunday evening with a passion.I know I'll make it through but thinking about it is just too much at times.I'm glad all went well for you and pray the biopsies are negative, too.
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Hi Lucia,Yes, it's funny how well we treat ourselves after something like that. The weird thing is I can't even tolerate coffee usually. Even decaf. It usually makes me feel lightheaded. I had a large decaf and a delicious cinnamon bun. I took them home though, just in case I had to go quickly. I had no bad effects from either of them, in fact yesterday after the colonoscopy I felt better than I have in a long time.I slept off and on during the evening though, probably from the sedation. Once I got rid of the gas (the nurse suggested clear tea, which helped), my tummy felt normal again. The gas wasn't all that bad either - no worse than after a pig-out at Taco Bell.
Fiona
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Hi Lucia,Yes, it's funny how well we treat ourselves after something like that. The weird thing is I can't even tolerate coffee usually. Even decaf. It usually makes me feel lightheaded. I had a large decaf and a delicious cinnamon bun. I took them home though, just in case I had to go quickly. I had no bad effects from either of them, in fact yesterday after the colonoscopy I felt better than I have in a long time.I slept off and on during the evening though, probably from the sedation. Once I got rid of the gas (the nurse suggested clear tea, which helped), my tummy felt normal again. The gas wasn't all that bad either - no worse than after a pig-out at Taco Bell.
Fiona
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Hi Collie,Nothing we say will make you any less fearful of the colonoscopy, but it really was so easy. I saw the doc with the scope in his hand, but was out like a light before I had the chance to feel him insert it.This morning's D was pretty gross though, but after the prep I guess my tummy is still a little odd.After the test you will laugh at yourself for all the worrying you did for nothing!All the best for Monday! Or, I should say all the best for your Sunday prep, as Monday will be so easy.Fiona
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Hi Collie,Nothing we say will make you any less fearful of the colonoscopy, but it really was so easy. I saw the doc with the scope in his hand, but was out like a light before I had the chance to feel him insert it.This morning's D was pretty gross though, but after the prep I guess my tummy is still a little odd.After the test you will laugh at yourself for all the worrying you did for nothing!All the best for Monday! Or, I should say all the best for your Sunday prep, as Monday will be so easy.Fiona
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Glad to hear it went well for you. I know how worried I was when before I had mine also. The test itself WAS not bad at all to go through; but I did mind the preparation because I got very sick on that "stuff." But you're right -- anyone who hasn't had a colonoscopy really has nothing to fear about the test itself.
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