Colonoscopy: has anyone had one…

The standard practice here is for what is called "twilight anesthesia " that makes you feel sleepy but allows you to respond to questions being asked by the medical team in the room. For those that have not had a scope, remember that the pre op bowel cleaning liquid process MUST be followed properly, or the scope results will result in poor images. The bowel liquid lavage has to be drunk during the day/evening before the procedure, to fully flush out ALL the feces in the entire digestive tract. You will be spending a lot of time sitting on the toilet passing liquid feces.

Do not drink any liquid that is red or orange during the bowel prep period, because it could be seen as being blood in the bowel system. The instructions on the bowel lavage plastic jug will tell you exactly what to do, and more importantly what NOT to do in order to get the best results during your scope procedure. You will be drinking about 4 quarts of the bowel flush liquid over a 12 hour period of time, to get a squeeky clean lower bowel tract.

How do I know all this ? About 5 scopes over a 5 year period of time, due to chronic bowel flare ups. My most recent scope used a new procedure, a much less invasive process with a CT scan combined with an inflation of the lower bowel using a short 4 inch tube inserted into the rectum. The lower bowel is gently inflated with an inert gas, while the CT scanner records the views of the lower bowel. Takes about 15 minutes and the visual results are better than the traditional methods. Ask your Gastro M.D if that new procedure is appropriate for yourself ? Jimb.
 
I’ve had numerous colonoscopies with sedation. The problem I’m having is lack of transportation. That’s why I was asking if they are terribly painful without sedation.
 
Oldntired said:
Was it painful? I’ve heard yes and no.
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No pain. You sleep or just exist in a state of drowsy unawareness during the entire procedure. The procedure itself is therefore not a big deal. The prep is a nuisance. But, I have talked to a colon cancer survivor. Trust me. You do not want to get this disease. If having a colonoscopy makes you feel funny, imagine having a little bag you get to empty a few times a day. And the living with the risk that the cancer may come back at any time.
 
Oldntired said:
I’ve had numerous colonoscopies with sedation. The problem I’m having is lack of transportation. That’s why I was asking if they are terribly painful without sedation.
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Ask about being able to stay afterwards for a few hours, to recover from the effects of the anesthesia. Being able to sit or recline for 4 or 5 hours post op should be possible. Have the twilight anesthesia, and relax for a few hours, until you are judged able to go home, by the nursing staff.

About transportation...Call your County government office and ASK for help to get to and from the medical appointment. OR call your city or town hall and ASK for help. OR call the local VFW or American Legion hall and ASK for help. Or call a local taxi company, or call the local churches for help. JimB.
 
Oldntired said:
That’s what I’m afraid of.
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She had all the previous ones with sedation. Then at 78 when she arrived for one the anesthesiologist said because of her severe COPD he would only do it without. He told her getting colon cancer was the least of her worries but if she really wanted it then it had to be without sedation. I would have left at that point.

I also don’t intend to do one at that age because of the risk of them perforating your lining because it thins with age. Most people die if this happens. Everything is a trade off.
 
Oldntired said:
I’m needing a colonoscopy but cannot find transportation.
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I feel for you. The worst part of my colonoscopy was trying to find transportation because the doctor office required the transporting person to stay the whole time, so I could not take a bus or an Uber/cab.

Do you have any friends you could ask? I asked mere acquaintances and one old lady (much older than me) offered to take me, but I didn't want to impose and so when someone said there was a guy that advertised in the paper (local senior community paper) that he could be hired, I called him. He was $45 an hour if I remember correctly. I forget exactly how long it took, probably three hours total, maybe 4. Anyway it was a chunk of money but I'm glad I hired him (especially several months later when my budget has long ago absorbed and recovered from the expense).
 
I woke up in the middle of mine. Fortunately, before I felt much of anything they gave me 40% more sedation and it did its job. Yes, I was happy to be out of it. Oh yeah, the doctor told me it really wasn't a true sedative, but something that let me follow doctor commands, but I just wouldn't remember any of it until they revived me after the procedure.
 
I live in Oklahoma on the Arkansas border and I have not been able to find a doctor who is willing to do it without sedation. I don't have anyone to drive me either. I would do it in a heart beat if I could find a willing doctor. If you have one I would love to have their name.
 
The rigid sigmoidoscopy was extremely uncomfortable. Should have been given the flex sigmoidoscopy.

Colonoscopies were performed under sedation. The worst part was taking the prep liquid .. however, the prep I was given in Australia was so much easier to take, and they allowed sugar barley lollies.
 
A year or so before he passed, my husband had his first...at my insistence. He had put it off for years due to a prior issue with sedation causing issues with his asthma. So he talked it over with the colo/rectal doctor before scheduling. Doc did some research, and used a different sedation....which was lighter.
Good news, no issues.....better news, they found colon cancer and he had surgery. Doctor said it would have been much worse had he neglected the screening.

BTW...Ricks death had nothing to do with his cancer...doctor got it all.
 
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I've had 2 Colonoscopies. The first one they found cancer and was scheduled for keyhole surgery. They took out 14 cm of my bowel and was home in 4 days. The next one I had was to confirm the 'all-clear' - and now I'm to have another one within 4 months just to check everything is okay. Here in Australia, they won't allow you to drive yourself home, somebody must pick you up.
 
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