Colonoscopy, thoughts?

Capt Lightning said:
In the UK, you don't have an anaesthetic, though you can have some mild sedation if you're nervous. For a Colonoscopy you are usually offered 'Entonox' (gas & air) which you can have a whiff of if you need it. It's more uncomfortable than painful and you can watch it on a monitor. No recovery time afterwards. - straight off home.
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That's interesting, I did not want the general anesthetic and asked if it could be done without. I was told no. I always prefer to stay awake if I can. I was sent home shortly after awakening, probably spent a total of 3 hours in the hospital.
PamfromTx said:
Did they take you to the potty to expel LOTS of gas?
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No, not me, but there was nothing fun about any of it... Don't know if I snored or not, I did sleep quite soundly.
 

I am glad you came back with your update, @Macfan

I did wonder and think of you, but I did not ask, in case you had preferred for any reason, not to share more results, here.
Very glad you got it behind you, and have no added worries from results.
 
Hubby's older brother died of bowel cancer that had metastasized to his liver. He was only 44 years old and otherwise very fit and healthy. No symptoms until it was too late. His siblings were advised to have regular colonoscopies from then on. Hubby has had one every five years until recently. At the same time they gave him an endoscopy and discovered helicobacter pylori. If untreated this would have eventually caused a peptic ulcer.

He is sedated for the procedure and needs to be driven home. Worth any discomfit because his younger brother developed stomach cancer and his mother had gut cancer late in life.

I've never had a colonoscopy but for years I did endure mammograms and ultra sound breast examinations. They were never much fun but a wise precaution.
 
Kaila said:
I am glad you came back with your update, @Macfan

I did wonder and think of you, but I did not ask, in case you had preferred for any reason, not to share more results, here.
Very glad you got it behind you, and have no added worries from results.
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Thanks Kaila, I fully intended to return with the update, just needed to recall to do so. I am quite pleased with the results I must say, however, I'm sure it won't be long before I find something else to needlessly worry about :rolleyes:. Thank you for your kind comments, much appreciated. Don...
 
The most embarrassing colonoscopy/endoscopy that I had was when a family member, who had agreed to be my driver, cancelled at the last minute. So I asked a social worker that had helped me here and there, would she mind being my driver after the procedure? When I came out of the anesthesia, I thought I was alone in the room and started freely expelling a lot of gas and belching. When I came fully alert, I rolled over and saw her sitting there. :oops: I had been under the impression that she wouldn't be there in the room, waiting.
 
I think that in the UK they prefer to do as many procedures as possible without the need for anaesthesia. For one, it does away with and possible risks from the anaesthetic or the need for extra specialist personnel. It also it gives the surgeon the chance to explain what is happening in real time.
I've had a hernia operation under a local anaesthetic which I found quite interesting. Mrs. L recently had an angiogram fully awake and said it was fascinating to watch the monitor and see her heart working.
 

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