Are colonoscopies necessary?

[stylinmama]

Just what the title says. I recent had an MRI in November that showed where all the inflammation is. It showed no polyps no growths or tumours. So why am I to also have a colonoscopy? I ask because I'm TERRIFIED. I don't want a perforated bowel or a blood clot weeks later caused by GA. the prep doesn't scare me at all, the procedure on the other hand has me anxious and nauseous and breaking into cold sweats every time I think about it and I'm not even in the hospita yet.

 

[FrozenGirl]

Have you had one before? If so and recently (within the year) then you're probably okay baring any serious changes.

If you haven't sadly true answer is yes. Rest assured the rate of bowel perf is very low. Feel free to ask your doc about his stats. Also you don't have to have GA. A lot of people (myself included) have conscious sedation where you are awake but really relaxed and calm (plus pain relief) or asleep but easily awakened when they want you to by pressure etc. Some people even do it with no sedation at all but I wouldn't recommend that. But basically you have options. The prep is the hardest part. Past that it's an easy sail.

 

[stylinmama]

Thanks for the reply! I've actually never had one as I vomit the prep up every time. This time I'm on a different prep but absolutely terrified of the procedure. Like completely and totally terrified and I have a feeling (based on past experiences in high stress situations) that I will come completely unglued before they're able to drug me.

 

[ronroush7]

Have you had one before? If so and recently (within the year) then you're probably okay baring any serious changes.

If you haven't sadly true answer is yes. Rest assured the rate of bowel perf is very low. Feel free to ask your doc about his stats. Also you don't have to have GA. A lot of people (myself included) have conscious sedation where you are awake but really relaxed and calm (plus pain relief) or asleep but easily awakened when they want you to by pressure etc. Some people even do it with no sedation at all but I wouldn't recommend that. But basically you have options. The prep is the hardest part. Past that it's an easy sail.[/QUOTE
Yes

 

[cranachann]

Yes they are very nessesary and if a Dr says that you need one you should get it.

I've had 2, my dad has 3 and my mum has had 2. (All for different reasons.)
All of them went alright and afterwards there were no adverse effects at all.
Not one of us got a perforated bowel or a blood clot.
I had a general anaesthetic for my second one purely through my own choice as I asked for it.
The Dr's generally prefer you to have the medicine that sediates you, but as it really disagree with me I asked for the GA. Which I much preferred and liked.
You maybe a little scared and daunted but it is usually a very very safe procedure.

I've know a few people who have had a general anaesthetic no on has ever had any problems afterwards ever, if you are worried you don't need to get it, or ask your Dr as it's very unlikely that anything bad would come from getting a general anaesthetic.

So in my imedaite family we have had 7 in total between 3 people with not 1 adverse after effect. There is always a worse case senireo but it usually is just that the worst case and very very uncommon.

Always consult your doctor always take there advice as all advice is different from paient to paient as no one case is the same. If they are telling you that there is little to no risk take comfort in that because they are usually right.
You do sound a little bit terrified it is easy to say but try to relax a little as the stress from worrying will harm you health a lot more than one colonosmy.

I hope that all goes well for you.

 

[JaimeM]

I've had 5 colonoscopies and 2 EGDs. I'm 30. They are a great way to actually visualize the bowel. With an MRI you can't actually see what the tissue looks like, you just see inflammation and where it is. With a colonoscopy they can take samples of the tissue and make sure nothing like cancer is forming, or abnormal cells. Basically it's just different information than an MRI can tell. They are both very useful tools in diagnosing the severity and activity of your Crohns.


Also the best prep I've found is the moviprep. It's not terrible in taste and was fairly gentle on my gut. Worst was by far the golytley.

 

[Salad_Shooter]

I've had so many scopes, I can't even count them, and never had a problem after except for passing "air".

You can request something to be taken an hour or so prior to going in for the scope, or when you get there, prior to going into the room for the scope.....in addition to whatever they're going to use to sedate you. It's usually a tiny dose of something. Let them know beforehand how terrified you are. Get them to talk with you...AND to give you a little something to calm your nerves. These guys do scopes all the time. They're used to first timers' terrors.

The risk of perforation is very, very low. The worst part of having a scope is the prep.

 

[Tubes]

I've had 4 to 6 scopes a year since I was 12 I'm currently 33 it's no big deal the prep is soooooo much better now than it was then,it's just 2 days of going slightly more and some gas.Get it done just to be safe.

 

[Tubes]

I've had 5 colonoscopies and 2 EGDs. I'm 30. They are a great way to actually visualize the bowel. With an MRI you can't actually see what the tissue looks like, you just see inflammation and where it is. With a colonoscopy they can take samples of the tissue and make sure nothing like cancer is forming, or abnormal cells. Basically it's just different information than an MRI can tell. They are both very useful tools in diagnosing the severity and activity of your Crohns.


Also the best prep I've found is the moviprep. It's not terrible in taste and was fairly gentle on my gut. Worst was by far the golytley.

Golytley still gives me nightmares.I can still taste it.

 

[smt]

I encourage you to take the colonoscopy.

The preparation is a little difficult, but generally speaking the risks are low. It is uncomfortable, but not excruciating.

If you go to the hospital I did last March, the colonoscopy technician would bark at you (after you sign documents in a petrified state) to keep calm, and then when the scope is over to "get up on one's feet and move out of the room. "