Post trauma following colonoscopy

[bettyboop12]

Hi

I added this to begin with from my other thread but wanted to throw this out to the community.

Thanks to who responded so far.

I had my colonoscopy yesterday and went well as it could. I was fairly positive beforehand and had no sedation or anything as part of my procedure. All I could think about was eating afterwards!

Anyway, it is my second one done and my first one was 10 years ago. I do remember being quite teary the next day after the colonoscopy 10 years ago and today I'm feeling the same.

I know it needed to be done and it's the best way for a surveillance but it's so invasive and personal i feel almost violated! Quite low and teary today again.

It's as if I'm post traumatic following the procedure and wondered if anyone else had the same experience?

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Honestly I have been poked and prodded have had whole medical teams of surgeons, GI's and students look and touch every part of my body. I am immune to it, I just don't care anymore and only seek to get better.

I am out for the procedure and this is their job its not by any means sexual for them, they are just seeing what's going on in your guts.

I'm a guy so maybe my take is different but I feel no issue with it but can sympathize with you. Please know you aren't being taken advantage of and its in your own best interest.

 

[Beach bum]

I personally felt ok after my colonoscopy , I was glad that they had finally taken a look and knew what was what.
But actually during the procedure I got really upset, now it could have been too much gas and air making me cry (a bit like can happen when you are drunk) Or it could have been the fact that it makes everything so real. Not much chance of denying you are ill when you can see it on the screen and a Doc has a camera up there.
It is understandable you feel emotional about it, but don't be too hard on yourself and it will pass.

 

[bettyboop12]

The procedure hurt a bit but I expected that. I knew that they would be poking and sticking things up but I guess cause it does not happen often I feel kind of weird. I saw everything on the screen and they were all very nice to me.

I guess as it is out of the norm for me, it feels kind of weird. My own gi did it so I knew him well. I think the first time since I was in denial about the whole thing and today I just feel all over the place. It has made it real and I think it's a shock to my system and a horrible reminder what I need to go through as part of this disease.

 

[guest78]

I have had the same and required counselling with a special IBD councillor. I basically had PTSD following my flexi. It was done with very little sedation and I was awake and alert throughout. I do have peri anal crohns so the process of having anything go near that area was appalling. It was awful, I felt out of control and almost violated.
I have since had to have one and refused to have it done without full sedation.
I think I am not the norm, but it just shows the after effects that these things can cause!

 

[Essieluv]

Oh hun, I know the feeling. I've had so many cameras and crap stuck up my bum, and now I'm just used to it. But when it first started it was all so new and foreign that I got so upset! I, too, felt almost violated. The important thing to remember is that it is over now. You did it, and got through the worst part. Now you just have to try and remember that it is all strictly medical, not sexual in any way. Those doctors don't even care about that stuff, they just want to see your guts. It's hard, but you just gotta keep your chin up. You'll feel better soon I promise. And if you feel like you need to cry, then go ahead and cry. Do something special for yourself today, maybe have a nice cup of tea or a special treat. You deserve it! Go ahead and pamper yourself.

 

[elisacats]

I've also had a sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy without sedation. And I felt the same way, I kept having flash backs of the procedures. Neither were painful (just uncomfortable), it was just there were 5 other people in the room and I felt humilated. Just remember that they do these procedures all the time so don't feel embarrassed. And next time ask for sedation if your worried. I've got another one next week (3rd this year!).

 

[bettyboop12]

Gosh, I feel really assured I'm not alone on this one. I too keep having flash backs for some reason. Part of me wanted to be awake so I know everything they are doing.. Guess I can't win really!

I just feel like it's my bum and it's personal to me! I guess I will have to get used to that. I can't imagine having one of these every year...let alone 3 .

Thanks for your support and responses given. I'm also very aware of what I eat now, seeing the your insides makes it kind of real, think I will stay off wine for a while

 

[Axelfl3333]

I,ve had 2,3 colonoscopies there never pleasant I feel kinda lucky that my squeamish bone is tiny I just had pain relief and treated the whole thing as if it was a fly on the wall documentary maybe that would help it was pretty much the same with endoscopies as well.just try to remember for the staff it's another day at the office the won,t deliberately do any harm don,t think about it,don,t pick at it,forget it.good luck

 

[bettyboop12]

I have had cameras down my throat and didn't think about it at all afterwards. For some reason I felt different about this one.

Feeling a little better and I think it's because time has passed and the details are not as clear.

I did think don't pick at it, don't think about it and forget it this morning, in fact that was my motto for the day day axel so thanks for that!

I think may be it was because it was quite painful and they had to switch person doing it as the first person was giving me so much pain, may be that didn't help.

 

[lsgs]

The first colonoscopy I had I felt weird, I didn't know how I was going to be able to make eye contact with my gastroenterologist after he had been 'inside me' for want of a better term :-/

Now I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me anymore. It's a means to an end that isn't pleasant for doctor or patient!