Really worried about colonscopy :-(

[dreamdesire]

Ive been booked in for a colonscopy in 2 weeks time but im sooo nervous, i suffer from anxiety so this is going to be really hard for me. i was just wanting to know what its like. does it hurt? can you feel it going in? would my mam be allowed to stay with me?? and also ive heard that you get gassy and they make you release it, is this true?
thanks x

 

[lotte26]

Hi there!
You poor thing, I know how you feel believe me.
Honestly, the less you freak out about it the better it will be. You can always ask to go under general anasthetic but they may not cover that. I get my colonoscopies under general because I have insurance that covers it (mostly), plus I had a bad experience, mind you the person who did my colonoscopy was a trainee AND my bowels were spasming badly because of the laxatives. Hopefully you have a GI doing yours. If you have someone with experience do it it will be a walk in the park.
Last time I had a colonoscopy I wasn't that gassy, I just did one huge fart and that seemed to be it.. But you can get gassy, but honestly don't worry about it. No one will care!

Anyway try not to worry (easier said than done I know!),

Good luck!

 

[LottieB]

I have had 2 colonoscopies. The first one wasn't very nice as I had no pain relief. I told my consultant I would never let him do that again!

The second time he promised me it would be fine - I was given pethidine and it really was fine. Pethidine seems to distort the time things take and it was all over before I realised, and I felt no pain or discomfort at all.

So my advice, if it's not being done under general anaesth. is to request pethidine and you'll be fine. Good luck! the worst thing is starving yourself the day before lol :hug:

 

[Lisa]

I've lost track of how many I have had done...at my old GI's office, they used to leave a small tube to let extra air escape after the procedure...not very dignified, but hey it worked! My current GI doesn't leave much air in at all.....no problems with that.

Last thing I usually remember is watching the propofol start to get dispensed into the IV...then nothing until I wake up in recovery!.....

 

[Toni117]

I have had so many colonoscopies I lost count. Many use "conscious sedtation, which is usually a combo of versed and demerol or fentinyl. That's what I have and I don't remember anything before or afterwards--it's great. There is no need to go through this without some sedation/pain relief. Hope this helps!

 

[lola99]

Colonoscopies are a breeze. Nothing to be worried about. I've had two and both went fine. You'll never know they were even in there. When they say you have to release the gas before you leave its no big deal. Your pretty much out of it for that and all that means is you have to pass a bunch of gas before you can go. Everyone does it. With my first they gave me too much meds and i threw up but the second one it went great and I felt back to my old self by a couple hours after the procedure. The worst part is just the prep beforehand. But you'll get through it and then you wont have to do it for a long time. Oh ps they went down my throat too and i couldn't even tell they did that either.

 

[zye]

Nothing to worry about, I had my first colonoscopy as well as endoscopy last month. The worst part is the prep from what I've heard, for mine I didn't do any prep as I hadn't eaten any solids in 4 days or so anyways and drinking anything hurt too bad.

The actual procedure is no worse than getting an IV, I had to get fluids and stuff first since I hadn't been able to drink. But all I remember is laying down on the table, the doctor asked me where I would go if I could vacation anywhere, injected some anesthesia-stuff into my IV line when I wasn't looking then 10-15 seconds later I passed out. I could hear/was semi-aware during parts and I think I tried to mumble something when they were during my endoscopy, but I felt no pain or anything. I woke up in the recovery area, they took vitals and had me stay laying down for a few and I had a little gas but after that I would have had no idea they had stuck tubes inside both ends.

No one else is allowed in the procedure room but my Dad was allowed to stay the entire time I was getting fluids and see me immediately after I woke up.