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In about a month or so I will be put to sleep for a colonoscopy and endoscopy to see what's wrong with me. I have never been put to sleep before and I'm very nervous about it, so much to the point that I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it. The thought of having a drug put inside of me and not knowing how it will react, and being asleep the whole time is just scary to me. I've heard some pretty nasty stories about being placed under versed and it wasn't all pretty. Propofol is the alternative, but now days they just want to do both at the same time. I don't want to be awake for a nightmare I can't control.
Also, has anyone ever had a GI that when you told him your symptoms and how long you have dealt with it before seeing a doctor, they treated you as if you had this impending doom over your head? Both my GI doctors have and I really don't like it. My insurance company I had made it impossible for me to get my scopes because they wanted me to pay for them all up front, which I couldn't do. Then my doctor acts like I'm just irresponsible for waiting so long. *frustration*.
Thanks.
Nervous About the Scopes
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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solisspirit
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 5:22 am
- Location: USA
Hi Solisspirit,
There's really nothing to worry about. It's not like you have to actively participate, or give a speech or anything.
The clean out prep for the colonoscopy is the worst part, by far. Compared with that, the procedure itself is a walk in the park.
As Lori said, it's a good time to just relax and enjoy a brief snooze.
Tex
There's really nothing to worry about. It's not like you have to actively participate, or give a speech or anything.
The clean out prep for the colonoscopy is the worst part, by far. Compared with that, the procedure itself is a walk in the park.As Lori said, it's a good time to just relax and enjoy a brief snooze.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Solisspirit,
I've had propofol for both the colonoscopies/endoscopy I had. It's great; you are out before you know it, and wake right up with no lingering effects. I felt good enough to go out to breakfast right after. So, I say, tell the doc you'd prefer the propofol. Also, I'd tell the doc it wasn't your choice to wait for the procedures, and that he/she should call your insurance company if he/she wants to chastise someone. I'd have zero patience with that.
I've had propofol for both the colonoscopies/endoscopy I had. It's great; you are out before you know it, and wake right up with no lingering effects. I felt good enough to go out to breakfast right after. So, I say, tell the doc you'd prefer the propofol. Also, I'd tell the doc it wasn't your choice to wait for the procedures, and that he/she should call your insurance company if he/she wants to chastise someone. I'd have zero patience with that.
Suze
Hi Solisspirit,
I have to echo what the others have said. I was very sick with LC when I went for my colonoscopy and endoscope. I tolerated drinking the gallon of Go Lytely by putting a green apple Jolly Rancher between my teeth then sucking down my cupful of Go lytely with a straw. At least the Jolly Rancher gave it a better flavor. I was so tired and nauseated when it was time for my procedure (due to LC). Like everyone said, you basically take a nice nap and wake up with no bad effects. The last thing I remember is them having me try the mouth piece to make sure it was the right size. I remember telling the nurse it was comfortable..... and the next thing I know I'm in the recovery area with a couple of nurses and gradually waking up. Done! In fact I felt better coming out of the procedure than I did going in. Seriously! I agree with Tex, the prep is worse than the procedure. I won't dread my next one.
I hope hearing others experiences calms your anxiety.
Carol
I have to echo what the others have said. I was very sick with LC when I went for my colonoscopy and endoscope. I tolerated drinking the gallon of Go Lytely by putting a green apple Jolly Rancher between my teeth then sucking down my cupful of Go lytely with a straw. At least the Jolly Rancher gave it a better flavor. I was so tired and nauseated when it was time for my procedure (due to LC). Like everyone said, you basically take a nice nap and wake up with no bad effects. The last thing I remember is them having me try the mouth piece to make sure it was the right size. I remember telling the nurse it was comfortable..... and the next thing I know I'm in the recovery area with a couple of nurses and gradually waking up. Done! In fact I felt better coming out of the procedure than I did going in. Seriously! I agree with Tex, the prep is worse than the procedure. I won't dread my next one.
I hope hearing others experiences calms your anxiety.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
I AGREE WITH ALL WHO SAY THE PREP IS THE WORSE PART, EVEN THAT IS TOLERABLE, AND I'M A SISSY.
WENT OFF TO SLEEP, JUST CLOSED MY PEEPERS, AND HEY PRESTO ....ALL OVER...
HAD A REALLY GOOD LAUGH AT THE GAS THAT WAS BEING PASSED INDISCRIMINATELY, BY EVERYONE IN RECOVERY.
HEY ITS NOT ALL BAD, LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU.
IT NICE TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOUR INSIDES, AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT.
BE BRAVE, SOON ALL OVER.
REGARDS TO YOU
MARIE
WENT OFF TO SLEEP, JUST CLOSED MY PEEPERS, AND HEY PRESTO ....ALL OVER...
HAD A REALLY GOOD LAUGH AT THE GAS THAT WAS BEING PASSED INDISCRIMINATELY, BY EVERYONE IN RECOVERY.
HEY ITS NOT ALL BAD, LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU.
IT NICE TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOUR INSIDES, AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT.
BE BRAVE, SOON ALL OVER.
REGARDS TO YOU
MARIE
jmg
Regarding doctors and their attitudes: While this certainly doesn't apply to all MDs, some of them apparently either love to scare their patients, or else they prefer to err on the side of the worst-case scenario. Both options are totally tactless, as far as I'm concerned.
When my MC symptoms originally really got going good (IOW, when they got bad enough to convince me to go see a doctor), the first thing my doctor did was to examine me and tell me that I had a tumor in my colon the size of a man's fist, and he shook his fist in front of my face to emphasize his point. The GI specialist he sent me to agreed with his diagnosis.
Guess what? They were both wrong.
5 years later (8 years ago, now), I had to have energency abdominal surgery to remove an obstruction in my sigmoid colon (a stenosis). Several doctors at the hospital examined me, and they all told me that I had cancer (based on palpating my gut).
Guess what? They were all wrong. It was just a benign stenosis, caused by diverticular colitis (my opinion). Of course, they had never heard of diverticular colitis, so their official final diagnosis was acute diverticulitis.
The fact that I didn't have any diverticulitis symptoms at the time, apparently didn't mean anything to them.
So don't let anyone in a white coat spook you. When they make statements such as that, they're only guessing, and based on my experience, doctors seem to be very poor guessers.
Tex
When my MC symptoms originally really got going good (IOW, when they got bad enough to convince me to go see a doctor), the first thing my doctor did was to examine me and tell me that I had a tumor in my colon the size of a man's fist, and he shook his fist in front of my face to emphasize his point. The GI specialist he sent me to agreed with his diagnosis.
Guess what? They were both wrong.
5 years later (8 years ago, now), I had to have energency abdominal surgery to remove an obstruction in my sigmoid colon (a stenosis). Several doctors at the hospital examined me, and they all told me that I had cancer (based on palpating my gut).
Guess what? They were all wrong. It was just a benign stenosis, caused by diverticular colitis (my opinion). Of course, they had never heard of diverticular colitis, so their official final diagnosis was acute diverticulitis.
The fact that I didn't have any diverticulitis symptoms at the time, apparently didn't mean anything to them. So don't let anyone in a white coat spook you. When they make statements such as that, they're only guessing, and based on my experience, doctors seem to be very poor guessers.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Solisspirit, I'm with everyone else. I've had several endoscopies and colonoscopies and it's not bad at all. My doctor uses Fentanyl and Versed for anesthesia. Someone drives me home and I have a nice relaxing afternoon.
Concerning your doctor's poor behavior, I could write a twenty page post on physician behavior and it would not be flattering.
Concerning your doctor's poor behavior, I could write a twenty page post on physician behavior and it would not be flattering.
Solisspirit,
I too am with everyone else. I hated drinking the stuff for prep, but the test itself was an absolute breeze.
After 2 episodes in one year my dr. stated her reluctance to keep me on endocort...I have done rounds starting with 9 mg and weaning off 6mg then 3 for a 3 month period and then stopped. She stated that she asked a presenter at a conference (don't know who and don't know where) about CC and her patients. She stated the concern over long term usage of Endocort. I asked what the solution was to which she stated "have D" - I think she was trying to be funny (maybe). Nevertheless, I am thankful for that visit because the next time I had a flareup and visited her...I went back on the endocort and started searching the internet and that is how I found this site.
My question is.... do most people have flareups even when they are careful with their diet. I notice that people speak of adding foods as they get better. If you do not stay on a maintenance dosage - do we still get periods that are not so good where you have to go back to the real basics...a few foods only? I noticed the friend who lost her sister and she was flying to her funeral and stated that of course she had a flareup. Can I expect to see a flareup in times of stress? As I think back years ago when my husband left and I had three little ones I had D for about 3 months and lost a ton of weight. I was younger then and I healed. I kidded and told people I was on the divorce diet. Now, I wonder was that my first CC episode....hmmmm something else to blame him for!!! Ha! Just kidding (I think).
Sent my package off to the lab yesterday....am hopeful that I will get more useful info.
Happy Tuesday.
Jean
I too am with everyone else. I hated drinking the stuff for prep, but the test itself was an absolute breeze.
After 2 episodes in one year my dr. stated her reluctance to keep me on endocort...I have done rounds starting with 9 mg and weaning off 6mg then 3 for a 3 month period and then stopped. She stated that she asked a presenter at a conference (don't know who and don't know where) about CC and her patients. She stated the concern over long term usage of Endocort. I asked what the solution was to which she stated "have D" - I think she was trying to be funny (maybe). Nevertheless, I am thankful for that visit because the next time I had a flareup and visited her...I went back on the endocort and started searching the internet and that is how I found this site.
My question is.... do most people have flareups even when they are careful with their diet. I notice that people speak of adding foods as they get better. If you do not stay on a maintenance dosage - do we still get periods that are not so good where you have to go back to the real basics...a few foods only? I noticed the friend who lost her sister and she was flying to her funeral and stated that of course she had a flareup. Can I expect to see a flareup in times of stress? As I think back years ago when my husband left and I had three little ones I had D for about 3 months and lost a ton of weight. I was younger then and I healed. I kidded and told people I was on the divorce diet. Now, I wonder was that my first CC episode....hmmmm something else to blame him for!!! Ha! Just kidding (I think).
Sent my package off to the lab yesterday....am hopeful that I will get more useful info.
Happy Tuesday.
Jean
Everything will be ok in the end, if it's not ok, it's not the end.
Re: Nervous About the Scopes
Hi Solisspirt..I'm going to agree with what everyone else has said. I've had 2 colonoscopys and 1 endoscopy and propofol is a very good drug!! I was upset when I woke up as I was having an incredible dream all 3 times. Look at it as a nice relaxing nap. Oh and given that I was at my worse as far as explosive D. when these took place, the prep was a breeze for me as I was already used to running to the toilet 10-15 times and was pretty much cleared out!! My advice would be to eat lightly for a few days before because what ever is in there is going to come out!!! You will be fine!solisspirit wrote:In about a month or so I will be put to sleep for a colonoscopy and endoscopy to see what's wrong with me. I have never been put to sleep before and I'm very nervous about it, so much to the point that I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it. The thought of having a drug put inside of me and not knowing how it will react, and being asleep the whole time is just scary to me. I've heard some pretty nasty stories about being placed under versed and it wasn't all pretty. Propofol is the alternative, but now days they just want to do both at the same time. I don't want to be awake for a nightmare I can't control.
Also, has anyone ever had a GI that when you told him your symptoms and how long you have dealt with it before seeing a doctor, they treated you as if you had this impending doom over your head? Both my GI doctors have and I really don't like it. My insurance company I had made it impossible for me to get my scopes because they wanted me to pay for them all up front, which I couldn't do. Then my doctor acts like I'm just irresponsible for waiting so long. *frustration*.
Thanks.
Hi Jean-I have not (KNOCK ON WOOD) had a flare up in close to 7 months with no drugs. I have not, to be honest, attempted to add in food as I'm so happy to have normans I don't want to mess it up!! What has happened a few times is that I will eat something out (yesterday it was plain, or so I thought, roasted veggies) and I can almost guarantee you that they had garlic on them. I knew right away, felt the burning, had heartburn, the metallic taste in my mouth, and was more gasey than usual but woke up this morning and had my normal BM. This is the second time that I have done this and had the same reaction. I have also experienced two stressful events recently (1 my husband being hospitalized and surgery, and 2 my niece attempted suicide and was hospitalized) and have had no change in my BM. Good luck to you!Jeanemcl wrote:Solisspirit,
I too am with everyone else. I hated drinking the stuff for prep, but the test itself was an absolute breeze.
My question is.... do most people have flareups even when they are careful with their diet. I notice that people speak of adding foods as they get better. If you do not stay on a maintenance dosage - do we still get periods that are not so good where you have to go back to the real basics...a few foods only? I noticed the friend who lost her sister and she was flying to her funeral and stated that of course she had a flareup. Can I expect to see a flareup in times of stress? As I think back years ago when my husband left and I had three little ones I had D for about 3 months and lost a ton of weight. I was younger then and I healed. I kidded and told people I was on the divorce diet. Now, I wonder was that my first CC episode....hmmmm something else to blame him for!!! Ha! Just kidding (I think).
Sent my package off to the lab yesterday....am hopeful that I will get more useful info.
Happy Tuesday.
Jean
Jean,
I believe that Cathy's experience is typical for most of us. If we stick with a proven diet (and don't eat out) we remain in remission. If we try to add "new" foods, or eat out, we should expect to have an occasional flare. But note that if we allow sufficient time for significant healing before we start "taking chances", then even if we slip up, our reactions will tend to be much milder than they were while were still recovering (and unhealed). Of course, if we slip up too often, we run the risk of a more serious flare, because damage is cumulative. But in general, the more careful we are, the less unpleasant surprises we will have.
Those few individuals who have the most numerous and the most severe sensitivities often have to rely on a maintenance dose of budesonide or a 5-ASA medication, in order to allow them to eat a minimal diet of the least inflammatory foods. Since their gut never really has an opportunity to accomplish later-stage healing, they remain at a higher risk of relapsing, because their intestines tend to remain somewhat sensitive.
Stress is always a wild card, and some of us are more sensitive to stress than others. For some of us, an extremely stressful event can trump everything else, and end a long-running remission, unfortunately. We're all different.
Tex
I believe that Cathy's experience is typical for most of us. If we stick with a proven diet (and don't eat out) we remain in remission. If we try to add "new" foods, or eat out, we should expect to have an occasional flare. But note that if we allow sufficient time for significant healing before we start "taking chances", then even if we slip up, our reactions will tend to be much milder than they were while were still recovering (and unhealed). Of course, if we slip up too often, we run the risk of a more serious flare, because damage is cumulative. But in general, the more careful we are, the less unpleasant surprises we will have.
Those few individuals who have the most numerous and the most severe sensitivities often have to rely on a maintenance dose of budesonide or a 5-ASA medication, in order to allow them to eat a minimal diet of the least inflammatory foods. Since their gut never really has an opportunity to accomplish later-stage healing, they remain at a higher risk of relapsing, because their intestines tend to remain somewhat sensitive.
Stress is always a wild card, and some of us are more sensitive to stress than others. For some of us, an extremely stressful event can trump everything else, and end a long-running remission, unfortunately. We're all different.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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solisspirit
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2013 5:22 am
- Location: USA
Thanks everyone.
As for the flare, this has been a mystery to me ever since I've had my loose stools. Every IBD forum I have visited talks about it, and I'm clueless. Basically, my loose stools have always been loose since I've had them and there's never a time they're not that way, so its hard for me to tell what a "flare" is. Sure, there are times when if I eat something that doesn't agree with my stomach, I'll have much worse "D", and maybe eye-pain, and I have noticed that stress during times of some inflammation does seem to make it worse, but again if you asked me when I had a flare and went I didn't I couldn't tell you. Is this normal?
As for the flare, this has been a mystery to me ever since I've had my loose stools. Every IBD forum I have visited talks about it, and I'm clueless. Basically, my loose stools have always been loose since I've had them and there's never a time they're not that way, so its hard for me to tell what a "flare" is. Sure, there are times when if I eat something that doesn't agree with my stomach, I'll have much worse "D", and maybe eye-pain, and I have noticed that stress during times of some inflammation does seem to make it worse, but again if you asked me when I had a flare and went I didn't I couldn't tell you. Is this normal?
What you are describing is a flare. Basically, it's when things get worse then what your "usual" is. We are all so different. Like Tex said, for those of us who have had enough healing and occasionally slip with diet, our "flares" are usually short lived. But a big stressful event can put some of us in a long lasting flare. If you kept a food/reaction diary, you could probably pin point your flares and what brings them on.
As for colonoscopy/endoscopy... I am with everyone else. It was a breeze.
leah
As for colonoscopy/endoscopy... I am with everyone else. It was a breeze.
leah