Dr. orders

What would you rather have happen? A doctor tell you during an appointment that she wants to schedule you for an exam that requires a bowel prep with enemas and explain the procedure and prep to you? Or would you rather have her tell you need an exam and send in the nurse to explain the procedure and Prep?

Given those choices, I would prefer that my doctor explain everything to me, including the prep. But either way is really fine with me. In real life, I can understand that the doctor's time is likely more valuable than the nurse's time. Therefore I'm fine with the doctor just telling me I need the test, maybe answering a few questions, and then having the nurse give me the gritty details.

I have only had one doctor ordered enema. Some years back I was having some discomfort in the rectal area, probably a flare-up of internal hemorrhoids from one of my pregnancies. The doctor said she wanted to do a sigmoidscope exam. She said since it was not a complete colonoscopy I would not need the complete purge, and would not be sedated, but would need several enemas to clean out my bottom.

The doctor left the room and a nurse came in and said she had two prep kits. If I did not have an enema bag at home the first kit had a 1500ml plastic enema bag and several soap packets. If I had an enema bag, there was only the soap and instructions. I told her I had an enema bag and so got only some castile soap packets.

I had to eat a low residue diet the day before and fast the morning of the exam. If I remember right, there were three enemas. The first one at six AM, the second one a half hour later, the third one an hour after. No big deal to someone used to giving herself enemas. Since I was not sedated I got to watch on the video screen. No pain, just some discomfort from the air she pumped into me. She found nothing to be concerned about. I have had a full colonoscopy since. Not nearly as pleasant, especially the prep.

I've posted elsewhere that I've had enemas ordered by my doctor. Nurse Marge did the explaining and I could hardly wait to comply. She was much more fun than the doc would have been.

The Doc did a follow up call and inquired if I had any success. I certainly did in more ways than one, although I didn't share the whole story with him!

Why would it matter?

I`d rather have her order a series of enemas explaining the importance of the exam to come

I've never had a doctor order an enema, but if he did, I would prefer he have his nurse or PA do it. They're both cute, early 30's, and the fantasies would run wild!

I have had both things happen from different doctors and exams. The last time I switched to a different GI Dr. After she told me that I needed a sigmoidoscopy she said the prep was different than the colonoscopy. I just had to take a few enemas instead of drinking the solution. I played dumb and said I had heard of them but never had to do one myself. She told me that she would send the nurse in to explain How to do it by myself. When the knock came and I saw this twenty something nurse come in and got right down to business asking if I would prefer to do the disposable squeeze ones? I said what other option did I have? She went over to a closet and took out a bag enema and explained it was more volume and might only have to have one instead of three fleet type. I mulled it over for a few seconds and said 1 would be better than three. She agreed and asked if I had anyone at home to be my nurse and help? I told her I had a girlfriend that might be willing to help and she said that If I had any questions I could call her and she would explain the procedure to my girlfriend. She also wrote some very descriptive instructions and I couldn't wait to get home and tell my girlfriend I need some help.

It seems more likely the Doctor would just tell you the test he wanted to do and why, and what to expect. leaving it to his staff to explain any prep that would be needed.

When I was a child and the doctor recommend that I should be given an enema, he would the nurse to our home, not to show how to give an enema, but actually to perform it when my mother was away as my father did not want to do the job.