Colonoscopy

Had loads over 19 years colitis ony one with sadation rest wide awake much better that way dont find them bad at all glad to now whats happening prep the wurst had clonic wash onse to clean the last of stools out

Interesting to see this thread still going. I had a second colonoscopy but it seemed no different from the first. I was sedated but definitely not out like a light nor with loss of memory. The prep was much worse than the procedure; I used the Miralax and Gatorade prep, with magnesium citrate afterwards. I did not find the procedure to give much in the way of sensation - perhaps the sedation dulled it. My anus was sore for days afterward, not from the scope but from the effects of the prep. Even gentle wiping with Cottonelle wipes hurt!

I posted my experience at sedated colonoscopy

http://www.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;topic=60064.msg408655#msg408655

I have never had one and hope I never do. If I had to have one done I would like to be heavely sedated. I might also want to be given something before the procedure to calm my nerves down and help me to relax. I would be scared as hell otherwise. I would like a very attractive female doc and female nurses to help me undress and get me preped do to me being a little groggy from meds they gave me to be calm and relaxed. Then get things ready and then put me out like a light

I suppose that by the time Big John reaches that magic age, medical advances may have eliminated the need for the old black snake, also known as colonoscopy. Barium enemas have largely gone by the wayside. We ornery old bastards have likely all had to endure the many indignities that come with aging. There's a tool for every orifice imaginable. I don't mean to discount the humiliation and discomfort that most of you gals have to endure. It's just that we guys seem to have been programmed to resent manipulations of our frontal package as well as violations of the anal type.

That being said, some of us discovered that a few of those procedures seemed to trigger some amazing feelings. Perhaps it was merely a defense mechanism. In any case, once past the stigma, some of us have been privileged to enjoy an amazing level of stimulation due to the abundant nerve endings in those most private locations.

I had an unsedated colonoscopy a couple of years ago. It beat the hell out of the previous one. I can say that I practically enjoyed the whole procedure. The interaction with the doctor and staff was far better than what occurs when one is groggy. I also enjoyed the prep for this one. I availed myself to a very adept colon hydrotherapist and avoided the misery of the laxative preps that nauseated so bad before. A couple of enemas at the hands of Victoria, my favorite fountain syringe, and the rest was a walk in the park.

You're still young Big John. Just wait till things start to catch up. Don't avoid or fear the inevitable. It's for your own benefit. In the meantime, learn to enjoy the simple pleasures of a good enema and seek out a partner who isn't adverse to a thorough prostate massage. You'll enjoy some of the best sensations possible.

I had my first colonoscopy two years ago. As others have mentioned, the prep was the most inconvenient part of the entire procedure. I used the Half-Lytely prep. My trick was to get the solution ice cold, flavor it with Crystal Lite drink mix and drink it QUICKLY through a straw. I combined the oral prep with a couple of tap water enemas administered by my then-play partner. It was a stimulating experience in more ways than one! I missed the social activity of eating during the fast, but I was never really hungry.

Because I'm diabetic, the procedure was scheduled for first thing in the morning. I presented at the clinic at 0630 and we were out of there by 0800. The major annoyance was the bright and chipper nurses, nobody should be that happy at that hour of the morning when they're getting you ready to be invaded. I had the Demerol/Versed cocktail and frankly, I wouldn't do it any other way, unless it was Propofol! I've seen enough intestines as a surgical vet tech, I don't need a guided tour of my own. The doctor found and removed two pre-cancerous polyps and told me that I have a couple of hemorrhoids. That was something of a surprise because they are totally asymptomatic, thankfully.

Because I'm a transplant candidate, I have to have the procedure every three years, no ifs, ands, or butts. Although I can't honestly say I'm looking forward to it, another colonsocopy is on the radar for next year. I'm sure my partner will be more than happy to assist with the preparations!

I just had a colonoscopy last week. I found that doing a cleansing enema before doing the prep work really helped make the cramping and urgency much easier.

I've had one colonoscopy and it wasn't bad at all. I was undersedated and was awake during the procedure. I watched on a television monitor and was much relieved to see it was normal. The only unpleasant part was the prep--a day of very clear liquids and the golytely prep. This screening procedure is the gold standard in preventing colon ca and I feel that it is mandatory for the recommended age group. It saves lives!

It is time for all patients to take the lead. You are the patient, it's your body, and like someone mentioned earlier, you have the right to say "do it my way or not at all." When you are in the hospital you have certain rights. If you want to take a drug, fine! If you don't want to take that drug you have a right to refuse. If your wants are not met, then call for a supervisor. I make all of my own decisions during the six stays in the hospital. A person does not have to stand for nurses orders. You can always call you primary care physician if you are not able to get the proper treatment that is needed. Stand up for your rights. Last time I was in the hospital there were two items that I insisted upon. I refused to let the hospital pharmacy control my meds... I won that battle, and secondly I refused to take stool softeners because of high potency drugs. I much prefer enemas to stool softeners. Mineral oil enemas do a much better job than softeners. Note: if you use stool softeners and then use mineral oil the softeners will allow the mineral to be absorbed into the colon. That's a no, no!

Yes, I have had 4. I was only sedated for the first. No, I didn't like it but I was fascinated.

I am not sure how many colonoscopies I have had, but on the first one they found a tumor which turned out to be benign but on the verge of becoming malignant. They took out 13 cm of my colon and it saved my life. I will tell anyone and everyone, get your colonoscopy done at whatever age and interval they recommend because it could save your life. Discomfort and modesty and other such things are nothing compared with dieing of cancer.

On my last one, I told them that I wanted the pain killer, but not the Verset, which would knock me out. That way I could watch the show, too, and found out what I looked like. I realize not everyone will be interested in seeing the inside of their colon, but I found it interesting.

Again I say, get your colonoscopy done and save your life.

hankb

I have had one colonoscopy about 2 years ago. I was totally sedated so I really can't remember anything before they inserted the scope. But I did wake up a few seconds early and felt the scope being pulled out. And yes I was kind of thinking that it felt good as the doctor pulled it a few inches at a time and then stopped and then a few more inches then stopped until it was finally out.

So overall not a bad experience but really not too much to remember.

I have had 2 colonoscopies. The first one I went out, then woke up during it, saw stuff inside me, I asked what it was, they said I just didn't get cleaned out enough. I said I followed their directions. I didn't have anything to worry about, they didn't find anything at all.

The next one was enjoyable to me. I told them I wanted to see the whole thing, since going through the prep, which I didn't mind. The drinking of the stuff was awful but if I have to do another one, I will mix the prep power with either clear Gatoraide or Poweraide. I kind of enjoyed the prep. After I had clear stuff coming out, I then had at least two enemas which cleaned me out good. I enjoyed the whole process.

The whole colonoscopy is a mild inconvience. I really enjoy using Clear-Lax in the morning and then high enemas after the Clear-lax works.

I could feel the long snake in me, at one point the nurse pushed on my lower torso so the scope would make the last turn, I could feel it all the way and it was, to me an interesting feeling. I commented that the scope was now at the ceacum, the Dr. said yes it was.

I really wouldn't mind two colonoscopies a year. I found them enjoyable.

Colonoscopies are rare at my age, (mid 20s) My father, in his mid 50s had one about a year ago. He has no one else, so it came down to me to drive him there and back.

He was sedated and in the car coming home he still did not remember most of it. A day later he said he remembered the device going into him, and going up him. There were no polyps but a lot of scar tissue and some permanent distention of the colon. Soi the effects of years of enema taking were clearly evident!

It's not the procedure itself that bothers me, but rather my distrust of the people in the medical profession. Instruments don't get cleaned properly, and as apache43 says above, there is always a chance of colon perforation. I'm aware of two instances of the latter, and although they didn't die, they went through pure hell for months following the mishap. It's an over-prescribed procedure because it's such a huge money-maker for doctors and hospitals.

I've got one coming up in a couple weeks. This will be my first with the Miralax and Gatorade prep. In the past, I've always had the Nulytely or similar prep. I usually take a couple enemas about the time to start the prep, so the prep will have less to do.

I prefer to not be sedated. The procedure is a times a little uncomfortable, but never been painful. Also with no drugs, you can leave quicker afterwards. That means a hungry man gets to food sooner.

I've got one coming up in a couple weeks. This will be my first with the Miralax and Gatorade prep. In the past, I've always had the Nulytely or similar prep. I usually take a couple enemas about the time to start the prep, so the prep will have less to do.I prefer to not be sedated. The procedure is a times a little uncomfortable, but never been painful. Also with no drugs, you can leave quicker afterwards. That means a hungry man gets to food sooner.

Be very careful with the Miralax and Gatoraid prep. I did that last January, it was incomplete and I had to have a repeat colonoscopy a couple of months later. That time I did the MoviPrep protocol that worked well.

As the oral preps work 'top down,' the enemas are unnecessary (unless for fun). What will help the prep is following the low residue and liquid diets for 2+ days before the chemical prep.

Quincy--as I said earlier this month, you can have a pain killer but not be put unconscious. That is what I did last time and I was able to watch the event on the monitor and see what my inside looked like. It was interesting and I recommend it.

hankb

Quincy--as I said earlier this month, you can have a pain killer but not be put unconscious. That is what I did last time and I was able to watch the event on the monitor and see what my inside looked like. It was interesting and I recommend it.hankb

Personally, I've never found the discomfort worthy of drugs, their after effects and the resulting wasted day. It sounds like quincy is of the same thoughts. At my last two, I got up immediately, used the bathroom, got dressed and drove myself to breakfast. I was eating no more than 15 minutes after the end of the procedure.

I'm with those that find that drugs for a colonoscopy are totally unnecessary. I had one this last September 2, 2014. I refused drugs, and wouldn't even let them insert an IV spigot??? (whatever it is called...) There were no polyps; however they decided to do biopsies of about 25 locations. Found nothing. Do have minor diverticulitis. Very tiny and absolutely felt nothing. Fun watching the biopsies being nipped. Dr. would say "open" the lasso would open and then the Dr, would say "close" and a piece of intestine would disappear somewhere. As I said, no problems found. This was number five without drugs of any kind.

Because of a cancer risk on my mother's side of the family, I had a barium enema at 45, and then had a colonoscopy every 5 years after that (25 years ago). The first colonoscopy was done without an anathesia. It seems that the following proceedures all were the same- enough anathesia to make you a bit drowsy and take the edge off, and I didn't remember much about the proceedure. I think when I next have a colonoscopy I will request no drugs. As most of you know the colonoscopy isn't bad at all,mbut the prep is not much fun. Last time rather than take the prep I scheduled a colonic just hours before, and that worked just fine.

Because of my family history, I have a colonoscopy every 3 years. All told, I've had 5 of them since age 50. Up until the last one this past Spring, I had always been sedated. However, in several other surgeries I've had over that period (knee, shoulder), it took me a long time to come out of the anesthetic. In addition, I did not like the effect of the stuff they give where you're sort of conscious but then don't remember what went on or what was said. So, the last time I had a colonoscopy, I did it without sedation of any kind. I can't say I "liked" it. It was interesting because I got to see the entirely of my colon as well as hear the doctor and staff talk as well as ask questions as the procedure went on. There were parts of the procedure that were not pleasant, for sure, going around the bends, etc. For whatever reason, I have a "technically difficult" colon to scope so it took longer than it would have otherwise. My prep was good (quite a few enemas two days before plus the prescribed bowel prep) and nothing untoward was found. As I said, doing it without sedation is not something for everyone. I had specific reasons to do so; when the next one rolls around, I plan on doing it without sedation too.

@Fillme, the stuff they give you where you lose some memory of what went on is, I presume, midazolam aka Versed.

A lot of people do not like it.

Just for information, check here

http://versedbusters.blogspot.com

http://patientmodesty.org/versed.aspx/

I've asked two friends who are in the medical field and they have both stated that there is a double standard when it comes to the utilization of versed: doctors and nurses are quick to administer it to their patients but most will refuse it for themselves. I don't know if this is true, but that's what they've shared with me.

At my last colonoscopy, the GI doc that performed the procedure on me stated that he had performed a sedation-free colonoscopy on a fellow doctor (from same hospital) the previous day. When I asked how he tolerated the procedure, he replied, "just fine". Yes, I do believe that versed is overly prescribed for the sake of efficiency. Doctors can perform more procedures, resulting in more $$$.

The Versed Busters site talks about medical people refusing Versed and at least one case of a doctor who could no longer practice after receiving it.

After reading these responses, I'm surprised at how many Dr's are still using these older methods of sedation. I have crohn's disease and have be getting scoped almost every year since 1979. Some years scoped twice, if I was having flare ups. Why more doctors are not using Propofol is beyond me. I've had several insurance carriers and there was no problem getting coverage for the anesthesiologist.

I have mine done in my GI's office, located in a hospital setting. I would never consent to Propofol in stand alone facility. I've never had an issue with it, but if something goes wrong, I want the crash cart team close by, not miles away. My experience has always been that 10 or 15 minutes after you wake up, you feel fine, unlike the Versed / Valium / Demerol cocktails previously used.

As for no sedation, I'll pass on that.........The last thing I want is a scope in a highly enflamed section of large bowel, without sedation.

Best to all,

Vapor

The reason propofol is rarely used is a matter of cost. You can thank the anesthesiology community for that one. Many Hospitals have a policy that states propofol can only be given by an anesthesiologist. That adds several hundred dollars to the cost of the procedure, and most insurers are not willing to pay for it. However if you have crohn's disease, your colonoscopy are probably not considered routine screening, and that often changes the

rules regarding payment.

The reality is that Propofol is nowhere near as dangerous as the policies suggests. In fact I submit that the real reason anesthesiologists are required if propofol is to used is called greed,

Propofol can cause respiratory arrest, ask Michael Jackson. That's the reason for the anesthesiologist, someone to provide life support if necessary.

I almost had propofol when my doctor was talking about doing both an upper GI and colonoscopy. Nobody is going to put a tube down my throat while I'm awake. I figured just put me out and take care of business. If I had gone that route, it would have happened in the hospital, not the free standing endoscopy office.

Propofol can cause respiratory arrest, but so can each of the other drugs often used (Versed and Fentanyl). Read the warnings on all three. The risk profiles are not all that different.