Colonoscopy and Sedation

Everyone has heard a bad colonoscopy story sometime and a lot of people are nervous about having this test done. I'd like to give you some history, so you have some understanding..

Lets put aside for now the days of rigid sigmoidoscopy, It's rarely used today.

If you go back about 25 years or so, flexible colonoscopes were a fairly new thing.. they relied on fiber optics to bring the light down to the tip, and the image back to an eye piece on the handle of the scope. These scopes were about as big around as my thumb, and were heavy. Glass fiber bundles will bend, to some degree, but really don't go around corners all that well. To some degree, the scope wasn't snaked through your colon, your colon was manipulated over the scope. NOT COMFORTABLE. The sedation given back then would make you groggy and make you forget the discomfort, but after watching a few of these, it was obviously not a comfortable thing to go through. The prep back then was hell, too.

Go forward a few years, and the CCD camera chips made the imaging part of this much smaller. Instead of a bundle of glass fibers for the image, the camera was at the tip of the scope. There were thin wires in the scope connecting the camera to its related electronics (which were NOT small, but not going inside you, either..) The light at the tip though, still came from a projector lamp through two fiber optic bundles. Better.. the scopes could bend more, and the scopes were lighter. Studies were done showing that patients who had the procedure without sedation may not have been comfortable, but they didn't think it was TOO bad.

We now have scopes with high intensity LED's at the tip for light, and CCD or optical diode array chip cameras at the tip. MUCH more flexible, and MUCH lighter, and MUCH more comfortable. Compared to their early fiber optic predecessors, they have much higher resolution and are able to pick up smaller polyps and other issues.

Awaiting FDA approval is a scope that has a 360 degree camera and advances itself into the colon. Early studies say this is MUCH more comfortable then conventional scopes. Hopefully it'll get approved and they manufacture them within my lifetime.

Colonically Historical,

Doc

I had two so far, without any sedation, no pain just bearable discomfort

I will probably have to have a colonoscopy before I can get approval for bariatric surgery. I'm more scared of the prep than the actual procedure.

I will probably have to have a colonoscopy before I can get approval for bariatric surgery. I'm more scared of the prep than the actual procedure.

Let's address the two parts of the procedure:

1--The prep. It's a shit fest. You stay close to the toilet. Nothing scary about that.

2--The colonoscopy itself is not a big deal even when awake for many people. When you have some sedation and pain meds, you are "out of it" and you will do just fine. This is an every-day procedure.

1--The prep. It's a shit fest. You stay close to the toilet. Nothing scary about that.

Shit fest. That's a perfect way to describe the prep. Yes, indeed, please stay close to the toilet. You might want to actually move into the bathroom with a nice book, a glass of water and some lotion for your sore ass!

I actually thought of doing that, Jimmy! I'm considering just not doing it and telling them I did. Or saying no to the surgery.

Susie, please do not respond to my posts. I'm tired of you always coming down on me or belitting me.

I actually thought of doing that, Jimmy! I'm considering just not doing it and telling them I did. Or saying no to the surgery.

Susie, please do not respond to my posts. I'm tired of you always coming down on me or belitting me.

I was trying to explain the colonoscopy is not a big deal and neither is the prep. I wasn't belittling you.

I'm considering just not doing it and telling them I did.

No, that is the worst possible thing you could do. If you tell them you did the prep, they will go ahead with the colonoscopy. And they will immediately discover that you are NOT cleaned out. What happens next? The procedure ends abruptly at that point and you have to reschedule it for another day. That means another day of prep (if you actually do it this time), time off work, etc. And your insurance will be charged for two procedures instead of one -- something that will not make them (or likely you) happy.

Don't do it. If you are going to have the procedure, you MUST do the prep. Otherwise it's a complete waste of everyone's time.

I'll echo what others have stated. The prep is much worse than the procedure.

I've done the colonoscopy and I really didn't think any of it was a big deal. I drank the prep and in 15 or 20 minutes was shitting my brains out but it really didn't last that long. I did it in the evening and then again in the morning. They sedate you and it is pretty painless. I did wake up shortly before the end and looked up to see a scissor looking thing snip something on the screen.

I have gone to Susie for advice on many subjects over the years. Not only is she one kinky chick, her Doctorate in Nursing has always provided me spot on free advice on a range of topics. I value her knowledge greatly. I too will call bullshit once in awhile just to keep her honest.

I'll echo what others have stated. The prep is much worse than the procedure.

The prep is going to the bathroom.

The FREQUENCY of going is annoying but you're just going to the toilet. How is that scary or a genuine problem?

A piece of advice--after you go, BLOT don't WIPE.

I have to have one soon. The first time I saw my new PCP, he said "Oh, you just turned 50, Happy birthday, you get a mammogram!" Then he looked further into my records from my old doctor. "Oh Happy Birthday, you get a colonoscopy!" You would have thought he was Oprah, handing out prizes! Anyway I go to see the doctor later this month and get it scheduled. I don't want to do it. I am afraid of waking up at the end of it, like @Miss_Raven did in hers. She said it was really painful! I think I will do like I said when I had my carpel tunnel surgeries & eye surgeries. I don't wanna know nuthin', see nuthin', hear nuthin' not to mention feel nuthin'!!! Yes. I am a wimp! I freely admit it!!!!!!!!! When they did my left had for the carpel tunnel surgery, they knocked me out before they took me into the o.r. That was fine with me!

I had my first colonoscopy I think about 6 months ago and, quite honestly, the build up and anticipation was far worse than the actual event. They will talk you through the entire process and sedation is a nice naptime - I remember being wheeled into the actual scope room and not much beyond that till a very gradual wake up. All was done professionally and in a very knowledgeable, but explaining and caring manner. Just relax - it's not like those who work in the colonoscopy department haven't seen it all before! I figured that if it catches something that should be caught earlier rather than later it was all worth the inconvenience and embarrassment factor! I am told I don't need another colonoscopy for at least 4 years or so, but I will not make such a production out of it my mind before I go next time.

The FREQUENCY of going is annoying but you're just going to the toilet. How is that scary or a genuine problem?

Seriously makes me wonder if you've ever experienced one.

The stuff I had to drink, in huge gulps, tasted like Gatorade powder dissolved in sea water. It was wretched.

And it isn't just the frequency, but also the volume, consistency and smell that is terrible, not to mention the awful cramping. And overspray on the toilet. And the fact that you get very little warning when it's about to be unleashed, making sleep the night before the procedure pretty much impossible.

Maybe that's just "going to the toilet" in your world.

Not in mine.

I've had a good laugh with maybe a dozen or so friends who have also had colonoscopies and to a man, everyone agrees that the prep is the worst part.

And it isn't just the frequency, but also the volume, consistency and smell that is terrible, not to mention the awful cramping. And overspray on the toilet. And the fact that you get very little warning when it's about to be unleashed, making sleep the night before the procedure pretty much impossible.

So many complaints. . . .

I have played with the gallon of prep drinks. You shit a lot and its watery. So what.

Be a man about it. It's just shitty water coming out after a while.

The prep isn't painful, scary or any other significant emotion. It's just very annoying.

It's a good thing you men don't have to give birth.

The prep is the WORST part because you have to be responsible and actually DO SOMETHING. The colonoscopy sucks because you have to have someone drive you to and from the hospital, expose your butt to a pretty nurse who you know is not interested in you, might fart loudly in the car on the way home, and limit your alcohol intake when you get home. EVERYTHING to do with a colonoscopy SUCKS!

But they are just little bitty sucks compared to dying of colon cancer.

I’ve had 3 lower end scopes. It’s about a 24 hour ordeal. That 24 hours is a minute amount of time compared to ignoring the screening and dealing with colon cancer and all that goes with the diagnosis. I’d do it yearly if medical research showed that to be indicated.

So many complaints. . . .

It's a good thing you men don't have to give birth.

I've heard that if having children in a family alternated from woman, then man, to woman, then man, and so forth, that the vast majority of families would consist of just three kids.

I had my colonoscopy, my first one in 60+ years. It was the not knowing what the results would be that bugged me the most. The prep was the shits.

I don't have to have another one until I am 75. Like I will remember that. 😉

It's a good thing you men don't have to give birth.

Oh, for fuck's sake. Here we go with the "men don't give birth" shit again.

Billions and billions of women have given birth over the past few million years, most without the drugs, sanitation and emergency facilities available today. Hardly anything special.

Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back, Ms. Martyr.

You don't see any men giving birth, do you?

Are you saying a colonoscopy prep is more difficult than being pregnant and giving birth?

Be a man, do the prep and don't complain about it.

The prep is the WORST part because you have to be responsible and actually DO SOMETHING.

That is the truth.

Nobody wants to take responsibility today to do anything.

Billions and billions of women have given birth over the past few million years, most without the drugs, sanitation and emergency facilities available today. Hardly anything special.

When my wife gave birth to our first son she was in induced labor for over 40 hours. It wasn't pretty and I am certainly glad I didn't have to go though that. A lot of women have had severe labors, complications, and even death through childbirth. Don't trivialize it!

@KC Patient , you have got to be shitting me! The comparison of giving birth to a colonoscopy is like having the hiccups compared to pulling a tooth witout pain meds !

I have given birth 5 times, one with being induced which caused such quick hard contractions that I vomitted from the pain alone. Such a quick labor that I did not have time for any drug intervention and a birth that tore me inside and out. How many people need stitches inside and outside to repair tearing from a colonoscopy ?

Now I am done patting myself on the back for doing it another 3 times after that , without whining thank you very much !

Yes, woman have been giving birth for centuries , how many have died ????

Now, how many people have died from colonoscopies?

Give me a flippin break ! Lmao

KC Patient was not the one that compared a colonoscope to child birth it was SwitchableSusie. Seems she is always looking for an opportunity to stir up shit and start a fight... and here we go again. Thanks SwitchableSusie.

KC Patient was not the one that compared a colonoscope to child birth it was SwitchableSusie.

I was just pointing out the difference between a colonoscopy--a minor procedure with no real toll on the patient other than spending time on a toilet compared to nine months of body changes and giving birth.

If you're honest you'll admit there is a tremendous difference as the other women have stated.

@drmvk2, close enough ! He was whining too loudly and I just pointed him in the right direction. I stand by what I said and why .

As far as your comment regarding Susie she in no way stirred up any shit or tried to start to a fight. I dont kiss anyones ass or jump on the popularity wagon , its seems like you have a dislike for strong opiniated women who dont agree with you.

Believe me you will know when Susie rips someone a new one LOL !

KC Patient was not the one that compared a colonoscope to child birth it was SwitchableSusie.

Seems she is always looking for an opportunity to stir up shit and start a fight... and here we go again. Thanks SwitchableSusi

Susie was putting things in,perspective. Hope you have an 8 lb Bowell movement! Then you you might appreciate childbirth.

WELL! I'm sure everyone is feeling vindicated now, so maybe we should move back to the original topic. If anyone remembers what it is..

I didn't compare the two. Susie brought up childbirth, not me. All I said was she wasn't all that special for doing what billions of women before her had also done.

But if you want to compare pain thresholds, then let's look at how men and women handle compound fractures, gunshot wounds, cancer, terrible burns, etc.

The bottom line is you have no idea whether or not men could handle childbirth. So stop being a martyr.

Get back on topic and just admit that hot yellow liquid squirting out of your bowels for 24 hours is considerably worse than getting an IV with some propofol and sleeping through a 15 minute colonoscopy. That was my only point until you ran this discussion off the rails.

I think bbw was suggesting skipping both the colonoscopy and the prep and going straight for the bariatric surgery. Probably not advisable. Doctors usually do not recommend or advise something unless there is a reason.

As for pain, I find that going in to something with a good idea of what will happen is best at minimizing pain.