I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy.

Can anyone tell me what to expect? I went in for a routine physical this AM and the doc wants to set me up for one. I'm 59 and he just wants to do it because I've never had one and I'm in that age group. He says it will be done at the hospital and they will knock me out and insert a camera. Anyone out there been through this? Thanks in advance.

Don't they put you out, so it's a piece of cake...

No problem at all. You will never know you had it. The only after effect is the gas. You have to get rid of that. I was in recovery room with several others and we put on a fart concert. I was laughing so hard I had no problem expelling it. I am 71, so you should have no ill effects.

The first one I was semi-awake as they shoved this roto-rooter type device up my you-know-where (the butt, for those who didn't know where) and then I got to watch it travel through my colon into my large intestine.

That was cool.

The second time I was totally, completely knocked out. But I did get a nice take-home display of my insides.

The procedure itself is nothing. It's all the prep work you have to do. I had to down three bottles of Fleet stuff that made your insides flush. Then I had to enima myself.

And yes, it is as bad as it sounds.

:)

No food, only clear liquids for 24 hours. And laxitives from hell. Plan on spending the day on the potty. The actual procedure is a breeze if they sedate you. Good luck.

Absolute hell--no food, forcing massive amounts of really nauseating-tasting fluids down your throat all day long, on the toilet all the time--it was absolutely miserable. The procedure--absolutely nothing. They put you out, then they wake you up.

went for a routine exam and the doc sent him to one. He's pretty tough, worked the day before and the morning of, ate a lot of green jello. Showed no after effects the next day.

Which is way cool!

They dope you up and slide a 'scope up your patootie. You are usually awake, you get a sedative and an analgesic, and it doesn't hurt at all. Sometimes you'll feel a sensation like cramping; tell the colonoscopist to increase the drip. If they put you to sleep for the process, there's literally nothing to it.

For more details, ask your doctor or a medical educator about the process.

--bkl

She said the anticipation was by far the worst part and the prep (you'll have to take some heavy duty laxative the day before and you can't eat). Other than that she said it wasn't as bad as she had feared and it didn't take as long either. She basically said it was uncomfortable (which i thought was obvious :) and that she cramped up a few times but they dope you up pretty good so there really isnt any pain.

I don't think they actually knock you out (they didn't for my SO).

and I was awake for it, which was a mistake. I am so glad you will be knocked out!!! It caused some minor discomfort afterward, but was really no big deal. The worst thing of all was drinking that gallon of horrible stuff before hand! My mother-in-law told them she couldn't drink it, so they gave her something else to take. You might want to check into that alternative.

The worst part is drinking the stuff the night before to clean your system out before the procedure, because it tastes kinda yucky (like a bad flavor of gatorade) and you have to drink a lot of it. But even that is not so bad.

For the procedure itself, they don't really knock you out. You are given a sedative, and you are (barely) awake, but nothing hurts. . .when I had mine, I stayed awake and watched the TV set they had attached to the camera. When my wife had hers, she took a nap during it.

Once it is over, they take you out to the recovery room and let the sedative wear off. You will be gassy. Big Deal!

You should have it, it is really a piece of cake.

...since my mom died of colon cancer - not a pleasant process.

The worst part is pooping like crazy for the preparation. The actual procedure is no big deal, seeing as how you're pretty groggy for the most part.

My second one they did the scope down my throat and the scope up my butt right after one another at the same appointment.

I had a pretty good chuckle at some nurse's expense when I asked her to make sure they wiped off the scope really well before they put it down my throat. You should'a seen the look on her face when she said, "They use a different scope for each!":D

First, let me say that you have nothing to fear. It's not really a big deal.

Now for my story.

A few years ago, I went to the doctor for one of my yearly check-ups. The doc asked me if I had any concerns and I told him that occasionally, I noticed that there was a little bit of blood in the water of the toilet sometimes. Not always, but once in a while. And since I had recently turned 40 at the time, I wanted to have a colonoscopy and "whatever other tests" he thought would be feasible.

He said that he would schedule a colonoscopy for me and that the next step would be to have a "Lower GI", but that he didn't think it was necessary. I wasn't sure what a Lower GI was, but I was sure it wasn't as bad as a colonoscopy, since I've heard all these stories, etc....

Both were outpatient procedures, but Mrs XNASA came along, JIC. I wasn't going to be put under for either procedure. I went in for the colonoscopy and it was painless. I was awake and was even watching the little monitor. Everything checked out fine.

Then I went in for the Lower GI, which I thought was even going to be a piece of cake. I figured the worst was behind me, but YEE----OWWWWWW!!!!

That was the most painful thing I've ever experienced. First, they inflate your lower intestine with air, then inject it with liquid barium. Then they move you around so that your lower intestine gets coated with the barium and take X-rays.

I was literally screaming at the people performing the test. I was cussin' and yellin' and callin' them names. I apologized to them, and they said, "No problem, happens all the time." LOL!!!

When it was over, I went into a bathroom where I was supposed to try and evacuate the air and barium, but that's easier said than done. I was still about 1/2 inflated when I got dressed and went walking toward the waiting room where Mrs. XNASA was. As I was slowing shuffling down the hall, an old man on a gurney dropped his pillow on the floor and asked if I could pick it up for him. I tried to bend over to get it, but there was no way. I just told him, "Sorry pal. You're on you own."

And we both laughed.

But, in the end <pun intended>, all of the test were fine. So it was worth it.

It was no big deal. Here's how it went for me...

I went to the "same day surgery" wing of hospital. They had me undress, put on the infamous hospital gown and lay on a bed in a large room occupied by many others who seemingly were on their way into surgery like me, or were on their way out. Each patient was seperated by room dividers of skimpy cloth. I could hear some people farting like there was no tomorrow and I remember thinking what slobs they were. I found out that they pump you full of air to make your colon expand and the ones doing the farting were those coming back, and that I would soon join in the fun.

Anyhow, they put an I.V. in my arm and off I went to meet my doctor in surgery. After greeting my doctor and making the small talk and wise cracks that he's probably heard a million times, I was put into a kind of "half sleep" state and the procedure began.

I was able to watch the monitor as it snaked its way through me painlessly. Sometimes someone who I couldn't see would pump more air into me (remember the farting?) and that caused some minor pain. In my case they found a large polyp which the doctor removed immediately, causing minor pain. During this procedure I was in and out of consciousness and only remember as much as I've told you.

Well, next thing I knew I was back in the "farting room" and holding my own in the chorus. The polyp turned out to be benign and the doctor wants to do another colonoscopy in July '04 to see if I am a "grower". Had he not found anything, which is the usual scenario, it would be ten years or more before another one would be in order.

Luckily the polyp was found before it had a chance to turn malignant, proving how important it is to listen to your doctor.

Oh, and I'm 61 and this was also my first.
Good luck, it's no big deal.

They make you real groggy and you won't feel a thing. You will need someone to drive you home after words because you will be a little fuzzy for a few hours. Try not to worry it is no big deal.

The first two were done with valium and demerol (doctor's orders) and I remained alert and very happy. The 3rd procedure was done with Versed which knocked me out. "When are you going to start, doctor?" "I'm already done." I felt very sluggish for about 5 days after the Versed. My advice is to find out which drugs the doctor is going to use. You might be allowed to choose.

They'll tell you that you can only have clear liquids the day before until about 6:00 pm. You can decrease the horrible prep by starting clear liquids 24 hrs earlier than they say to do it. It's usually a bottle of Magnesium Citrate at noon the day before (Sprite's evil twin), and a gallon of Colyte that evening. Make sure it is COLD or it tastes like seawater. Keep a blanket handy because you have to drink 8 ounces every 15 minutes, and your insides get frosty. Everyone has their own formula - your mileage may vary.

if they find a republican up there....

they found GW's head during my colonoscopy...true story.

Was hospitalized on emergency basis for internal bleeding. Was some fluke bacteria in my colon that caused it. Never heard of it before ..

Anyway, they put you in la-la land, but I saw that scope before I went out. It's like putting a elephant's snout up your nevermind. I was a little crampy for a couple days after but nothing to write home about.

the procedure is a piece of cake

the relief you will feel once completed makes it all worth while -

getting an "all clear" once the procedure is complete makes the day-before worth the trouble

just "bite the bullet" and do it - everyone should

No drugs, no sedation and it hurt like hell. I don't like that Doctor. All was normal though, and I got a thorough flushing out. :)
My dad is older and refuses to get one, he's too scared too. His friend went in for one and it punctured the colon wall and he died a wk later... He has old school mentality "it it ain't broke, don't fix it"

... and the doctor told him he was a perfect asshole.


or was that he HAD a perfect asshole.....?

I'm 30 and I had one this year.

30 is kind of early to start this, but my dad was having lower GI problems that indicated colon cancer and was scheduled for one. I scheduled one the same day in solidarity.

It wasn't fun solidarity.

If you have to do one, don't get too terrified about it.

It's not pleasant but it's also not the end of the world.

The prep wasn't as bad as I was only required to drink 1 bottle of Fleet which isn't very much. The amount of liquid is less than a soda can. I hadn't been feeling well so going 24 hours on clear liquids wasn't a problem especially since earlier in the month I had done that for 5 days straight. It was actually bad abstaining from water after mindnight (Is this really completely necessray). I was still going to the bathroom and I sweat at night. I was rather dehydrated for my procedure. My temperature went up when they put me under a warm blanket to pop up my veins. I don't remember the procedure after they gave me the sedative/pain killer combo. It was rather odd because I alledgedly had a conversation with the doctor after the procedure which I don't remember. I came to memorable consciousness in the middle of a conversation with a nurse. I was evidently out longer than expected because my bill listed "additional observation time". I was very tired for the rest of the day and slept most of it. I was rather uncomfortable for the next two days because for some reason I don't get rid of gas as easily as most people.

The prep is dealable - I used the Fleet Potassium Something-or-other and it was much better than the gallon of stuff I have heard about. I just poured it into some Fresca and it wasn't so bad.

Just take it easy the day before, as you can't eat and you will need to stay very close to a bathroom.

I was awake but sedated and could watch it - it was kind of cool and didn't hurt at all. Very quick process - about an hour for the whole thing.

Afterward, I slept for about 18 hours and was still very groggy when I got up. Otherwise, it was relatively minor. :) Good Luck!

I got to watch the whole thing, asked the doc questions while he was poking around. Very congenial group in the recovery room. Best part was the drug used to relax me before the procedure--it lasted all day and I felt fine!!!

Your input eases my mind considerably. This forum is a great place and DU'ers are a great bunch of folks........... :thumbsup:

Truns out my problem is in the small intestine and I have the 'paradoxical reaction' to Versed - instead of knocking me out, it does nothing but make it impossible for me to sleep. This is extremely rare, and like most people, you probably won't remember it.