What to Expect From a Colonoscopy

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Okay. How about a little humor and an accurate account of what to expect? This article is hysterical!
http://thesmartly.com/?p=556

Marcy Massura of CA 10:41AM July 28, 2010

I put this off five years (now 55), but facing Obama's healthcare reforms, I felt I had better use my Blue Cross Blue Shield 100% coverage while I still had it. Started off with a consult with the doctor weeks before. Walked me through the procedure, but not a lot about the things that could go wrong during it that I'd have to waive off before we started. I had to drink a 10-ounce drink that tasted like triple "hard" lemonade and take four small laxative pills. Not being able to eat the day before and having coffee and a big glass of Instant Breakfast basically cleared me out before the proceedings began, and the devoiding was slow developing, very periodic and all the way to 4:30 in the morning. I got a good night's sleep anyway. I knew I was dehydrated when I got up because I could not eat or drink anything after 12 midnight. My procedure was at 9:00 a.m. I knew this was coming (dehydration) so I had polished off in excess of 60 ounces of Gatorade prior to the stroke of 12:00. I ventured in with my wife. Drove myself there because I would have to humble myself on the way home. Filled out some more forms and sat in the waiting room. Went in and had my blood pressure, temperature and pulse taken and then went to my rolling bed behind curtins and got in the dreaded gown and laid down. The nurse was spot on with the IV (only a slight "pinch" as they say) and I was out of the woods as far as hydration. Throughout, two different nurses asked me "safety" questions. They rolled me in and they hooked me up with electrodes and a blood pressure cuff, said hello to the doc, turned on my side and went to sleep. Next thing I knew I was awake (had nice dream) and I felt fine. Really. Fine. I popped up, got my clothes on and went to Cracker Barrel with my wife. Clean with followup test in 10 years. Don't tell anyone, but I drove later in the day because I really felt no ill effects of the drug used to put me asleep. Insist on a doctor who uses propofol. I am going to be one of the ones you talk to who give you no excuse not to go through with it.

Rick Reynolds of FL 5:25PM November 20, 2009

My experience was just fine. I can't believe the anxiety and stress I put myself through the 3 weeks leading up to today. I read websites with horror stores about versed, colonoscopy procedure, cleansing routine, you name it. I was a wreck. Guess what? The prep last night and early this AM was nothing. Tasted like lemon gatoraide. I ate lightly a few days before the procedure and it was so easy.
The procedure itself I can't remember any of it which is just what I wanted..why would you want to remember being probled inside? I just remember the nurse telling me to relax and let the versed/fentenyl take affect and the next think I remember I was in the recovery room feeling fine. I went home 1/2 hour later. If there was pain, I don't remember and that is just the way I wanted it. Now I know what to expect I will go for another screening in 3 to 5 years (I was totally pollup free)
Please don't let these posts scare you. I was just such a basket case it's a wonder I didn't give myself a bleeding ulcer to heart attach! I am totally scared of Doctors, Hospitals, Nurses and needles, but this really was nothing. A am a huge scardy cat about things like this and embarrassed about all the fus I made over nothing.

Kathy of CO 10:28PM October 26, 2009

read the last post..I'm a pharmacist who has seen many colonoscopies; the patient screams and moans and the nurses laugh: she won;t remember a thing,.........if they insist on Versed (midazolam) skip the exam. on the consent; cross out any agreement to sedation...insist on painkiller (fentanyl) only......you won;t fell a thing and your brain will be intact...gastro docs in the usa make me sick.........

joe of NY 9:58AM September 02, 2009

The amnesia drug Versed is simply patient abuse. Since when is amnesia a required part of any test? Inducing amnesia is a lot easier that taking a little time and doing the exam slowly and properly. I ahve had 4 without sedation.

Helen of OH 10:01PM May 28, 2009

FIRST OF ALL, GETTING A SIGMOIDOSCOPY IS LIKE DOING HALF AN OIL CHANGE IN A CAR. PRICE IS ABOUT THE SAME AND WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE INCHES FOR A COLONOSCOPY. SECOND OF ALL, WHY THE PROCEDURE OF KNOCKING YOU OUT OR THE SEDATION. I AM EXPECTING ANOTHER ONE IN MAY. MINE TOOK ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES. ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN, VERY SLIGHT CRAMPS(LAST FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND) WHEN THE INTESTINES ARE BLOWN UP. THATS IT. HAVE YOU EVER HAD ROOT CANAL WORK ON A TOOTH WITH LITTLE NOVACANE. THAT'S PAIN. THE CLEANING-OUT DRINK IS O. K. THAT IS PROBABLY THE WORSE PART. BUT, IT'S NOT THAT BAD.

SPARTEN of NY 12:47PM March 23, 2009

Colon cancer killed my dad. He had sigmoidoscopy examinations which couldn't look at the area where his cancer was located. Dad's last few months were gruesome! That prompted me to have a colonoscopy which found several polyps which luckily had not yet developed into cancer. The idea of having a colonoscopy may be embarrassing, and preparation may be uncomfortable, and the procedure itself may not be fun, but believe me, it can save you from an awful death.

Dean from Kerrville of TX 11:23AM March 23, 2009

I have had two of them. Both were uneventful and painless. I was totally asleep during the procedure. When I awoke, I was fine: no pain, no gas, nothing. The prep WAS bad. It was like drinking weak Kool-Aide made with sea water, and a lot of it.

jp71006 of LA 9:47AM March 23, 2009

I underwent a colonoscopy at Johns Hopkins recently and all I can say is NEVER AGAIN IN THIS LIFETIME!!
MOST MISERABLE EXPERIENCE I EVER HAD!!!
You couldn't get me to have another colonoscopy at gunpoint!

Jen Cato of WV 7:29AM March 23, 2009

The prep isn't even that bad. Just look at it as a much needed spring cleaning. Lots of people pay big money at spas to get flushed out. When you get a colonoscopy, the flush is thrown in free!
I had a problem during the procedure, however. At some point, even though I was pretty much out of it most of the time, I regained my senses. I could feel the probe up inside my body, and felt what I would describe as the Mother of All Gas Cramps. Very painful. As soon as the nurse administering the sedative/analgesic realized I was in pain she did something, and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room.
All in all, not fun, but not too bad. Get your colonsocopy. It might save your life!

pudentane of MI 6:44AM March 23, 2009