Awake During Colonoscopy--Again?

[TromboneAl]

My memory was dreamlike, in that I felt that my colon was arched above my body and multicolored like a kid's toy. I'm pretty sure that when they were wheeling me back from the OR I asked, "Were you guys playing with Tinkertoys?"

 

[swakyaby]

My memory was dreamlike, in that I felt that my colon was arched above my body and multicolored like a kid's toy. I'm pretty sure that when they were wheeling me back from the OR I asked, "Were you guys playing with Tinkertoys?"

Yep, it sounds like they gave you a LOT of drugs.

 

[mpeirce]

The worst part of the colonoscopy is drinking the cool aid prior.

I found the “straw method” to work pretty well for me.

You drink the stuff through an large straw (large so the flow is good and you can drink it quickly). Put the straw as far back on your mouth as you can. Basically the nasty liquid bypasses your tongue and you taste very little of it.

 

[MRG]

Glad you said that. I was starting to think I was just a sissy.

While I was drinking that stuff, I thought that it would be a worse punishment than the electric chair to give prisoners a colonoscopy once a week.

Al, I had food poisoning and after 3 days in the bathroom went to the ER. I was pretty ill when the doctor told me they saw something in a CT they took. Now I needed a sigmoidoscopy and had to prep! I'd been prepping for the prior 3 days..... Cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I've had three - one every five years since I have a strong family history. So far, nothing at all has been found.

The first time, I was told I wouldn't be completely under but would remember nothing. I recall every second of it. Actually, I thought it was pretty cool to see my insides on the computer monitor, but it did hurt a bit making the first turn.

The second time was much like the first.

But my last one, a couple of years ago, was different. They put me completely under. I seem to recall them saying that is the standard now. I didn't complain.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I found the “straw method” to work pretty well for me.

You drink the stuff through an large straw (large so the flow is good and you can drink it quickly). Put the straw as far back on your mouth as you can. Basically the nasty liquid bypasses your tongue and you taste very little of it.

I'll second that. It also helped to have the stuff as cold as possible, without freezing it of course. That somewhat dulled the taste.

 

[REWahoo]

I'll second that. It also helped to have the stuff as cold as possible, without freezing it of course. That somewhat dulled the taste.

+1

"On the rocks" is how I take mine.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I forgot to mention - when I was in pre-op for my first procedure I overheard the nurse interviewing the man behind the curtain next to me. She asked if he had eaten anything that morning. His reply was, "No, nothing. Just a few scrambled eggs and some toast."

I guess he got to do the prep a second time.

 

[wmc1000]

The worst part of the colonoscopy is drinking the cool aid prior. That is until you get the bill for the procedure.

My doc prescribed Miralax which is tasteless so I mixed it in and other than the quantity they want you to drink - No Problem!

 

[TromboneAl]

I found the “straw method” to work pretty well for me.

You drink the stuff through an large straw (large so the flow is good and you can drink it quickly). Put the straw as far back on your mouth as you can. Basically the nasty liquid bypasses your tongue and you taste very little of it.

I'd read about that and tried it with a big smoothie straw. It didn't work for me, but maybe that's because I took a few gulps without the straw first. For the next morning's dose, I downed it as fast as I could, as if in a beer chugging contest, and that seemed to work better for me.

I was worried I'd throw it up and have to cancel and start over again.

 

[madsquopper]

Anesthesia (or anaesthesia for our non-USA members)
I compare that to my first operation when I was five years old, a tonsillectomy. A pad soaked with ether was forcibly pushed over my nose and mouth, and it smelled so horrible that I screamed and fought as hard as I could until the ether eventually put me under.

Same thing happened to me when i was 6 and went in for an eye operation. Nobody told me what was going to happen (it would have helped big time) and they put a mask over my face and told me to breathe. Horrible smelling gas and I felt like I was suffocating. The emotional trauma left long lasting scars even though I understand where it's coming from. I still hate having to go into a hospital even if it's to visit someone else and it's not my own problem. And I have a hard time putting on a snorkeling mask, although once I get into the water and start swimming I'm OK.

Larry

 

[TromboneAl]

When the nurse was getting me set up, she asked how much I weighed.

I said, "161. I'm just one colonoscopy away from my goal weight."

 

[TromboneAl]

Same thing happened to me when i was 6 and went in for an eye operation. Nobody told me what was going to happen (it would have helped big time) and they put a mask over my face and told me to breathe. Horrible smelling gas and I felt like I was suffocating.

Larry

When I was a kid, the dentist gave laughing gas through a mask (yellow/tan rubber color). It smelled terrible. I realized later that it was the rubber of the mask that smelled bad.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I had one at 55 and was completely under. That’s 10 years ago and the prep was awful. My behind was raw. I might have one more before age 70. After that no due to perforation issues. Some doctors won’t do them after 70. My siblings have had polyps so still get them in their 70’s. I haven’t had any. If you have bleeding hemorrhoids you can’t do the other test.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Having watched several close family members succumb to colon cancer, I would like to emphasize that the discomfort of a colonoscopy is nothing compared to the potential alternative! I hope some of the above posters aren't serious when they say, "that was my last one."

 

[O2Bfree]

Ditto on the propofol. It’s pretty much the standard nowadays. The prep was awful. But the colonoscopy was nothing. And waking up from propofol was amazingly pleasant.

Propofol is terrific. DH and I have both had a couple surgeries while on the stuff. Had a great sleep every time, woke up feeling refreshed and ready for a snack and that sorely missed first cup of coffee for the day.

 

[Teacher Terry]

GB, not kidding but at age 70 your lining thins and people die from perforations that can occur during the procedure. My siblings decided different from me. You have to assume risks either way.

 

[TromboneAl]

My colonoscopy doc said that he's been doing colonoscopies for 30 years and only perforated one once. In that case, the guy had cancer or something. He said it was a special case.

 

[Boho]

The elderly and people with cardiovascular problems are the patients most likely to wake up from sedation and to be difficult to sedate. I once read about anesthesia through the spine for difficult sedation cases. I wonder how common the spine sedation is and whether there are special risks.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Sounds like that doctor is very good. Some doctors won’t do them after the age of 70.

 

[TromboneAl]

Got the bad news that I have to have another in five years (two precancerous polyps). Aargh. Could be worse.

I think I'm going to go with the other prep solution. I don't remember anything tasting worse than the Suprep.

And I'm going to fast for 2-3 days instead of 1. That might make the prep less bad.

The doc confirmed that I was hearing what was said. "Some people are like that."

 

[pjm-7]

Do the prep with Miramax and Gatorade. It's palatable. The anesthesia is awful! I threw up all day this past Monday. Twice I got the anti-nausea drugs. My gut still hurts from the event. Just got the results; benign but I should have another scope in five years.

 

[athena53]

I have enjoyed several colonoscopies with different doctors. They all knocked me out completely and said keeping patients awake was not safe because squirming around on the table can lead to the instruments damaging the colon. They would not do a procedure with the patient awake.

My first two I had no anaesthetic. No problem; I highly recommend it. Interesting, no real discomfort and no grogginess afterwards. I chose another doc the third time because I was on a HD plan and it was going to be diagnostic (thus not covered by insurance) because they'd found polyps on the earlier ones. The original doc worked through a hospital and I couldn't get a firm estimate of the charges beforehand. Second doc had been recommended by my internist. He said the same thing yours did; he felt it was safer if the patient was sedated and thus not going to flinch suddenly.

Now that I'm on Medicare I may go back to the first guy.

 

[REWahoo]

The anesthesia is awful! I threw up all day this past Monday. Twice I got the anti-nausea drugs. My gut still hurts from the event.

What did they use?

 

[Bklyn55]

I had a completely drug free colonoscopy. The anesthesiologist sat in the corner reading a book the entire time! It was not painful at all, with just a minor amount of cramping. After the procedure, I hopped off the stretcher and walked home. No need for an escort. I carefully considered the risks of allergic reaction, respiratory problems, etc. from the sedation and decided that the risks or Propofol or Fentanyl outweigh any benefits. I also have not seen any research that indicates there is a higher risk of traumatic injuries during a colonoscopy with patients who are awake. (I have actually read studies that Propofol administration is associated with an increased risk of perforation). Most people in other countries, like Europe, do not use sedation. Yet in the U.S. doctors are now using full anesthesia for the procedure. It is very profitable. I have two friends who are gastroenterologists, and both had drug free colonoscopies. Something to consider...especially for those who are sensitive to anesthesia.