Worried

[Lovedogs1]

On Monday 7th November I am due to have an Endoscopy and a colonoscopy to remove a polyp from my bowel, I have been told to stop my Apixaban for three days. A month ago I had a three lead pacemaker fitted. I can’t help worrying about everything and feel really scared. The letter they sent from the hospital outlining the procedure didn’t help. I know they have to tell you everything but I am absolutely terrified. Since having the pacemaker I have felt really well and don’t want anything to spoil things. I know they do lots of these operations and I do trust them but still feel really scared. Sorry to be such a moaner, when there are people much worse off than me.

[Hidden]

Hello

Both the procedures you are having done are something that take place everyday but still when it is yourself you cannot help but worry I think this is natural especially when you have other conditions like with your heart

It has changed my reaction when things are suggested I might need doing the first thing my mind says is what about my heart but they are well aware of our medical history and would not even consider doing these procedures if they felt we were not safe to have them done

As for the information they send us out about these procedures is enough to put us totally of as they have to say what could go wrong just like when you had your pacemaker there would have been things that could go wrong but the chances are so slim and very rare but we tend to not focus on them been rare we just go in a panic but I am sure you will be fine

I know it is easy for me to say don't worry but try and keep distracted till your appointment and it will soon be done and let us know how you get on x

[Hidden]

If it's any re-assurance I have had several endoscopies and colonoscopies some with bowel polyp removal and they are not half as bad as they sound. I have certainly undergone a lot worse. You will be heavily sedated or even knocked out completely according to the protocols the anaesthetist and surgical teams follow given your medical history and how they function, and so won't know much about what is going on. Bowel polyp removal is a routine procedure and the team who carry it out will no doubt have done dozens before you. All that said the choice is yours as to whether you go ahead with the procedure since you will have to balance the ongoing risk of not having the polyp(s) removed against the small risk to your heart. Personally I would go for it.

[Hidden]

don’t worry at all, it’s not in the least unpleasant and you can watch it all happening live. The only thing you will feel is like you’re going to the toilet but just relax and go with it. If I was honest I would quite happily go thru it again. It’ll be fine.

[gorillaqueen]

Good morning I can’t comment on the colonoscopy but I had a endoscopy and was so worried and scared. On the day of the procedure I felt I could not go through with it but I was completely unaware of what they were doing and did not feel a thing, it was over so quickly. You can have a sedative before they begin if you wish which I found really helpful. Good luck X.

[Qualipop in reply to gorillaqueen]

The one medical procedure that utterly terrifies me is an endoscopy. I gag so easily but I've had a couple of colonoscopies and they are a complete doddle. BY far the worst part is the bowel prep; especially if you have an early appointment he next day and feel you won't be able to get there without accidents

[Still_Breathing]

i have had both done too and whilst bboth have their discomforts they dont take too long and the team were brilliant in distracting you.

i would recomend the sedative for the colonoscopy.

The only time I got concerned was when i had the colonoscopy one time and the doctor said "look no hands" 😉

[Silvertail in reply to Still_Breathing]

Haha, I hope you didn't laugh when he said that?🤣

[Czech_Mate]

Hello

I'm in a similar boat to you. I had a pacemaker fitted in May and had a colonoscopy earlier this month. For me the fearful thing about the pacemaker was that it all happened so quickly. I'd never had much in the way of health problems for 67 years, always been fit, then all of a sudden this foreign body stuck inside me. The process went well and it all healed up quicker than they told me it would, but psychologically it was very hard to take. I've had to get used to good days and not so good days, but I've come to see that this change in how I've come to look at life has it's benefits.

Anyway, the colonoscopy: for me the preparation was the worst. I didn't think that the bottom was falling out of my world, rather the opposite😏. My last anticoagulant tablet (Eliquis - trade name for Apixoban here) was on the Saturday evening (the colonoscopy was on the Monday morning). I had anasthetic so didn't know anything about the procedure. I woke up with a bit of wind and when the anasthetic wore off my wife could take me home.

The thing I did wrong was to start taking the Eliquis immediately after. It caused some bleeding so I had to go back for a check up. A couple of days off the Eliquis and a bit of care with diet and I was OK.

So what I'm really saying is: Ask about when to restart the Apixoban. Otherwise, all should be OK. You'rein the right place here to talk about worries, we know what you're talking about and we're with you all the way. Let us know how it goes.

[Lovedogs1 in reply to Czech_Mate]

I know what you mean, I was or thought I was completely healthy until July of this year. I started with palpitations, went to A&E and was diagnosed with heart failure, LBBB, and have since had a three lead pacemakers fitted. It’s the second colonoscopy I have had, but I never had the pacemaker at first one. I am just so fed up at the moment, it’s just one thing after the other, so sorry for moaning as I know there are people much worse off than me. I will let you know how it goes, if I survive it all, only joking. Thanks for taking time to reply.

[Czech_Mate in reply to Lovedogs1]

Yes, worrying is a natural reaction. That mat has been pulled from underneath and I think that I've lost the security I had.

But maybe that feeling of security was just an illusion and now whatever it is I am facing is the reality.

But (a lot of buts in life at the moment), I don't know what that reality is. I like to be physically active. How much should I be doing? When is it right to take a break and have a rest and when am I just being lazy? Am I going to get worse or better? I've got to adjust my philosophy to cope with these uncertainties.

But (here we go again!) perhaps it's doing me good to face reality. Working on my attitude is as important as working directly on my physical fitness as in the end it is going to affect it.

I've got to develop a philosophy that allows me to accept what I can't change and work on what I can change i.e. my attitude. When I'm resting I can be reading or writing something positive, learning something new or occupy myself in any useful way that gives me self-respect as a person. A big challenge for me, but it gives back the meaning to my life and that is what is important.

[Silvertail]

It's common to worry, but make sure your doctors knows about your heart condition. I have had several and when I tell them about my heart issues and sleep apnoea, they take extra care eg, heart monitor and high flow oxygen. Believe me, the worst part is the prep. I believe some are given tablets or a prep with not too much liquid. I am given glycoprep-c which requires three litres. All that fluid is just too much. A hint.- I find sucking a butterscotch lolly after each glass really helps to get the next one down. Best wishes.

[Silvertail]

OMG, no sedation? I wouldn't want that. At my hospital there were no paper pants. 😊 Although, even though I have sleep apnoea, they still gave me deep sedation with high flow oxygen.

[Kimbob11356]

hi lovedog try not to worry too much. I had heart failure,and prior to my opp I had four endoscopy s a pill cam and 3 colonoscopy s and a polyip removed. They were looking for an internal bleed before they would opperate on my heart. It was stressful but as said before they wouldn't proceed if you were in any danger.

[Andian]

Hi there, I had an Endoscopy last week, I can tell you the anticipation is worse than anything. I had a Pacemaker fitted 9 weeks ago. Blood thinners are stopped for a few days before. They wouldn’t remove polyps because of blood thinning medication go me. I had no after effects at all. I had sedation so had to be picked up by my daughter. Please don’t worry. Obviously they have to warn you of possible problems. We are so lucky to be able to be cared for as we are. Good luck.

[Silvertail]

Lovely to know some doctors still have a sense of humour. I'd rather not know anything about it, but then I'm an Aussie wimp 😂 However they have difficulty with me as I'm riddled with diverticular disease.

[Leonardo1]

hi there it’s so normal to be anxious - of course you are worried - so was I ! Ive had both proceedures this year and I knew nothing about either of them - ask for sedation - small scratch and you are waking up and it’s all over !

Re the Colonoscopy - the drinking before etc is a challenge but it’s really nothing as bad as you are imagining! You will be ok !! Honest!!

Try to think of your happy place , family friends etc and very soon you will be wondering what you were worried about . We are all holding your hand on here - if not in reality but in spirit !!

Good luck - you will be fine !!