Hi folks, I had my colonoscopy this morning, no sedation, didn't even need gas and air. Hopefully this will reassure those of you waiting for one.
The prep wasn't as bad as last time. Maybe they've improved things since then. I didn't mind the taste of the Moviprep, though it was too sweet and because I drank it chilled, it set my teeth off terribly. I logged how many times I "went": 22 times between 5pm and midnight. Well I'm used to going 12 times in an hour; that's why I'm having this done! And after the first dose (1litre) I just produced water after the second dose. I used vaseline every time, so I'm not sore at all. I slept for 6 and a half hours. Not bad, as last time I was on the loo all night. My main issue was feeling so cold!! Extra blankets were deployed.
The procedure itself was fine. I was very nervous and expected it to hurt, but it didn't. The worst bit was when she inserted the endoscope and started putting air in. That was really uncomfortable as it felt like trapped wind pain. But once the scope went in further, air moved and no more problems. I chatted away to the nurses and watched the screen. I was dreading the bit where she went round the corners but it just felt weird and didn't hurt. She took 4 biopsies, again that felt weird. She showed me the villi lining the small intestine and we joked about it. She also showed me the entrance to the appendix. You could feel the tube moving inside you, it was very strange. On withdrawing the tube a lot of air came out as well which was good. I then sat in bed with my knees up in recovery and let out some more air. After 10 minutes I was sent to get dressed and given a cuppa in another room. Another10 minutes later I was discharged. I've had no problems with painful wind.
They found 2 polyps which she couldn't remove because I'm on blood thinners and they hadn't told me to come off them. So I've got to go back!!! She said it'll only be a flexible sigmoidoscopy so the laxatives are not so strong. Some consolation. I have to wait 6 weeks for the biopsy results, but the sites were random because it all looked normal. It's to check for microscopic colitis.
I am pleased though that I didn't have sedation. The other people were totally out of it in the recovery room and they were going to be there for 2 hours then have to be supervised at home. I just walked out, went home and ate my lunch.
I took my pred and other meds with the biscuits they gave me. No problems so far.
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Broseley
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I had a cardiac ablation done on Tuesday - I was disappointed to be told I would be sedated and I imagine it is much the same used for colonoscopy. Having had a colonoscopy without I would never choose the same sedation I had on Tuesday for one. I'm only really getting rid of the anaesthetic now, 2 days later. Mind you - I did sleep well last night but the 2 nights in hospital I didn't, sedation or not!!!
I'm so glad you've had it done at last! Hopefully, it was worth it. I suspect you're like me; I hate not being in control!Have you noticed any difference yet with your A fib?
Difficult to say as it is paroxysmal af anyway and I often had days with none. Something feels different and I don't think I was as out of breath walking into the village this morning despite the temps - -7C at 11.30am! Can feel I slept better last night too.
That’s great news it’s done Pro. Do you notice any difference? I was never aware I was in Afib so the Q I will ask at my next doc appointment is how do I know the Bisoprolol / Edoxaban is effective? I find it hard to distinguish what is going on in my body sometimes with the different medications.
Difficult to say as it is paroxysmal af anyway and I often had days with none. But I did feel it when it started up usually but nothing dramatic unless I was doing something standing up. Something feels different and I don't think I was as out of breath walking into the village this morning despite the temps - -7C at 11.30am! Can feel I slept better last night too.
They will have to do 24hr ECGs I suppose - I have a pacemaker so they can always look at that if nothing else but I have to get a 24hr ECG done a week or two before I go back for the 3 month checkup. I'm on a blood thinner (your edoxaban) and bisoprolol too but the bisoprolol didn't make that much difference, I needed an anti-arrythmic drug too and that had stopped working last spring. They changed that and the new one worked but not brilliantly.
By 24 hour ECG do you mean a Holter monitor? I had one of those, twice for a week each time! I hated it because they attached one of the electrodes to my chest on my left side and every time I went round a roundabout on my way to work it dug in due to the sports seats in my car (they have sides). I was very deeply bruised. I wondered why, then worked out that I negotiated 23 roundabouts each way!
Something feels different!!! It was an ablation of the rogue cells that have been firing randomly and causing the atrial fibrillation for the past 13+ months!
Thank you for your encouraging post. Indo hope your biopsy results will be clear.I have a gastroscopy and colonoscopy appointment on 2nd Feb. I have to have this every 2-3 years because I have Lynch syndrome. I have asked the hospital how to manage Pred intake during prep and procedure as I have adrenal insufficiency but no-one has got back to me. Any ideas? I am supposed to follow sick day rules but it doesn't include procedures like colonoscopy prep. Did you take more Pred?
Good morning. I too have adrenal insufficiency. When I needed a colonoscopy last year, my endocrinologist wrote to the doctor doing the colonoscopy with strict instructions. This meant I had to go into hospital the day before; here is what the ending wrote:-
As per the Addison’s Clinical Advisory Panel Guidelines, she will require parentéral cover with hydrocortisone for the bowel preparation and this is usually done in hospital under clinical supervision. I would suggest that she has, as per the guidelines, hydrocortisone 50mgIM IV 6 hourly during the bower preparation and hydrocortisone 100mgIM or IV at the start of the colonoscopy. She can then return to her normal prednisolone.
Hi there. Thank you so much for this information. May I ask where you live? And did you contact your endocrinologist to inform them of your up coming colonoscopy?I had a knee replacement last year and tho the anaesthetist gave me Hydrocortisone before the op from then on I had nothing but usual dose of Pred. I asked and asked again for higher dose as per sick day rules but staff ignored my request. In the end I had heated discussion with Dr and his response was 'Oh dear looks like we missed this but no harm done".
I don't have huge faith in the communication between departments here.
"Oh dear looks like we missed this but no harm done"."
He was darned lucky - and that was the whole point of the new red Emergency Steroid card for patients: BECAUSE HCPs were missing such things and patients were at risk of being harmed.
They didn't accompany the introduction of the card with an appropriate education campaign
Well said, PMRpro - lack of education campaign. No notice was taken of the alert bracelet I wear or of what I was saying. Appeared that the patient knows nothing!!!
They didn't like the Expert Patient initiative either - aimed at those of us who know exactly how to manage our diabetes or whatever to avoid such disasters. The idea was brilliant - but wasn't sold to the HCPs properly.
Part of the problem is the HCPs who have an over-inflated opinion of their ability and position. The good ones know they don't know it all and that some patients do know an awful lot about their illness.
Dear Goldfinchs, I am lucky enough to be down to 2mg pred, and the gastro consultant didn't think there would be a problem delaying my dose until after the procedure (about 11.30am by the time I got my tea and biscuits). I didn't increase my dose, I don't think the procedure warrants it; probably doing a long hike or spending a day decorating would have more of an effect. You are lying down, you are reasonably comfortable, and it only takes half an hour. However the stress it causes is probably more of a factor.
Of course if you opt for sedation you have much longer to wait afterwards before you can take your pred.
Thanks Broseley The issue is adrenal insufficiency - adrenals not working so period without Pred during the prep or stess of procedures - more so the gastroscopy which is very invasive may cause reaction. Will try to get hold of Endo.
Every place seems to be different. I was told no medication the day of. They put my prednisone in my IV so I didn’t need it at all that day. Others just take their dose after the procedure.
thanks for your post, I’m having one on Tuesday and after the gastroscopy experience was planning on sedation but I’ll keep my options open. Glad it was painless and you felt ok afterwards, a good example to me feeling like a baby over it all. My main concern is triggering a drop in BP during the preparation and nit being able to keep the vertigo meds in so to speak. Anyway I’m pleased to read your post, take care.
I’m sure the majority of people having the procedure for the first time have some trepidation. I look forward to you reporting after you’ve had yours that you worried unnecessarily and also that your BP fears did not materialise.🤞
Me too as I’m clearly unnecessarily worried as it’s an everyday procedure that drs carry out hundreds of a week without problems. It’s just human nature to worry and fear things like dental fillings, scopes and probes. I can report that my recent hysteroscopy was barely noticeable 😃
Hi Stills, I'm no expert but I noticed that the two ladies in the beds either side of me, who were recovering from sedation, both had low blood pressure issues and were being monitored carefully. One had to have her bed tilted up at the bottom presumably to increase blood flow to her upper body. So the sedation may affect your blood pressure too.
The meds should stay in no problem, assuming you take them a few hours in advance of the prep. Low blood pressure is a possible side effect of moviprep so it might be an idea to ask for advice on that in advance.
Regarding the pain, I think the pain in my sensitive teeth from drinking the ice cold moviprep was about 6/10. The discomfort of the procedure was 6 at its highest, when she first put the air in, then 2 after that. It really is tolerable, unlike when I had an IUD put in years ago and the man (why are gynae people always men?) took great delight in wiggling it around in my uterus which was horribly painful and totally intolerable and I had to tell him to stop.
Well I’ve had two coils over the years without too much hassle so with your reassurance and other good posts I’m going to go without sedation but ready to fart 🤣
my husband is on warfarin & was told to stop for a period of time (he says he can’t remember how long). At his colonoscopy he had 4 polyps removed & Diverticular disease diagnosed. Sadly, his time with Moviprep was much more violent/explosive. He didn’t want sedation & was quite happy about his procedure, too, I think he actually ‘enjoyed’ the actual procedure & as fascinated to see them at work inside his body!! Don’t know how many are carried out, but in our smaller hospital they seemed to be doing 15 a day, several days a week!! Relax now, & if you need the polyps removed at least you know what it is like next time! Hope they solve your problem, too!
Hi, not knowing your husband's circumstances etc I can't say why he had a bad time with Moviprep. But I followed the instructions to the letter, especially the low residue diet, which I was only supposed to do the day before and the day of the prep. However I cut out red meat and fruit and veg (bar peas) four days beforehand. I only had a chicken sandwich for lunch on the day. Maybe that helped?
Anyway we're all different, and maybe the diverticular disease didn't help either.
Oh, he followed it to the letter, I assure you! I was in charge of that! Yes, in fact, like you, because of his ‘explosive gut’ issues, we did the diet for days before! He had no veg for four days prior & only chicken. He has trouble eating any green veg, really, without bad trouble afterwards. We are working on it!! The diet provided is 40 pages long. I was trying to keep my replies polite, but I was scrubbing the bedroom floor & walls, the bathroom suffered attacks…floor, walls, bath etc, he had absolutely no control, & even sitting where he needed to be it still went everywhere around it. If I’d known this possibility I would have plastic sheeted the bedroom floor, & all of the bathroom, really. It was a lousy experience for both of us. But, as you say, he not only had polyps, he has diverticular disease, hence the difference! If there’s ever a need for another one, the disposable plastic sheeting I use for decorating will come in very handy! He never had a result from the polyps testing, we tried the gp, they tried to ring the dept, we rang the dept direct. Nothing. Take care!
OMG that sounds awful! I get explosive diarrhoea when I have an attack, but it does stay within the loo! Maybe that's down to my large backside making a good seal on the seat!! I ate minimally on the day, and maybe was also helped by having to use the loo 3 times in advance of the prep anyway. After the first couple of explosive evacuations on the prep it was mostly water and was more like turning a tap on. No more explosions.
I pity you having to clean it all up. I hope he would do the same for you!!
It was absolutely gross. He has a small backside, now I see that perhaps that’s the problem! Sounds like you were lucky & got to the ‘liquid stage’ quicker!! I’m sure David would clean up for me, but at that time his eyesight wasn’t too good (laser treatment has changed that!), so there we go…’for richer, for poorer,….in sickness & in health’!
I was just about to cancel my upcoming colonoscopy when I read your post. I am a small 67 year old women, 106 lbs. I work hard at making sure I eat at least 5 times a day. When I don't, I get very shaky, my mind races and I feel faint and nauseous. I am instructed to fast for 24 hours for this procedure. The information they send out is generic, not individualized, and I can't understand why the same prep would be given to me as for someone twice my size. I have read where some docs allow a 14 hour fast. That I could do. But I am getting nowhere with the GI office that is assigned to me. This doctor does not know me, nor will he, unless something is wrong. I would like to postpone at least until I speak with my primary care physician for alternatives. Opinions??
You require the same amount of prep as a larger patient I'm afraid while build and muscle/fat bulk makes us very different sizes on the outside - the colon is a similar size in everyone and requires a similar amount of cleansing. Unless it is fully cleared out they cannot see what they are looking for and the test fails - so must be repeated.
It may be better to try to find a flavorless electrolyte powder or drink. In some people, beverages that taste like food make them release insulin that then causes a blood sugar crash when there is no actual food/sugar for the insulin to deal with. I did feel very naseous overnight. Shaky, etc. I slept on the bathroom floor so I didn’t have far to go. And somehow I made it through. I would ask the nurse what else you can do if anything to help. There is a point when fasting for most people where you feel terrible but if you can fight through it, you generally feel better. But that is with a water only fast. Hence the unflavored electrolytes suggestion.
I was worried about the fasting. But you are allowed to drink clear fluids. This can include broth, tea, coffee etc. without milk. I opted for elderflower cordial. So you're still getting sugar and can keep your energy levels up. I was surprised that I didn't feel hungry at all.
I am impressed! I had one colonoscopy where sedation didn’t work right and it was incredibly painful. My second one was fully sedated and a good experience. No pain. And my results were back in a week. I am surprised you have to wait so long! Hope they can treat you. It’s such a relief to not have to be near a loo at all times!
So nice too, to be able to eat in the evening! I sent hubby out to eat because I would have found it very difficult to watch him eat and smell his food!
I don't understand the "sedation" at all. I live in Canada and they give me fentonyl. It does absolutely NOTHING for me. It doesn't even make me the slightest bit drowsy. Other people tell me it knocks them right out and they don't remeber a thing. I always joke that the real stuff must be in the nurses lockers and I'm getting water. And they won't increase my dose. In my area they don't really want you being too knocked out they once told me. My brother in the States gets Fentonyl for pain and Proponal to get knocked out
I too am confused here about sedation. In the States I am given fentanyl/proponal. It works so very well and they have improved the dose to a rocket scientist. I wake up soon after. Given tea or coffee if I’d like and I get dressed and a designated person drives me home. I do not feel sedated within an hour. I’m glad for anyone who has a procedure and is able to forgo sedation. However it almost sounds like shaming a person who chooses sedation. Not everyone has the tolerance for the “pain” and fear factor of a doctor going where no one should dare to go😳 Best Mrs Marigold
I think it's different in the UK. Certainly in our hospital you are kept in recovery for two hours and the women I saw were both totally out of it, barely conscious. You can't get tea and biscuits until you're ready to get dressed and move to another room, so it delays you taking your pred. Also you have to be supervised at home for 12 hours afterwards.
If you feel sedation is best for you, that's fine. I just wanted to reassure people who might opt for it thinking that the procedure is really painful when it's not.
In addition, those who are sedated may be treated less gently during the procedure, which may have further implications.
Yes - I suspect the perforation record in the US is because they don't have the brake of a patient watching on!!! You get nothing offered for a colonoscopy here (though they do if you really have problems) and you are instructed to tell them if it is too uncomfortable as they go round corners.
I had a couple of moments, but nothing unbearable. They just went back a tiny bit and tried again. Unfortunately, our wonder team in the local hospital got fed up and have set up a private clinic in the next village. Now what would be great would be if the Health Board would buy in services from them to cover the shortage of specialist doctors.
New specialist cardiologist did my echocardiogram on Wednesday - I wasn't happy because he didn't speak to me at first but he is Italian and thought I was a different patient who is German-speaking. When that minor error was realised - I had to have my echo repeated to get the recording in the right file - he realised I spoke English and talked to me all the way through! Anyway - he had retired and was asked to come out of retirement to do this highly specialist job. He was delighted - he likes walking in the mountains and not in July and August where there are veritable traffic jams in place on the walking tracks! This way he can earn and have loads of time out of season to walk. He was VERY good at it - as I had been assured by the nurse.
Sounds perfect! How lucky you are! A friend who lives in Bologna is in despair with the Italian medical system as her daughter (18) is in constant pain with endometriosis and vulvodynia and no-one can do anything about it.
I doubt she'd be in any better situation in the UK. But up here, we have our own set-up as an autonomous region - much like Scotland but better! Trouble is, Italians can appear here and get treatment like we do because they are entitled to ...
Hi Brosley. Thanks for your reply. It does sound very different in UK. My Dr is top notch and has his surgical facility next to his clinic. Years ago I tried to have the procedure without sedation I was 40 now 66. Well I lasted 30 seconds and anesthesiologist was luckily still by my side. My bowel is like a child’s he explained after and he had to use his smallest scope. (Connective tissue disease) Anyway I have a good article on rates of perforated bowels in
US but could not get it to paste. One thing I learned is the older we are your chance of perforation is higher due to other illnesses. I’m sure as PMPro said there are un careful doctors but as this procedure has proven itself to be the gold standard of diagnostics for colon cancer I think the unskilled get found out fast by the community he/she serves. That being said!! When I’m 70 I will have my last one!
There's very little recourse here if a surgeon is not up to the job. You can complain to PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) but you'll get an apology if you're lucky. Only if sufficient people complain something might get done.
I was told to use PALS when I complained about my dad's treatment at Nottingham hospital. Mind you, it was about several things involving different departments.
I received a detailed letter in response to my written complaint submitted via PALS. They apologised basically. PALS asked me what resolution I wanted. I said just reassurance that it wouldn't happen again. I hope it didn't.
I had a bit of sedation for the gastroscopy because I am a wimp at the dentist! They did that first (thankfully) with the same camera that went upwards and a difficult left turn under my spleen, otherwise good. Disappointed how dirty my gut was after all that effort since my bladder images had been crystal clear.
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