Hi everyone, tomorrow I am scheduled for a colonoscopy and endoscopy and it's an understatement to say that I am feeling more than a little anxious. I stopped the Apixaban a couple of days ago and today I have to take the 'lovely' meds to clear myself out.😱 My main concern is that all the poking and prodding which is entailed in such a procedure is going to set my afib off again whilst I am under whatever it is they give you to allow them to poke around. Has anybody else gone through all this and have any advice? Thanks.
Need some advice and reassurance! - Positive Wellbein...
Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
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Need some advice and reassurance!
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Chris1945
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Hi Chris. I've had both procedures a few times. I was given a sedative which greatly relaxes you and I found I was asleep more than I was awake. The worse part of it for me was the bowel prep 😖 disgusting stuff. Good luck and don't worry. 👍
Hi Chris.... Like Jerry and springcross, I’ve had both procedures a couple of times, I didn’t get “put under” but wish I had, so take Jerry’s advice and get the stronger anaesthetic.... the drink to clear your system tastes like crap, a nurse suggested I add orange or lemon squash to the mixture when you mix it up, and while drinking it, sit within running distance of the toilet,
Good luck!🙂🌈👍
Hi Chris1945, It's absolutely natural to be very apprehensive and anxious with the approach of your procedure. I think that adopting an air of resignation is as useful a tool as any and it's one which I adopt every time I go to the dentist. Instead of anticipation of pain, I just quietly accept that the procedure must go ahead for the good of myself. There won't for example be 'poking and prodding' of any kind more than is necessary. No one is setting out with the intention of causing you pain and/or embarrassment. They just want to help you find out if anything is wrong in that area.
As an AF sufferer myself, I know it's not pleasant. But many things can set it off, so why fear this particular thing? Just relax as much as you possibly can, think neutral thoughts instead of dwelling on what the procedure might involve in favour of waiting to see what actually happens, and also don't worry about the AF until that's what actually happens. Very best wishes to you for your procedure and I'm sure you'll be glad, in the end, that you had it.
I have had a couple of colonoscopies - and the last time they found and removed a polyp (polypectomy) which could have turned cancerous - so it was well worth doing. The bowel prep is not fun - but it is not too bad.
Have you joined the Colon Cancer Connected forum?
Hi Chris, just to try and put you at ease I have had quite a few endoscopies and it helps if you are relaxed (easier said than done, I know) the relaxant they give you works better, and there's a nurse who stands talking to you while they do the procedure and if you want to you can see the screen.The Colonoscopy I had a lower bowel one late 2019 as where I live they do them at 55,and because they found a polyp which could of turned nasty I had to go back and have a full Colonoscopy which thankfully just found I had Diverticular disease which is very common.
I found the procedure fine, as like you I was anxious as you don't know what you're going to be asked to do just the procedure, which I was asked to get on the bed which they helped me as I am disabled and use a powerchair. Then you lie in the foetal position and they had music on which I found relaxing and was singing along to which surprised the staff, I digress sorry. The hardest thing I found was having to drink the mix which you make up to a litre if I remember correctly in an hour then having an hour break and having to do it again.
I hope this helps and the key thing is to relax and hope everything goes smoothly. Take care xx
Hi, a HUGE thanks to all for your great advice and reassurance, it’s very much appreciated, Thank goodness for feeds like this. Both literally and metaphorically I’m now girding up my loins for the clear out and of course a pleasing result tomorrow! Ever onwards....and thanks again.🤗🤗
SmileBreathe if possible
Bring a working pen to make some brief notes
Request to see a copy of the follow up report
Distract yourself tonight
Take some cash in order to buy food or pack your own snacks and drinks
Good luck. All medical tests, scans and operations are scary but there is hope. After the procedure is over, at the follow up appointment discuss the results and explore your treatment options.
I wish you good luck with the procedure Chris, hope all goes well. 🙂👍
Hi everyone, just thought I'd update you on what happened yesterday with the gastro doc, the two procedure turned out to be not as grim as I thought and I could actually watch it all on camera as he did it and getting his comments about this and that....weird but strangely fascinating! Anyway, he found 2 or 3 polyps which have been removed and I'm now waiting for the results which hopefully, fingers crossed, will be ok, but they're definitely better out than in!
But the main thing for me was a vindication of something I have always thought since the start of this awful PAF journey back in 2014. From the get-go, I've always been convinced that my afib is associated with my digestion i.e. what and when I eat and yesterday I was found to have a 'sliding hiatus hernia' which even I, as a lay-person, knows how closely related the stomach is to the vagus nerve and heart organs. Any cardiologist I've seen has dismissed this as nonsense and it incenses me BIG time. So all being well with the polyp situation I think I'm going to rattle a few cages whether I get anywhere or not remains to be seen.
One bonus from all this is I know that, currently, I am covid free!!
Thanks again for your help and support....and keep safe. x
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