Originally Posted by mat/childnurse
I had my first colonoscopy last Friday. I am 46 and my mother has had two surgeries for colon CA, so I felt pretty good about being so responsible. I went to every website I could find and researched all aspects of the procedure (patient teaching, videos of colonoscopies, personal experiences, etc.) I also spoke to several people who had gone through the procedure recently including my husband and my OB/GYN. I felt very well informed and more than educated about what would happen, what I would see on the screen, and how it would feel.
I was given Versed 2 mg and Demerol 50 mg IVP and the doctor waited until I assured him that I was groggy. Everythiing went just as I expected until just after insertion when air was instilled into my colon. I experienced some of the worst pain I have ever felt. The doctor immediately instructed the nurse to give me "25 more" which I assumed meant more Demerol. He continued the exam with me moaning in pain. I felt every mm. of my colon being blown up and navigated. I tried to watch the screen because I was really interested to see my own colon after viewing so many others in my preparation for the procedure. The pain was practically unbearable. Since then, I have had trouble concentrating and sleeping because I keep reliving this scene. I feel so duped and betrayed. All of the instructions and testimonials I read stated that there is little dicomfort and the Versed gives the patient amnesia to any discomfort that may occur. I have lamazed three children and had I known ahead of time, I would have gotten into a breathing pattern and anticipated the pain. I will know better next time. And as a nurse, I will return in 5 years because of my FH.
I guess what I want from you guys is some validation that indeed this does occur occasionally and that I'm not alone in this experience.
Thanks for your input. Sorry about the length of this, but I needed to vent!
Mat do not let anyone tell you what you felt was secondary to you doing something. I have combed thru the research, the reason most folks get sedation of some sort, is because the colonoscopy is not a comfortable test. I have read that many patients complain of pain and do not feel like they were adequately sedated. some even call versed the worst drug and are telling folks not to have it.
My Gi told me the best thing to have is Propofol.
I believe her, after reading about patients who write in and complain of the pain they felt with other forms of sedation.
first of all women are harder to scope.
if you have had abdomiinal surgery it is even harder.
the pressure of the streatching of the bowel causes pain and if the scope is advanced and coils, or hits the wall of the intestine, especially at the bends and curves...it causes pain.
I am no wimp, I have been thru more than I can put in here and without meds.
If I woke up with propofol, in pain, and found myself moaning and hollering out, I will tell you, it is painful. I do not use narcs, benzos and I do not have a drinking problem or history.
neither did many of the patients who wrote in about their experiences.
they too were made to feel they did something wrong. or the problem was theres, not the doc, not the proceedure, not the sedation or pain med they were given.
something aint right in Demark......too many complaints of similar to the same sort of thing,
if you plan to have another one. ask for propofol, you may still wake up and feel discomfort/pain.
some folks do and some do not.
My brother claimed he slept all the way thru.
I did not.
Other follks I know who have had these proceedures, also say they hurt, there is pain without adequate sedation. They too are not useing meds, alcolhol and so on.
best wishes to you if and when you have another one down the road.
mersa
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