[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!

[LibraSun]

Will tell you why later, but I want to ask you :

Are you a redhead?

(NO, I wasn't there at the procedure!)

[Brownms46]

I can't wait to see the response and the explanation.

[renerian]

They hurt like hell that is all I can say.

renerian

[RN-PA]

Oh brother! I have less than 3 years before I'm supposed to get my first colonoscopy at age 50, and I'm already dreading it-- Your post doesn't help matters either as I've been afraid of experiencing what you did. I know Versed causes amnesia-- did they not give you enough? When I've asked family and friends about their colonoscopies, I almost always hear, "a piece of cake-- no problem. The prep is the worst part." BUT, I always think, "Well, it ~COULD~ have been a horrendous experience, but you just don't REMEMBER due to the Versed."

All that being said, I'm very sorry for your negative experience. Have you talked with the nurses and doctor who performed the colonoscopy to ask them about what occured and what may have caused it to be so painful? Understanding and reassurance might go a long way to helping you heal psychologically from it.

[jenac]

Librasun- explain. I'm curious now.

[Daniel_RN]

I assist with FLC's almost every day. I drive for my surgeons.
The trick is that you have got to find a M.D that isn't scared to give you medicine. We give a lot of demerol and versed during the prodecure. it is not uncommon for a person (especially one who consumes a mod amt of etoh) to get up to 8 mg of versed during the procedure.

So don't worry...just discuss it with your doc.
DD

[RainbowzLPN]

My roomate had the procedure done @ a local hospital, & her experience was similar to yours. She spoke to her GI dr & he sent her to another hospital where he did the procedure. She didn't feel a thing. He put her under general anesthesia. I'm sorry you had this experience, maybe you can find anothe place to get it done next time or suggest different drugs.

[mat/childnurse]

thanks for all the posts

It's now been a month since the procedure and I'm in a lot better place than I was when I first wrote my post. I guess it's kinda like childbirth.........after a while, you don't really remember the pain of labor until that first contraction for the second baby
LibraSun, do tell about the redheads.......I'm brunette by the way!
RN-PA, don't fret.......most people do say they only feel a little cramping and Katie Couric had hers taped for the Today's show and she talked right through it!

[RN-PA]

Originally posted by mat/childnurse
RN-PA, don't fret.......most people do say they only feel a little cramping and Katie Couric had hers taped for the Today's show and she talked right through it!

No can do-- fret, that is. Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you: "Fret" is my middle name! I've always said that when my time comes for a colonoscopy, they'll have to hit me over the head with a large rubber mallet-- and ~THEN~ fire up the Versed and Demerol.