My 1st colonoscopy - draping & pain questions

Oh, and I did my prep exactly as instructed.

Had my first colonoscopy and endoscopy last month. Several months ago I had been scheduled but the prep put me in the hospital. This new doc I saw did my prep differantly. No laxative pills, and drank the mix with orange drink.....McDonald's! I drank it in small doses over a 12 hour period, and if I was to start vomiting (thank goodness I didn't), I was told to take a fleets before leaving home.
I was sedated to the max. Saw nothing, felt nothing.
Has anyone in cyber space been diagnosed with diverticulitis?
I'd sure appreciate to hear what your S&S are, I'd like as much info as anyone is willing to share.

I just had my first colonoscopy last week as well. I had researched the procedure and the meds used. My husband had his 2 year screening done in March and while sitting in the recovery area with him, I had heard 2 people scream. One was a woman who cried and hollered just like I remember myself doing at the start of the procedure.
I was uncontrollably crying as they wheeled me into the procedure room. I had a death grip on my husbands hand and was told that when the Dr told him he had to leave the procedure room I would not let go of his hand. He had to literally pry my fingers off of his hand to leave and this was after the sedative.
My blood pressure was 142/102 just after I saw the colonoscope on the nurses arm and I did not do very well in the beginning. I was so upset that the Dr. had a difficult time sedating me and ended up giving me 7 mcg of Versed and 200 mcg of Fentanyl plus oxygen.
I know that I felt pain when they started the colonoscopy, becaue I felt a burning/pain sensation going up my left side and I remember crying and whining Owe, Owe, Owe, and then it stopped and I don't remember anything else until I woke up in recovery and told both the Dr and my husband that they had lied to me, that the procedure hurt!

Thanks for listening and allowing me to vent

Does anyone know if Drs are open to an alternative to Versed? I am having a c-scope in a few weeks and have heard horror stories about amnesia from the Versed, also about inadequate pain management.

Any other benzos being given IV, such as Valium?

(ASCP)

Valium and demerol was the combo used the first time I was sedated for the procedure.

(I had the procedure done several times prior, with no sedation whatsoever....back in the old days)

Several problems. As most nurses know, demerol is now rarely used d/t the wellknown issues with it. Valium IV can be very irritating to the vein and there was some phlebitis for about 7-10 days after, each time it was used. It also tends to leave the patient more heavily sedated and for longer than versed does. This decreases pt turnover, and means the GI has to stay longer.

However, for my last two endos, my GI used diprivan (Propofol). While mildly irritating to the vein, it wasn't as problematic as IV valium. It works much faster than traditional concious sedation, it kept me completely out, and wears off rapidly with NO after effects (I get HAs from versed). Within 30 minutes after the endo, I felt completely sober.

It does have to be given with anesthesia personnel (CRNA or anesthesiologist) present. Which means same places cannot safely give it. While propofol has an excellent safety record, if the patient goes bad, there needs to be someone that can intubate if necessary. Unlike most narcs/seds, there are NO antidotes to it other than time.

How about IM Valium? The GI I was referred to doesn't use an anesthesiologist.

Very few places use valium IM.

But as a general rule with meds, if a med is very irritating as an IV drug, it is much more so given IM/SQ, potentially necrosing.

Think about the other major irritants/vesicants. Because of the nature of blood vessels vs skin/muscle/fat tissue, there are many drugs that can be given safely IV, that if they extravasate into tissue, can seriously damage tissue (example of vesicant chemo, dopamine, dilantin, potassium).

Chances are if it hurts IV, you will have even more serious problems with the IM/SC.