Please tell me it's not so bad my Endo Nurse friends. I'm a M/S RN, and I got to observe a colonoscopy first hand on my endo rotation in nursing school. It's fine being the observer, but I am soooo nervous about being the patient!
Well, my story is that I've had rectal bleeding (bright red) nearly every day x 3 weeks now. It's not a lot, but definately more than a few streaks. Alt. bowel habits, too. It's probably just stress that changed my bowel function & then aggravated hemmorhoids or caused a fissure, but then again, I guess it's good to be sure and check it out.
I was under a huge amount of stress last month, and am pretty sure that's what started all this mess with my digestion. I am normally extremely healthy (I'm in my mid 30s) and have had NO health problems whatsover except anxiety. I walk 3-4 days/week, eat tons of high fiber foods & veggies, drink water, and generally take good care of my health. Don't smoke, rarely drink, and don't eat meat.I was checked out last month by my primary MD for this bleeding problem and had a DRE and FOBT (neg.) I was hoping it would resolve, but it hasn't. She said if it recurred, then we should scope. So I am going to call the office tomorrow for another appt. and I am certain I will be sent over to endo.
Part of my anxiety is about being scoped in the same place I work. I know this is silly, but despite being a nurse and having seen all manners of people in dress/undress I am embarassed to be the one being examined! ;-( I am hoping I don't run into anyone I *know* during the procedure. LOL! Good luck, huh? As I recall, there weren't that many people in the endo room during the procedure? A sedation RN, and the doc and maybe 1-2 other people? I'm also nervous about being sedated. While I want to be comfortable, I don't like the idea of being "amnesic." I know they use versed in our endo lab.
Boy, it's true nurses can make the worst patients! I wish it felt like no big deal to me. I am just dreading the whole thing. Please tell me it's not such a bad thing to go through. Have any of you been through one yourself? Also, I'm curious how soon results are given when it is done on an outpatient basis? Thanks for listening.
We use Propofol for most procedures in our unit. When I have a colonoscopy I will only have it if Propofol is used. You don't feel a thing, don't remember a thing, and seem to have a pretty good buzz when the procedure is over (lol). I agree about asking the nurses there which Gastroenterologist they recommend, they see them doing the procedures they know who the best one is. Make sure you're clear too, you don't want to get up there with poor prep.
...had two colonoscopies so far. The worst part is the prep and if you have the fleets soda PO it will be less stress than the go-lytely. Who are they kidding, go-LYTELY? It should be go-VIOLENTLY!! Then you sleep it off at home.
Where on earth did they come up with the name Go-Lytely for something like that? Yuck.
Just wanted to let you all know that my colonoscopy was a total breeze! The endo nurses were super stars, and I didn't feel any pain.(I had a flex. sig with no sedation prior to that and it hurt like the dickens). At the endo lab, they even asked me if I prefered to be awake to watch or be asleep. Control freak that I am, I wanted to watch and be semi-awake. I got to watch the screen, and didn't feel a darned thing! Felt like a champ for many hours afterward, too. ;-) The drugs even made the whole thing highly amusing and entertaining to me. LOL!
I am waiting on biopsy results, and stool studies, but it looks like maybe I might have Ulcerative Colitis. The GI doc started me on some anit-inflammatory meds, so hopefully things will improve. I have a follow up appt in a little over 2 weeks. By the way- I did see *someone I knew* (I had the procedure where I work)and it was no problem at all. I actually felt more relaxed to see a familiar face. :) What a silly worry wort I was! So, any folks out there who haven't had a colonoscopy- please know I thought it was no biggie. The prep was gross, but not as bad as I imagined. (I had a gallon of Tyrilyte and some dulcolax tabs).
kona2, did you get your biopsy results? Just curious because I have ulcerative colitis in my lower bowel and Crohn's in upper. I think I may know how you feel. I had rectal bleeding x2 months and was going to br up to 28 times in a 24hr. period. I felt soooo much better after I was diagnosed and started meds. Hope everything goes well and it's not ulcerative colitis. It may not be easy, but keep your head up!bethin
Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.
As far as preps go, never had the personal experience yet, but with the Phos prep, colons just don't clean out as well. Much cleaner colons with 4 dulcolax tabs & 2L of "the jug." If the taste is troublesome, we have recommended that people use jello powder to flavor "the jug" as long as the jello used is not red or green
As far as preps go, never had the personal experience yet, but with the Phos prep, colons just don't clean out as well. Much cleaner colons with 4 dulcolax tabs & 2L of "the jug." If the taste is troublesome, we have recommended that people use jello powder to flavor "the jug" as long as the jello used is not red or green
Good luck...
Some of the flavors that GL comes in are pretty nasty. I alway suggest people get the plain (no flavor packets) and then pick out their own Crystal Lite flavor and add a tub of that to the jug of GL. It improves the flavor.
Posted in another thread, but it was fairly old, I realized, much to my embarrasment. So colonoscopies can be done with minimal sedation? I was sexually abused as a child, plus I'm allergic to nearly every medication. I'm more concerned about NOT remembering what happened than I am with pain. Pain is fine, but I don't want a colonoscopy if the doctors insist on using something (unless absolutely necessary) that will prevent me from remembering what happened.
Posted in another thread, but it was fairly old, I realized, much to my embarrasment. So colonoscopies can be done with minimal sedation? I was sexually abused as a child, plus I'm allergic to nearly every medication. I'm more concerned about NOT remembering what happened than I am with pain. Pain is fine, but I don't want a colonoscopy if the doctors insist on using something (unless absolutely necessary) that will prevent me from remembering what happened.
Yes, they can, with the right patient and the right doctor. My thoughts about this are expressed on Page 1 of this thread. You need to discuss these issues with the doctor before making the appointment for the exam. Trying to talk about these matters just prior to the procedure puts you in an unfavorable psychological position. Be prepared to ask to be referred to another doctor at another hospital, as there is no substitute for having a successful track record in performing colonoscopies with minimal or no sedation.
Although I do not have any history of abuse, I can relate to your anxieties about amnesiac drugs. It took until last month, October 2005, before I could think about my experience with Versed in June 2003 without experiencing anxiety. That was my only experience with any kind of mind-altering drug. I still grimace with distaste whenever I read about someone using a mind-altering drug, however. The only mental status I like is fully-awake, alert, oriented, and able to remember. This is why it is so important to obtain informed consent before agreeing to any kind of procedure. People differ, and need to be treated in a way that is best for them as individuals.
Michael
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
A couple years ago a bout 6 mo after my second son was born, I had some bleeding also. I had a great Dr! Since I was nursing and didn't have a supply built up so I could toss the milk after the procedure I went drug free. And it wasn't terrible. It was similar to some labor cramps before they get real "serious" - I was able to have my DH there (after we signed a waiver) and that was a great help. It wasn't a very long procedure and I agree that drink is the worst!!! It really made me feel awful- since I had been giving it to the folks I cared for.
I wish you the best- Its always better to know than not to!!!!
I am an ICU/ER nurse and also dreaded my colonoscopy. I am 50 and had some digestive changes as well. I was petrified ( the old adage that sometimes ignorance is bliss was true in my case!!! We nurses tend to know too much!) . Anyway I had my procedure last week and it was a piece of cake. The prep is actually the worst part. I slept through the entire thing and the GI doc found nothing more than internal hemorrhoids and diverticuli. I now wish I hadn't "wasted" so much time worrying about it.
So hang in there. It will be over before you know it and knowing that you have done something good for yourself will make you feel great!! Good Luck!
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. Anyway I had my procedure last week and it was a piece of cake. The prep is actually the worst part. I slept through the entire thing and the GI doc found nothing more than internal hemorrhoids and diverticuli. I now wish I hadn't "wasted" so much time worrying about it. 
nptobee
115 Posts
We use Propofol for most procedures in our unit. When I have a colonoscopy I will only have it if Propofol is used. You don't feel a thing, don't remember a thing, and seem to have a pretty good buzz when the procedure is over (lol). I agree about asking the nurses there which Gastroenterologist they recommend, they see them doing the procedures they know who the best one is. Make sure you're clear too, you don't want to get up there with poor prep.
Best wishes!