Colonoscopy "experience" - Bowel Disorders Message Board

CrazyCats4 · 05-09-2001, 04:35 PM

I was not going to write about my colonoscopy and the pain I experienced throughout the procedure because I did not want to scare anyone who needs this procedure done. But a very insightful person (thanx Harry) told me that I should share my experience, good or bad, with the BB. Please remember thou....that this was my experience and does not predict how you will feel.

My doctor gave me valium and demerol. My head felt fuzzy and the room was out of focus. He started the procedure and about 3 minutes into it, I started feeling pain. Not discomfort...but pain. I let him know that it hurt. It continued to hurt...til I was crying and yelling at the doctor to stop. I remember telling him "Stop, you are killing me!". One nurse had to hold my feet down because I wanted to bring my knees up to my chest. Another nurse was rubbing my shoulders and telling me to relax. Of course, as I'm writhing in pain, he's turning the scope this way and that way to see what is causing me to hurt and he didn't find anything. I had no polyps, and one diviticular (sp?). He took some biopsies of various areas.

My doctor is at a loss as to why I experienced as much 'discomfort' (don't you just love that word?...remind me to drop a two ton weight on his big toe and ask him how HIS discomfort is!) as I did. He'll have the results of the biopsies and the stool samples when I see him next week. He stated that obviously I have a hyper-sensitive intestine.

Today I feel as if someone used my tummy as a punching bag all night.

IF I ever have to have this procedure done again, I will install a TV and a cot in my bathroom for the night before, and then request that I'm knocked out completely for the test.

Again, please remember that this was my experience.

CC

russ60 · 05-10-2001, 06:42 PM

CC,
I'm glad you wrote your message.It just shows everybody doesn't have an easy time.When you're stomach is inflamed, I am sure the exam hurts.

Please let us know when they find out what's going on with you--sorry your exam was that terrible.
Russ

auntjudyg · 05-11-2001, 07:51 AM

Thanks for sharing your experience . . . though sorry you had to go through it.

My only experience is with a sigmoidoscopy which was not terrible; a colonoscopy is still a couple of years off. I guess it is better to know all the ins and outs, so if it doesn't go well, you know your not alone.

I hope the find out all they need to know about you without further exploration.

Johnson110 · 05-14-2001, 09:26 AM

I just had a colonoscopy last week and contrairy(spelling) to what the first poster wrote, my experience was quite different. I did feel a little discomfort and they did give me some demorol for the pain or to relax me (whichever it does). But I did not receive anything else and watched the whole procedure on the monitor. They did happen to find a polyp (spelling) in my colon, but I am happy to say it was begin and the doctor said that I probably did not need nother colonoscophy for another 10 years. The worst thing about the whole procedure was having something placed where it does not belong and being in the waiting room passing gas with some of the others who had the procedure done. It was not nearly as bad as people talk about and it is the best way to find out if you have colon cancer. This was just my experience and it was one week ago. Even after the procedure, I felt fine. No pain at all. Good luck to all that need to have it and don't let other people scare you. By the way, from what I was reading from other peoples messages, they are right, the Go-Lytle is the worst part of the procedure. I had to drink it on a Sunday and missed the Saprono's sitting on the toliet.

[This message has been edited by Johnson110 (edited 05-14-2001).]

mlee1942 · 05-22-2001, 12:38 PM

I JUST HAD A GASTROSCOPY AND COLONOSCOPY. THE ONLY PAIN I HAD WAS WHEN THE NURSE PUT IN THE IV, I STILL CAN HARDLY USE MY HAND. I WAS PUT COMPLETELY ASLEEP. I WAS TOLD I HAD HEMMORIODS VERY DEEP INTO THE LARGE INTESTINE WHICH WAS THE REASON I WAS BLEEDING.AT MY DISMAY I WAS TOLD HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING WORSE THAN THE WAY MY COLON LOOKED, VERY DARK ALMOST BLACK WITH SOME VERY CRUSTY BROWN AND APPROXIAMATLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BABY BUTTON ONE WHITE SPOT WHICH IS THE WAY THE WHOLE COLON SHOULD LOOK. THEN HE TOLD ME TO STOP ALL HERBS THAT AN INGREDIENT CALLED SERRIN WAS WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS.ANY INPUT WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS I DON'T TAKE HERBS. I TRIED TO TELL HIM THIS I TAKE EVENING PRIMOSE OIL, VITAMIN E OIL AND FLAX SEED OIL HE SAID THROW THEM ALL AWAY. MY DAUGHTER IS A NURSE AND SAID SHE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I'M ALREADY ON DISABILITY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND MY FEAR IS THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH ME. RE: ARTICLE IN MODERN MATURITY ON AGING AND MEDICARE AND HOW THEY CAN CUT COSTS NOT GIVING FULL CARE TO PEOPLE ON MEDICARE. THANKS.