Getting Upper & Lower Scopes, Need Reassurance, PLEASE! - Digestive Disorders Message Board

carebear08 · 08-09-2005, 07:35 PM

I've read many many helpful posts saying that scopes are such easy, painless tests - but being such an anxious person to begin with - I am asking for your reassurance on what I should expect during the prep, during the procedure, and afterwards (I was told to rest for 24-hours after the procedure).
I'm not so concerned at the outcome of the tests (both my gastro doc and I feel it's a severe flare up of IBS) but I HATE not knowing what to expect... I don't really need to know how the procedure works (I'd rather not), and I'll be under full anesthia versus twilight, but I would totally appreciate some stories so I can stop freaking out and "just do it"! Oh, I also need an upper GI done, so any advice would be GREAT

Thanks in advance everyone ...

gingertea · 08-09-2005, 08:00 PM

I had both scopes within a week last fall. I had the twilight sleep and I don't remember a thing about either one of them. I wasn't worried about the colonoscopy, a good friend had one and told me it was a piece of cake. I was concerned with the endoscopy and gagging on the scope, but I don't even remember seeing a scope, much less feeling one. I had several biopsies on my stomach, during the endoscopy. I came to, feeling fine, and no problems after the procedures either. Not much prep to the endoscopy, just an empty stomach. I was prescribed 4 laxatives and a 1/2 gallon of Go Lytely the day before the endoscopy. The GoLytely didn't taste terrific, but it was much easier to get down than the barium milkshake I had to drink for a stomach x-ray! Just to let you know, I'm not a calm person.....I get anxiety attacks and my blood pressure goes sky high. Neither happened during the procedures, so it really was okay. Good luck, I hope it goes as smoothly for you as it did for me.

WannaBeFreeToRoam · 08-09-2005, 11:17 PM

Hi carebear0420,

If you are having an upper endoscopy and a lower colonoscopy together on the same day, that is the best way to do it. You know about the cleaning out of your stomach and bowels for the colonoscopy, right?! That only takes 1 day - the day before your procedures. Just make for sure you follow the drs. instruction to the T. And ask ?s if you do not understand anything!

Most gastros make you drink 1/2 to 1 gal. of something yucky (even tho it has a flavor to it) and some give you laxative also. You can take as long as you want to drink this. I drink in about 4 hrs... My husband drinks it in about 1 hr. Earlier in the day and sometimes the day b4, you can usually have light colored (like yellow or orange) gatorade or koolaid, bullion type broths, light colored jello, and popsicles that are light colored also. Nothing purple, red or such colors. Anyway, when you are all done, you can go to sleep, if you can!

At the clinic or hospital, they put you in a gown, for the lower scope only. If you are having them on different days, with the upper endo, they let you keep all your clothes on. Just be comfortable! They will ask you lots of ?s. Then they will attach the circles on your chest & such to hook you to a heart machine. I cannot remember if they put the pulse clip on your finger or not?! They will also hook up and use a blood pressure monitor on your arm. On the other arm, they will put your IV. Just will hook it up and tape it down, with a bag of solution. This much is for both.

Finally, when you get to go into the procedure room, they will talk to you. Usually, the doctor and 2 nurses (or technicians). They did the upper endo on me first. First, someone sprays your throat with a numbing spray a couple of times. Then, one person prepares to give you the knock out med and the other prepares to insert the plastic holder in your mouth, that the tube goes down. I always, with my hand, make for sure nothing is inserted into my mouth til I can feel the meds going thru my veins and starting to work. The meds take effect really fast. And make sure they give you enuf, so you do not wake up while they are still working on you.

Then you wake up in the other room, and you either remember the dr. talking to you or your husband, mother, sister, friend or whoever will tell you what he said - probably several times. They will probably give you pics of your insides, instructions and results. If they took biopsies, you will have to come back in 2 weeks for those results. Then you can go eat breakfast!!! With someone else driving!

The colonoscopy is more simple, but the same afterward. They make you lay on your side and then knock you out. They do not do anything to you til you are knocked out, for this procedure!

Oh yeah, for just the upper endoscopy, you do not need to be cleaned out. Just do not eat after midnite, the night b4, especially if it is early morning. You can have a few tiny sips of water b4 both procedures, thru the evening and am.

Do not plan on doing anything the rest of the day. Just eat and have a nap. You may feel like doing stuff around the house and you may not. I only had a sore throat for 1 day. Some people have gas, after the lower endo. But I did not.

Good Luck. And just ignore, the "too much info"!!! Wannabe

carebear08 · 08-10-2005, 06:17 PM

Thanks so much ToBeFreeToRoam and gingertea... I am having both procedures done the same time - my doc. made a joke, which for some odd reason couldn't get out of my head... "Don't worry, I'll make sure to use different scopes"

I guess you had to have been there!
Thanks again, I really do appreciate it...

Krishon · 08-10-2005, 11:14 PM

Hi Carebear,
I had both procedures done at the same time and I didn't feel anything as long as you are medicated. I have Panic/Anxiety attacks and I tell other nervous people that the best time I was relaxed was when I had those scopes, LOL. It is true though. Please don't worry. You won't know what is going on. In fact I might have to go again. I'm worried about the results though.