Colonoscopy...

[silent_sounds]

Hi all, i am scheduled to have a colonoscopy in under 3 weeks and to say that i am TERRIFIED would be an understatement.
Has anyone else here had one, or something similar?
I am scared mostly of the prep.. the 2 packs of picolax i have to take.. will it make me feel n*?? I have constant D* anyway which is why i'm having the test, is there really any need to take the same amount of laxatives as, say, someone with constipation??
Plus the actual procedure.. i am not afraid of pain (well, no more than anyone else! lol) but i AM afraid of pain-killers.. which they will give me, plus sedatives! i NEVER take any medication, not ever, not even paracetamol.
Basically.. i am scared of everything!!!
Help?

[jadepanic]

my mum has had this done and she said,even though it was uncomfortable it was not at all painfull and she just ended up being able to take normal parecetemol afterwards.tell them everything about your fear of V* and they should not give you anything that can make you sick.you will be fine,its just half a day or so and then itsall over.xx

[hippychick]

i know an 80 yr old man who had one without being knocked out and he survived lol

my gf has these done every 2 years, the prep wont make you sick but you do need to take it. stay hydrated. my gf never once fell sick at any stage and you might want to be aslep so you dont have to watch it happening on the lil tv lol

[Rebecca85]

The prep day is awful, what with not being able to eat and running to the bathroom every 5 mins! but you are lucky in that you have one of the most palatable ones! Sorry if this is too much information, but you are aiming to produce poo that has no bits in it, and is a clear yellow colour. Once you have achieved that you can stop taking the prep. As you have d, you might not need to take it all. Don't plan on going anywhere once you start the prep, as you will have urgent bowel movements.

As for the actual scope, I was only mildly sedated plus painkillers for mine. It was uncomfortable and I don't think you would want to have one without anything. I take it you are from the US? In which case they should be able to knock you out. The painkillers etc are given by IV and shouldn't make you n.

Hope that helps!

[emmalinda]

my mum and a friend had it done and its simple as day surgery. the prep is just drinking heaps n heaps and runnin to the toilet every little while. because you wont be eating for a while dont go off and run a marothon or anything! just stay at home and chill. i didnt know there was any pain involved? i didnt even know you had to take painkillers?? i think you eat straight after it so if you do take painkillers you will have a full belly so you'll be fine

[rainbows999]

I had this done last year and honestly it was fine. I told the nurse i was emet and she let me go down first so i could be first out of the hospital too. The prep was okay, i didnt feel sick or have any cramps and I just chilled out at home watching tv. Its not like when your ill, you just need to go to loo a few times and it was over. I didnt have any painkillers or sedation as I wanted to be out of the hosp ASAP and I dont regret it. It was a bit uncomfortable and they do put air into your bowel which makes you feel like you need to poo but you dont. Dont worry it will be fine, I had an endoscopy and that was a millon times worse that this. Good luck x

[Krovas]

I'm glad I read this thread, I may be staring down one of these pretty soon...

[silent_sounds]

Thank you for your responses..

[iluvhockey987]

Ok so I had one of these the day after my birthday this year. Let me say this, the procedure a snap!!!! The day before sucks because you can't eat anything. The drinking liquid part is the pits. The liquid is probably the nastiest crap I have ever had, but at the same time it was for a good cause. I just watched tv and ran to the bathroom a lot. No cramps, no nausea, just going to the bathroom (a lot!!!) and thats it. There is a lot of liquid to drink in a short amount of time and I didn't drink it all and everything went fine the next day, but I am 20 and was so ill I couldn't eat anything anyway so I didn't have much in me. Its not THAT bad once you are done with it. The procedure, you go in, get the saline drip, get knocked out, wake up and go home. Other than sleeping off the anesthesia recovery is easy. I also had an endoscopy (going in the other end) this year as well and it was easier than the colonoscopy. Good luck!

[silent_sounds]

Thank You, I won't be having sedation or painkillers.. i never take medication of any kind, not even when in labor :P
The procedure doesn't worry me too much though, it's the prep, feeling sick from not eating and then drinking laxitives.. doesn't sound fun! lol

[iluvhockey987]

its weird you don't actually feel sick from them, just really really full! but when you go to the bathroom it partially empties you out, so you just keep putting things in to replace them. Like I said I didn't drink it all, but the fact that you haven't eaten only makes you hungry, it doesn't really bother you when you are drinking the stuff. In fact I was more concerned about making it to the bathroom than eating

[s_dl]

Ok so I had one of these the day after my birthday this year. Let me say this, the procedure a snap!!!! The day before sucks because you can't eat anything. The drinking liquid part is the pits. The liquid is probably the nastiest crap I have ever had, but at the same time it was for a good cause. I just watched tv and ran to the bathroom a lot. No cramps, no nausea, just going to the bathroom (a lot!!!) and thats it. There is a lot of liquid to drink in a short amount of time and I didn't drink it all and everything went fine the next day, but I am 20 and was so ill I couldn't eat anything anyway so I didn't have much in me. Its not THAT bad once you are done with it. The procedure, you go in, get the saline drip, get knocked out, wake up and go home. Other than sleeping off the anesthesia recovery is easy. I also had an endoscopy (going in the other end) this year as well and it was easier than the colonoscopy. Good luck!

I'm sooo glad you gave this info! I posted in the private forums my worry about the endoscopy and if its easier....that gives me peace of mind! I have to have both in a couple of weeks. Thanks!

[sare]

I have to have a colonoscopy too and a gastroscopy where they stick the tube down your throat..the only thing I am scared about is a possible v* reaction to the anaesthesia as they said this can happen

[iluvhockey987]

I wouldn't be too worried. I have had anesthesia 3 times this year, once for an endoscopy, one for a colonoscopy, and one for oral surgery. Let me say that the general anesthesia is definitely more powerful. I can remember waking up and being a little dizzy, but I just closed my eyes and focused my mind. Honestly you are so out of it anyway you don't remember much or really care what is happening. V* is not uncommon, but its not common. I hate when they do this to us!!! You know its not even nausea that I feel when I get it, its just dizziness. I usually go home and try to nap, but my head feels like its spinning so I just watch tv for a few hours until it goes away. Its not that bad. Don't focus on the v* aspect and all will be fine. I was very scared my first time, and i'm about to go under again in another month. I'm scared for this one (gallbladder removal) because it involves heavier pain meds, but I probably won't take them. I usualy don't take anything the doctors prescribe me unless its absolutely necessary.

Basically don't worry. I know its scary, I'm still scared, but I try to focus on the good things. When you wake up you will be alert and as an emet I was able to focus my mind on something else. Just stay calm and don't worry! Good luck!

[sare]

thanks, that's really comforting...i'm not sure if I will have my procedure as I don't think I need it, my GP was adamant that my physical symptoms are a result of my anxiety and the specialist basically confirmed this but just suggested the colonoscopy as a precaution...

[ButterfliesInHerEyes]

My mother had this done and said the worst part was the preparation because, obviously, nobody likes to be running to the toilet every 5 minutes. It's uncomfortable and unpleasant - for anyone. Not just someone with emetophobia. They have to give you a laxative strong enough to clean EVERYTHING out so they can clearly see in there, otherwise what's the point?

My mom didn't vomit, she did say all that diarrhea made her stomach feel a little woozy, but nothing horrible.

The day of the colonoscopy they gave her a sedative, which didn't cause any weird side-effects - no nausea. She didn't feel any pain, and she's glad she did it because they did end up finding cancer (she's older and this was years ago) and that saved her life because they were able to treat it and she's absolutely fine now - no traces of the cancer. Don't let this scare you. She had very obvious signs of colon cancer beforehand and they were just doing the colonoscopy to confirm.

You'll be fine. Just prepare yourself that the prep part will not be pleasant and that's very normal.

Good luck!!

[silversun]

It looks like maybe everyone who had a colonoscopy on the horizon has had their questions answered, but I'll post anyway, just in case...

I had a colonoscopy about six months ago, and my doctor prescribed an anti-nausea medication as part of the prep. Of course, that had me worried that it wouldn't work and I'd have a problem anyway -- but I didn't, and aside from having to drink that disgusting drink, it was all fine. I woke up after the procedure and was starving, and so grateful for the muffins they had in the recovery room. Easy peasy, and now I have no worries about what's going on in there.

So, all that is to say, if you're worried, it could be worth it to ask for something in case of nausea, if for no other reason than peace of mind.

[mindride]

I had one a year ago and it was fine. I explicidly told my doctor that i DO NOT like to V* and he was totally cool with it. The other thing is that i didn't drink the gallon of chalk...i found another laxative that had no taste and worked like a charm. It's a saline based drink you mix with water and it was fine. I felt the ultimate hunger (which i often mistake as N*) but made it thru no problem. I had the doc give me a local and i was out like a light. I asked the doc if the local would make me sick after the procedure and he assured me that it wouldn't. He was right on the money! It went without a hitch and about 1/2 hour after the procedure i was eating lunch. No funky side effects or anything. I understand that this procedure can be painful so a local might not be a bad idea but if you went thru childbirth than i'm sure you can handle this. Best of luck and you'll be fine.
David

[pistolpeteandlucy]

Hi everyone I haven't posted here in a LONG TIME...However I was googling colonoscopies and emetophobia and this thread popped up! IM TERRIFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am supposed to have a colonoscopy and endoscopy on friday and Im beyond scared of the prep test to get my colon cleaned out. Im also scared to throw up from the endoscope or maybe having both done at the same time. Maybe I could get sick from the medicine to knock me out?? Please someone help me Has anyone ever V* here from anything to do with this whole ordeal? Im on the verge of canceling Thanks for your help!

[silent_sounds]

Hi,

I'm sorry i can't really help, because i didn't end up having the colonoscopy! But, i did TONS of research, and the absolute best prep is Picolax (which is what i was prescribed). I read up on it loads, and it is highly unlikely that it would have any bad effect.

I ended up having a stool test to check for IBD/Crohns etc. I had no idea they could even do that.. I just told my gastro Dr how scared i was, and he said i could go ahead and do it that way.. But, obviously, it depends on the reasons you're having these procedures done.

I'm not sure about endoscopes, but as i think somebody already mentioned, if you tell the people doing the procedure how scared you are, they will be understanding!

Best of luck with it. And, if it helps.. whatever happens, it's just one day! I know that doesn't sound very helpful, but it always helps me. It's just a single day in your life. It will pass and you will look back on it and realise it was really no big deal.

[Erica1649]

I've not heard of Picolax before....I work at a doctors office where we send people for colos all the time! We use Suprep and HalfLytely they are both preps in which you have to drink lots of liquids (which sometimes makes people vomit) some people prefer the pill prep such as the one mentioned above...we use Visicol I think.

Once you are done with the exam, you will feel acomplished. The day of the prep everybody says is the worse part.

[pistolpeteandlucy]

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am supposed ti do the docolax/miralax prep but am not eating today, tomorrow, or thursday the day of my prep...hoping this will get my cleaned out faster witouth drinking so much miralax and taking so many docolax. I really do need to have this done so I've got to brave up some LOL I hope you all are having a fabulous day!

[andee]

Hi, my doc used dulcolax and magnesium citrate prep....it was good because the 2 bottles were small so not a lot of volume. I would advise to drink the stuff slowly...doesn't matter if they say in a certain amount of time. Also, mix it with something you like. Really, you will just feel empty and hungry! The procedure is very easy and they give you good stuff...you can also ask for an anti-emetic as well. Good luck!

[wargerbil]

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I am supposed ti do the docolax/miralax prep but am not eating today, tomorrow, or thursday the day of my prep...hoping this will get my cleaned out faster witouth drinking so much miralax and taking so many docolax. I really do need to have this done so I've got to brave up some LOL I hope you all are having a fabulous day!

I wouldn't go three days without eating, honestly. The day before my endoscopy I tried not to eat and just have juice and stuff and by the end of the night I was shaking from low blood sugar and felt sick from not eating. I ended up having to eat something late at night so I could sleep, and then that made me MORE nervous (even though it was still within the time that I could eat), and I realized I really should have just eaten normally that day and I would have felt fine.

[KTB]

I had a colonoscopy last year and it was totally fine. I didn't feel sick at all. Just had to go to the loo a lot, but even that wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated! The worst bit was just being really hungry, so I'd recommend eating normally beforehand up until the point they say not to, if I were you! The preparation does make you poo, but it's not as traumatic as it sounds! And I don't remember the colonoscopy at all. I just woke up and a nice nurse was there to give me a much needed sandwich! Good luck!

[kristylee86]

ahh found it! :s I replied to the post you had in the private forum as i was unaware of this one so my reply and story is there for you