Colonoscopy Captures: A Contest of Inner Beauty

[Evo]

Oh dear, you're having this procedure tomorrow?? I hope it goes well.

 

[dlgoff]

My prep day is Tuesday and the procedure is Wednesday morning. No eating all day Tuesday, only water and the chemicals as described. The water amount is excessive, especially for my body weight, so I'm only going to drink what I know my body will allow. I did try to opt for staying awake but they said it would be too painful. I asked if I would be sore afterwords and they said not at all. Yea right.

 

[Astronuc]

My prep day is Tuesday and the procedure is Wednesday morning. No eating all day Tuesday, only water and the chemicals as described. The water amount is excessive, especially for my body weight, so I'm only going to drink what I know my body will allow. I did try to opt for staying awake but they said it would be too painful. I asked if I would be sore afterwords and they said not at all. Yea right.

Check with the doctor. One should probably drink no more than 64 oz of clear fluid - with the Miralax.

Also, I believe one can drink chicken broth, so that one will get some nutrition.

 

[strangerep]

I asked if I would be sore afterwords and they said not at all. Yea right.

I had twilight sedation, and no pain afterwards. None at all. I was quite surprised that Evo reported pain the 2nd time even though nothing was removed. That should not happen.

Imho, try to comply with drinking the extra water -- gradually. The chemicals, etc, are stimulating your insides to flush everything out, which normally would cause dehydration.

 

[lisab]

I had twilight sedation, and no pain afterwards. None at all. I was quite surprised that Evo reported pain the 2nd time even though nothing was removed. That should not happen.

Imho, try to comply with drinking the extra water -- gradually. The chemicals, etc, are stimulating your insides to flush everything out, which normally would cause dehydration.

My first one is in a few weeks, I'll post how it goes.

My daughter had to have one a few months ago, she had some issues that needed attention. She was sedated, and said there were no issues at all with the procedure. No pain, no discomfort afterwards. She was worried beforehand but later realized all the anxiety was for naught.

 

[Evo]

They were looking for problems and went a bit further than with a standard colonoscopy the second time. The pain afterward was pretty bad, I believe it's from trapped gas, they inject gas into your colon, and I had heard this pain tends to be more common with general anesthesia, with conscious sedation, they have you move and gas is expelled during the procedure. I remember during the first one I kept saying "sorry", but by the end of the procedure, no trapped gas and I was on cloud nine the rest of the day thanks to the demerol.

After the general anesthesia, I was doubled over in pain for hours. Not doing that again.

But it depends on how gentle or rushed the doctor is and other factors. I hope you have no issues dl.

 

[strangerep]

After the general anesthesia, I was doubled over in pain for hours.

Ah, ok. I misunderstood. Didn't they give you pain relief??

About 8yrs ago I had laparoscopic hernia repair (general anesthesia of course). In the recovery room, I had excruciating pain across my shoulders (i.e., nowhere near the site of the op). They had to max me out on morphine to relieve it, so then I became nauseated later. The anesthesist later said that this happens to some people when their insides are inflated with gas (as occurs in laparoscopic procedures), but they have no way to anticipate who will be affected. I'm not sure I buy this explanation however.

2 yrs later, the same hernia needed to be redone (simply gluing a patch by laparascopic procedure wasn't strong enough). This time they did a conventional open repair, and I was fine. Woke up -- no significant problems except for some very mild pain around the wound. But they also used a different cocktail of anesthetics this time, given my intolerance for opiates.

 

[Evo]

Ah, ok. I misunderstood. Didn't they give you pain relief??

No.

About 8yrs ago I had laparoscopic hernia repair (general anesthesia of course). In the recovery room, I had excruciating pain across my shoulders (i.e., nowhere near the site of the op). They had to max me out on morphine to relieve it, so then I became nauseated later. The anesthesist later said that this happens to some people when their insides are inflated with gas (as occurs in laparoscopic procedures), but they have no way to anticipate who will be affected. I'm not sure I buy this explanation however.

2 yrs later, the same hernia needed to be redone (simply gluing a patch by laparascopic procedure wasn't strong enough). This time they did a conventional open repair, and I was fine. Woke up -- no significant problems except for some very mild pain around the wound. But they also used a different cocktail of anesthetics this time, given my intolerance for opiates.

Wow, we seem to have so many of the same problems.

 

[DevilsAvocado]

I did try to opt for staying awake but they said it would be too painful. I asked if I would be sore afterwords and they said not at all. Yea right.

You are the customer, go somewhere else if they insist on general anesthesia. There is no logical reason for this (except maybe larger/complicated procedure = more money/profits), it's not like they're going in with Saturn V... it's a little flexible "snake":

When I did this some years ago, I felt absolutely nothing during the examination, except once when the doctor reached the sharp "u-turn", higher up in the colon. Of course, this kind of feedback is impossible if you are put unconscious...

There's always a risk (even if it is tiny); but ask the doctor why you should increase the risks of complications, by choosing something that is completely useless??

Anesthesia-related deaths by ASA status

The death rate of colonoscopy is 0.6 in 10,000 cases (of course the overall patient status is crucial).

I agree with Evo – the examination was interesting and fun! The nurses said I was mumbling that this was more thrilling than Sweden wining the hockey Olympic Games, and I encourage the doctor to go further and further... almost cheering for every inch...

... and yes, I did get laughing gas (nitrous) as painkiller, which probably helped to "implement" the cheering "hockey mode" ...

Same as Evo, the worst part was afterwards – the stomach felt like I had been run over by a truck (no gas). I had to stay for a couple of hours before I could stand up.

But this is very different from person to person, and maybe depending on the examination. I my case, there was no polyps or removal, just biopsies/tissue, but the doctor was trying to enter the small intestine. I have friends that have had no problems whatsoever during/after examination. Ask for painkillers if you get problems afterward, and take the rest of the day for resting, and you will be okay.

There's nothing to worry about, these guys are skilled, and if something happens they have other fancy tools to fix basically everything!

 

[Borek]

Typical problem with docs - each one knows best and each one says something completely different.

Which is why I prefer multiplication table.

 

[Pythagorean]

Typical problem with docs - each one knows best and each one says something completely different.

Which is why I prefer multiplication table.

Last time I tried to do a colonscopy with a multiplication table, I just ended up with toilet paper.

 

[Monique]

It can't be that bad right? Discomfort for a day sounds tolerable. Indeed I would question the general anesthesia, is it for the benefit of the doctor or patient?

 

[DevilsAvocado]

Last time I tried to do a colonscopy with a multiplication table, I just ended up with toilet paper.

You were lucky... most of the time it all ends in a messy brownian motion...

 

[DevilsAvocado]

It can't be that bad right?

For me, physically it was no more than using an old analog medical thermometer (i.e. regarding the actual examination). Intellectually, it was a 'revelation' seeing the inside of you live...

Indeed I would question the general anesthesia, is it for the benefit of the doctor or patient?

It's definitely not for the patient, except maybe in some special cases of extreme anxiety or maybe unusual medical reasons, but in the general case – no... I have had much more pain at the dentist, despite LA.

I can't understand why they even consider general anesthesia... who would ever dream of doing GA at the dentist??

 

[Evo]

I can't understand why they even consider general anesthesia... who would ever dream of doing GA at the dentist??

I was reading that it's just to get more money. Now your insurance is charged for the hospital surgical outpatient facility, the anesthetists, nurses, and they can crank out patients faster, meaning the doctor can schedule a lot more patients in a day and rack up the $$.

When I had it done in office under "conscious sedation", my co-pay was $40, when I had the general anesthesia done, my co-pay was $350.

 

[DevilsAvocado]

I was reading that it's just to get more money.

Bingo!

This is what I suspected all the time (don't want to delve too deep in this 'sensitive' issue)... but I think there's quite a big difference between countries with one-size-fits-all-public-health-care, and private alternatives... I can't remember I've ever heard of anyone doing GA for colonoscopy in Sweden? But we're going private* now, so it might be more common here also... I dunno.


*We now have schools run by venture capitalists in NYC... as the one of two countries in the world, the other is Augusto Pinochet's Chile... it sucks, some schools goes bankrupt and runs with taxpayers money, and the kids don't even get their grades...

 

[strangerep]

who would ever dream of doing GA at the dentist??

It depends on the severity of the procedure. I've heard of unfortunate people who needed to have all their teeth removed -- it was performed under GA, with subsequent overnight stay in hospital.

 

[davenn]

I have had 2 colonoscopies, one ~ 16 yrs ago and another last year ... both were done with me under general anaesthetic no problems during and no nasty pains afterwards
( have never walked the same since ... kiddin')

The first one , 16 yrs ago, was almost immediately followed by the Endoscopic Examination down the throat and into the stomach. That was really uncomfortable, horrible gagging reflexes.

I did joke to the surgeon at the time that I hope its a different instrument that the one that went up the "tail pipe" haha

cheers
Dave

 

[DevilsAvocado]

I've heard of unfortunate people who needed to have all their teeth removed

Ouch! This is lethal!

Or at least it used to be... a relative back in the old days, when old people all had (removable) false teeth, went to the dentist to remove all teeth, but the shock was too overwhelming and the old man got a stroke, a few days later he passed away... :/

But you're right, larger/complicated dental treatments require GA. In my country most dentists don't have the license/equipment to carry out this treatment; it has to be done at the hospital as a 'surgery'.

Talking about crazy dental experiences... as a teenager I fell headlong into the pavement (in a ridiculous situation that I'll skip) and I knocked out a front tooth. Just a few days before my mom did read about a car accident where the driver had knocked out a tooth, and put it back, and the tooth "grow back"... so, I picked up the tooth from the ground and put it back, and there it stayed for many years. Finally the tooth "went pink" and it was time for a dental implant. I had removed several teeth before and wasn't especially worried about this procedure... but the (dead) darned thing had joined/grown into the bone of my upper jaw... the dentist worked so hard he went red with sweat pouring down his face, repeatedly asking me "Are you okay? Are you okay?", I said yes, but was really waiting for the whole head to drop lose... expecting the dentist to next use his feet/legs against my chest to brace the stubborn bastard out. Finally he got it out, and then it was time for the titanium implant, which was also a "funny" experience... I'll skip the greasy details, but it's basically about putting your head as close to the floor as possible and your feet in the roof, and with the world upside-down watching a "specialist" entering the room, with something that looked like a rotary hammer drill, eager to drill a hole in your skull/jaw...

Colonoscopy is a walk in the park in comparison!

 

[dlgoff]

The type of anesthesia they're going to use is called a "procedural sedation". As I understand it, you won't remember the procedure but will be able to respond to the doctor for changing body position and give feedback as to the discomfort at the time. I am waiting to hear back from them about some of my concerns.

 

[Evo]

The type of anesthesia they're going to use is called a "procedural sedation". As I understand it, you won't remember the procedure but will be able to respond to the doctor for changing body position and give feedback as to the discomfort at the time. I am waiting to hear back from them about some of my concerns.

Procedural sedation is another name for "conscious sedation". I hope that is really what you're getting, ask for lots of happy meds. If you feel any poking during the procedure, they will (or should) immediately administer more happy juice. The poking doesn't hurt, it's just pressure, but if you are sufficiently relaxed, you won't care. Whatever they give doesn't put me to sleep or erase memory, it might for you, it does for many. What it did for me was prevent any discomfort and left me enjoying the happiest day of my life.

 

[Monique]

Whatever they give doesn't put me to sleep or erase memory, it might for you, it does for many. What it did for me was prevent any discomfort and left me enjoying the happiest day of my life.

A friend of mine told me the best he ever felt was after surgery on morphine, he was shocked on how euphoric it made him feel and that he certainly could get addicted to it. Not long after that I had surgery and was given morphine, but I was just sleepy Could be the dose, but people definitely can have different experiences.

 

[dlgoff]

Procedural sedation is another name for "conscious sedation". I hope that is really what you're getting, ask for lots of happy meds. If you feel any poking during the procedure, they will (or should) immediately administer more happy juice. The poking doesn't hurt, it's just pressure, but if you are sufficiently relaxed, you won't care. Whatever they give doesn't put me to sleep or erase memory, it might for you, it does for many. What it did for me was prevent any discomfort and left me enjoying the happiest day of my life.

I will for sure ask for happy meds. Take home drugs would be a plus too. But right now I'm not happy, happy, happy. I'm hungry, hungry, hungry.

 

[Evo]

Yeah, the clear liquids day I think is the worst. Even with the amazing dose of Miralax, no pain, at least not for me. I started buying Miralax ever since.

 

[dlgoff]

A big thanks to all for taking the time to convey their information and concerns:


SteamKing

D H

https://www.physicsforums.com/member.php?u=5155

Matterwave

Astronuc

strangerep

lisab

Borek

Pythagorean

Monique

davenn

Oh. And my devil friend DevilsAvocado for posting this pic.

No polyps, no biopsy, and no more Colonoscopies for 10 years. :thumbs:

 

[Borek]

Good

 

[Evo]

Feeling ok?

 

[dlgoff]

Felling fine. Mainly from the enchiladas and apple slices dipped in cream cheese w/brown sugar. Food at last.

 

[Monique]

Glad you can consume food again, what's better than that? Before making crazy happy posts, be sure your medication has worn off

 

[dlgoff]

Glad you can consume food again, what's better than that? Before making crazy happy posts, be sure your medication has worn off

 

[edward]

Felling fine. Mainly from the enchiladas and apple slices dipped in cream cheese w/brown sugar. Food at last.

It is good to hear everything went well. So now I will tell everyone why some doctors are a bit fanatic about the preparation procedure.

Occasionally when a polyp is found after removal electrocautery is used to stop bleeding. The gases in the colon can be combustible. Bad things have happened.

http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/5295.pdf

I am about two years overdue for the procedure. My Doc is really pushing the issue.

 

[dlgoff]

It is good to hear everything went well. So now I will tell everyone why some doctors are a bit fanatic about the preparation procedure.

Occasionally when a polyp is found after removal electrocautery is used to stop bleeding. The gases in the colon can be combustible. Bad things have happened.

http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/5295.pdf

I am about two years overdue for the procedure. My Doc is really pushing the issue.

OMG I hope your don't explode Edward. Thanks for not letting me know this beforehand.

 

[Borek]

Won't pumping just nitrogen help?

 

[AlephZero]

If the flushing compounds worked properly, why was there still something in there generating methane?

But there was a recent hospital accident in the UK where somebody used an alcohol-based cleaning solvent externally on the patient during an operation, and then set fire to the vapor while cauterizing something.

 

[Evo]

If the flushing compounds worked properly, why was there still something in there generating methane?

But there was a recent hospital accident in the UK where somebody used an alcohol-based cleaning solvent externally on the patient during an operation, and then set fire to the vapor while cauterizing something.

So a benefit or being unconscious is that they can put out the fire and dress the wounds and you'll wonder what the heck happened?

 

[AlephZero]

According to the news report, the when the patient came round he was told "there had been a fire in the operating theater".

Warning, rather gross picture inside: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-27539290

 

[Evo]

Yikes!

The doctor that did my first colonoscopy had recent bad burns to his face, I wonder if it was such an accident that burned him? Makes you wonder.

 

[lisab]

Won't pumping just nitrogen help?

When my daughter had hers, the nurse said they use CO₂.

 

[dlgoff]

So a benefit or being unconscious is that they can put out the fire and dress the wounds and you'll wonder what the heck happened?

I haven't said anything about it but I suspect while I was unconscious (I told the anesthesiologist good night and it was lights out) they inserted something down my throat that I didn't expect. When I "woke up", there was no sense of ever being unconscious. The doctor said everything is fine, shook my hand and left, then the nurse asked would you like some water, a coke or anything (I took the coke, got dressed and left with my driver in about two minutes) On the way home I realized that there was little spot in my throat that felt really dry and it took a couple hours before loosing the sensation. Before the procedure, one of the prep questions was if I had ever experienced sleep apnea. I said maybe. So maybe they wanted to make sure the were ready to breath for me?

 

[OmCheeto]

I am never again going to the doctor's office...

 

[edward]

When my daughter had hers, the nurse said they use CO₂.

They may have been covering for the fact that they used a CO₂ fire extinguisher.

 

[dlgoff]

Today I went to my doctor for a follow-up. Toward the end of the appointment she mentioned that she was glad I went through with it knowing I had concerns with the clean-out procedure. I said, "Me too. Do the pics look like I was clean enough?" She said "Yes", so I informed her that I felt justified with my concerns since I knew what my body could tolerate and told her, "I only took ½ of the Dulcolas tablets, 30% of the Maralax powder, and about 10% of the water." Her reply was that she was glad that I had went through with the procedure anyway. Then I asked, "So do I have the colon of a 30 year old?" She laughed with a big smile.

My revised clean-out procedure is not a recommendation for everyone.

 

[lisab]

Got mine today!

I went to a clinic that does this procedure dozens of times a day, so they knew what they were doing. They used propofol -- very effective! It's not an opiate so I wasn't too dopey when I woke up.

Doc said everything looks great, I don't need to come back for 10 years.

Excuse me now, I have to go eat everything I find (I haven't eaten since dinner 2 days ago!).

 

[Evo]

Got mine today!

I went to a clinic that does this procedure dozens of times a day, so they knew what they were doing. They used propofol -- very effective! It's not an opiate so I wasn't too dopey when I woke up.

Doc said everything looks great, I don't need to come back for 10 years.

Excuse me now, I have to go eat everything I find (I haven't eaten since dinner 2 days ago!).

Congrats, I have to go back in uhm, 5 months ago.

 

[dlgoff]

... I don't need to come back for 10 years.

:thumbs:

 

[Monique]

I'm surprised so many people are having it done, what are the criteria in the US for a screening?

 

[Astronuc]

I'm surprised so many people are having it done, what are the criteria in the US for a screening?

Age and family history. Generally, it's recommended to an initial colonoscopy in one's 50s. If it is a clean screen, then followup would be in 7 to 10 years. If there is a history of ancestors, e.g., grandparents, parents, cousins, then it is recommended frequent screening in the 50's.

•These groups recommend routine testing for people age 50 and older who have a normal risk for colorectal cancer.

http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/colonoscopy-16695

Removing polyps can help prevent colorectal cancer from ever starting. And cancers found in an early stage, while they are small and before they have spread, are more easily treated. Nine out of 10 people whose colon cancer is discovered early will be alive 5 years later. And many will live a normal life span.

But all too often people don’t get any of these screening tests. Then the cancer can grow and spread without being noticed. Early on, colorectal cancer doesn’t usually cause any changes that are noticed (symptoms). In most cases, by the time people do have symptoms the cancer is advanced and very hard to treat.

http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findc...escriptions/faq-colonoscopy-and-sigmoidoscopyCertainly by one's 60's or 70's, one should have an initial colonoscopy. My dad waited until he was symptomatic, and he ended up part of his colon (8 inches/20 cm) removed, then chemotherapy and radiation. The chemo caused neuropathy, and the radiation burned his bladder and internal organs. Not only was he ill from all that, but he developed a post-op infection.

The suffering he experienced was entirely avoidable if he had had a colonoscopy in his early 70s. He found out after the fact, that his mother's side of the family had a history of colon cancer, and some uncles and cousins had either died from it or had surgery/chemo.

 

[Monique]

Thanks for explaining and sorry to hear about your dad. My granddad dead of colon cancer, but I don't know what the circumstances were (poor family relations). In the Netherlands there is a two-tiered screening process, first everyone between the age of 55–75 is invited to do a stool test every two years, in case that there is blood detected a colonoscopy will be performed. I'm not sure what happens above the age of 75, maybe it is not considered a major cause of death when detected above that age.

 

[Astronuc]

I have one tomorrow.

The hardest part is smelling cooking food, or looking at the food I cooked last night, and not being able to eat. I'm really hungry!

The prep includes drinking 4 liters of solution in two phases - half tonight, and half tomorrow 6 hours before the procedure. This is a change from what I had done 8 years ago. Apparently, for some individuals, there is fluid at the entry of the ascending colon, and that has apparently obscured polyps or indications of problems in that region. The second phase is supposed to clean out some of the bile that is produced prior to the procedure.

 

[WWGD]

I have one tomorrow.

The hardest part is smelling cooking food, or looking at the food I cooked last night, and not being able to eat. I'm really hungry!

The prep includes drinking 4 liters of solution in two phases - half tonight, and half tomorrow 6 hours before the procedure. This is a change from what I had done 8 years ago. Apparently, for some individuals, there is fluid at the entry of the ascending colon, and that has apparently obscured polyps or indications of problems in that region. The second phase is supposed to clean out some of the bile that is produced prior to the procedure.

Focus on visualizing the fluid at the entry and the obscured polyps and your hunger will likely go away.