What Should You Expect During a Colonoscopy?

[Danger]

Don't suppose Canada has territories anywhere in the South Pacific, huh?

No, but... surprise, surprise ( that's this one, right?) The Turks & Caicos in the Caribbean have been trying to join us for a few years now. We're still debating it.

 

[nevagil]

I should but I'm hesitant

A 'sigmoidoscopy' doesn't check as far but can be done without drugs. A 'barium enema' x-ray can also be done without drugs but doesn't check as well.
Same with a virtual-colonscopy although I haven't had one.
I am hesitant about getting a colonoscopy because I tend to throw punches when I am being woke up and when I was coming to from an operation 25 years ago I saw IV's in my arm and tore them out and punched the nurse. (PTSD, I guess or just don't trust anything) I would hate to be semi-conscious and see a long tube inserted in me.
My dad had colon cancer in the 1970's so I'll probably try a colonoscopy, well maybe next year.


Gil of surrealcity.com

 

[Tsu]

A 'sigmoidoscopy' doesn't check as far but can be done without drugs. A 'barium enema' x-ray can also be done without drugs but doesn't check as well.
Same with a virtual-colonscopy although I haven't had one.
I am hesitant about getting a colonoscopy because I tend to throw punches when I am being woke up and when I was coming to from an operation 25 years ago I saw IV's in my arm and tore them out and punched the nurse. (PTSD, I guess or just don't trust anything) I would hate to be semi-conscious and see a long tube inserted in me.
My dad had colon cancer in the 1970's so I'll probably try a colonoscopy, well maybe next year.


Gil of surrealcity.com

Virtual colonoscopy (done by CT scans) is coming into it's own. However, if it comes up positive, you're going to be getting a regular colonoscopy anyway... Virtual colonoscopy also involves just about the same prep (which is usually considered the worst part of these types of procedures) and delivers a fairly hefty dose of radiation.

 

[imabug]

I've been told by some colleagues who've had colonoscopies that the preparation is worse than the actual procedure. You spend the day beforehand drinking stuff to flush everything out of your colon (which I imagine means spending a good deal of time on the toilet). For the actual procedure, you're lightly sedated so you don't feel much discomfort.

The results from virtual colonoscopy, like regular colonoscopy are only as good as the prep done the night before. If the prep doesn't flush everything out, then the doctor has to try to figure out what's crap and what's polyp. With a regular colonoscopy, that's pretty easy. With a virtual colonoscopy, it can be a little more difficult.