??Colonoscopy??

Question

My husband has been thinking about getting a colonoscopy he has a family history of having colon cancer. He is scared to say the least of both the procedure and the out come. He is always looks on the bad side of things. He says the same thing allot of men say and think "If its not broke don't fix it". I tell him that It might be broke and you will not know untill it is really bad. I was wanting some feed back from all of you that had the proceedure done to respond and tell him what he is to expect? Also for all of you that found the worst and have been under treatment and have beat it by being diagnosed earlier? I will have him read these answers and try to get him to get it done. Thanks ahead of time for your answers.

I was also wondering how to go about setting up an appointment. Do you have to have a referral or can you just call and get one set up?

Answer 1

Hi, I am 32, and last year at 31, I had a colonoscopy. It was sincerely no big deal! I dreaded it, too. Tell him to ask for Xanax or anxiety medication for the procedure. You basically take a little nap while lying on your side, fully clothed in a gown. It never hurt, the room was dark so the doctor could see the screen. You have about 2 nurses in there with you. The place you have them done does a million a day. The next day you are fine. You have alot of sleep to do the day of though. I looked at it as a good nap! The only bad part was drinking the stuff the day before. It did make me a little nauseated. But, it does not make everyone that way. Best safe than sorry-I found that out a young age.

Answer 2

The preparation for a colonoscopy is much worse than the procedure itself. Many doctors are electing to use phospha soda and other preps instead of the Golytely. This is great because now you only have to drink a few ounces instead of a gallon! This makes the process much easier!

Typically, people will receive a sedative like Versed (kind of like Valium) prior to the procedure. The great thing about Versed is that you don't care what they do to you and the drug has amnesiac properties so you probably won't remember anyway. You should have someone to drive you home from the procedure and stay with you. Basically, you will probably sleep the better part of the afternoon.

The benefits of colonoscopies far outweigh the risks. Of course there is a chance of perforation but it is VERY small. Colon cancer is so treatable if caught early! There really is no reason to not go through with it. After his first colonoscopy, I don't think that he'll be at all hesitant to do it again!

Answer 3

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!

A note from an anesthesiologist
I agree that using midazolam alone in painful situations is wrong. I've heard people getting colonoscopies and screaming, and maybe they remember, maybe they don't.

A note I got from someone on Yahoo Answers who did have a bad experience..This is very disconcerting... My sister said she heard me screaming from the waiting room but assumed it wasn't me. When we left we heard another female patient screaming. I did a lot of research since your post, thanks so much for the info.

Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages-meds/sedation

Answer 4

My husband is 32 years old and in Feb. he had a colonoscopy done and had two large polyps removed, he has to go for his follow-up this upcoming Feb. to see if they have returned or what the situation is. He had to take laxatives and fast for the day before the procedure. They sedate you and then do the procedure (which only takes about 20 min itself) and then they put you in recovery and let you go home when you are out of the medicated state. My husband said the worst part was the fasting (and he hates doctors of any kind!!) I would suggest it especially if there is a family history. My husband may have been saved from cancer because of it!!!

Answer 5

I had the Colonoscopy and Endoscopy done at the same time this spring to rule out cancer because of bleeding and vomiting. It was an out-patient procedure in the local hospital and I felt nothing because they made me sleep through the whole thing. I had no after effects and did find out that symptoms were caused by simple pain reaction...Praise God, no cancer!!! Please let your husband know that there is nothing to fear and early detection/ prevention/treatment is the worst case scenario. Even if positive, cancer is highly treatable and even heal-able by the Great Creator (I had a brain tumor healed last year after positive CT/MRI and know many who have same result of targeted prayer). My wife and I would be glad to email more you about this by way of [e-mail], if needed. We've been where you are now and know you'll make it through it!

Answer 6

Tell him not put it off any longer since he has a family history of colon cancer. The procedure itself is a breeze, I was given what they call "conscience sleep" where you are awake but don't remember anything afterwards. I had several pre-cancerous polyps removed during the procedure and no discomfort afterward. Pre-cancerous polyps can later become cancerous so it is important that he gets checked. The drinking of "Golytely" is what makes it so dreadful but many doctors are only requiring a patient to drink 1/2 of the mixture(tastes like flavored salt water) or using other laxatives, etc.

Answer 7

If you are high risk do it, the sooner the better. Been there, done that. Prostrate cancer is 10x more fatal then women's breast cancer. Early detection is the best preventive way to successfully handle this. The colonoscopy is done under anesthesia, you don't feel a thing. Thinking about it is scary but not that bad at all.

Answer 8

Have it done. Colon cancer is the worst way in the world to die. I know, i saw my father go through it. If you wait till you get sick , it's too late.
The procedure is easy. but the preparation is the worst part. You go without food for one day and then you have to drink a gallon of nasty stuff that make you sit on the toilet for about five hours. Then you go to the doctors office, he puts you to sleep and you wake up two hours later and go home. If they find anything they remove it on the spot. You don't feel a thing.

Answer 9

A colonoscopy checks for polyps that may lead to cancer in the future. The recommendations are age 50 and every five years thereafter. You and your doctor can determine if it needs to be done before then, say if family hx of colon cancer. Load up on antioxidants, roughage, fiber, fruits and veggies, low fat diet to decrease chances.

Answer 10

mom and grandpa died of it, i had my first colonoscopy at 55 and they removed 3 tiny polyps which might have grown into cancer, believe me ill be going back when im 60 for my next one. it isnt all that uncomfortable, they give you meds and you are basically out for the worst of it. and if they find polyps they take them out on the spot, no pain afterward, just a little discomfort in the lower stomach area for a day or two. do it, it can save you , if mom hadnt let hers go for 15 yrs before she had surgery she would still be here and she would be 80. it hurt so bad to lose her.