Colonoscopy...ever had this done?

Question

I'll be having this test done in hospital next week, and although I'll be asleep throughout, just wanted to ask if you had any side effects after wards.....OK, I admit to being worried, not to mention embarrassed as hell !

I honestly don't know why people are getting the thumbs down. Great answers that have made me feel so much better. Thanks to everyone, and to the person giving bad ratings.....I hope you're behind me when that gas comes out !

Many thanks for everyone who took time out to reply. Sorry I can't choose the best answer, I got something from every reply. Happy New Year to you all. Sharon...I hope your treatment goes well. X

Answer 1

taylor, as a practicing gastroenterologist, the first thing that i can say is the last thing you need to be is embarrassed. i personally have done thousands of colonoscopy's.. second, medication is used for sedation, most commonly versed and demerol or fentanyl, but occasionally propofol. The procedure generally takes 20 minutes or so, no big deal. The major thing that my patients complain about is the preparation, thanks.

Answer 2

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 3

No sweat, I have had three and the only 2 things I hate are the preparation at home the day of the procedure and the IV.
I am always told I can watch the procedure on the screen YUK
but then do not remember anything until its all over. Felt fine after, just a little tired and very empty and a bit gassy.
Don't worry about it - its a breeze and remember the staff has seen it all! Better be safe than sorry.

Answer 4

Nothing to worry about. The worst part is drinking all that stuff the day before & not being able to eat the next morning. Hope your appointment is early. I've had about 6 in the last 2 years. I had colon cancer detected early because I had the colonoscopy. 3/23/06 1st surgery. 1/17/07 will be my 2nd. Be strong it is not that bad. Good luck. Sharon C

Answer 5

My mom just had it done, she is nearly 80, and had no side effects. She even went out later that evening. She says the worst part is having to drink the stuff the day before, and not being able to have coffee until after the test is done. And the relief of not having to have another test for 3-5 years is worth any small discomfort.

Answer 6

Nothing to worry about. Been thru 2. You wiil be knocked out, so nothing to be embarrassed about. The only side effect depends on what they use to put you to sleep. It first time I had mine, I didnt remember anything for about an hour after I woke up. The new stuff they used a couple of weeks ago, I remember waking up and everything since. As far as internally, you will never know anything happened. Good luck.

Answer 7

I've had two done and polyps excised during the first. The second was to make sure no new polyps had grown, and they hadn't.
Don't worry about side effects afterwards except some drowsiness from the anesthetic. Don't make any crucial decisions within a day or two after the procedure. That goes for any procedure that involves anesthetic.

Answer 8

more than a few times......just a lot of gas after wards.....the worst part of the whole thing is that you have to cleanse your colon out..... don't be embarrassed, these docs and nurses do this every day more than once....and they have seen it all.....i have has colitis since age 18 and that was over 20 years ago....its not really that bad......oh, and take the food eating easy with soft foods afterwords too......it helps keep the gas from building up....you will be given a sheet of paper that tells you everything after you have your procedure, what you can and cant do and what to expect......good luck and try to relax......

Answer 9

I am 26 years old and just had this done on Jan. 3,2007. The only problem I had was drinking the stuff the day before. It made me sick. So hopefully you won't have this problem. Then afterwards you will have alot of gas from the air they put in you but since you have emptyed out your system it won't smell. I hope this helps.

Answer 10

Relax! It's a walk in the park for most of us. Here's why:

You won't have a clue what's happening; you'll be all wrapped up, lying on your gurney; you'll close your eyes for just an instant, and they'll tell you it's all over!

Now, some people do get nauseous from the anesthesia, but it will be all gone in 24 hours. If that happens to you, look upon it as a mini diet!

Good luck; you'll be just fine!