2007-08-17 13:34:50 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
I am a technician in a G.I. office and I personally preform almost 20 endoscopic procedures a day. It's really not a big deal. The worst part is getting cleaned out before the procedure.
Once your IV is placed you'll be put to sleep. The medication works really quickly, you'll be asleep within 10 seconds. During the procedure air is inserted into your colon to expand it so the doctor can get a good look. The doctor will suction out most of the air by the end of the procedure but you may feel bloated afterwords. If they find anything (like polyps or irritation) a biopsy will be taken and sent to a lab. The procedure should take approximately 20 minutes and you'll wake up shortly after. The doctor will tell you his findings and if biopsy's were taken you'll get the results in a couple of days.
It's really an easy procedure. My facility preforms around 60 procedures a day with no problem. Good Luck.
P.S. what Mary says is untrue. It can be very painful if you were awake. I've had patients try in without anesthesia and they asked to be put to sleep seconds into the procedure.
P.S.S. We use Lidocaine and sometimes a Little bit of Ketamine. You are completely asleep and don't feel a thing.
2007-08-17 13:52:02 · answer #1 · answered by Lola Star 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a strong history of colon cancer in my family. Before the advent of flexible instruments I underwent a sigmoidoscopy. It was no picnic. I was very lightly sedated for my first flexible colonoscopy, and I could feel the instrument go around the splenic and hepatic flexures. It was uncomfortable but not painful. The air insufflation was bothersome.
With subsequent procedures I have had a combination of Demerol and Versed. Works great. A nurse or tech inserts an iv into a hand or arm vein, and the doc gives the injection when he or she is ready to start. After the procedure you are sent to a recovery area for a variable time, usually about 45 - 90 minutes.
Bring a friend or relative with you to listen to the doctor's and nurses instructions. Versed may cloud your memory for an hour or so afterward. Also, you won't be able to drive home. Good luck!
Now, if only they could make the prep more pleasant.
2007-08-17 21:12:05 · answer #2 · answered by greydoc6 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would you need to be sedated??????
It's just basically an overdone enema????
2007-08-17 20:42:51 · answer #3 · answered by MARY L 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋