I'm having an out-patient "procedure" tomorrow

[MaineDem]

Ok, it's a colonoscopy and I'm frightened.

I haven't eaten since lunch and I'm waiting now for the, ummm, laxative to work. No solid food til after it's all over tomorrow.

At least I understand the drugs make it bearable. Argh.....

[Padraig18]

1. Ack!

That is so not fun, and I sympathize. I'm having o/p surgery on my ulnar nerve next week, too.

[MaineDem]

4. thanks and good luck to you, too

I have a friend who had that nerve worked on.

[Padraig18]

6. Thanks! It sounds sorta creepy!

They want me to be awake, and are just going to anesthetize the arm itself. :scared:

[Bertha Venation]

18. ooh, man....

Good luck. My doc wouldn't do that on my ankle because she was afraid I'd pass out. Just don't look. AAMOF, I think they'll probably block your view.

[lojasmo]

25. best way to go

Padraig18-

NEVER have general anesthesia when you can go with a local block. Much safer that way. They'll give you a little something to relax, most likely.

[Bertha Venation]

12. oh, dude...

is your hand gonna be NUMB! Yikes! What did you do to your elbow?

[Padraig18]

15. I have an ulnar nerve entrapment

My pink and ring finger alternate between numbness and feeling as though they're on fire. I had to fight my insurer for 7 months to get this surgery done, and they only agreed after the Dept. of Insurance ORDERED them to pay for it.

[Bertha Venation]

16. FHMOBPOS!

Anyone who's seen "As Good As It Gets" knows what that means. And I don't care if your insurance ISN'T an HMO. It's just as bad.

We watched "John Q" last night. :grr::grr::grr: I haven't been so mad at a movie since "The Accused." And -- great, just great -- I got another reason to want to snap Anne Heche over my knee. Someone needs to introduce that skinny little freak to a sandwich.

</rant>

[Justitia]

2. tonight is the worst part, tomorrow is a breeze!

My hubby recently had this done. Like you, I was a nervous nellie about it.

Honestly, tonight (the effects of the cleansing medication) is the worst part. Don't stray too far from the bathroom.

The actual procedure is a snap. They knock you out, only takes about 30 min, you'll wake right up and have absolutely no idea that anything ever happened - promise!

And then you will have peace of mind.

Best wishes! O8)

[MaineDem]

7. I'll be glad when it's over

Thanks for the assurances. :)

[veganwitch]

3. my grandmother died of colon cancer

which you have a high rate of beating if you catch it early enough.

[MaineDem]

8. I know it's the right thing to do

But I'm still nervous. :)

[LawDem]

5. Other than the prep and the anticipation -- no big deal

The prep's the bad part. They'll medicate you tomorrow to the extent that most people don't remember a thing. I've had it done twice and it's a breeze. The worst thing is the way they treat you (and dress you up) like a surgical patient. That can be a little unnerving, but the procedure itself is no big deal. Also, while there is a theoretical risk of complication -- most seriously an injury to the colon (fixable even if it occurs), that is a very, very, very . . . low risk. You'll be in more danger driving to the place. Hang in there.

[MaineDem]

9. THanks

I guess there's no reason for me to fret over what I'm going to wear then, eh?

Thanks for the reassurances.

[mwdem]

10. Mary, I had one 2 months ago....piece of cake

The night before was spent confined to the bathroom, but I had it done first thing the next morning. It was quick, I was knocked out, and I was a little woozy afterwords, but I was fine by the time I got home. They found 1 polyp, and now there's none! I don't have to have it done again for another 10 years. It's really nothing to worry about.

[Bertha Venation]

11. The drugs do help, according to Mrs. V., who's had this done.

Also, they should give you a mild sedative, like valium. You may wish to ask for it if they don't bring it up.

If you are able to relax tomorrow, before and during the procedure, the hardest part might be tonight's preparation.

:hug: for you. Try to relax, ask for a sedative, and good luck.

[Old and In the Way]

13. Best wishes MaineDem!

Southern Maine Med or Maine Med Center? Both are super facilities...

Did we see you at Mama Baldacci's?

[izzie]

14. Does not hurt but it is so un ladylike. Or un-man like

I can not believe they talked me into having it done. Not a thing wrong and then I had to have test so I could have it done which I yelled about as I did not wish to pay for them and they said they fell under Medicare but I ended up fighting for 1 year on the cost. I would have been better off to have had something wrong they told me.Never will I do that test. Once was one time to many.

[Ilsa]

17. Hey, but you get to fart alot after it's over, IIRC.

Anytime they push through your private places using the big snake and gas, you get to pass it. And you won't even remember most of it because of the lalalala drugs. Just say Aaaaawwwwwwww and let it rip.

(I haven't had it done, but I've taken care of a few people in a day surgery rotation who had it.)

[papau]

22. no shit! - (for 2 days - just air!)

:-)

[CO Liberal]

19. I've Been There

It's a little uncomforable, especially when they blow air in to expand your colon. But it's not that bad. I think my yearly prostrate exams are more unpleasant.....

:-)

[donco6]

20. Piece o' cake

Had one done several years ago, and was nervous, too. But it all went very well, with minimal awkwardness. Hope yours goes well, too.

[papau]

21. Had upper and lower last Wed - no reason to fear anything.

If they find something they remove it and problem solved - Reagan had something snipped out of him every year he was in office.

The upper - if you are to have that and you are not a "good" patient- say you are like me and over-react due to lack of air caused by a tube down your throat - works best for me if I am almost not under and can verify with my Toung that the tube is not choking me and that I can breath and I can hear the nurse saying stay calm!

If the fear is a results fear - that what is snipped out is more than a random polyp and indicates the beginning of Cancer treatment - well my prayers are with you - there is no good upside if that happens - although they will say catching it early was a good thing.

When you are born it is a race between cancer and heart - and with a little luck an every 3 year colonoscopy will mean the heart will "win".

[onebigbadwulf]

23. Colonoscopy is routine. Just try and hold in as much as possible

when they take the scope out!!

[marigold20]

24. I've had it twice

and it wasn't bad at all. I had to drink a gallon of "Go-Lytely" - ha ha. You do need to stay close to the bathroom - just move in for a couple of hours in fact. But the actual procedure isn't bad at all - wonderful drugs. You'll have a delightful nap when you get home and you'll have piece of mind too.

[lojasmo]

26. Don't worry

I've sedated hundreds of folks for these procedures. It's no big deal. Most likely (if your nurse does his/her job) you won't remember.

Funny story/threadjack.

My dad-in-law had one where he had to have some polyps removed. That night he rebled. Had to come into the hospital. The next day, as the resident was explaining why he couldn't eat, she said "the bacteria in your gut will use the food and cause gas. If we have to use cautery, you could explode" My mom in law burst out laughing, and the resident looked at her, dead in the face, and said "This is VERY serious"

LOLOL

Seriously, a colonoscopy is no big deal at all.

J

[Habibi]

27. Not to worry

I've had several and as other posters have suggested, the prep is the worst part. I haven't been lucky enough to get the kind of meds that make you not remember the experience but my last gastroenterologist was very generous with some pretty fun drugs so I didn't mind the procedure a bit.

What kind of prep are you doing? I've mostly only done the GoLytely crap. Ugh, ugh, and triple ugh!

Treat yourself to a really yummy meal when it's all over with.

[VOX]

28. Had one last April...piece of cake!

The taste of the clean-you-out bilge you have to drink is the *worst* part of the experience. Just awful, like concentrated sea brine. Eat lots of what you can -- jello, apple juice, etc., to keep your blood sugar up.

I was anxious as all get-out beforehand, but they got to me right away. The versed + demerol mix was bliss in a needle! The nurse who gave it to me said, "Sorry, you can't have this at home." (Nuts!) I don't like to feel drugged, but this was a floaty, terrific feeling -- I was grinning like a Cheshire cat and truly didn't care about anything.

No pain, and no discomfort -- I even nodded off for a bit. I was told that they clipped out one tiny polyp, and that I'm good for 10 years.

It'll go very smoothly, MaineDem. You'll probably be as hungry as a horse after, or maybe just tired from losing some sleep the night before. But trust me (and I'm a medical coward) -- it will be a breeze. You'll be in and out before you even get settled.

Hang in there -- :toast:

[MaineDem]

29. Thanks everyone

I hope you realize that your words helped me a great deal. I was nervous but I knew what to expect from what you had all told me.

Perhaps I was a bit of a baby about this but now that it's over - and everything was fine, by the way! - I won't be so nervous the next time.

I was hungry and thirsty when it was over and then I slept for the afternoon. Now I can stay up to watch primary results.

Thanks again. I just love DUers! :yourock: