Comments on: Colonoscopy Experience

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:10:12 +0000

There is obviously a lot to know about saline laxative. I think you made some good points in Colonoscopy Experience

By: Edward

Edward — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:23:50 +0000

After 2 of my neighbors (nurses) had a nighmarish experience with colonoscopy because of the “conscious sedation”, I kept putting off getting one even though I was having serious bleeding..not a good idea. Everyone told me that sedation was a must for this test; it’s not. I found a woman endo who told me to show up last friday prepped and that she would do the test, unsedated with a pediatric scope. 10 min after parking, I was in a gown and she was doing the exam, slowly and carefully without the amnesia-causing sedation that most endo’s use so that they can do the exam quickly and roughly. It was a LITTLE uncomfortable for a few seconds, but not bad. I had a precancerous condition and will get another exam next year. I was driving home about 1 hour after the exam…What a wonderful, drug-free experience. Maybe a woman endo is the answer.

By: jane

jane — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:50:25 +0000

Very simple. NEVER HAVE CONSCIOUS SEDATION! It’s not for you – it’s for the doctors and overpaid nurses who like to call themselves ‘endo nurses’. Diprivan or propofol is the only way to go – this is the 21st century people. .. get clued in

By: gary

gary — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:53:28 +0000

I finally found a doctor who would do a colonoscopy without the amnesia drug Versed; I have the WORST family history and bad symptoms, but I have had a HORRIBLE previous experience with the haunting amnesia of Versed and would never get it again; not for an reason…....I finally saw a GI doc who said: “your big issue with not getting a colonoscopy (13 years overdue) is problems with “conscious sedation?” I’ll do it without Versed, or any sedation if you want; we have had a LOT of complaints from patients who got Versed…......I almost fainted; everyone else told me that

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:32:03 +0000

Amnesia drugs like Versed are often given in a “backdoor” fashion (excuse the pun) to the poor patient who is often dehydrated and nauseated from the prep etc….........then reports to the endoscopy center, feeling pretty sick and is badgered to sign a conscious sedation consent…........only to get the MAX dose of Versed (a date-rape benzodiazepine) which usually caused amenisia of the terrible event…...........under the guise of “a mild sedative”....I’m an RN (graduated in 1980) and I have a LOT of experience with these drugs….I would NEVER let a member of my family get VERSED for anything….......it’s a TERRIBLE drug and deserves to be banned…......

By: Janet Marie

Janet Marie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:03:13 +0000

Hi Polly…..I can understand that you were upset over the anethesia used for your colonoscopy; you’ve made that very clear. But nowhere in your posts do you say anything about how grateful you are that your test was normal! Was that at least a huge relief? A dear friend of mine, age 50, and one who has always taken care of herself, scheduled her colonsocopy one week after her 50th birthday, and went in with high expectations for a clean bill of health. We were all shocked to hear that the tumor they found is cancerous, and she’s now undergoing chemo. Her prognosis is good, it was found early thanks to the colonoscopy. I really don’t think the type of anethesia used during her exam even entered her mind. So while it’s certainly your right to be outraged about the “sneaky medical professionals” you dealt with, you should also thank your lucky stars that a colonoscopy was available to give you a clean bill of health. I’m sure colon cancer would “haunt you” for days longer than what you experienced with your exam. I mean no disrespect, but my friend’s diagnosis is still raw with me, and it seems that all of us who come out of this exam with the “all clear” should breath a huge sigh of relief. Best to you.

By: Polly

Polly — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:55:47 +0000

Turns out I was 100% right…
I received a copy of the consent form I signed for my recent colonoscopy. There is only one single sentence regarding sedation :
“I consent to the administration of conscious sedation as may be considered necessary or desirable in the judgement of the attending physician.” There is NO EXPLANATION of what that entails. To a lay person who has not had any surgeries in 20+ years (and has never even heard of drugs that cause amnesia), “conscious” means awake & REMEMBERING; “sedation” means relaxed. In my opinion, the doctor was morally/ethically obligated to explain that I would not remember the procedure, since I specifically requested to be AWAKE, and was told I would be able to “watch the screen.” My right to patient autonomy was not honored. Shame on sneaky medical professionals who deceive patients this way. You have lost my trust.

By: Polly

Polly — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:41:43 +0000

I am one of those who did have a bad colonoscopy experience. It was not the prep or the procedure itself, but how I felt afterwards. Everyone had told me the prep was the worst part, but I would do the prep everyday of my life for the rest of my life rather than feel like I felt when I “woke up” after it was over. For starters, I had requested & expected to be awake for the procedure, and it was NEVER explained to me that the meds I would be receiving (Versed & Fentanyl) would not make that possible. Yes, I did sign a consent form, but the only thing that stands out in my mind is the description of the risks involved in the procecure. I have since requested a copy of the form to see how “Conscious Sedation” is described. I am 99.9 % sure that the word “amnesia” was never mentioned…we shall see. When I awoke after the procedure, remembering nothing, the first thing I said was, “I was supposed to be awake!” Then I remember the nurses snapping at me that I “should have said something” about my intollerance to pain medication when asked if I had any allergies. (Since WHEN is that an “allergy” ?) I was extremely dizzy, nauseous, angry, and depressed, but sent home being told to “sleep it off.” I wrote a letter to the Endo Center (which was pretty toned down compared to how I really felt about my negative experience), but received no reply. I called the center to ask to speak with the nurse present during the procedure to give me more details about it, but that call was never returned. I cannot begin to tell you how upsetting this has been to me. It haunts me every day that my mind was “stolen” from me without my permission…it was sneaky to the point of being unethical. There is a reason they don’t tell you about the true reason Versed is given- it’s for the doctors benefit only. It has caused me severe emotional pain, from which I may never totally recover. Surely they must know that some patients find amnesia upsetting (ESPECIALLY when not forwarned). You would think they would have at least tried to justify their actions, but I guess I was nothing more than a “procedure” to them…not even a “patient”, and definitely not a “person.”

By: Isabelle

Isabelle — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:03:34 +0000

I had my first colonoscopy yesterday. And after reading all the comments on the web I was scared to death. There was no need for my anxiety. I took the 4 dulcolax tablets followed by the miralax/gatorade mix. I did get the nausea and vomiting from drinking so much but it was over quickly. The actual procedure was easy. I was given propofol and slept through the entire procedure. At no point or time did I feel anything. I woke up shortly after being taken back to recovery. Perhaps the reason people have had different reactions is due to different physicians using different types of anesthesia. If your gastroenterologist doesn’t use propofol I would find another gastro. With so many people having colon and rectal cancer I recommend everyone have this procedure done to SAVE YOUR LIFE! Carolyn Jones who played Morticia on The Addams Family was diagnosed with colon cancer at 51 and died two years later at 53. Farrah Fawcett has anal cancer. There is nothing to be afraid of. It might just save your life!

By: Janet Marie

Janet Marie — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:51:56 +0000

Wow, I, too, am shocked by some of these stories. Had my first colonoscopy yesterday and it was a piece of cake! The prep was yucky and messy, but you live through it. A bit of advice to those who think they may not be able to drink all eight 8-ounce glasses of the lovely liquid, one glass after another (10-15 minutes apart). My appointment for the exam was at 1:00pm, so I was instructed to drink four 8-ounce glasses from 6:00-7:00pm the night before, and the remaining four glasses at 8:00am the next morning (day of exam), finishing the drinking at 9:00am. When you’re prepping, it’s a MUST that you stay close to the bathroom! Enough said. The test itself was a NO BRAINER. Arrived at the “colonscopy factory” at 12:30pm, filled out the paperwork, and changed into the hospital gown. This place had me put on two gowns, one frontwards, one backwards; all body parts were well-covered! Was put in a comfortable hospital bed and given a warm blankie. An IV was started, and after about 20-30 minutes, I was wheeled into the procedure room. I was asked to turn on my left side, and a very nice nurse introduced herself to me and said she was going to start the sedation medication (it goes in your IV). She said, “This works fast, so you may feel a little dizzy at first”. I felt slightly dizzy for about five seconds, then fell fast asleep. I did wake up for about 10 seconds, and in living color, was able to get a glimpse of my colon right there on the monitor which was about 12 inches from my face. I then fell right back to sleep. Next thing was the nurse gently shaking my shoulder, telling me it was a done deal. My doc was standing by to tell me the great news: a clean bill of health (and a clean colon!) Was wheeled back to the recovery area, given a choice of water or apple juice, relaxed for about 45 minutes, then was given the okay to head home. BOTTOM LINE: I agree 110% with folks here who are saying that the doctor you choose is extremely important. My doctor was fabulous and if anybody in the San Francisco Bay Area is looking for a referral, I can give you a great one. PLEASE get this test done if you are over 50 and avoiding it! It just might be a life saver. There’s nothing to fear about this exam! (And sincere apologies to those who went through such an unnecessary bad experience. That should NOT be happening!)