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View Full Version : One week to my colonoscopy and anxiety setting in. Good vibes appreciated!



ThrowawayLurker
20-01-21, 15:20
After a 3 month wait my colonoscopy is finally here next week and the anxiety is beginning to kick in.

I guess on the plus side I feel no different (if not better actually) than I did when my FIT came back positive. Also I suppose the fact the gastro had no issues waiting 3 months after my consult should be a good sign.

I'll take all the good vibes anyone can spare right now!

NoraB
21-01-21, 07:53
Is this your first colonoscopy?

I quite enjoyed mine! (I'm weird lol)

The sedation was very nice. :dribble:

The 3 month wait means they're not worried about you, so take comfort in that. But even fast-tracking doesn't mean cancer. My husband has been fast-tracked twice and no cancer - just a very treatable Vit B12 deficiency and piles.

The worst part for me was taking the colon cleansing prep, but even that wasn't too bad with some lemonade (flat) chasers!

All the best. :yesyes:

ThrowawayLurker
21-01-21, 14:00
Nope, first colonoscopy for me. I've been doing the FIT or blood occult cards for about 9 years now. This is my first positive result.

As I stated in a post 3 months ago, they did the FIT during my check up in November. All my other bloodwork was perfect, and I feel as good now physically as I did in November. But now as I'm under a week the nerves have set in. I'm running through all the bad scenarios in my head, like all the different conversations with the gastro.

I guess that's typical for health anxiety, I never think of the chances of it being good results. I look forward to finding out it's nothing so I can fret about some other non-existent illness.

ThrowawayLurker
22-01-21, 15:35
(I guess this goes for any situation)

1. Get the consult and start to panic.
2. Obsess over every possible aspect of the procedure and every single thing that could go wrong.
3. Continue to panic all day. Start to lose sleep.
4. Talk about it with everyone I know until they start avoiding me.
5. Attempt to rationalize the odds of the outcome. Panic some more.
6. Finally just ready to get it over with and deal with anything that happens because I am so sick of the anxiety.

anja2
23-01-21, 06:04
I had my first colonoscopy today! Last month I noticed bloody stools and this week that bleeding became a lot. I almost passed out because it was so scary. So dr. ordered one.Let me tell you it was a very pleasant experience. I now feel so ridiculous with all the time I wasted worrying and reading horror stories on the internet. I got there, the nurse put me an IV, explained all the procedure, dr came in and chat a little bit. Then they took me to the room, I was freaking out. The anesthesiologist told me to relax and said I would be asleep in a second. She put me an oxygen mask and the meds on the IV and that was it. Didn’t feel or hear anything and suddenly I was in the recovery room with my husband by my side telling me Dr. told him everything looked okay. My diagnosis was internal hemorrhoids, thank God. Don’t waste your time worrying it, relax. The hard part is the prep and sitting on the toilet for a while. Colonoscopy is a piece of cake. I came home and ate some soft food and took it easy for the rest of the day watching t.v. You”ll be ok 🙂

NoraB
23-01-21, 08:12
Nope, first colonoscopy for me. I've been doing the FIT or blood occult cards for about 9 years now. This is my first positive result.


I think the percentage is something like 96% of positive FIT results are not cancer. It's most likely to be bleeding from piles, fissures, ulcers - that kind of thing. But health anxiety will always go to the worst (and least likely) scenario - which is cancer. Colonoscopy is a cert after a positive FIT test but given that you're waiting three months to have it, I'm thinking that they're not worried about this at all - especially given your clear bloods which haven't revealed anaemia or anything like that, and even then anaemia doesn't mean cancer because my husband was very anaemic but no cancer. What anaemia means is that you do get fast-tracked and my husband was seen within 2 weeks.


look forward to finding out it's nothing so I can fret about some other non-existent illness.

Or you can sort your HA out? :winks:

NoraB
23-01-21, 10:38
(I guess this goes for any situation)

1. Get the consult and start to panic.
2. Obsess over every possible aspect of the procedure and every single thing that could go wrong.
3. Continue to panic all day. Start to lose sleep.
4. Talk about it with everyone I know until they start avoiding me.
5. Attempt to rationalize the odds of the outcome. Panic some more.
6. Finally just ready to get it over with and deal with anything that happens because I am so sick of the anxiety.

Are you having sedation? If so, you won't know they've been in. I was away with the fairies - I think I dozed off at one point?
It's like when you're pissed, but nice pissed - not room spinning - I'm going to barf - pissed. I highly recommend it actually. :yesyes:

Honestly, you will come back on here saying that you fretted for nothing. You'll be fine.

ThrowawayLurker
23-01-21, 13:27
Thanks!

And yes, time to sort out my HA. I mean it's only been like 20 years! Honestly though I have my ups and downs but up until this, I've been pretty much low key for the last few years (even with the pandemic). But it doesn't take much to trigger things. This time it just struck me as more "real."

ThrowawayLurker
23-01-21, 13:29
I don't know which sedation they use honestly. Even the prep doesn't seem bad. Just liquid diet and some (a lot?) of Miralax the day before. I even called the office too to double check if I should limit myself this weekend and they said not really. I plan to keep it pretty bland anyways to be safe.

My doc is supposed to be one of the best around. Even has an awesome bedside manner.

Siggsy49
23-01-21, 16:42
Hi there, I've had this procedure without sedation. Reason I chose not to have sedation as I worked in the department and the majority of patients that had this procedure felt it was not necessary as they have had to have more than one.
So I had my procedure and found it very interesting and spoke throughout it to the specialist carrying out my procedure .
There was some slight discomfort during the procedure, a bit like trapped wind. But nothing I couldn't deal with. And after the procedure I was extremely windy! So spent the rest of the evening with a lot of flatulence 🤭
Hope this helps you? Xxx

ThrowawayLurker
23-01-21, 22:19
TBH I'm more nervous about the sedation than anything else. I'd do it without but I don't believe that's even an option here in the US.

The thought of being put under has always scared me.

NoraB
24-01-21, 07:14
Hi there, I've had this procedure without sedation. Reason I chose not to have sedation as I worked in the department and the majority of patients that had this procedure felt it was not necessary as they have had to have more than one.

I've had two @arse cams. One Sigmoidoscopy (no sedation and also no mental breakdown at the time of having it) and a colonoscopy (during a mental breakdown) to find the bowel cancer that I was 100% convinced I had - damn right I needed sedation! :scared15:

Then again, I was always already a fan of general anaesthesia (have been under twice) and I ADORE the feeling of feeling really really drowsy, then zonked - so sedation was always going to be OK with me. The only concern I had was that I had been reacting to local anaesthetics and meds etc (because I have fibromyalgia - but I didn't know it then) but the consultant (nice bloke) sat with me and reassured me that all would be fine, and it was more than fine.

I think those special colonoscopy paper pants with the hole in the back deserves a special mention? And also that blissful (and massive) fart when you're eating your toast and drinking tea - one of the few times when it's acceptable to be farting in public!

Another great thing about colonoscopies? It can reset the bowels. A good deep clean can do our colons the world of good but do remember to take probiotics afterwards to put back the good bacteria which you will have shat out during the 'cleansing' part. :yesyes:

ThrowawayLurker
24-01-21, 13:59
Paper pants? Those sound fun! At least my male bits won't be hanging out.

My feelings now, 48 hours away, are basically that like when I travel before getting on a plane. That underlying anxious feeling of the unknown. Doesn't help that it's like 10F degrees and windy here so walking the dog for some stress relief is not an option right now. Starting the bland eating today and then all liquid tomorrow. At least I have football to watch later.

I guess I shouldn't be too concerned with the sedation. I found that my doc wrote a peer reviewed paper about sedation, looks like he favors a very light semi-conscious approach. Apparently he's a big deal in the gastro community. Who knew? I just picked him because he was in my insurance plan.

NoraB
25-01-21, 08:24
Paper pants? Those sound fun! At least my male bits won't be hanging out.

I put mine on the wrong way at first. Oops! :ohmy:


My feelings now, 48 hours away, are basically that like when I travel before getting on a plane. That underlying anxious feeling of the unknown. Doesn't help that it's like 10F degrees and windy here so walking the dog for some stress relief is not an option right now. Starting the bland eating today and then all liquid tomorrow. At least I have football to watch later.

If it helps, I spoke to the gastro consultant yesterday and it looks like colonoscopy number 2 will be brought forward a bit from the current 12 month wait I was on via my Doc - so I'll be shitting for Britain and back in the paper pants in the not too distant future! :yesyes:


I guess I shouldn't be too concerned with the sedation. I found that my doc wrote a peer reviewed paper about sedation, looks like he favors a very light semi-conscious approach. Apparently he's a big deal in the gastro community. Who knew? I just picked him because he was in my insurance plan.

Sounds like picked a good one.

Another few hours and this will all be over and I do hope you will come back and give us the conclusion to this experience and not just leave us hanging as many people do?

ThrowawayLurker
25-01-21, 13:21
In less than 24 hours I'll be at the hospital getting ready. I'd have to say the nerves might be the worst part of this all now. Even the thought of paper pants doesn't help!

No breakfast sucked. Coffee without a little creamer really sucked.

My brain is in two modes right now. Part of me wishes I just never went to the doctor and remained blissfully unaware. The other part of my brain thinks that I did what I was supposed to do, and that it's hopefully early enough that this is either nothing or easily taken care of. Logically, the chances of this being the worst of the worst is pretty slim. If anything, I think I'm more afraid of my reaction to possible bad news than the bad news itself!

The real prep starts at 4PM when start mixing and drinking my Miralax prep with some diet iced tea.

(edit) I wanted to add, of course I've never been constipated in my life until this morning! Whether it's nerves or the fact I didn't eat a lot this weekend, hopefully the prep later gets things moving.

ThrowawayLurker
26-01-21, 15:56
So to follow up my last post, just got home from my colonoscopy. All went well, no polyps, just an internal hemorrhoid which must have been the cause of my positive FIT.

The prep was mostly easy, Miralax and Ducolax. The hardest part was getting all that liquid down and then trying to sleep while running to the bathroom every 5 minutes which eventually became like an open fire hydrant.

Got there at 7 AM promptly for my 830 AM procedure. I would up going before 8 AM because the guy before me neglected to tell them that he had a heart attack a month ago and wasn't cleared by his cardiologist. So he prepped for nothing!

They gave me complete sedation, so I took an amazing nap and woke up as they wheeled me back to the recovery room. After a quick blueberry muffin and coffee my wife was there.

So hopefully this helps anyone still nervous about what's about to happen. It was as easy as many made it out to be.

nomorepanic
26-01-21, 16:33
Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your thread was merged with another of your threads.

Please when posting on similar topics add it onto your previous post rather than starting a new one.

It is nothing personal it is just to make it easier for people to follow your story and to give you advice as a whole.

NoraB
27-01-21, 10:09
So to follow up my last post, just got home from my colonoscopy. All went well, no polyps, just an internal hemorrhoid which must have been the cause of my positive FIT.

The prep was mostly easy, Miralax and Ducolax. The hardest part was getting all that liquid down and then trying to sleep while running to the bathroom every 5 minutes which eventually became like an open fire hydrant.

Got there at 7 AM promptly for my 830 AM procedure. I would up going before 8 AM because the guy before me neglected to tell them that he had a heart attack a month ago and wasn't cleared by his cardiologist. So he prepped for nothing!

They gave me complete sedation, so I took an amazing nap and woke up as they wheeled me back to the recovery room. After a quick blueberry muffin and coffee my wife was there.

So hopefully this helps anyone still nervous about what's about to happen. It was as easy as many made it out to be.

Told ya didn't I?

Good on ya for coming back on and concluding this thread. :yesyes: