One week to my colonoscopy and anxiety setting in. Good vibes appreciated!

[ThrowawayLurker]

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]

Is this your first colonoscopy?

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

The sedation was very nice.

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.

[ThrowawayLurker]

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.

[NoraB]

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?

[ThrowawayLurker]

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]

(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.

[NoraB]

(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.

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

[ThrowawayLurker]

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]

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

[NoraB]

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!

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.