The first timeI went in (ten years ago) they used a Valium drip. Not fun.
I went back recently and they're now using this anesthetic that makes you forget? They wheeled me in, I asked when they were going to start, and they said they were finished.
Literally unbelievable.
I agree. I had one last year at age 53. I was overdue because my older brother died from colon cancer at age 52 in 1993.
My older sisters had them done, and kept harping on me to do so.
I have been blessed with very good health, and had never had anesthesia before.
The experience was wonderful.I read up on it, asked my sisters for advice, and got a good doctor.
The prep was like Barry said. It works fairly quickly, but I prepared by having reading material by the toilet that I wanted to catch up on. The key here is to lower the amount of solid food you eat in the days before the prep—then there is less to remove.
Althought the prep drink was like a citrus flavored flat ginger ale, it wasn’t so bad. Just follow instructions.
I had some world class evacuations, which made me laugh hysterically, but you actually feel much better afterwards.
The morning of the exam was just like Dave said. Everyone was upbeat, the anesthesia worked wonderfully. One moment I am conversing with the nurse being rolled into the op area, next thing I wake up and it was all over.
All was well—clean bill of health. Doc says see you in ten years, it was that clean.
Well, I’ll see her on the five year anniversary—no sense pushing my luck.
In my brother’s case, he had colon cancer found too late. He had the removal operation, but the cancer metastisized into his liver. It was terminal, so he declined chemo and lived the last five months of his life on his terms. About two months before he died, he lost all feeling from the mid waist down due to the cancer going to his spine, but that turned put to be a great blessing because he could feel no pain in his abdomen.
We were all able to be around him, at his home, when he died. At least he did not die alone. He didn’t smoke, drank a little, was very tall and athletic. But cancer found him anyway.
So, to all of you out there, don’t be a weenie. Get a colonoscopy. Either way, you come out ahead—you either catch something early that can kill you, or you are elated that nothing is wrong.
You’ll be glad you did, as you sit with your family next Christmas at dinner.
I’ve had two colonoscopys, and I was either asleep under General Anesthesia, or they used the kind where you don’t remember anything. I was young — in my 20’s — and it was scary. Polyps removed — no problems since. It’s not like it used to be.
Yes it is. It’s an amnesia drug. Of course, now I can’t remember anything at all (smile).
It's called Versed, (Pronounced ver-SAID) and you're right... it's amazing. I had the procedure done and was lying there waiting for the doctor to start when I suddenly realized that my rear end was.... um, shall we say creamy... and the deed was already done and I was in the waiting room. :)
I literally thought I was still awake the whole time and that the doctor was behind me getting ready to start... and it was already over. Amazing and a little scary at the same time.