Chef gets a colonoscopy

The prep is the worst of it. Once the drug hit they could have painted me green and put me on the internet and I'd never have known.

I've had a couple of polyps removed. I regard it as cheap insurance, a whole helluva lot better than turning up with colon cancer. Deal with it and get them done.

 

My first anal probe was 4 months ago, clean as a whistle, and don't need another for 10 years.

-- The perianal and digital rectal examinations were normal.

-- Multiple large-mouthed diverticula were found in the entire colon.

-- Estimated blood loss: none.

-- The exam was otherwise without abnormality on direct and retroflexion views.

 

Try the Colorguard next time. Seriously.

 

In most cases, at least now. I had one when I was in my 20s and they didn't put me out for it. That was insanely uncomfortable. It turned me off from even having an appointment with a gastroenterologist for a long time.

I finally gave in a few years ago. I was 48. Of course, he had me schedule a colonoscopy on that first visit. I had been through a corneal transplant, three surgical procedures on my foot, and arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus in my left knee, it was nothing new for me to be put under. I was very relieved when the doctor told me that I would be out for my colonoscopy.

Prep does suck, but it's not that awful. It's a small price to pay when it comes to your health. The gown is awkward, but again, that was nothing new for me. Nobody mentioned positioning, so maybe it was different for some of you. They told me to lay on my side with my knees up in front of me. Forget the gown, the real comical image is me on the table with my ass hanging out. Even better, there was some delay before they were ready, so I just had to lay there like that with the doctor, the anesthesiologist and a nurse doing what they needed to do to set up. Then the start the meds and I'm out. I tend to have a little bit tougher of a time waking up after anesthesia, so I remember meeting with the doctor and asking him the same question five or six times.

I do believe that in some cases they might use twilight sedation rather than general anesthesia. With twilight, it is more like being asleep, so there is more of a chance of the patient moving. The doctors got a reminder of that during my first foot surgery. They gave me a nerve block so I couldn't feel anything below my knee for 32 hours, so they thought they could go with twilight. Unfortunately, while my foot was cut open, I kicked out and brushed my foot against a surgical curtain. That must've been fun. Then I woke up with a half hour to go in the procedure. I couldn't feel anything and I was loopy from the meds, so I kept asking if I could it up and watch. Needless to say, when they had to go back in for a second procedure, they went for the general anesthesia.

 

very humbling experience. You are on that table and it quickly becomes very plain that you ain't in charge of shit.

 

What’s recovery time? Should you drive yourself home? Take the next day off work?

 

You cannot drive home, they require you to have a driver. Other than that, you're 100% good to go (so to speak).

 

I've had several colonoscopies, which mostly included an endoscopy (down the throat ... make sure they don't get the scopes confused). I've had only endoscopies, and I'm sure another one is upcoming in the next month.
My first colonoscopies (25+ years ago) I wasn't out for, drowsy but coherent. I watched the monitor and was asking what that was, etc., as the scope worked its way through. They never answered. The last 8 or 9 years, I have been completely out for them. I remember waking up slightly and gagging during the endoscopy part. Didn't like that. My last endoscopy-only procedure, I gagged the whole time but the doctor did nothing about it. These procedures are done relatively quickly, probably less than 15 minutes.

 

As micropolitan guy wrote, they won't let you drive yourself home. When I had it, they wouldn't even check me in until I could demonstrate that I had a ride. They won't let you drive after anesthesia for anything. I was perfectly fine the next morning.

 

You were awake for an endoscopy? Yikes. I had one of those, too, and they put me out for it.

 

Drowsy, but awake. I definitely knew I was gagging and I wouldn't have known that if I was out. I just think he didn't wait long enough for the drugs to take over. I was expecting a sore throat after that, but it wasn't bad. I was a little raspy for a few hours.