Don't want colonoscopy 😨

No, no, no don't cancel! It's a doddle really.

As the doctor said to my husband after a very early cancer was picked up - good job you came for the screening or we would be having a very different conversation 5 years from now. (Husband is absolutely fine, all clear on follow up).

Colonoscopies are very different now as to how they were when i had my first one over forty plus years ago. I was young (in my 30's), so when my lovely Sister in law offered to take me to the hospital for this, thanked her but said 'it is just a test - do not need anyone with me). No pre preparation back then, so we were given enema after enema until the bowel was clean, then this camera used. No sedation even thought off. No rest or refreshments afterwards. When I left I felt in shock, and just wanted to go to bed and sleep. However, once back home had to look after current baby and toddler and prepare meals for rest of family.

Over next few years, I had several more, none as bad as that first one. The procedure was improving and the pre-preparation helped so much. Indeed, with that and sedation being offered, these tests became one that I had no qualms about having. Imagine, they have improved even more in the subsequent years.

My last one was in 1990 - just before I had the whole of my small intestine removed as it was totally ulcerated. Without that life-changing operation, I would have long since died.

Firstly, great news that you have such an early appointment and the health service are protecting you and prioritising you. Secondly - a colonoscopy is really not that big a thing. Your life is more important. Without it, even if your symptoms have gone, you would never know the cause or if it was serious or needed treatment. Is there someone you can take with you for moral support and reassurance. And honestly it's no worse than some other investigations we women have to put up with. I assume you've had a smear test before? :-) You'll probably also be given a mild sedative and won't know much about it. And you don't have to look at the screen if you don't want.

To prepare, what I do when I have to have an MRI scan for example (very noisy, takes ages, can't move and virtually inside a big scary tunnel), is mentally detach and close my eyes and imagine I'm walking on a lovely beach in the sunshine. It really helps. I'm sure you'd be allowed to take a music audio thing and headphones if you want as well.

These are medical people doing a medical procedure - they aren't interested in your anatomy :-) Finally it can think to think - "What the heck it doesn't matter". Plan a nice treat for yourself for afterwards.

Please bite the bullet and get yourself checked out Whingey. Let us know how you get on.

Whingey

Thanks everyone.promise I will not cancel.Seeing your insides on a screen?😨

It's really quite interesting.

I also had a chat with the Consultant while someone else was doing the procedure.

I’m thankful you're going ahead whingey. I was able to watch the screen during one ,procedure and found it very interesting. The colon is clean from the preparation, nothing unpleasant to see.



The

Whingey I think it is essential that you have this procedure but you should ask to have deep sedation. I hope all goes well.

Whingey

Thanks everyone.promise I will not cancel.Seeing your insides on a screen?😨

Yes, I've done this during my own colonoscopies. I don't require sedation so I'm completely alert and awake and chatting to the staff.

The colonoscope is small and carries a tiny camera lens and light. As it travels gently up the colon, (which thanks to the prep drink, is empty, wrinkly and spotless), it relays the image as a live colour video to a computer screen. The live video image is how the medical staff examine the lining of your colon but if you ask ( and I always do) they will turn the screen enough so the patient can watch too. It's a really interesting little video trip inside your own body where the sun don't shine.

LilyGransnet
Thank you for this post.
I trust the member posting this dangerous drivel have been informed.

I have had 6 colonoscopies, and 2 bowel surgeries.
For each colonoscopy I have had sedation, and analgesia.
In my area they use Midazolam for sedation, it is given IV, and Fentanyl for analgesia, also given IV. You are not asleep following these medicines - just a 'don't care' attitude is the best description. You may also be given some Buscopan IV, this acts as an antispasmodic, and it helps the endoscopist to move the camera with least discomfort to you..
Once the camera is inserted, your bum is covered and you can see the screen clearly. I found it fascinating. Lots of pictures taken, and all images will be explained to you, along with where the camera is at any point.
An assistant will be beside you, and hold your hand if you wish, along with checking your observations, and chatting to help you relax and be less worried. You will also be offered Entonox or similar, this also works, it does make your mouth dry though.
You will not have to 'beg' for sedation or analgesia, it is offered always - although you will need someone to drive you there and home.
As others have said, the prep is not the best; if you canhave a morning appt for the camera it is best!

It is a worthwhile investigation to be done, it is invasive, but everyone works their best to keep you comfortable, and to find out the cause of why you are bleeding and anaemic. Chat GPT, while useful for some things, it has no place here. Please listen to your Doctor, or find another Doctor.
You will be given a copy of the report from the team before you leave, and have an idea of future plan of care, or the next steps.

I hope you are reassured.

As pointed out - everyone has a right to their own opinions. That's how it is in a democratic country. There would be no point in anyone saying anything if there was only one opinion and that was that.

Hence most people agree that everyone has a right to have their own opinion- and that those of a different opinion have a right to their own opinion. It's Britain after all...ie a democracy.

Cariad your ignorant comments are not good for my blood pressure. Do you not realise how vaccines have saved so many lives over the years and coming from a family with inherited breast cancer, I would not be here now if a mammogram had not picked up very early stage cancer in 2008.

You truly shock me.

I’ll probably be banned for this, and I know everyone has a right to their own opinions, but I really think a certain posters comments should be removed!

Post references deleted post Talk guidelines.

Glad you’ve decided not to cancel, don’t change your mind please!

Wishing you luck, welcome to the colonoscopy club, there’s many of us here!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Dilemma

Do not cancel - your symptoms could mean bowel cancer, which killed my mother after she ignored her symptoms.
Colonoscopies are offered with sedation - you won’t know anything about it.

I second Dilemna's comments 100%.
Colonoscopies are given with sedation , you won't feel a thing.
A COLONOSCOPY SAVED MY LIFE. I had a tumour the size of a small ruler parts of which were pre-cancerous. If the colonoscopy had not detected this I wouldn't have had it removed which was what was needed.
Best of luck.

Elegran

Anaemia is a symptom, *Cariad". not a disease in itself, and one of the things of which it can be a symptom is internal bleeding. There are many causes of this, and a colonoscopy gets an "inside view" which can rule out most of them, including cancer in the digestive/excretive system.

Advising someone to try to cure a symptom by "a natural cure" while refusing a way of checking for serious disease is just telling them to bury their head in the sand and sing "La, la, la-la-la" with their fingers in their ears - not helpful.

Absolutely!
Am I right in thinking Cariad that you were also an anti-vaxxer? (Apologies if wrong) but there are far too many people who decry conventional medicine or vaccination, preferring to put their trust in unproven woo-woo theories (coffee enemas!) some at best useless, others downright harmful but in either case wasting valuable time when it is a given that early diagnosis is paramount in achieving a cure.
I hope you have had serious second thoughts at your”advice” to Whingey.

I had a third colonoscopy a few weeks ago. Piece of cake as you are sedated and time goes very quickly. The bowel emptying preparation can be a bit grim but it’s only over a couple of days.

Marg75

I have always been afraid of anything required that involved my bottom but had to go for a colonoscopy, if I hadn't I wouldn't have had the last 24 years of my life. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Bowel Cancer, totally treatable. Please be brave and go.

I would emphatically endorse your recommendation.

I had bleeding and blood clots + anaemia, and was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer after a colonoscopy. And it was in my lymph nodes.

... but here I am 12 years later. I have been 'signed off', as there is no evidence of disease after 3+ years of monitoring.

Don't cancel.

Glad you are not cancelling. I have had three, I also had fentanyl, the proceedure was done andvI had very minimal discomfort.

Just read you are not cancelling Whingey. Excellent. You will be fine. Well done.

Well done Whingey we ll all be thinking of you

I hated the thought of it....but it was fine. Best bit was the tea and chocolate bourbons after.

And the staff were wonderful. They see many bottoms a day and yours will be no different!!! And the proceðure saves lives. We are so lucky we have colonoscopy procedures.

Not many people like hospitals and the older you get the less you like them. Don't be a wuss. FGs don't risk being a dead wuss.