Colonoscopy Appt via Phone Call

MrB and I don't remember being asked anything about overnight when we had colonoscopies done. We were asked if someone could collect us afterwards but that's all.

Even without that, I could have got home by myself by public transport only it would have taken three or four hours instead of one.

After I had surgery under sedation to remove my wisdom teeth 18 months ago, I managed to arrange it for a Saturday morning and my son took me and brought me home again.

The surgeon told my son he had to stay with me for 24 hours in case of haemorrhage but he stayed in the house while I slept for 2 hours to sleep off the sedation, and waited to see if I could drink a cup of tea without collapsing or bleeding, then I sent him home and promised to keep my phone with me at all times. He had things to do and I didn't want to keep him any longer.

My son picked me up after my colonoscopy the my daughter stayed for a few hours. Both had to go because of work so I was alone by 5pm.
They had given me a meal so I was fine to get myself off to bed later.

MissAdventure

I always have to just pretend I have someone.
It's either that, or not get things done.

The default thinking always seems to be that people have friends and family to help out, and I just haven't, so there it is.

I know what you mean by the friends and family question.

Yet what is the implied situation of that friend or family member?

Is there an implied presumption of being fit and able, a car owner and driver, living nearby, no commitments on their time?

I had exactly this discussion with a hospital sister over day surgery which required a general anaesthetic. I could have been released the same day but only if I had someone to be with me overnight. I have friends and neighbours who would do or I go stay at theirs but I do not want to put them to the trouble. It was a private hospital carrying out NHS work so charging costs back to the NHS was involved. They hospital arranged an overnight stay and I went home next morning. I have had to have another day surgery since for a different condition but they did the same again, let me stay overnight.

Colonoscopy is different as there’s no need to stay beyond recovery time with or without sedation. I don’t have sedation and can manage with Entonox but I know some people find the procedure distressing.

It is important to have someone look out for you if you opt for sedation. The drugs used suppress the memory. You may think you have recovered from the sedation and are fine but the effects last longer than you think. As a nurse explained to me, you might put a pan on the stove and simply walk away forgetting it and cause a fire.

If you really cannot tolerate the procedure without sedation, one way around might be to ask for an early appointment. Have someone you know who lives close by pick you up and keep in touch regularly by mobile phone for the rest of the day. Once home don’t do anything that if you forget about it could put you in danger. The fasting beforehand means you’ll be hungry afterwards so have food already prepared for the rest of the day, something cold or you can heat in the microwave. It means the helper telling a fib if anyone enquires about a stopover but the chances are everything will be fine.

MissAdventure

I always have to just pretend I have someone.
It's either that, or not get things done.

The default thinking always seems to be that people have friends and family to help out, and I just haven't, so there it is.

My very sprightly 95 year old family friend (ex midwife) needed a cataract op. Living in an 'independent living' bungalow and with no family nearby, she neatly avoided the question of 'have you someone at home for you?'

She arranged that her friendly taxi driver John would come for her in the Day Room, where he was introduced as 'her nephew John'.

He dutifully taxied her home and thanked her for the tenner she slipped him on departure!

MissAdventure

I always have to just pretend I have someone.
It's either that, or not get things done.

The default thinking always seems to be that people have friends and family to help out, and I just haven't, so there it is.

But if you say you haven't then they should/would deal with that situation.

Quite possibly by admitting the patient into hospital and the patient staying in hospital overnight afterwards.

I’ve had this procedure twice. I don’t recall my partner being called to check if he would be with me that night.
I too have diverticulitis.

I always have to just pretend I have someone.
It's either that, or not get things done.

The default thinking always seems to be that people have friends and family to help out, and I just haven't, so there it is.

I had a recent colonoscopy and whilst I had to be collected due to sedation once I’d been put to bed with a cuppa - I was alone with a phone. That I kept with me when I went to the bathroom in case of a fall. All was well - I just slept!!

Meant to add...would they provide a bed for singles overnight?