Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I've just joined this forum in the last few days after finding it during a search for all Colonoscopy-related information. It is the most positive site that I've found in that everyone is supportive and the focus isn't about all of the "horrible" risks of having a Colonoscopy.

My mother-in-law's best friend died in the middle of a Colonoscopy a couple of years ago and nobody knows very much yet except that there was apparently a perforation. But, my doctor said that people don't die right away from a perforation and that there must be more to the story. But, everyone I know knew the woman and they are warning me not to get a Colonoscopy.

I am so scared that I am already having symptoms that I expected to have after I start the prep later on. I feel as though I am going to do something wrong and it's going to cause me to have a terrible reaction to the medications tomorrow or that my insides are so sensitive that it makes me more suseptible to a perforation. I am a worrier by nature. I always make everything much worse than it is...I do this quietly to myself...not to everyone else. I have been anticipating the worst which may be good, because the Colonoscopy can't be any worse than what I have made it out to be. I do have bad reactions to many medications and the doctor knows them all. But, I have visions of being violently ill from the Phospho-soda prep and I am scared that I will not be able to get through the process.

I have had symptoms for many years, but they have changed recently. I was told I probably had IBS many years ago and I hung onto that. I have had stomach problems and bright red bleeding for years and the bleeding has been attributed to Hemmorhoids. But, this is my first Colonoscopy and naturally, I'm worried.

Last year, a doctor decided I was Gluten-intolerant and put me on a Gluten-free diet. He had done a blood test and, even though it didn't show Celiac, he decided I should be on the diet. It was a difficult diet to be on and it was very binding. At first, I liked it because I wasn't going to the bathroom after every meal. But, I eventually found myself struggling to have a bowel movement and even resorting to prunes and prune juice and that wasn't really helping. A few months ago, I began having what I thought was a stomach virus, but it hasn't gone away. I had to run to the bathroom upon waking and I have stomach cramps. I had blood and stool tests and nothing came up. The gastro doctor (who I have just started seeing) told me to get off the Gluten-free diet and he gave me Librax, Florastor, Annusol HC suppositories (because I began having severe rectal pain deep inside), and Benefiber. He also scheduled the Colonoscopy. The symptoms get better and worse, depending upon my stress level, I think...which is at an all time high right now...not only due to the Colonoscopy tomorrow, but we had a tragic death in the family two days ago.

There is no cancer in my family and I know that doesn't mean anything, but I am holding onto that. Right now, my main issue with tomorrow is that I am prone to anxiety attacks which I had years ago and still occasionally get at times of severe stress...which I fear will occur as soon as they try to put a needle in my arm with medication in it. I am so scared of having a bad reaction to it that I am afraid I'll back out at the last minute. I am more afraid of that then the test or even the results of the test. They are giving me Propofol and Versed. Anyway, I am sitting here for the day as suggested on here. I am all prepared to be in the bathroom all night. I have to take the Phospho-Soda at 6 p.m. and then again at least 4 hours before my appointment which is at 9:30 a.m., so, I'll literally be in the bathroom all night.

Am I totally neurotic or can anyone relate to me? Can someone please help me to calm down today?

Thanks so much!

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