Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Alright Steph - I've read through this thread and we need to see if we can get you a bit calmer for this. I've had 2 colonoscopies and yes, I was a wreck before each of them!!! Anxiety is normal, but I'll try to give you some perspective. I was worried about the perf thing too, so I asked my mother who was a colonoscopy nurse at one point. During her career, she's observed and assisted in about 2,000 colonoscopies - really! (She said there were 2 - 4 a day in thier office every day and she worked there for 4 years). In all those times she could recall 5 times that someone had a perferation - that's how often it happens - its VERY rare! Also, none of the people died. She said that one man who had a perferation and already had several bowell problems ended up with his colon removed, but that was the most serious, everyone else was fine. So there's the story on that aspect.
On the meds, you are not under full outright anasthesia. The doctors refer to this process as conscieus sedation. You will receive drugs to numb the pain and to make you forget, but during the procedure you will be awake enough for them to move you easily. You will, most likely, remember little to nothing of what happened. I remember absolutely nothing from either procedure, but I know there are a few people here who remember hearing people talk and remember a groggy kind of drunken fealing - but nothing bad. Everyone says that procedure is easy. The nurses know when you had your prep and what it involves and the doctor knows about the meds their administering for sedation - everything will be fine. Did they give you a number to call with questions about your prep? If possible, you should take to a nurse and let them know about your anxiety. They will take it into consideration on procedure day. Nurses know colonoscopies are not fun and that nobody wants to be doing one, so they're generally really nice and helpful. I know mine were! Overall, just remember that you will get through this. The same day that you go in for your procedure, literally thousands of people in the world are doing the same thing and that's what happens in hospitals every day - it's VERY routine. (More words of advice from Mindy's mom). Follow Jill's surviving the prep guide - it is the Bible on this - and rely on you're husband's support - that's important to. You'll be FINE! And when you're all done, let us know the results.
All the best,
Mindy

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