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Anxiety about general anesthesia scared

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dana01526
dana01526

Hello this is my first post on here I’m going to make it short, I’m 24 and I’m having a colonoscopy and endoscopy done next week to diagnose for celiacs disease. I’m freaked out to be under general anesthesia, I have major anxiety and I don’t know how to cope honestly. Any advice?

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • dimmy
    dimmy dana01526

    Posted

    Hi Dana

    Are you absolutely sure your having a general anaesthetic??? i am in the uk and have had 6 colonoscopies and 2 endoscopies (not done together)...and there usually done under conscious sedation...i.e. relaxant/pain killer like Fentanyl through an iv line. Maybe you have asked for a GA?. Just make sure you follow the prep guidelines to the letter or they won`t be able to see inside your bowels/stomach properly!..good luck!

    • dana01526
      dana01526 dimmy

      Posted

      I requested not to go under GA but my GI insists that I do, and I’m terrified of it. I would like to be awake during the procedure but he insists me not to be, I wonder if they could do it under conscious sedation. I will ask thank you so much for the reply.
  • paul75665
    paul75665 dana01526

    Posted

    Hi Dana

    As Dimmy said, I don't think you are given general anaesthetic for a colonoscopy or endoscopy, it's usually just a sedative / pain relief cocktail. I presume you are having a combined colonoscopy / endoscopy? I had one of those and they usually give you a bit more sedative than if you were just having one procedure to keep you relaxed for longer. The result for me was I remember being told to lie on my left side, and the next I was coming round during the last 5 minutes of the colonoscopy, no recollection of the rest of the procedure.

    Also as Dimmy mentioned, follow the bowel preparation guide thoroughly, you don't want to have to go through it again because you haven't done the bowel preparation properly. If anything the bowel preparation is the worst part in my opinion, and a lot of others too. However, I've been diagnosed with Anxiety and I'm a total wuss when it comes to any type of hospital procedure, yet I've managed to go through a sigmoidoscopy, combined endoscopy and colonoscopy, and another colonoscopy in the last 3 years, so if I can do it I'm sure you can too!

  • jman778
    jman778 dana01526

    Posted

    Hi Dana,

    I’m 25 and I recently underwent general anesthesia for my colonoscopy. I believe they used propofol. General anesthesia is very safe. I’ll include a link to an article I found talking about the risks below. There will be an anesthesiologist in the hospital with you. I was given a dose of the drug through an IV, it was a bit tingly but I fell asleep very quickly. It is very quick and easy and will save you a lot of discomfort going through the procedure. Since you are also very young the risks are very few. I was also very anxious about the procedure and the anesthesia but I just thought about how the procedure was necessary for a diagnosis. In the end I was diagnosed with Celiac’s and going through the procedure and anesthesia was very worth it. Being in the hospital before the procedure was probably the worst part of the experience because I felt helpless, anxious and uncomfortable with all of the nurses and doctors around. Just try to stay calm and it will all be okay. It sounds like we have had a similar experience with the potential diagnosis so let me know if you have any other questions!

    Best of luck. 

    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265592.php

    • dana01526
      dana01526 jman778

      Posted

      I do have one more question I have been on a gluten free diet for 2 months now. I have this procedure on Thursday.. my doctor said nothing about eating gluten. What should I do?
    • jman778
      jman778 dana01526

      Posted

      Good question, did your doctor know about you being on the gluten free diet? I’m honestly not sure if that is important. I had been eating a normal diet up until the preparation for the procedure. Maybe just call up the GI office and make sure that isn’t a problem. I do not believe that you need to have eaten gluten to have it diagnosed through endoscopy. I believe it is only an issue if trying to detect a gluten sensitivity through blood tests. 
    • dana01526
      dana01526 jman778

      Posted

      Ok thank you so much for your response, it’s great getting some feedback. Thank you 
  • dana01526
    dana01526

    Posted

    Thank you guys for the reassurance over here. hopefully all will go well. And best of luck to everyone.
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