Colonoscopy and endoscopy same day

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hello  I am posting on behalf of my husband age 70 who is due to have both procedures done in 2 weeks time as his recent blood tests show he has low iron.  A little background he has type 2 Diabetes asthma/copd diagnosed 2015.  He is on metformin and gliclazide for the Diabetes fenasteride for enlarged prostate  simvastastin for cholesterol and 3 inhalers symbicort Tiotropium and salbutamol.  He had been taking ibuprofen for many years although usually only one 400 tablet a day for arthritis and ocassionally a full dose if the pain flared up.  Hi gp has taken him of these and also omeprazole given at the same time as the ibuprofen to protect the stomach so obviously he does not need them and you are not really supposed to stay on them long term.  He is considering not having the tests done in particular he is concerned about his Diabetes and whether to take tablets or not it will be an afternnon appointment so from 1pm the day before and until 5pm he can only have  clear liquids and nothing until the following evening  What would he take if he felt hypo although meformin don't cause this the gliclazide does sometimes.  He is also concerned about having the camera down his throat as he coughs a lot on a daily basis and has to do exercises to bring up mucus.  He has always been the sort of person who gags easily. 

I can understand his concerns and why he does not want the tests done although being an anxiety sufferer I am perhaps not the best person to advise him as I always see the worse outcome even with my own health problems.  Is there anyone out there who has had this test done for low iron problem and what was the result.  Are there any other tests he could have done first occult stool test scans etc or repeat blood tests.  Sorry this is long but I said I would try to get some more information from other patients.  On the leaflet there is no advice about Diabetics other than to see your Diabetic nurse well he does not have one of them just a yearly check with the surgery nurse and having moved last year the surgery is still pretty new to us.  Either way of course I will support him.  You do hear such scare stories about these procedure and although I tend to try and ignore them even friends of mine have had awful experiences of these tests.   Thank you in advance if you can offer any advice.

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    My advice would be to contact the unit at the hospital where your husband is going to discuss his concerns with them. I'm sure they'll have encountered the issues your husband has thousands of times and will be able to provide reassurance. In my case, I was told I could take my medications as usual on the day of the colonoscopy, and I have to say the staff were brilliant, really kind and supportive. 

    My guess is your GP is looking to find the cause of his low iron, and a colonoscopy and endoscopy would rule out, or identify and treat the cause if it emanates from his bowel or gut. 

    I had been having bowel problems for about 6 months before I went to my GP - within 2 weeks of seeing him I had all blood works and a colonoscopy. Fortunately, apart from a small benign polyp which was removed during the procedure I was fine, and diagnised with IBS. 

    I do understand your anxiety, but not having the procedure won't make the problem go away, and the sooner the cause is identified, the sooner the right treatment can be given. 

    Good luck. 

    Jan

    • Posted

      Thank you for your reply.  He did call the hosptial and spoke to the specialist nurse she was reassuring but did not give him specific instructions about diabetic tablets etc.  When he went for his first clinic appointment at the hospital he did not see a doctor just the nurse who asked alot of questions when and saw the consultant and came back and said we would like you to have the tests although from what you have told me probably nothing.  He is seethe gp and maybe the nurse on Monday to discuss it further.  
    • Posted

      I'm sure when he sees the GP on Monday you'll get your questions answered. My GP told me he didn't think my symptoms were being caused by anything sinister but it was better to be safe than sorry. I'm pleased I took his advice and had the colonoscopy done, otherwise it would always have been at the back of mind that I did have something nasty. That would have made me even more anxious, which would probably have made the IBS worse. My philosophy is that once you know what you're dealing with it's much less anxiety provoking. Not knowing always make you assume the worst!!

      Jan

  • Posted

    Can I just mention two things? I am type 2 diabetic too and have had both tests. I am about 7 years younger. Before my first endoscopy I was petrified: I have a terrible gag reflex. I couldn't bear the doctor even putting that thing in your mouth as a child to check out a sore throat. But, oddly I didn't find the six endoscopies I have had bad at all. You are sedated and don't actually remember that much and the thing they don't tell you, but is obvious when you think about it, is that the gag reflex is for a milli second and they spray your throat with a substance that means you barely feel it. Once the tube passes the gag reflex (and it is so fast) you are generally ok. When you think about it, that would have to be the case otherwise you couldn't swallow food. So, actually I find a mouth/throat exam by a doctor or dentist more gag producing than this test.

    Second thing, you need to tell the hospital about the diabetes and medications. They have this issue the whole time because a lot of the people having colponoscopies are of an age to have type 2 diabetes. You are very closely monitored before and after. He should be able to test his blood sugar whilst he is having the laxative the day before and take some glucose if necessary, although the laxative may have some anyway. They are much better than they used to be. It's not much different from having a diarrhoea bug and you don't usually go hypo then.

    There are, of course, other tests for occult blood but these two are the gold standard. I have a friend who had this anaemia problem and it related in the end to declining kidney function. So it might be worth checking kidney function, particularly creatinine. Metformin is contract indicated if creatinine gets to a certain level and I had to stop it. Iron supplements didn't work with my friend and he now has a monthly injection with a protein which stimulates production of red blood cells. But obviously, a bleed somewhere can also be the problem. For myself, I would have the tests because then they can rule that out completely and definitely. No one likes these tests, but for the vast majority of people the fear of the test is much worse than the reality and that has definitely been my experience. Good luck!

    • Posted

      sorry a typo slipped in "contra-indicated" not "contract indicated"!

    • Posted

      Thank you on behalf of my husband.  Will bear in mind kidney function. 
    • Posted

      Thank you. I know it all seems awful but for most people the fear is 100% worse than the reality. Good luck! Sometimes it's hardest for those closest but you are very important because he can offload on you which he can't on third parties. With me I give my nearest and dearest the hardest time and I'm actually quite reasonable with the doctors and nurses...but everyone needs the closest people around them even if we sometimes give them a hard time. Thoughts with you...

  • Posted

    I agree with most everything others have said. Speak to the health care professional at the next appt. in terms of the endoscopy... I tend to be 'over the top' anxious about medical procedures. Haven't had these 2 done the same day, but have had both, and in both instances had general anesthesia. Ceratainly much easier, for me, anyway.

    Prayers to you both. ?

  • Posted

    Update on my husband.  He had his colonoscopy and upper endoscopy on 16th Feb.  He does not remember anything about either as the sedation was very good.  The worst part was the prep as you know especially as he had to take the first lot at 7pm and then the 2nd at 6pm the next morning and his appointment was not until 2.45pm.  They removed 8 polyps of varying sizes and another polyp/lesion at the margin of the anus/rectum was biopied.  The surgeon who did it say they all the looked benign and the one that was being biopsied was probably fine it was just to be certain.  We saw the consultant this morning and he confirmed they are all benign.  He will have another colonscopy in 1 Year possibly another look at the biopsied one a bit earlier maybe not.  They will write if necessary after relooking at the histology again.  Another rectal exam result does not look like anything to worry about.  The upper endoscopy showed stomach and oesphagus normal but inflamation in duodeum which migh have caused the anaemia.  He is writing to the gp to prescribe omeprazole or similar and iron tablets.  Hopefull now all will be fine.  
    • Posted

      Sorry meant to say  thanks to all who were kind enough to reply to my original post.
    • Posted

      Re my update on husband yesterday we were told that he would need another colonscopy in 1 year or they might call him in early to have another look at the one they biopsied which he was able to look at as it very low down in rectum/anus and said does not look anything to worry about.  However he has been told this morning that they want him to have another full colonoscopy in 3 months where the biopsied one would be signoidoscopy.  I assume this is to do with the polyps they removed.  As he was only able to speak to the secretary we have asked her if she can speak to the consultant and call us back with details to put our mind at rest.  I have 2 questions which maybe someone can help with.  Anyone know why they might want to do another scope this early  The polyps removed by both cold biopsy and hot snare 3 have been excised removed in their entirety, 3 excised and retreived and 2 excised.  Can anyone explain this.  The last 2/3 years have been very stressful with family illness and myself and husband having to go for various tests plus a house move 200 miles away not eary at our age 69 and 70.  I suffer from anxiety which is affecting my health as it is very bad at this time.  I keep thinking when will it all end and we can get on with enjoying life grandchildren etc.  Sorry to go on but am so worried.  I myself have an appointment in 4 weeks gastro clinic and very worried about that as well.  Forgot to mention we were told they were all benign.
    • Posted

      I can understand your anxiety, and it must seem as though you're having to contend with one thing after another. 

      On the positive side, as the polyps were all benign there can't be anything too serious to be worried about, but it would have been so much less anxiety provoking if you could have had an explanation from the consultant in the first place rather than a call from his/her secretary. 

      I would also assume that if there were anything really concerning you would have been contacted by a doctor, not a secretary. 

      Fingers crossed you get a proper explanation later today. 

      Jan

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