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My Colonoscopy Experience

Posted , 4 users are following.

willconnbc
willconnbc

I had my colonoscopy yesterday, Tuesday. For about 3 months I was dreading it. I had read some comments on forums like this. I simply didn’t know what to expect. I wanted my doctor to say it was not necessary but they wouldn’t. I thought it is only a haemorrhoid. The decision was left to me as “a competent adult”.  Better to be “safe than sorry” they said but I have always thought that “ignorance is bliss”.

I even visited the hospital hoping they would say it was not necessary. How naive was that!!!. Anyway I decided to go ahead. Arranged for my brother to pick me up after the procedure. The whole procedure from the low fibre diet on Saturday and Sunday all the way to the actual procedure was a complete anti-climax. I left the house at 10 am, walked to the hospital, answered seemingly endless questions about my general health, sedated at 10.45 am,  waited for my brother in the waiting room at 11.45 am, arrived home at 12.15 pm, walked up 13 flights of stairs, sent my brother away at 3 pm, walked him to the bus stop and walked up the stairs again. How lucky was I?? PS Everything was OK.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • louise39512
    louise39512 willconnbc

    Posted

    That just proves how vital it is to go and have it done. Reassurance and you can relax however should there be medical reasons to be concerned, delays could be crucial should anything sinister be apparent, otherwise other non life threatening conditions can be managed and the stress and anxiety  associated with worrying about whether there are life threatening potentially conditions can simply go away. It just proves it's crucial to always get checked out if you have concerns and I still think scaremongers on this site cause more harm by putting people off having exploratory procedures 

    • willconnbc
      willconnbc louise39512

      Posted

      Hi! That is one way of looking at it. However I was diagnosed with a haemorrhoid about 2 weeks after I had experienced some rectal bleeding. Any stress or anxiety I felt was not from the haemorrhoid but from the fear of the unknown; the colonoscopy procedure which one now could argue was not really necessary at all. In my mind, there was insufficient investigation of why the haemorrhoid occurred in the first place. My age and location were primary factors for the colonoscopy procedure.
  • sue162
    sue162 willconnbc

    Posted

    Now you know it was all ok inside you, give yourself a pat on the back for going through with it.  A year ago today I had mine done I'm glad as well.  Ignorance isn't always bliss it can lead to regret as well.

  • dimmy
    dimmy willconnbc

    Posted

    Well done!...I wish more people would post here their experiences of colonoscopies that are positive and non eventful like yours...rather than all the negatives reports... that put people off from having a colonoscopy..which could have a serious impact later in their lives ...regards...
    • willconnbc
      willconnbc dimmy

      Posted

      Hi!

      For me, “Better safe than sorry” or “horror stories from this site” will not influence anyone. I suspect everybody will have a very strong personal motive for either taking the procedure or not. I know I did.

    • louise39512
      louise39512 willconnbc

      Posted

      Actually people are influenced by what they read and you can't just assume that they are'nt just because they have strong reasons. Having a colonoscopy is a routine procedure designed to save your life ultimately, interestingly only about 40 odd % take up the option of vowel scope screening and about 50 odd % actually are prepared to undertake the faecal blood screening offered to all those over 60. So being positive about all medical procedures invasive or otherwise is crucial. And that is all I am going to say in the matter

    • Guest
      Guest louise39512

      Posted

      I found your post very interesting.  I was aware of the faecal blood screening, having done 3 myself, but had never heard of bowel scope screening.  I suspect the majority of people in the UK are also unaware of it. 

      I have been successfully treated for pre-cancerous cells of the uterus, as has my best friend for breast pre-cancer, but both of us admitted we almost didn't go for the routine screening - ultimately it saved both our lives.  I have also had a sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema and CT scan over the years and would ALWAYS recommend people to undergo screening when offered.   It is worth a few hours discomfort for the peace of mind it brings.  A well known TV programme has the catchphrase "there is no shame, we're all the same". 

    • sue162
      sue162 louise39512

      Posted

      I asked for the poo test but my consultant said it is only a helpful diagnose for the blood it gives false negatives and false positives and cannot always detect the blood so she advised colonoscopy.  I read bad reviews but I also know everyone's pain threashold is different.  It's like trip advisor I have stayed at awful places and people put fantastic reviews so in the end we make up our own mind.  I read reviews for the positive side of the procedure and there were just as many as bad ones.  I'm just pleased like you will be we we had it done.  

    • sue162
      sue162 Guest

      Posted

      I'm the same Felicia.  Here in the uk we only get referred for a colonoscopy if we meet the criteria one being blood.  I didn't have blood so even though I was having tummy and bowel trouble my gp wouldn't refer me so I paid private to see the Spire consultant who kindly did the colonoscopy on the NHS.  If the occult blood test comes back positive in the programme you mean you are referred.  I think the occult test age for starting for it in UK is way too old in this country.  I think it should be 50 I aren't sure but sure in Scotland it is it is in US anyway.  yes I get all tests done like you,  the occult test if my grandma was alive today would of saved her she died at 54 within two weeks of diagnoses

    • Guest
      Guest sue162

      Posted

      Hi Sue

      My sigmoidoscopy was because I was passing blood and I was seen within a few days.  My colonoscopy I was seen within 2 weeks under the NHS suspected bowel cancer protocol, due to my pain, bloating and family history of cancer.  I was lucky - if you can call severe Diverticular Disease lucky - but it's better than the alternative!  I'm a person who copes far better with facts than speculation.  I've been lucky with my GPs I think.

  • louise39512
    louise39512 willconnbc

    Posted

    That's exactly my point and one I keep on making, that people should be encouraged to have colonoscopies and as they age more frequently in order to rule out cancer or at least get it treated as early as possible . Horror stories simply frighten people into not having these procedures 

    • sue162
      sue162 louise39512

      Posted

      You are right.  When I went for mine the nurse said that a lot cancel they can't go through the with it, but I think it's the fear of the unknown and from googling bad stories.  Let's face it good stories don't make news as much.  My grandma died of colon cancer so my consultant said I should have it done (I had a rectocele and tummy trouble) so that I knew it was ok inside otherwise I would always be wondering.  The  took biopsies but it was all ok.  The prep was worse and the not knowing how or what I would feel like or if I could deal with it.  We've all done well having it done.  X

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