I don't know if it's possible for anyone to say "my colonoscopy was fun," unless they're a masochist. I've had three now, two regular's and a virtual, the most recent a few days ago.
None of them was enjoyable, except in this sense: I know that I'll feel much better getting colonoscopies rather than colon cancer. So like I said in a previous post, don't think twice about having the procedure if you're over 50 or otherwise in a high risk group.
Once you're scheduled for one, I've got some tips for making your colonoscopy more pleasant. Some of what I've learned may be peculiar to me, so take your doctor's advice a lot more seriously than mine. These are just some suggestions, based on my experience.
Shop around for a provider. I talked about this in my post where I advised people not to get a colonoscopy in Salem, Oregon, where I live. Again, that's my opinion, mostly based on the insistence of the one and only provider of the procedure in my town to make patients go through a two-day colonoscopy prep.
Recently a friend told me that Salem Gastroenterology Associates made her do this, even though her procedure was scheduled for the afternoon of the third day. So she couldn't eat solid food for over two and a half days. That's highly unusual, based on the research I cited.
Thus if you don't feel comfortable with a provider in your area, look farther afield. I drove to Tualatin, a suburb of Portland, for my two regular colonoscopies because I really like how the folks at Gastroenterology Associates of Oregon treat me -- as a human being, not just a patient.
Usually the doctor knows best. That said, once you've chosen who you want to perform a colonoscopy on you, trust them. It's fine to ask questions and do your own Internet research. But in the end, it's wise to assume that health care professionals are going to know more than you do.
After my first regular colonoscopy, the doctor found a benign polyp. He also said that the colon prep/cleansing wasn't very good in one area of my colon. That's why he wanted me to have a repeat procedure in two years, rather than the usual five or so. I thought of arguing with him, since I wasn't eager to have another colonoscopy so soon. I didn't, though.
Now I'm glad.
The gastroenterologist, Erik Van Kleet, found another polyp in the area that wasn't properly prepped last time. He removed it. Since it was flat, he couldn't see it during the first colonoscopy. I'm also glad that I didn't argue with the clinic's physican assistant when he told me that I should start the clear liquid diet at 5:00 pm, two days before the procedure.
That added eight hours or so of no-eating to my prep schedule. It was worth it, though, to get a clean colonoscopy this time. (I can understand why, in special circumstances, a more than one day prep is called for; my gripe with the Salem clinic is that they required a two day prep for all patients, since usually this isn't necessary.)
Follow the prep instructions, but don't deny yourself. Most people who have had colonoscopies find the prep period to be more distasteful than the procedure itself. I agree. Being a vegetarian, I'm used to grazing frequently. And getting rid of the colon contents by drinking a gallon of laxative stuff isn't my favorite thing to do.
However, when I told a friend I was getting a colonoscopy and angled for some no eating sympathy, he said, "I went on a 21-day fast once." That shut me up, especially since the photo above shows what I bought to get me through about a 1.5-day "fast" where I could consume clear liquids for most of that time.
Jello, vegetable broth (I bought way too much, but it was on sale), white grape juice. Adding up the calories in this stuff, I realized why I didn't lose much weight during my so-called fasting period. Plus, I tanked up in the two hours prior to the 5 pm "no more solid food" deadline on Wednesday (my colonoscopy was scheduled for 10 am on Friday).
At 2:30 I had a large slice of cheese pizza. At 4:00, after I exercised, I ate a peanut butter and apple butter sandwich on whole wheat bread that I'd taken to the athletic club. Then, at 4:20, I managed to stuff down another large slice of Straight From New York pizza before I went to my Tai Chi class. Not surprisingly, I wasn't very hungry all that evening, so starting my liquid diet at 5:00 pm on Wednesday rather than late that night wasn't a big sacrifice.
And as noted above, it worked better for me, according to my doctor. As did a split preparation schedule, in which I drank half of the laxative stuff early Thursday evening, and half early Friday morning (the day of the procedure). Even though I had to wake up at 4 am or so on Friday, I found that drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of the stuff at two different times was more pleasant than chugging the whole gallon all at one go.
Bliss out during the colonoscopy itself. Once it comes time for the actual procedure, relax. The worst is over. You're on the home stretch. Now comes the genuinely fun part. At least, that was my experience this time, which I wrote about on my other (more philosophical) blog.
As I was getting prepped for the colonoscopy, a nurse told me they were using propofol now. I could expect a much quicker recovery time, with few if any side effects. Once the propofol drip is stopped, the patient wakes up almost instantly.
The name of the drug sounded sort of familiar.
It should have, because this was one of the drugs that was being used by Michael Jackson when he died. It's white appearance leads it to be called "milk of amnesia" (for the benefit of some foreign blog readers, milk of magnesia is an over-the-counter drug commonly used in this country).
...After being wheeled across a hall into the endoscopy room, I was positioned on my side so I was facing a large monitor that soon would be showing my innards. The doctor would be looking at it as he performed the colonoscopy.
Some pleasantries were exchanged with the doctor and the nurses. Then the nurse anesthesiologist said she was starting to inject the propofol. For about fifteen seconds I felt completely normal. I was mildly concerned that the sedative wasn't working.
Next thing I knew, the nurse was telling me "We're all done."
My instant intuitive reaction was disappointment. I was disturbed to be back in everyday reality. It had been a lot more pleasant wherever I'd been, consciousness wise. I sort of felt like I'd jumped into ice water after basking on a warm beach.
Doing some Googling on propofol before writing this post, I learned this sort of reaction is why the drug is illicitly used non-medically.
There are reports of self-administration of propofol for recreational purposes. Short-term effects include mild euphoria, hallucinations, and disinhibition. Long-term use has been reported to result in addiction.
I felt completely alert and awake. The only side effect, so far as I could tell, was that feeling of I wish I could have stayed in that pleasant propofol place longer. My first words to the nurse were, "I had some nice dreams. Mostly of having a colonoscopy, but with absolutely no pain, as if it was happening to someone else."
I had a great time during the actual colonoscopy, mostly because I wasn't really there -- just a minimally aware blissed-out me was. Ask your colonoscopy provider if they use propofol as a sedative. And if not, why not? I liked it much better than what was used at my previous colonoscopy.
Bottom line: don't be afraid of getting a colonoscopy. As with most anxieties in life, our worries about what will happen almost always don't come to pass to the degree that we anticipate.
Some aspects of the procedure, like the sedative, may even make you say, give me more. So, enjoy, best you can.
And always keep in mind that no matter how unpleasant a colonoscopy procedure may be at times, it's a heck of a lot better than getting colon cancer.
Interesting info. I'm about to turn 40, so I may have to have one done soon. I'm not looking forward to it. I live in South Korea and generally the doctors here are pretty good, but I went in for another problem and they just jammed a hose inside me. The whole waiting room heard a sound like it came from a very angry person. That was me. I hope when I have it done for real it isn't that bad.
Posted by: David English | February 22, 2011 at 05:24 AM
My wife, an avid dog lover, pointed out to me after my colonoscopy that recent research found that canines can sniff peoples' poop and detect cancer cells with something like 97% accuracy. See:
http://www.livescience.com/11708-dog-sniffs-bowel-cancer.html
But this requires a trained dog, so it wouldn't have been enough to have our Serena accompany me into the bathroom and sniff the toilet after I'd taken a crap. Plus, dogs can't detect benign polyps that could cancerous, or remove them.
Posted by: Blogger Brian | February 23, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Yes, the prep is definitely the worst part. Whatever they use around here - Boston, MA area - is absolutely the worst tasting stuff I have ever experienced.
For my first colonoscopy, in which some polyps were removed, I was sedated but awake and was able to watch the monitor. Which was kind of interesting. The second time they must have used propofol because one minute they were talking and getting ready and the next minute they were saying "all done." I was disappointed that I didn't get to watch and didn't really realize I had been unconscious. I thought maybe they tricked me and didn't actually do the procedure.
What is a virtual colonoscopy?
Posted by: Laurie Dougherty | February 24, 2011 at 07:31 AM
Laurie, a virtual colonoscopy uses CT scanning to check you out, rather than physically invading your colon. I had one back in 2006. See:
http://hinessight.blogs.com/hinessight/2006/10/my_virtual_colo.html
The downside is (1) polyps can't be removed if found, so the patient has to have a regular colonoscopy after the virtual one, and (2) the radiation exposure.
Now that I've had two regular colonoscopies, I'd recommend going that route, as the prep is about the same, and with new sedation techniques, there's actually less discomfort with a regular colonoscopy -- since with a virtual your colon also has to be filled with air/oxygen/carbon dioxide, and that can be pretty uncomfortable when not sedated.
Posted by: Blogger Brian | February 24, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I just wanted to thanks for taking the time to blog about your experience . your photo helped also and I'm on my way to the store to shop for the same products except for the jello as that isn't vegetarian.
Posted by: Deb | April 12, 2013 at 06:40 AM
My former primary care physician (now retired) was a gastroenterologist. Some years ago, he casually said to me that he was going to schedule me for a colonoscopy. I told him that he should not bother, because I would not show up for the test. To which he said "believe me - you do not want colon cancer". I replied that those who actually have colon cancer probably feel the same way.
I am two months shy of 64 years of age. I am half deaf, have serious vision problems, have been on high blood pressure and cholesterol medication for 15 years, have an enlarged prostate, my spine is dissolving and I have lost almost 2 inches of height after 2 spinal surgeries, and have just developed type 2 diabetes and just started taking metformin.
Each night I clench my fist and point it up to the non-existent God in the sky and say: Colon cancer? Go ahead, I dare ya!
Posted by: Willie R. | April 16, 2013 at 02:28 PM
WIllie, I like your style. You're outwardly cynical, but, damn you, I sense that inside that falling-apart body beats a warm heart. You curse and dare God, yet I have the feeling that with people, you're a pleasant guy.
That said, I also suspect that you drive your doctors crazy. In an interesting way. Keep up the craziness. It's all we have to keep ourselves sane.
Posted by: Brian Hines | April 16, 2013 at 10:11 PM
I would never curse God, afterall someday you will stand before him and have no more pain. God gives me the strength to get through whatever I have to.
Posted by: Believer | July 23, 2013 at 04:14 PM
I’m getting a colonoscopy this week due to bleeding, so this was good to hear. I am also vegetarian, so I will be fasting with a lot of vegetable broth!
Just as a heads up, Jell-O is not vegetarian. It contains gelatin. I did confirm I can have vegan Jell-O though!
Posted by: Samantha | August 05, 2019 at 07:33 AM