Topic: Any reason to put off getting a colonoscopy when treating Lyme?
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
I saw a new GI dr recently for gallbladder problems from rocephin. I've never had a colonoscopy, as I have done very regular colon cleansing and coffee enemas for decades, so I don't think it's necessary. Except, my enemas probably don't reach the ascending colon.
He was horrified that I've never had one (and had no plans to ever get one). So I scheduled one, even though I don't love the idea.
Is there any reason not to get it done while I'm deep in Lyme treatment? The electrolyte imbalance thing from the prep may not be great, as I already have a pretty bad long-standng problem in that dept from Lyme and co.
Is there much to worry about with the profofol/twilight sedation? It's not the same as general anesthesia, which i wouldn't do. Thanks!
I know there is another thread about this, but I didn't want to high-jack it.
[ 04-27-2011, 03:37 AM: Message edited by: Rumigirl ]
Posts: 3790 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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mojo
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I had one last August and it was a breeze.
I used Alacer ElctroMix instead of the Gatorade that they prescribed with the prep. It was SO much easier this time around. The loss of electrolytes made me very ill the first time I got this done.
There is really no reason to delay the procedure and prepping with electrolytes should ease your concerns.
I LOVED the sedation. You shouldn't remember a thing.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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RZR
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posted
No problems here when I had a colonoscopy. I also used Alacer ElectroMix. I felt a little weak from not eating, but bounced right back.
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
I had one and as well had no problem, but they did remove a pre-cancerous growth...several of them that would have def. turned into cancer for sure.
I am glad to have them out of me.
Posts: 151 | From south east | Registered: May 2010
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posted
I had a colonoscopy last spring (before lyme) and also had a pre cancerous polyp removed. I have had 3 colonoscopies over the years and the prep is the worst part of it. The actual procedure was no problem!
Posts: 376 | From New York | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
Second loving the sedation! Woke up wide awake and felt like I slept for a week!
Posts: 239 | From NC | Registered: Aug 2010
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map1131
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Member # 2022
posted
No don't put off. Cancer scares me more. It was great feeling for me to have my colon and GI cleaned out.
I have constipation issues and I actually felt pretty darn good after having colonoscopy. All that was found were some gastritis, irritation or colon lining.
Well hello! I knew I had gastritis issues. I wanted GI bioposies to find and identify a bacteria with a name like bart, lyme.
Nope the pathology came back zero, clueless and I realized the lab was as clueless as the typical blood lab.
Wouldn't know a vector borne bacteria if it bite them in the arse.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6485 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I had a routine one done last Oct. No problems with any of it.
I feel it's a good idea to make sure we take care of our bodies in this journey.
-------------------- Lyme, Babs, Fry Bug..... Whatever it is, may a treatment be discovered to make us all whole again! Posts: 941 | From AZ-MT | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I had one last week! No big deal. The prep is the worst and I felt a little crampy afterwards on the day of, but that's it!
Posts: 200 | From Boston | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
You say it will be propofol/twightlight sleeep. If so good. But, I had one in June and Versed was used. I woke irratated and felt horrible for over a month.
A couple of weeks before that had a biopsy with propofol (gen. anesthesia (sp?) with Anestethesis doctor present) and woke up great and rested.
After the colonoscopy, I spoke with my daughter who was present at my first colonoscopy some 7 years ago. She said my reaction was same before...."didn't I remember?" Well, NO! That was at beginning of Lyme tx!
Anyway, I have since discussed with surgeon and said he has many folks who have have had problems with versed. He said in future, to notify doctors before any outpatient proceedure so they can arrange for Anesthesiologst to handle sedation.
Posts: 101 | From MS | Registered: Feb 2001
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Colon cancer can be asymptomatic. It was for my husband, whose "routine" colonoscopy picked it up. He never had any ill effects from the colonoscopies themselves; he was and still is treating Lyme.
Viva
Posts: 532 | From southeast US | Registered: Oct 2005
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Lymeorsomething
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Member # 16359
posted
A breeze..I did my colonoscopy without anesthesia...no probs...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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mojo
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posted
No anesthesia! I wouldn't recommend that but you are my IDOL. Good job.
(really? none at all? amazing)
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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Hambone
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The cleaning out the colon part is the absolute worst part of the whole ordeal.
I had Propofol and it was a piece of cake. And I am SENSITIVE! I was sick to my stomach worried about it, but it was soooo easy. I closed my eyes before the meds hit and then I was awake and it was over.
The funny thing was, while I was out, I had that Geico caveman song playing in my head ( Let Me Be Myself )over and over. Later, when I talked to the GI doc who did it, he was singing the caveman song. I must've been sleeping but could still hear him singing.
Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010
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Lymeorsomething
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Member # 16359
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mojo, no anesthesia at all... To be honest, I was more afraid of anesthesia than the procedure.
It's actually not very painful when done right. What you tend to feel is pressure when they go around bends but it's not painful.
Plus I got to watch the whole thing on the monitor. It was like cave diving...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
oh my planned it without anesthesia? OM. My Mom's first colonoscopy about 5 yrs ago, they didn't give her enough to be under.
She could feel and hear everything but she couldn't speak or let them know HEY I'm not under dumba!!.
My Mom is just not very savvy, heck she waited until she was 65 to have her first. She thought that was just the way it was suppose to be.
I would have been livid. I was so angry before I went under and in a hurry to go under because I didn't take any pain meds that morning and I was not a happy camper.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6485 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Dawn in VA
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Member # 9693
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I had one last year w/out anesthesia or pain meds. I think I could've handled it OK except for the 3 times the doc had to "inflate" certain areas to get biopsies. I clearly remember yelling "Stop the procedure, stop the procedure!" during those moments. It's hilarious to me now, but was quite painful then! The endoscopy right after wasn't nearly as bad.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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Rumigirl
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Member # 15091
posted
Hambone, that's too funny about the Geico caveman song!!
Guys, thank you! You put my mind to rest (as did my LLMD yesterday). I'm pretty good with putting up with pain, having had waaay too much practice! But, I think I'll take the anesthesia, thank you very much. Just not anything that would set me back. They did say it would be profofol when I asked.
Posts: 3790 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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merrygirl
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Member # 12041
posted
I had one for chronic diarrhea when i was about 29. Had lyme. It totally messed me up. I think it was the prep. The anesthesia did not work. I was wide awake, not fun. The inflating was the worst part. Just me experience
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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