I have an appointment scheduled for a colonoscopy with endoscopy and sedation.
My concerns are 1)- is prep doable with a messed up stomach? I'm worried to overwork my stomach and get cramps with how messed up it is but I understand prep is important to get cleaned out.
2) Is a colonoscopy not a big deal with a messed up stomach? I'm nervous to have a tube going up in there but with blood showing in my stool on a test it seems like the top diagnostic test available to see what's going on there
3)Is anesthesia a big deal with lyme and parasites? I'm quite fatigued as it is and hope getting it is an ok experience.
I had a colonoscopy a few years ago and was nervous then but I'm a bit sicker since then and wondering who else has gotten one that has health issues like mine.
Thanks
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
I had a wrecked stomach.
Had my gallbladder out in October. It was a little better but still wrecked.
The prep was totally fine and they somehow make the stuff so the "cleanout" is not in the least bit painful.
I had an upper and lower, with sedation. They found polyps, gastritis and some hyperplasia in my intestine- bile reflux. I was prescribed cholestyramine which cleared up nearly ALL my stomach problems pretty much instantly. I was really glad I did it.
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
I have had both procedures, the endo more than once, both with a messed up gut. For me, the prep was fine, though I am in the UK, so don't know if it would be the same prep.
I was nervous about the possibility of disgracing myself during the colonoscopy, but all was fine. I had the opportunity to talk about the anaesthesia and explain my situation: they seem to use much milder meds for these procedures nowadays here, but I did a search on what to avoid before I went (can't remember the details now, sorry!).
Good luck with it and hope all goes well.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Yes, I had both. No big deal. It was nice to sleep the whole day afterward with the sedation. Prep is the worst part of the whole thing.
Have someone in the room with you afterward. My doc came in and talked to me, but I wasn't really conscious even though I looked conscious. My husband had to tell me about it.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
I've had multiple of each. never had a problem.
it's the golightly prep that caused vomiting. they changed me to some fruit flavored stuff and no problem.
also they gave me versed. out like a light and you wake up with no hangover.
piece of cake
Posted by tulips (Member # 44773) on :
I had a colonoscopy a few months ago and it was a breeze. My prep was lemon flavored and I was able to take it with no problems. Why don't you take some Slippery Elm capsules for a while prior to the event to soothe your stomach issues and
Start cushioning your meds with a tsp of vanilla flavored, unsweetened yogurt - also healing to the digestive system.
Posted by Xelaetaks (Member # 44016) on :
Thanks everyone. It is encouraging to hear your reports. I will be sure to add slippery elm to my list of things to take too.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Be sure to eat lightly for two days before.. at least nothing difficult to digest.
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
I had a colonoscopy several years ago because I had been anemic for so long that my llmd wanted to make sure I didn't have a bleed happening somewhere (the anemia was ultimately from babesia).
No endoscopy though.
It was completely fine. The sedation was totally fine, I was actually sort of awake and watched it on a screen.
Came home and fell asleep for a bit, woke up and it was all back to normal.
It did not exacerbate the lyme or coinfections in any way at all.
I hope it goes smoothly for you. Take good care!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Epinephrine is in many anesthetics (not sure about anesthesia, though). Some discussion on why epinephrine (EPI) can be a rough ride for someone with lyme (especially if they have adrenal issues):
EPI & colonoscopy / medical / dental procedures -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm pretty sure there is no epinephrine in this sedation.
Posted by bluelyme (Member # 47170) on :
The phentyl verced actually stopped the twitching for a week or so...gastro said 1 in 2000 shot of esophagus tear he has only done it once ..dont know about the other end
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
This is good to hear because I am overdue for a colonoscopy, Maybe I will schedule it now while I have my courage up! I do remember loving the stuff they gave me for sedation. I wish I could feel like that all the time .
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
The prep helped clear me out and helped with Lyme symptoms.
I think it flushed something out that needed out!
I took suprep.
I think food poisoning or bad diarrhea is way worse than the prep.
Also, the pain meds were great. I was awake for the whole thing and didn't have a care in the world. It was nice to have a mental break from it all.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
Did you all skip your antibiotics and herbs while doing the prep? Seems like it would be really hard on your gut otherwise.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
Did both a number of times while having lyme, never had a problem.
Steve
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I skipped ABX and herbs while on prep.
Posted by twicebitten (Member # 5412) on :
I've had a couple of colonoscopies. I never had an issue with it. However, due to my other meds I did have to have prep for 2 days. That was the worst of it to me. It left me so dehydrated due to the no water before the procedure they had a time with the IV. Everything else was fine. unsure- I've had anemia for quite a while and I've had several iron infusions. They've speculated it was blood loss during periods but I had my doubts. I didn't know babesia caused that. I wonder if that has something to do with my situation? I was never really diagnosed with that, but my 1st lyme doctor thought it very possible. I took mepron for a few weeks but it made me so sick I couldn't continue working so I had to stop. If I could afford it now I could try it since I don't work now, at least outside the home. It's hard to know with the tests not being accurate what to do or try..??
Posted by Xelaetaks (Member # 44016) on :
Anyone know if a sigmoidoscopy made me a bleed for an hour after does that mean I have a weak colon or is it possible the GI doctor was too aggressive?
It was a different doctor than who I'm getting the coloscopy from that this happened with. Just wondering. I feel a little sketchy if my colon can handle it, I know I've had stuff in the bathroom that looked like intesting strings in the past however weird that sounds but on the same token that's when someone may need to get their colon checked.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
I do not like sigmoidoscopies. I had one many years ago that made me feel like my insides were going to burst. That does not sound right that it made you bleed after. How long ago was that?
Years after my painful sigmoidoscopy, I did have a painless colonoscopy, but was sedated for this - as is routinely done. The worst part was the prep.
I am glad it will be a different doc doing the colonoscopy. Good luck with things!
Posted by Xelaetaks (Member # 44016) on :
Thanks. The sigmoidoscopy was around 3 months ago. There was point where it felt like the sigmoid doctor went up too high, so could be it was that. I mentioned it to the new gi doctor so he knows anyway.
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