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Yeah - but do you have any recollection of what your W bought and how much she spent - maybe this was a good strategy on her part. ;)</p>
<p>I am extremely sensitive to anesthesia, I was nauseated and had abdominal cramps for the rest of the week after the procedure. That was with anti-nausea meds. I sleep for about 12 hours after any narcotic so am completely useless that day and was moderately useless that week. It had been a long long time since I had an procedures previously, but now I am fully cognizant that I am still an outlier on the bell curve of anesthesia effects. The colonoscopy itself was a non-issue, but the long lasting post-drug issues were annoying.</p>
<p>Hereās a perspective you wonāt hear too much. </p>
<p>I had my Colonoscopy 8 years ago. All went wellā¦prep was rough, but procedure was tolerable. Due for next one in 2012.</p>
<p>I do remember it all, because I declined all the anesthesia/sedative completely. I have a severe and I admit, unrational, fear of needles. Life-long, highly documented, counseling recieved, but very REAL to me. So, with medical procedures, if at all possible, I am better off to avoid the IVs alltoghter. I convinced the Doc that I could handle it. (I also delivered both kids with no pain meds/IVās- I think once he heard that, he gave in for the Colonoscopy)</p>
<p>Anyway, I got to talk with the techs/RNs/ Doc, etc. the whole way through. They said it was unusual, but not unheard of. Got to talk things over with the Doc as he worked, and got see my pictures on the screen, and hear the news as it was happening. Happily, no polyps, and a very quick recovery. </p>
<p>Side note- I still had to pay full price at the hospital, as if I had received all the āservicesā because they said it was a ābundleā and they could not break out the parts of the bill to compensate for the drugs, etc. I did not receive. Donāt get me started about that.</p>
<p>Not looking forward to old age with the needle phobia thing, though.</p>
<p>To anyone who might be postponing a colonoscopy due to the prep: please take a deep breath, and make an appointment. I really think that the prep isnāt as bad as worrying about the prep. Not a walk in the park, but the procedure itself was non-entity since I had no memory of it at all, and the feeling afterwards was pure (drug-induced) bliss!</p>
<p>A dear friend of mine (age 53) put off having a colonoscopy for a few years. Finally, she and a friend talked each other into scheduling their colonoscopies. Her friend got a clean bill of health. My friend - Stage III colon cancer. She finished 6 months of intense chemotherapy in June, and, thankfully, her subsequent scans have been cancer-free. Her message to all of her friends: āTake care of your medical business and get a colonoscopy!ā Caught in early stages, it is highly treatable.</p>
<p>^^so, melbert, how did you cope with the annual checkups? It requires to draw blood for lab work. did you skip all those?</p>
<p>^Good question from arlo. Hope you are NOT forgoing your labwork!</p>
<p>I, too, have a needle phobia that I inherited from my mother, who DOES skip all her annual labwork (and Iām guessing you do also, melbert.) I have crowns on all my molars, all done without any local anesthetic because of my fear of needles. </p>
<p>The more times you get stuck by a needle, the more chance you may have of overcoming your phobia. My fear subsided greatly this past year when I underwent acupuncture treatments for about 12 weeks. Each weekly session consisted of me getting stuck about 25 times in my back and legs. I still cannot look when they draw blood, and I will never completely get over the anxiety of getting poked, but ārepetitionā should improve your situation-- the same as it did for me.</p>
<p>Have any of you needle-phobics tried the Emla cream?</p>
<p>^^ For those have needle phobia, get over with it. As we get older, there is more chance to get stuck by a needle. In my annual routine checkup, they found a tumor on my liverā¦ Guess how many time I got stuck by needles? I got stuck 6 times for the MRI alone, since I did not drink water or eat food for 12 hours, they could not find my vain to start IV, which is a must for liver MRI. They tried 5 times, including once on my hand! and gave up, the radiology cannot handle it, so they called a NURSE (helloā¦), who finally got the IV started.</p>
<p>Anyway, after 3 months of run around, I did get the good news, the tumor is benignā¦</p>
<p>^teriwtt, Iām assuming that this cream somehow lessons the pain of the needle āpinchā sensation. For me, Itās not the pain from the needle that is the issue since I endure tooth drilling-- which is very painful. It is the fear of the needle itself (even without looking at it) and the thought of it puncturing my skin.</p>
<p>artloversplus, Glad your tumor is benign. Aging is the pits!</p>
<p>My dentist taught me how to take dental shots, and it works for medical shots too. Concentrate on breathing inā¦ outā¦ inā¦ outā¦ Really THINK about your breathing.</p>
<p>Yes, itās a numbing cream you apply to the skin a half hour prior to any needle insertion. D2 has a prescription for it, but I donāt think sheās had to use it since finishing her Gardasil series three years ago (meaning, she hasnāt had any thing done to her that required needles).</p>
<p>I am aware this is off-topic, sorry.</p>
<p>I have had blood worrk about 3 times in the past 8 years. I can power through it, if I have some advance warning, and get my breathing/mind control in place. LasMaās technique has worked for me, as long as I get a few minutes to prepare mentally. It also helps to keep the oxegen levels correct. </p>
<p>Breathing is key for me. From experience, I can say that holding oneās breath is more likely to lead to passing out (on the floor of the hospital lab, in the pediaticianās office, in the school cafeteria). Hilarity ensues.</p>
<p>As jshain said, itās not the pain, or even the āstickā (my pain thresh-hold is pretty high). As with a lot of deep-rooted phobias, itās complicated for me. Dental work (even cleanings) are bad because of the sound of the stainless steel instruments on the tray. I know to ask for extra sound-dampening items (paper towels) and that seems to help.</p>
<p>Providers who I have worked with over the years (OB/GYN, Dental Hygenist, etc.) know me and really are sensitive to helping me work through things. Other times, an unexpected requirement (a tb test for a school position) would make an episode of āWhatās wrong with her?ā (crying, blubbering, call the husband to pick her up). It just caugt me by surprise.</p>
<p>I am the first to tell you itās irrational. I know I have to āget over itā - getting old is not for sissies. I have received counseling, and I have a routine I can do when it comes to it. Over the years, I have made big progess and learned what to tell people in medical situations. I even took a blood test in public to go on the bone marrow donor list. Also, very proud to report I have not passed the phobia down to my kids. D2 is a regular blood donor.</p>
<p>Just not worth the needle for a colonoscopy, for me anyway.</p>
<p>Melbert,
I understand phobiasā¦most people, (me included) have one or two (I hate confined spaces; - an enclosed MRI was very bad. ) Hereās what I did; I asked the dr for a tranquilizer. That, combined with breathing techniques, did the trick. I needed the test, that was that. </p>
<p>Seriouslyā¦what is betterā¦a sedative before a colonoscopy IV (or any IV?) - or no colonoscopy, leading to undetected colon cancer? You know the answer to that.</p>
<p>Hi San-dee. I agree. It is more important to have the test, and Iām glad I did go through with it. </p>
<p>What I meant was that I am willing to put up with the discomfort of the test in exchange for no IV. The discomfort wasnāt even that bad - a little cramping, thatās all. I was fortunate that no ployps were discovered, so I did not have to get those removed.</p>
<p>As I get older, I find I am more able to ask for accomodations with the phobia. I just donāt care any more who knows about it, and I am OK if someone is slightly inconvenienced on my account. (When I was younger, I would never have asked for any special treatment). Most medical pprofessionals are more than willing to accomodate me. If not, I am OK to speak up for myself.</p>
<p>This thread caught my eye as we have colon cancer in my family and I know I have to do this in the future.My mom just had one of these a few months ago. With the first one she got sick from the stuff you have to drink and said she would never do it again. The one she just had they gave her two other options. she could have a colonic (uhmā¦yahā¦look that up) while she was under or take pills the night before. She took the pills and said it was easy.</p>
<p>So Iām guessing these other cleansing methods are newer and easier?</p>
<p>And if you bite a lemon before drinking the prep? That might help.</p>
<p>Whatever it tastes like or however uncomfortable you are. DO IT anyway. My Dad passed away of colon cancer 2.5 years. Sad part is he was tested 4 years ago. but the test today goes deeper into the system.</p>
<p>Also as far as drinking the liquid. As soon as it comes out CLEAR you can stop taking. My MOM told me this and it works.</p>
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<p>^^ Itās VERY important to take the medication as prescribed.</p>
<p>Considering for most folks it only has to be done every 5-10 years, it really is OK. I have had it done, as has H, my folks and most folks I know that are 50+ or have any troubling or concerning symptoms. Most have it about as often as recommended and it CAN save lives.</p>
<p>For me, the worst thing was that they gave too much Versed (sedation), so I was tired & loopy but couldnāt sleep after the procedure had been completed. </p>
<p>The prep is an essential part of allowing the specialist to get accurate info & should be performed as directed. As their office if you have any Qs rather than not doing a complete job & making it tough for the doc to see what needs to be seen.</p>
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<p>At my facility, from time to time we have a patient who does not get any sedation at all-either because he does not want it or because he does not have someone available to drive him home after the procedure. However, our doctors will not perform a colonoscopy on a patient without an IV in place. There are some rare complications which can occur which could require the use of certain medications or IV fluids. Anyone who refuses the IV (and this is a patient right) will not be scoped.</p>
<p>Hearing about needle phobias makes me think of a test I may have to have performed soon. It is called an EMG and I know it involves the use of needles to test nerve function. Iām trying not to go there mentally until I have to. Iām not needle phobic, but neither am I cavalier about the thought.</p>
<p>One of my daughters faints every time she has to have blood drawn. Dealing with her before blood work is never very pleasant. Hopefully she will either get over this or stay very very healthy. :)</p>