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Scared To Death Of A Biopsy/colonoscopy

Cougar09

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Cougar09 Rookie
Cougar09
Posted

so I finally saw an actual G.I. (one month after initial blood tests diagnosed me with Celiac) and he wants me to have a biopsy and colonoscopy done on Valentines day. (hey, at least I know I'll be getting some....there should be some pretty decent sized tubes shoved down and up me) Im freaking out. I hate wearing those hospital gown things they make you wear.... they make me feel like a naked lab rat. and even worse, I don't want anyone going up my butt while I'm asleep!!! I'm so worked up about this already and it's still a week away. I gag just brushing my tongue with my toothbrush... there's no way a tube is going down my throat without me throwing up all over the place. so embarassing. uuuuugh I'm really dreading this.

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Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

You shouldnt feel the tube going down your throat or anything like that. They will numb the area first (with a numbing spray). I didnt have any problems with either procedure. I didnt feel a thing. ;)

cajun celiac Rookie
cajun celiac
Posted

I understand EXACTLY how you feel. My scopes were done 3 days after Christmas so I stressed over the holidays. I have no tolerance for pain whatsoever! But honestly, and I am truly being honest with you, it is no big deal. You will get an IV and that is the only thing you'll feel. The medication to make you sleep is given through the IV. Before you are put to sleep they squirt your throat with a numbing spray. Next thing you know you are awake and done. Mine took 20 minutes total, and that was the endoscope and colonoscopy. You don't feel anything afterwards. Well, maybe you'll feel a little gas. The hardest part for me was the fasting, that sucks. And the day of the procedure I couldn't even drink anything and my mouth was so dry. I was given medication to help with the anxiety, maybe you could ask for that.

Anytime I have a procedure done (or papsmear) I buy myself something immediately afterwards. New jeans, charm for bracelet, new make-up, etc. That way I have something to look forward to.

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

Trust me, I fretted about it also..... but the other posters are right, you really, truly don't feel a thing!

In fact, just to show you how wacky and crazy I am, I loved it! The moment they give you that stuff that puts you in LaLa land, it is the closest thing to heaven I have ever experienced!! LOL! :lol:

Karen

GeoffCJ Enthusiast
GeoffCJ
Posted
Trust me, I fretted about it also..... but the other posters are right, you really, truly don't feel a thing!

In fact, just to show you how wacky and crazy I am, I loved it! The moment they give you that stuff that puts you in LaLa land, it is the closest thing to heaven I have ever experienced!! LOL! :lol:

Karen

Having just done one a few weeks ago, and having never had anything go "there" before, I'll say too, it wasn't a big deal. Drinking the stuff the day before wasn't much fun, but the procedure itself wasn't too bad. I notice the endoscope more than the colonoscopy, but neither was really uncomfortable, just a little _odd_.

YOu'll be fine. I made my wife buy me gluten-free ice cream afterward, but I played it up for sympathy! :P

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I had an endo and colo done on the same day. I was scared--my dad had colon cancer that was caught early--and I was also afraid of the procedures in general.

It was actually not bad at all. The colo prep the day before is the worst part. Once that's over, it's a piece of cake!

I don't remember anything from shortly after the IV went in, until I woke up in recovery. I did not get the sore throat, or much gas. I had some juice, and within a short time, got dressed and went home.

When I need it done again, I won't think twice. Really, it was fine. And you will be, too :)

JerryK Community Regular
JerryK
Posted
and he wants me to have a biopsy and colonoscopy done on Valentines day. (hey, at least I know I'll be getting some....there should be some pretty decent sized tubes shoved down and up me)

That's bad :lol: I understand your fear tho, I'm worried they are going to want to scope me also.

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nothing but nicole Apprentice
nothing but nicole
Posted

I had an Endoscopy and a flexible Sigmoid on the same day and am now scheduled for a Colonoscopy next week also. I have had numerous surgeries and it is really no different, you fall asleep and wake up not knowing any different. I had a sore throat for a few days afterward but it was just when I ate things like hamburgers and rough foods.

chocolatelover Contributor
chocolatelover
Posted

Cougar09,

I totally understand your anxiety. I just had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago and an endoscopy last Friday. I was dreading the colonoscopy and was TERRIFIED of the endoscopy. The colonoscopy was just fine--the prep sucks, and you will definitely have some gas afterwards (so make sure you get as much out as you can before you leave the hospital or clinic), but the drugs do just what they are supposed to--you won't remember or feel a thing.

As for the endoscopy, my friend's 10 year old daughter with celiac (diagnosed 8 years ago) called me and left me a message saying that it was no big deal. She was absolutely right--it was nothing! I didn't feel a thing, don't remember a thing, and pretty much slept for about 15 hours afterwards. (I had them give me some anti-nausea medication just in case, because I have learned that I can be sensitive to certain drugs). If you're really worried, ask them to do that.

Also, remember that this is what these people do for a living--your behind, cute or ugly as it may be--is nothing special to them. :P

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

CL

babygirl1234 Rookie
babygirl1234
Posted

i had a colonscopy you dont feel anything you are awake but sleepy and i had endoscope they numb your thorth with a numbing spary so you dont gag and they put this thing in your mouth to serp your teeth

Susanna Newbie
Susanna
Posted

Girl, I hear ya. It is definitely disturbing to think of your body being invaded by these procedures. However: it. must. be. done. No on WANTS to have a colonoscopy--it's just a fact that you need it. If it makes you feel any better, know that you probably won't remember any part of it. It's one day (not even a whole day) out of your life that will yield some valuable information about what is (or is not) going on with your body, so that you can put yourself on the right path to health. Good luck.

Christy-Latchford Rookie
Christy-Latchford
Posted

Well I can honestly say I am in the same boat, I am awaiting the appointment date of my own colonoscopy, and it freaks me out....The part about the tubes down the throat are a breeze, I can say from experience, when your asleep you don't even know the difference, both times I have had it done I didn't even know when I woke up that it happened, and here's hopin the camera in the butt thing is the same... :(

Nancym Enthusiast
Nancym
Posted

IMHO the worst part is the purging they have you do the day before the procedure. To me, it meant an night spent running to the potty. Even then, once I didn't quite make it to the pot in time... :\

msutherlin Newbie
msutherlin
Posted

I really understand your fear and have been there. I had to have the endoscopy done when I was pregant for my first child and they didn't give my anything because I was pregnant! So if I can do that with not even a tylenol, you can do it with drugs. Now, having said that I had to have another endoscopy and colonoscopy just two weeks ago to test for celiac and I was very nervous even knowing that I got through it before.

The worst part really is the prep. If you get through that you are home free. I went in for my test. Got on my gown. They got my iv in and got me set up in position in the bed. The next thing I knew they started the drugs and the last thing I said was I'm feeling really relaxed. Next after that the nurse was telling me it was time to get dressed. I swear it was the most relaxed I've ever been. I remember nothing from the time I was put out until they told me to get dressed. I was so groggy getting dressed that I don't remember all of it. My husband took me out to eat and I can only remember part of it. I came home and took the greatest nap!

You will do fine. I am having a small bowel xray the same day as you are having your testing done next week. I am a little freaked out about it as it is a different test and I think I will have to be more awake. But I will say a little prayer for you and please think of me also. You do great!

Cougar09 Rookie
Cougar09
Posted
  • Author

I just wanted to reply to everyone who was so kind to write to me these past few days.... thank you all SO SO SO much for your comments! you have really helped me to calm down way more than you can even imagine. I went and picked up the "prep kit" today.... get to start that fun stuff tomorrow. the one thing that sucked a lot is that my allergy tests came back today that I took a week ago and this time they said I tested negative for everything...even wheat. I'm guessing this is because I haven't had wheat in a little over a month, but that was really weird. So anyway, the doctors did tell me that I had to have a "normal diet" today, meaning I shouldn't cut out ANY foods, including gluten. So I went on a little bit of a hay day and had a bagel and then half a small pizza (I got a little over-ambitious) and whoo boy let me tell you, I feel like I'm about to die. I just can't wait to start that medicine and get all of this out of me. that was just about the dumbest thing I've had to do in a while and I really doubt that doctor had any clue what he was talking about. (my normal doctor wasn't in, so a nurse consulted him.) anyway, wish me luck on finding out what is wrong once and for all!! and Msutherlin, good luck to you too! (and everyone else who posted and needs to have something really super fun done in the near future) <3 thanks all I'll let you know how it turns out!

babygirl1234 Rookie
babygirl1234
Posted

yea the worst thing is the prep before your test you have to stay close to the bathroom

anerissara Enthusiast
anerissara
Posted

Cougar, how did it go?

hillyb6 Rookie
hillyb6
Posted

my 8yrold just had the scope done she didnt even have to wear a gown go figure she got to wear her street clothes not sure how they managed that undressed her from waist down after she was knocked out was my guess but she was fully dressed when i got back to her room so she has no idea she even had a scope up the hind in which is all as well she is veyr modest i have to say other than them offering her nothing but gluten after they rock

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
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