Bad Colonoscope Experience

[Steve K]

I went in for a routine colonoscope and haven't been the same.
While on the table my heart stopped. The doctor said he inserted too much air into the colon which pushed everything up stopping my heart. I did not stop breathing. That night I went to the ER because I couldn't urinate. My bladder was drain, the catheter removed, and I went home only to return three hours later for the same thing. I was told the cause was an enlarged prostate. It seems strange since I never had a problem before. I then went to a urologist who said it was the anesthesia causing the problem and it is quit common with people in their mid seventies. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Doug M.]

Nope. Weird. The worst part for me has always been the prep.

 

[Mule Packer]

Oh great. Just what I want to hear. I'm 74 and am scheduled for one the first part of July. Previously, like Doug said, the prep was always the worst part. I guess I now have something else to look forward to.

 

[crazyphil]

I wanted a colonoscopy a while back. My Dr. said I am too old. (88)
He said at my age the skin in there is too thin and the danger of a
puncture is too high. I know a lot of my outer skin is quite a lot thinner
than it was when I was younger, but I didn't know it got thin inside too.

 

[BSA1]

I had a colonoscopy last week and had intense abdomen pain afterwards. They were so severe I went to the E.R. and had a C.T. of my small intestines which didn't show anything either. I am still having abdominal pain so I guess my next step is a visit to a G.I. Specialist.

O.P. Next time have a Colongard test instead. It is non-invasive and claims to be 99.9% accurate.

 

[Rustyt1953]

PS: I, too, do my business in a box.

 

[Tom S.]

Worst part was the scope said Channel 2 News on it and the Dr. was wearing bib overalls and an AutoZone ball cap.

 

[Rpg]

I got my first colonoscopy a few months ago. I'm 73.

I had no problems with side effects afterwards.

I certainly didn't enjoy the preparation!

They removed a bunch of polyps: none of concern.

I figure I didn't need one for 73 years so I'll schedule the next for 2096.

I didn't enjoy the preparation!!!! I'm not in a hurry to do it again.

 

[Rustyt1953]

The recovery room was like being in a John Philip Sousa concert.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I asked the doctor if when he was in medical school, if he thought this is what they meant by 18 holes a day.

 

[boykinlp]

I had a colonoscopy last week and had intense abdomen pain afterwards. They were so severe I went to the E.R. and had a C.T. of my small intestines which didn't show anything either. I am still having abdominal pain so I guess my next step is a visit to a G.I. Specialist.

O.P. Next time have a Colongard test instead. It is non-invasive and claims to be 99.9% accurate.

Sorry, but I have to completely disagree with this! A colonoscopy found my stage 4 rectal cancer, as well as, my affected lymph nodes and polyps. Thank goodness, I am now in remission! I am so sorry to hear about the problems Steve K had. I have never heard of that. You are ALWAYS taking a risk, however small, when you have any procedure done. I pray that your problems are corrected easily. Did your procedure show any possible cancerous issues? I will always preach the importance of getting a colonoscopy until I am no longer able!

"Cologuard can only detect 42% of large polyps, while a colonoscopy can detect 95% of large polyps. When polyps are detected during a colonoscopy they are removed at the same time. If polyps are detected with Cologuard, a colonoscopy must be performed to remove them." Also Cologuard has many more false positives and negatives than a colonoscopy.
Larry

 

[Onomea]

I've had two. The first was three and a half years ago at 67. They found six suspicious polyps and removed them, later confirming through biopsies that they were precancerous.

The experience itself was normal until I came out of the anesthesia. My throat hurt like crazy. I was hoarse and could hardly talk. I developed an associated fever which my docs could not determine the cause of. I had phlegm like you would not believe, keeping a box of tissues and a wastebasket bedside all night. This went on for a week. Finally, my primary care doc gave me a bunch of antibiotics and I recovered.

When I asked the colonoscopy clinic WTH had happened, the doc was evasive, saying she wasn't paying attention to what the anesthesiologist was doing. The anesthesiologist was unavailable. My speculation is something caused the anesthesiologist to cram some sort of breathing device, or the wrong size device, down my throat, injuring it.

Anyway, a bad experience.

A few months ago, three years later, because precancerous polyps had been found the first time around, I went for my second colonoscopy, choosing a different hospital. (Well, duh!) The experience was uneventful. Nothing untoward was discovered, and I was told at my age I may not need to do this again.

My advice, Steve, is that if you need another colonoscopy, choose a different hospital/clinic.

 

[glenwolde]

I'm pretty sure it's not possible to have a good colonoscopy experience. But yours is over the top.

 

[johngalt]

I wanted a colonoscopy a while back. My Dr. said I am too old. (88)
He said at my age the skin in there is too thin and the danger of a
puncture is too high. I know a lot of my outer skin is quite a lot thinner
than it was when I was younger, but I didn't know it got thin inside too.

Never heard anyone say they WANTED one...

I'm on the schedule to get probed. Previously pooped in the box, but due to a family member being diagnosed, that risk factor makes it inappropriate now. Yay....

I've been told there are risks. Punctures is one. Another I never thought of is the prep cleans out the good bacteria. The bacteria is critical to your immune system. Supposedly procedures are changing and getting probed is not necessarily the recommended method any more. Some do ultrasound now? I need to investigate more.

Prep is changing too. My brother just had to take a pill instead of drinking the gallon of 'stuff'. I'll have to ask about that too.

 

[robvious]

if it is time to get one... GET ONE... as a Colon-rectal Cancer survivor I can state than hesitation or refusal could alter your time-line dramatically... and carrying a personal diaper bag Every time you leave your house is absolutely NOT FUN.

SO GET A COLONOSCOPY... PERIOD

 

[DWalt]

I have experienced three colonoscopies with no disturbing findings or bad reactions, beyond having a few polyps removed. That is typical. Unlikely I will have any more colonoscopies.

 

[StrawHat]

Both times, had polyps removed. Fun? Hell no! Worth knowing I don't have cancer? Priceless!

Kevin

 

[GypsmJim]

My first one went well. A few polyps removed. The next day I had a few beers and ended up with abdominal pain and needed the ER.

Ten years later, same thing. A few more polyps. Drank no beer, no problem.

I'm 73 and due this coming year. Maybe my last one.

The prep wasn't a problem. Have to poop anyway. A little watery ain't a problem.

 

[UncleEd]

With the certainly of limited years left,
any procedure can be highly risky. And
facing the possibility of a cancer or not
won''t make any difference.

 

[Inusuit]

I've lost two close friends to colon cancer. I get one every five years and have never had problems after. Also have a friend who is in remission because a colonoscopy caught his cancer early.