I'm getting both a colonoscopy and an endoscopy Monday morning.

[LuckyCharms]

This will be my 6th colonoscopy and 4th(?) endoscopy (upper GI, tube down the throat).

This will be my first of these procedures with my new GI doctor.

I was traumatized pretty badly during my last endoscopy with my previous GI doctor, because I woke up during the fucking thing and started to panic.

After that endoscopy, I was being wheeled in for a colonoscopy a few weeks later. I greeted the doc, and asked him to please make sure that I didn't wake up during the colonoscopy, because he traumatized me during his previous endoscopy. I normally do not mind waking up during colonoscopies at all, but this time, I was still feeling the anxiety from waking up during the endoscopy, so I made a simple request to this fucker to go harder on the versed during the colonoscopy so I wouldn't wake up.

So with my ass and junk hanging out in all of its glory, this fucker proceeded to scold me like I was a child, in front of 3 female nurses. He stated it was not his job to put me to sleep, only to make me comfortable, I panicked because I had a tube down my throat ha ha ha, blah, blah, blah. So I glared at this son of a bitch without saying a word. What are you going to say to a guy holding a long tube and getting ready to feed the damn thing into your intestines? That's right...I didn't say a word.

He did his thing, and then I did mine. I fired the fucker and got a new GI doctor.

My old doctor just used the twilight drug versed. My new doctor made a point of explaining to me that he ALWAYS has an anesthesiologist in the room, and he uses that heavy duty anesthesia that begins with a "P". I forget the name of it.

So this is all good, except that with my last colonoscopy with the previous doctor, I had a hell of a time keeping my blood glucose up the night before. I'm a type 1 diabetic, and that prep fucked me up badly. For some reason, that gallon of liquid prep dropped my blood sugar down horribly low. That time, I was able to chug Sprite soda, and my glucose still would not come up. So when I went to the hospital for the colonoscopy in the morning, I was on the verge of slipping into a coma because my glucose was in the low 40's. I stumbled into the hospital reception area and just said "IV dextrose, now". They rushed me in and hooked me up to a sugar IV, and I recovered.

This Sunday is going to be worse because I'm having the endoscopy along with the colonoscopy, and getting the heavy duty sedation. This means I can't have any soda or candy after midnight if my glucose drops.

What I'm going to have to do if my glucose drops overnight is to drink clear soda, eat hard candy, whatever I have to do to get that glucose up. Then, I'll have to tell the anesthesiologist what I did, and he will have to limit his anesthesia drug to just versed (twilight drug only) so I don't aspirate my stomach contents while I'm under.

I've been worried about this for months. The colonoscopy prep for a type 1 diabetic is a huge pain in the ass. It's like walking a tight rope trying to maintain a high enough, but not too high, blood glucose level.

So I'll probably be posting here on my phone Sunday night while sitting on the toilet. Whining and whining and whining.

Thanks for reading.

[True Dough]

1. The colonoscopy prep for a type 1 diabetic is a huge pain in the ass.

That's an apt turn of phrase, Lucky.

I'm wishing you well and looking forward to your bathroom diatribe on Sunday night.

All the best!

[LuckyCharms]

2. Thanks buddy.

I'll be thinking of you as I blast off to the heavens from my bathroom.

[Diamond_Dog]

3. Good luck, Lucky.

I’ve had 3 colonoscopies and Mr.Diamond has had 2 endoscopies. Ain’t it fun. And we both have normal blood sugar. I never even considered what that prep shit does to a diabetic. Sending you all the best vibes I can muster for an uneventful procedure.

[LuckyCharms]

4. Thanks Diamond Dog!

It will be fine, I always get through this stuff. I'm just complaining today.

[EarthAbides]

5. Barbaric

When I went through breast cancer in 2010 and 2012 the whole process felt barbaric. Right now, I am trying to get my homeless brother through a colonoscopy process and the whole process feels even more barbaric. I tried to get him checked into the hospital to get the prep done because he is having constant yellow diarrhea, but even yellow diarrhea was not a good enough reason. My brother is a type 2 diabetic and has a mild learning disability. It is all so barbaric and our healthcare system really sucks. It is all so overwhelming...

[LuckyCharms]

8. Best wishes to both you and your brother.

And yes, it does seem barbaric. And it's even worse when you find out too late that your doctor is a sadist.

[multigraincracker]

6. I always ask them to please do the

Endoscopy first.

[LuckyCharms]

7. I always make sure they use the same scope for both procedures.

That's what a "real man" does.

[EYESORE 9001]

9. Don't mean to scare you

but I awoke during my last colonoscopy. I remember it vividly. I was in a void, oblivious to even my own existence, when my eyes opened *POOF* and I was fully aware of everything going on around and within me. That scope is damned uncomfortable after it goes around the bend. I heard someone say, ‘get him back under! quick!’, and then I returned to the void.

[LuckyCharms]

10. I almost always wake up during them...

and for me, it's fine. Normally.

But after waking up during an endoscopy, you get a little gun shy, and want to be completely asleep, even for a colonoscopy.

[EYESORE 9001]

15. Never had the endo-thingie

I can see the distress from awakening to find a tube down the throat. Hope the gag reflex doesn’t get too ‘woke’

[LuckyCharms]

16. The thing is...

It's not actually intolerable if you wake up during one, but you panic because you go from a dead sleep to feeling a tube in your stomach, and you don't really understand what is happening yet and it's like....

FUCKKKKKKKKKK!

[EYESORE 9001]

17. Oddly enough, I didn't feel panic when I woke up with an anal probe in progress

Just an uncomfortable sensation. It was almost hyper-awareness. Until the gas-passer upped the flow, that is.

[LuckyCharms]

18. I watch them snip the polyps off...

and I'm pleasantly surprised when I don't feel it.

For me, colonoscopies only get uncomfortable when they fill you with air to expand everything.

[MustLoveBeagles]

11. This post reminds me I have to

Make an appointment for an endoscopy. Good luck with your procedures.

[LuckyCharms]

13. Thank you, and good luck to you as well!

[mopinko]

12. propofol.

yeah, versed doesnt do it for me, either. 1st 3 scopes i had, i woke up halfway through. hurt like hell, which is, um, i think they call that a symptom. last 1 like that took 2 nurses to hold me down.
the reason they used it was so they cd have a nurse anesthetist, instead of an anesthesiologist. an absolutely bullshit distinction that, afaik, is just professional job guarding.
last 2 have been propofol, so i guess the docs won the war against the nurses.

i wont bore u w my many and awful stories on this subject, but i rly dont understand y some ppl cant do their prep as an inpatient. or at least have a home nurse to check in, and give them an iv if needed.

i will say, tho, they can put u under w a full stomach if they have to. they make a big deal about it for elective surgeries. but it dont work that way through the er. u need to worry about clearing out for the scope, but u shouldnt b stressing over the anesthesia. they’re whining and bullshitting.

best of luck. gi shit sucks.

[LuckyCharms]

14. That's it! Propofol. Thank you.

i just had my cataracts done with versed.

The pre-op nurses were making a huge deal about the fact that I ate a bunch of hard candy a few hours before surgery.

Then, the anesthesiologist came in and told me it was no big deal.

Best wishes to you, mopinko!

[hannah]

32. Same thing here

Woke up during upper endoscopy and started gagging years ago. At my recent endoscopy they used propofol. Out like a light and woke up pretty much normal.

[LudwigPastorius]

48. Propofol...the Michael Jackson drug of choice...also known as 'Milk of Amnesia'

It kicks ass.

[Wounded Bear]

19. Damn, they got you coming and going...

Seriously, though, good luck!

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Good Luck, LC

A doctor lecturing you infront of others is very unprofessional. Changing doctors seems wise.

[Kali]

21. I've beeb in the hospital since the end of April

And had this conversation with a couple roommates who were suffering from prolonged NPO orders. They must have a way to deal with the potential aspiration issue when there is emergency surgeries like from accidents...is it really such a big deal? Especially in a situation like yours? Or one of my roommates who is on a liver transplant list! She NEEDS to eat regularly to keep all kinds of things in balance. I just can't imagine making folks go 10, 20 hours like that
I went from a Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon with on IV bag of fluids and no food until Monday after surgery. Talk about cotton mouth. JAYZUS!

[LuckyCharms]

22. Oh no Kali, are you still in there?????

[Kali]

23. In a pretty decent rehab/skilled nursing joint.

3rd time infection on knee replacement. LLOOONNNGG story...but STILL WORTH IT!!!

[LuckyCharms]

24. Gosh, please get better soon!!

[Kali]

25. I'll be fine

3rd times the charm, right?🙄 biggest problem was my original surgeon retired and I didn't really have anybody to run the show.

Good luck with your stuff on Monday- I woke up during an endo once. Heard "oh shit" and next thing I knew was in recovery. 🤣

[LuckyCharms]

26. Good luck and best wishes, Kali!!

[Kali]

35. Thank you

Same 🤞

[hlthe2b]

46. Gee, Kali... I missed this somehow. Wishing all goes well this time around and you get the best of care.

Be well.

[pandr32]

27. They're coming in from both ends!

Sounds like being out of it is a good idea.
I was awake during a colonoscopy and the doctor was surprised. I talked to him.

May you successfully get this over with!

[surfered]

28. I've had both procedures one after another while under sedation with propopol.

I’ve had this done several times with no problems. I am not diabetic.

Good luck!

[walkingman]

29. My first impression is ......damn.....

[MontanaMama]

30. Wishing you the best.

I woke up during my first colonoscopy and it was very traumatic. I can’t imagine having something down my throat and waking up. On another note, I have another colonoscopy scheduled for the end of the month and this time they doctor offered Sutab pills for the prep instead of the gallon of shit to drink. I’m so relieved about that.

We will be waiting to hear you’re through it all.

[marble falls]

31. Had them both done together once. I've always been suspicious about whether they used on scope or two.

The knock out potion they use is almost enjoyable: instant lights out, instant lights back on.

[rso]

33. Colonoscopy

The “P” you refer to is propofol, a very effective yet relatively mild general anesthetic.

[LoisB]

34. Wishing you the best outcomes from both.

[ILikePie92]

36. Best wishes

I'll be having both in the future myself and am terrified of either. Will be thinking of you the next few days and hoping you get through this alright.

[Niagara]

37. I forgot to pay my colonoscopy bill.

Now I'm in arrears.



Good luck, Lucky!





What time if your final meal before the fasting begins?

[LuckyCharms]

38. Thanks so much, Niagara.

I can't have any food all day Sunday. Only clear liquids along with the colonoscopy prep.

I take 2 pills at 400pm, then drink 1/2 of the gallon (?) at 400pm, then 1/2 of the solution at 900pm. Then no liquid at all after midnight.

Nice pun there, Niagara!

[Niagara]

39. You're welcome, Lucky

Hahaha!

I'm generally good at puns. I always know when I'm super tired because I can't come up with any puns!

[electric_blue68]

40. Day-um! May it All Go Well THIS time w Good Results, LC!

[JMCKUSICK]

41. Hey LuckyCharms

I pray that Monday goes smoothly for you and that this weekend allows for some moments of serenity for you.
Have you spoken to anyone about your blood sugar dilemma? Kind of puts you between a rock and a hard place.
God Speed

[beaglelover]

42. Thankfully I've been given Propofol for both my previous colonoscopies and will be given it again for my next

one on 8/1/2025. It's an amazing drug.

[True Dough]

43. We didn't get an update here

How's your sphincter doing, buddy?

[LuckyCharms]

44. I'll post an update as an OP shortly, True Dough.

[LogDog75]

45. I've had three colonoscopies but never an endoscopy

When was retiring from the AF, I had an exit physical and being over 50 years old they did a colonoscopy on me. It was late in the day and I had prepped the night before so I basically had nothing to eat for nearly a day. I went in and the doctor explained the procedure to me. He performed the colonoscopy without anesthesia and I was able to watch what the insides of my intestines looked like. Surprisingly, other than the initial insertion, it wasn't painful. A number of celebrities have had a colonoscopy on camera and were awake and talking during the procedures as part of a campaign for colon cancer awareness. Since then, I've had two more colonoscopies at civilian facilities and both times under sedation. I'm 74 and my doctor says I don't need them anymore because the benefit at my age is small. I can use a test, like Cologuard , in lieu of a colonoscopy.

I was in the medical materiel career field while in the AF and part of our job was ordering medical supplies and equipment. The surgical department had an approved and funded request for an endoscopic system and one of my fellow NOS in the shop ordered it. After it came in and was thoroughly checked out, it was ready for use. The first patient it was used on was the NCO in my shop who ordered the endoscopic system. He was suffering from recurring ulcers and the doctor wanted to see what the possible cause of them was. It turned out it was a nerve problem and they snipped the nerve which solved his problem.

[hlthe2b]

47. Best wishes, LC. The discomfort of the procedures hopefully will yield the information to

regain your good health and keep you healthy for a long time to come.

[LudwigPastorius]

49. Better brush up on your rendition of "Moon River".

I'm going in for the whole back end tour just after Memorial Day.

My new GI is an Italian-Filipino. I wonder if he'll make me an offer I can't understand.

[Lars39]

50. Are you red headed?

Red heads, even strawberry blonds usually need more drugs to keep them knocked out. 🫣

[IbogaProject]

51. Just did that double as a fellow Type 1

I just mixed the Gavalyte w lemonaid koolaid. I take lantus and just chased the spikes w short acting. I use the libre sensors and a third party phone app Juggluco. It was annoying when my sugar dropped pre procedure and instead of a few sugar packs (like for coffee) they went through a whole call the Dr routine. The rec I read was just use small portions of sugar to nudge back up. I use a syringe rather than a pen as I can really fine tune the dose to a fraction of a unit. Propofol is what they gave me, sedation isn't recomended for endoscopy as it is more traumatic if you're not out enough.

[marble falls]

52. yoik!

[Clouds Passing]

53. I wish I wouldn't have read that..

I’m getting an angiogram next week.

Holy Malarkey LC what an awful experience they put you through. That MD needs his license revoked. Good luck with your procedures this week.