Endoscopy AND Colonoscopy..gonna be a fun day..NOT!

Hi! Help! I have to have BOTH an colonoscopy AND endoscopy on Thursday. Ive never had anything like this before! Ive heard about them and have had family members have them, but not me! I am especially uneasy and very scared about the endoscopy... I have a strong gag reflex..and cant imagine how I will manage to swallow a tube or whatever it is they will ask me to do. And the colonoscopy...yikes! They say I will be sedated...but...I would love to be totally OUT....
The Dr and the nurse told me not to worry...that the PREP is by far the worst part of the whole thing...I know it sure doesnt sound fun....drinking a whole gallon of awfulness in what, 2 hours?
Any advice or info would be appreciated!
Thanks!

[ggreg]

Well, if you're like most people (but there are vocal exceptions), outside the exam rooms where you lay on a bed, you will not believe how good you feel when the R.N. puts in the I.V. and those wonder drugs are pushed into your bloodstream.  Me, I had felt awful and diarrhea right up to a colonoscopy, had it the day after Christmas, and I exclaimed when it was done, "That was the best day I had all year."  Really, it's true.  And what the health care people said is also correct, the prep is the most annoying and difficult part of the whole thing, altho I barely remember those days as compared to other bad days I have.  On the gag thing, again sedation will keep you from freaking out, and plus it all happens so fast and they talk you thru the thing, so you don't have the need or time to dwell on what's happening.  

Keep in mind, tho, that if at any point you declare you are uncomfortable, they'll just inject more feel-good meds in you, and discomfort will literally fly away.  But in any case, me, I always get nervous and near bout have a heart attack over worrying with doc appointments of ANY kind, but you'll need to have someone drive you over there and back, and that sort of helps ease that fear thing.  If your throat feels sore when they're done OR anything else at all bothers you, ask them for some medications to get you through the next couple days.  Plus, just so you know, when you get out of there, you'll be starving for a hamburger, but go easy on food for a day or two, just eat soft stuff.

Let us know how it all went, lots of people share your concerns.  But me, tho I don't have to go back for five years, it is indeed the ONE doc I won't mind going to again!  

[Ihatepalps2]

Thank you SOO much for your answer! It really truly did make me feel better! I do worry too, about most Dr appts...and thank you for the advice about eating afterwards----with the "cleansing" that goes on before hand..I know i will be 100% empty afterwards...but I will just take it easy and go for the soft stuff.
Thanks again. I just wish it was over!!!

[mammo]

It will be over before you know it!  The worst part is by far the prep, make sure you keep vaseline on your botton during the prep to keep from getting sore from going so much.  Also, they will spray your throat to numb it before the endoscopy. You will have a lot of gas for about 24 hours after the colonoscopy, not a big deal. I have always eaten whatever I wanted afterwards with no problems.

[wantonwonderer]

I have had an upper endoscopy, no colonoscopy so I can't comment on that. For my endoscopy, I was completely asleep. I was VERY worried beforehand, and I was also confused. I thought I would have conscious sedation, but it turns out they completely knocked me out with propofol (michael jackson drug). I was literally asleep 3 seconds after they put the IV in. The next thing I remember is waking up in another room with my mom there, talking and feeling groggy, but okay. I was very worried about gagging, as well as feeling sick from the drugs, but I was really fine. It's good to get both done at once...no need to prolong the experience. Good luck and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[delandra]

I just had an endoscopic test done last week and it wasn't bad..They heavily sedate you after they have you open up and swallow some tingly/icky tasting spray, but it makes your gag reflex numb..When I woke up later, I was just fine.>didn't even have a sore throat..Going up through the other end shouldn't be bad either.May have some gas afterwards, but I hear you are to curl up into a fetal position to help move the gas out the end.. Good luck!