Scared of endoscopy

[lfish]

My doc wants me to get a colonoscopy and EDG (I think that's an Endoscopy) to help figue out my right side abdominal pain. How can those tests help in finding my pain issues in my right side? I am also very scared of the EDG. I hate being sedated or put under and I am very concerned about complications with the procedure. Is there any helpful info anyone can give to help eliminate some of my fears?

[lfish]

Thanks so much! I have alot of people praying for me, but I get worried because everyone lives out of state. All my family is 3 or more hours away. So, I get pretty nervous doing this stuff alone.  I really appreciate all the info you gave me.  I have had a CT scan, and MRI and an ultrasound. I guess these tests are the last resort.  I go to the doc on Tuesday for my yearly physical so I'm going to talk to him a little more about it too.

I'm very glad you are better and once again thanks for the info!!

[April2]

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy done almost two months ago. It was a piece of cake, really. The hardest part was the cleansing part, drinking that drink and running to the bathroom until I was all cleaned out!
I had asked my GI doctor about risks and he said that it's 1 to 2% of possible risks and that it's usually older people who already have health issues. It's a safe and common procedure. They will be monitering you the whole time too. They will have not only the doctor in there but an RN and a tech usually too. The RN will be monitering your meds and heart rate. It's over so quickly too! I felt like I fell asleep and next thing I knew they were helping me off the table to get dressed. I had no problems at all. I was sleepy for the rest of the day so I went home and took a nap. By the next day I was fine.

Please try not to stress and worry. It's better to know what's going on so that you can catch anything or treat anything they may see. And if everything looks good then that will put your mind at ease, too and you won't have to be seen again for awhile!

Have you had a Cat Scan done? You mentioned right side pain. Have they ruled out your appendix? I had right side pain 3 years ago and through a Cat Scan and blood work they saw I had appendicitis and I had my appendix taken out. They also saw a mass in my small intestine nearby but since it wasn't causing me any trouble we said we'd just keep an eye on it to see if it grew. Last spring I began having abdominal pains off and on but tried to ignore it for the most part. I kept thinking it was something I was eating. Finally, it got so bad I was doubled over in pain and my husband took me to the ER. They did another Cat Scan and saw the mass had grown. My pain was center to right lower side where the mass was located. We decided it needed to come out and see what it was. It wound up being just fibrous scar tissue with ulceration, but it was constricting things enough that it was causing me pain. Ever since the surgery too, I've felt great! No more abdominal pain.
The tricky thing is there are so many things that abdominal pain can be. It's good that they want to be thorough and check it out.
Let us know when you find out what it is. And take care and try not to worry! I was fortunate in that I had many wonderful people praying for me and I felt such peace when I went in for my surgery and my colonoscopy. I'll say a prayer for you. Take care & God bless!

[lfish]

Thanks for the info. I am a huge worrier and will cause myself a lot of anxiety before this all gets taken care of.  

[Morecambe]

I have undergone several colonoscopies and endoscopies.  I have encountered no problems.

The procedure goes like this:-

- a purgative (usually a powder dissolved in water or an enema) some hours before
- sedation which means you feel/remember nothing (given via needle in the arm)
- the procedures last 20-30 minutes each
- then you wake up, stay in the hospital bed for 2-4 hours and then go home (but you are not allowed to drive)
- I didn't suffer any after-pain or discomfort.
- take it easy for 24 hours

The risks are very low but do ask the surgeon about bowel perforation (2 in a thousand or similar) and any other complications.

Both procedures can be carried out under the same sedative provided that the lower G.I. and upper G.I. surgeons can attend at the same time.

I am told that these tests are the most comprehensive to reassure the absence (hopefully) or the more sinister diseases that can arise in the upper/lower G.I.

Good luck
Morecambe