"Double Dip" - endoscopy and colonoscopy at same time?

[bryan3536]

My GI recommended an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy to take a look at my recurring acid reflux and fairly regular (monthly) rectal bleeding (he suspects hemroidal in nature).  He suggested that they be done in seperate procedures on two different days because, according to him, the preparation for the colonoscopy can make my upper tract appear raw, etc.

I mentioned this to my good friend, a GI resident, and she said that these procedures are routinely done together and didn't think this would be an issue at all - she didn't know why my GI would make that recommendation.

I'm pretty leery about getting put out, so if it's going to happen, I'd prefer it happen once - not twice.  If there is no medical need for me to do this in two seperate procedures, I'd rather get it done all at once.  

So, my question is whether there is any reason why I can't have these procedures done together, i.e., is there any validity to the notion that the preparation for the colonoscopy can skew the results of my endoscopy?

Many thanks!

[TTgordon]

I had the "double dip" colonoscopy and Endoscopy today and I have to say, it was super easy and fast. By far the hardest part of the whole thing was downing the laxative last night. Took hours and yeah, you do have be close to the throne.  But keep thinking--"I need to clean out the pipes so they can really see what's going on."

Here's how it went. Checked in at 10:30. Vitals all checked, questions, then into the gown. My blood pressure was high, and I'm sure it was because I was a bit stressed and would soon find out--I should not have been--at all.

I was wheeled into the where the doctor was. There was calm music playing. The nurse put in the IV to get it all set up. She was nice and I told her, "yeah get that stuff going." She said, "the good stuff is on the way." It was cute.

Then the Doctor asked me a few questions. Make sure you tell him all your symptoms. He's not just a tech, but a doctor. He was super nice and calming. He said he does the "double dip" all the time.

Then they put an oxygen thing in your nose, which feels great. Cool air going into your nose.  a light spray of stuff that taste a bit like bad cough syrup into your mouth to numb your tongue and back of your throat. At this time the "good stuff" that puts you into LA LA land starts. And I gotta tell you, it's amazing. You just go, "whooooooooaaa".

And that my friends is about that last thing you really remember. They go to work and your just don't really know it. I do remember trying to talk during the endoscopy. And the doctor saying, "don't talk." But that was it.

Then you literally wake up and he's going over what he found. Which in my case was a bit of redness and Hiatus Hernia--I have reflux. But my colon was clear of all polyps. Wheeeew. What a relief.  

The whole idea her is people--we need to do these tests to stop things like colon cancer or esophageal cancer before they start.

Bottom line, if you are having both of these done and have apprehension or anxiety, forget about it. Just know it's going to be a piece of cake and will be over really before you know it began. Go through the steps, try to relax and even make jokes to keep yourself calm. There is ZERO to worry about with this procedure.

Good Luck!

[bamer]

Thats not good I would sugests you go into the ER and not wait another day, they could have tore something inside while doing your procedure. you need to get checked out right away, just think of it like this its better to be safe then dead (sorry)  I have these done regularly due to me having FAP and no that is not normal. Because I have them so offten this is one thing they tell me that I need to come in ASAP if I have half the symtoms you do.

[blonderenagade16]

I had both procedures done several days ago.   I am so sick now.  I am bloated beyond belief..........belching............sick..........feel light headed........can't eat...............tired...........don't know what to do.   will call dr on monday..................i have had this done before and it went well.  I am wondering if it is the stuff they gave me to knock me out.   I feel like I have been poisoned.

[michell221]

I have had both done and experienced pain and soreness in my abdomen for about a week both times with my colonoscopy.  The first few days were the worst but I still had that cramping pinching for a while.

I also had one endoscopy with no pain and another endoscopy with a sore painfull throat for about 1 week.  

[JerryDK]

Today is September 8, 2009.  Because of some chronic abdominal discomfort during the last two months I had both a colonoscopy and endoscopy on the same day, the morning of September 4.  Because of the sedation I have no memory of the procedures.  I awoke and seemed OK.  For the rest of that day I felt OK, no pain anywhere -- but I suspect that was because the demerol was still masking some pain.  The next day the middle of my upper abdomen (above the belly button and below the sternum) was almost constantly sore. The pain also seemed like a cramping or a pinching -- it is hard to put in words what the pain was.  I knew the doctor had taken some tissue for biopsy, so I tried to assuage myself by thinking that the pain was probably from where the tissue was taken and tried to accept the pain, but it kind of depressed me too.  The next day, Saturday, there was some improvement. On Sunday, I was just a little better.  On Monday about the same as Sunday.  Today is Tuesday and my abdomen still does not feel normal, and at random times that "cramping" or "pinching" feeling will come for a few seconds and the diminish or go away -- for awhile. I called the office where the procedure was done to tell them about my condition, and they said the doctor would call me back in the afternoon -- but he did not.  I will try again tomorrow. I am not happy about the soreness after the endoscopy, especially since I was feeling completely normal for the five days prior to the colonoscopy and endoscopy -- so I thought I was finally getting better.  But now I am have this soreness that is different than the other times during my chronic abdominal discomfort. But, since others here have said they had abdominal soreness for days after their procedure, maybe what I am experiencing is not alarming.

[shelldrake111]

I am going through this right now. I just got denied for the FACILITY my doctor resides out of. The insurance company wanted me to go to the hospital to have it done because it is cheaper. I was 3 hours away from starting the Magnesium Citrate drink(the girl at the doc's office called me at 3pm and I was due to start the first round at 6pm!)to tell me if I went ahead with the scheduled procedure as is? It was gonna be $1800 instead of $600. My doctor also scheduled me to have them done separately and everyone I have talked to from age 17(my niece)age 21(my nephew) up to my mother age 75 and many many many other people ALL had it done at the same time. The reason they want to do it separate is because they get paid more. The problem is I get CHARGED more! Two anesthesiologists,..two rounds of anesthesia! I am an otherwise healthy individual age 42!

I talked this over with my insurance company this morning and they agreed that it needs looking into. Since the facility wasn't covered,..they did not ask for my "specialist" co-pay which is normally $35 up front and they said I would have to have the money upon arrival of the day of the procedure which was supposed to be Friday! Today was supposed to be round two and my liquid diet day as well as the Movi Pack drinks.

3 HOURS before I started I found this out because ETHICALLY they HAVE to inform me of my charges. On the day of my rectal exam and consult? The office girl was too backed up to check me out and go over this so she sent an assistant out to go over my pre-op instructions and said NOTHING about the insurance coverage. That the insurance comapny denied the FACILITY(surgical Center) should have already been determined before even scheduling the procedure!

It inconvenienced me,.my co-workers who jumped through hoops to cover me for the days off I would need for the prep and procedure as well as the family members who changed their schedules to drive me to and from the procedure since I wasn't allowed to drive.

ANd due to them wanting to re-schedule it,.it interrferred with my son having his wisdom teeth out which I was gonna have to pay $700 to have done anyway and yet they were like "Oh no problem,.we can do the procedures on August 3rd and August 10th so just show up then k?" and i was like "Uh NO! I can't pay you guys for one procedure on the 3rd(my part is 10% of the total cost) and then 3 days later pay my son's oral surgeon $700 and then 3 days later on the 10th pay you guys ANOTHER 10% for TWO procedures that SHOULD be combined into one ANYWAY!You people have inconvenienced me beyond what is reasonable and ethical so I am going to another doctor!"

Oh and I forgot to add that my original consult was already changed ONCE by this doctor and I was asked to come in a 1/2 hour earlier than I was scheduled and had to have someone cover for me at work because of it! Yet when I DID get there a 1/2 hour early? They STILL did not have time to go over the costs with me and sent out an assistant who didn't KNOW that Blue Cross wouldn't pay for their facility anyway!

It has been a NIGHTMARE!

I will update with what happens as I have already contacted my insurance company,my referring regular doc and given my boss the heads up too. I bought a nice card for my co-workers who came through and were willing to fill in for me and took back the days they were gonna work for me and told them to take the days off like they originally had when I asked them to switch. As a result? I lost one of my days off,.amd completely stressed out and leery of the whole ethics thing with this doctor and refuse to let him TOUCH me now!

Guess it's kind of like,..Buyer Beware huh?LOL