[The_little_didgee]

I have been struggling with chronic **** fissures for about 5 years. These little buggers have made my life a living hell. I can no longer stand the pain, bleeding and tenesmus. When it gets really bad I cannot function and sleep. Today I am suffering and feeling feverish.

My doctors think I have Crohn's Disease because I have three fissures that are all in an unusual location. I'm also worried since all my siblings and father have autoimmune disorders. What really concerns me are the invasive tests. Even though I was offered anesthesia I still don't want to comply. How do I prepare myself for these tests and get over my fears?

You might trying seeing a therapist and talk them about your fears of anesthesia and they can help you work through them.

[kaliope]

this is where i thank god i have a dissociative disorder. i am the queen of avoiding invasive testing......i avoid the drs at all costs......when i do go, i take the drugs to get thru...so yes to anesthesia.......and i just keep in mind that this is medical...it is run of the mill routine process...i try to see it from the dr prespective....not a big deal.....quick in and out....if i look at it from mine...mountain out of mole hill....so i dont look at it from mine...my view is trauma based....i recognize that it will be over in no time...so basically, i try to stay out of my head and look at it from the medical prospective because i know i am blowing it out of proportion...good luck and take care.

[bipolar angel]

Originally Posted by The_little_didgee

I have been struggling with chronic **** fissures for about 5 years. These little buggers have made my life a living hell. I can no longer stand the pain, bleeding and tenesmus. When it gets really bad I cannot function and sleep. Today I am suffering and feeling feverish.

My doctors think I have Crohn's Disease because I have three fissures that are all in an unusual location. I'm also worried since all my siblings and father have autoimmune disorders. What really concerns me are the invasive tests. Even though I was offered anesthesia I still don't want to comply. How do I prepare myself for these tests and get over my fears?

Take a deep breath...take someone supportive with you...know that the anesthesia is great. I have had endoscopies and colonoscopies. I tell them I want to feel and know nothing. Thy can put quick iv in your arm, given you med to relax and before you can count to about 8, you are asleep. When you wake up, it is completely done, you will still be fully covered in bed with blanket and people will talk gently to you as you wake up. You can even ask if you can bring ipod, etc, to listen to tunes to help you relax. Ask if you can talk anesthesiologist or nurse before, explain your nervous and what frightens yoy most...they can often come up with a strategy to help you...you can get through it...deep breaths...

[ECHOES]

You say you don't want to comply, but you want to feel better. What are your fears about having a scope?

I can tell you that I've had many.
The anesthesia is administered one minute and it seems a minute later I'm waking up.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by kaliope

this is where i thank god i have a dissociative disorder. i am the queen of avoiding invasive testing......i avoid the drs at all costs......when i do go, i take the drugs to get thru...so yes to anesthesia.......and i just keep in mind that this is medical...it is run of the mill routine process...i try to see it from the dr prespective....not a big deal.....quick in and out....if i look at it from mine...mountain out of mole hill....so i dont look at it from mine...my view is trauma based....i recognize that it will be over in no time...so basically, i try to stay out of my head and look at it from the medical prospective because i know i am blowing it out of proportion...good luck and take care.

I hate going to the doctor too. Usually I wait until I cannot stand the suffering. I know this isn't good but my fears of terrible treatment and adverse drug reactions prevent me from seeing the therapeutic side of medicine. My fears are real since I have endured some really nasty treatments, bowel infections and hospitalizations. I know my worries are a bit excessive especially since my doctor offered sedation or general anesthesia, both of which I had before.

Originally Posted by ECHOES

You say you don't want to comply, but you want to feel better. What are your fears about having a scope?

The bowel prep terrifies me a lot more than sedation and anesthesia. I refused to do it. I'm terrified the laxative overdose and third degree butthole burns are going to make me very ill. I've had dehydration before and don't ever want to go through that again. I'm very prone to side effects. My GERD and sensitive stomach make it a lot worse.

I just found out there is an alternative colon prep called colon hydrotherapy that can replace the harsh laxatives, cramping and nausea. There are a few local clinics that do this so I'm going to request it. I'd rather pay than go through explosive diarrhea that I know will aggravate my back end.

I'm also scared they are going to find ulcers in my colon. I don't know how I would cope with that news since I already struggle with mental illness.

[ECHOES]

It's not explosive diarrhea, it's just urgent and often. K didn't have any severe or long-term dehydration. I also have never had any irritation from the diarrhea.

The colonic may not be an option because it may not clean the entire area that will be viewed.

The bottom line is that you want to be totally clean so nothing is missed.

Anaesthesia is the only thing that makes these tests tolerable. You're administered the drug and then you wake up in a bed and after a few moments you realise you're not at home in your own bed early in the morning but in a recovery room in a hospital in the middle of the day. Usually they give you the results when you are still sedated, so you're not even that nervous. Then you get free biscuits

[Raindropvampire]

I've always refused to be sedated for scopes. I want to be able to drive myself home after and not need recovery time. Plus I'm terrified of IVs so sedation for a simple procedure is not going to happen.

The worst part of the colonoscopy was after the colonoscopy. Had LOTS of gas but nothing intolerable.

An upper GI endoscopy is something I have to do every couple of years because my GERD is so bad. They always want to poke around make sure there's no cancer. The only bad part is drooling on yourself because you can't swallow. Once they spray your throat and numb it it's easy peasy. To me the upper GI is much harder than them going in my butt. I hate not being able to swallow but I focus on the TV and it's fine. It's pretty neat getting to see yourself from the inside lol

[gloamingone]

I'm having my first colonoscopy in a few days. The prep sounds horrid, but the rest sounds pretty easy. Because of my horrible insomnia, I'm even looking forward to being knocked out! There is fear of what they'll find, but I'd rather find out what's wrong with me now than have it develop into something worse.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by Raindropvampire

It's pretty neat getting to see yourself from the inside lol

I'm curious to see what my insides look like but it isn't great enough for me to permit a stranger to insert any kind of object up my behind. This is a big deal for people with fissures.

Originally Posted by gloamingone

I'm having my first colonoscopy in a few days. The prep sounds horrid, but the rest sounds pretty easy. Because of my horrible insomnia, I'm even looking forward to being knocked out! There is fear of what they'll find, but I'd rather find out what's wrong with me now than have it develop into something worse.

I wish you well. Have a nice sleep. Feel free to post your experience.

[The_little_didgee]

I finally agreed to the colonoscopy since my gastroenterologist thinks I have inflammatory bowel disease. Since I'm a student, I booked it during the Christmas break, because I don't want all my anxiety to interfere with class. If I do have IBD the break will help me deal with the new diagnosis and start the treatment.

To make the prep more tolerable I spoke to a lady who has IBD. She gave me some really helpful tips such as using diaper cream and wipes. I'm hoping this will prevent a new fissure from developing. I also decided to use a different prep than the one that I was given. It is a split dose that doesn't require drinking copious amounts of bad tasting liquid. I'm also going to eat low residue foods three days before the test and do the complete liquid diet the day before. Hopefully all this will ease my suffering.

[The_little_didgee]

I survived the prep. It wasn't too hard and unpleasant. I used Pico-Salax which is two small doses (150 ml each). It didn't taste bad. The only thing gross about it was the artificial sweetener. There were barely any cramps, just lots of rumbling and visits to the loo. Once the BMs started I got really thirsty so drinking the required fluid amount wasn't a problem. I made an electrolyte solution which helped a lot. At one point I felt so weak from hunger and fluid loss. Drinking it revived me. I was supposed to take Dulcolax but didn't bother since constipation isn't an issue for me. I ate a bland and low residue diet for three days to make the prep easier. The diaper cream helped but didn't prevent irritation and bleeding.

The procedure wasn't very comfortable even though I was sedated. I had to be given more because I was in discomfort. The gas that was used to inflate my colon hurt. I remember the feeling and wailing out in pain four times. At one point I could feel the scope inside me.

One colonoscopy is enough for me. I have no desire to ever do this test again.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to see what was on the TV screen because the anesthesiologist made me take my glasses off. I'm disappointed.

[possum220]

Ohh no. When I had my colonoscopy they knocked me right out. Slept through the whole thing. So that was the least of my problems. I had to drink 2 litres of some lemon liquid. 1 litre at night the another in the morning.

Didnt anybody tell you about Proctosedyl or anusol for your butt? I did pass wind afterwards.

Both my parents had bowel cancer before they died. With a history of any kind of diseases it is best to have a colonoscopy done on a regular basis.

Next time little didgee make sure you are out cold. The thought of having it done sure beats the pants of getting something nasty and being too late to do anything about it.

I hope you got a diagnoses that with the right treatment helps you to feel better.

Take Care.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by possum220

Ohh no. When I had my colonoscopy they knocked me right out. Slept through the whole thing. So that was the least of my problems. I had to drink 2 litres of some lemon liquid. 1 litre at night the another in the morning.

I have to say the pain during the procedure was the worst part of the entire experience. It felt like medical torture.

Originally Posted by possum220

Didnt anybody tell you about Proctosedyl or anusol for your butt?

Nope. I have tried Anusol before. It didn't do much so I just used replaced it with Vaseline which wasn't any better. I've never heard of Proctosedyl.

Originally Posted by possum220

Next time little didgee make sure you are out cold. The thought of having it done sure beats the pants of getting something nasty and being too late to do anything about it.

Thanks for the suggestion and the website (other thread). I asked but apparently they won't give general anesthesia for colonoscopies.

There definitely isn't going to be a next time.

[The_little_didgee]

This entire experience reminded me of my traumatic psychiatric hospitalizations. I'm so angry right now.

Piles. ****ing embarrassing. All that for piles and no explanation for my fissures. There are less invasive ways to diagnose internal piles. Grrrrr. That makes me so mad. The colonoscopy wasn't necessary.