Conquering my fear of the gastroenterologist little TMI

[hopeliveshere 294]

I had planned on putting off my gastro visit until the end of the process since i am s**t scared of having the EGD. But over the 4th of july weekend i figured i may as well just make the appt to meet the doc. Turns out he was very nice and thorough and gentle. He explained lots of things and the egd procedure to me. The nurse was a little rough with taking my bp. the cuff actually left me bruised. blood pressure was on the low side as usual only 100/60. Some of this post will have TMI but hey if i cant share here where can i share lol

Dr says: we will get the other appts scheduled for you, but first i need to give you a rectal exam

Me: (as my face drops) Now?

Dr: yes i need to make sure there is no blood present in the rectum

Me: cant you just take my word for it?

Dr: dont worry ive seen that face many times, itll only be a second

Me: oh lord

So after that embarassing few seconds turns out some blood did show up and now i may need a colonoscopy as well. what could cause this? im 90% sure i dont have ulcers. I have my abdominal u/s friday and the egd is scheduled for 7-26. He said as long as the egd looks ok we may not have to do the colonsocopy. so i am keeping my fingers crossed for that.

[NoneYa 380]

I'm not a nurse so take what i say for what it is, just an opinion.I requested that both be done together.It saves money and is was more convenient. The reason i chose to ask for both was that with a colonosçopy you have to drink a bowel prep solution and i didn't want to do that with a sleeve, not a brand new one anyway.

Of course he's the Dr but i really cant see why a clear egd has anything to do with needing a colonoscopy. Blood in the rectum/stool can come from simple sources such as hemorrhoids or a small tear or from something else. He cant know which without looking imo. If i had blood i would request to do both and be done with it.

Edited to add dropped line.

[Arts137 1,811]

as 2x4 says, most cases of blood are simple, but some are 'kinda' big and Cancer is WAY big. The process is easy, but the prep is rough (you get to empty out the GI tract by going to the bathroom a LOT). Nevertheless, it's a Good test to have...

[CorvetteGirl 78]

My surgeon ordered an endoscopy/colonoscopy. That wonderful day for me will be Thursday. (ick!)

[NoneYa 380]

My surgeon ordered an endoscopy/colonoscopy. That wonderful day for me will be Thursday. (ick!)

I was all kinds of upset about it when it was coming up. Embarrassment mostly. It was honestly nothing. They will sedate you. A few minutes later you'll wake up and it'll be over. You can walk out and have dinner an hour later.

[CorvetteGirl 78]

I was all kinds of upset about it when it was coming up. Embarrassment mostly. It was honestly nothing. They will sedate you. A few minutes later you'll wake up and it'll be over. You can walk out and have dinner an hour later.

I know it won't be all that bad. The worst part will be the bowel prep solution tomorrow night. The other thing that sucks for me is that I just started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday, so unfortunately I can't really "eat" after the procedure. I was supposed to have this done on 6/27, but the hospital called me a couple of weeks prior and had to reschedule.

[hopeliveshere 294]

I know it won't be all that bad. The worst part will be the bowel prep solution tomorrow night. The other thing that sucks for me is that I just started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday, so unfortunately I can't really "eat" after the procedure. I was supposed to have this done on 6/27, but the hospital called me a couple of weeks prior and had to reschedule.

good luck to you on thursday and let me know how it goes. maybe you could ease my fears a bit. Yeah i def think its more embarassement then worry about the procedure itself. I remember my stepdad had this done a long time ago and i was cracking up all night watching him drink the solution and get up to use the bathroom literally every two mins. Wont be so funny when its my turn!

[NoneYa 380]

I know it won't be all that bad. The worst part will be the bowel prep solution tomorrow night. The other thing that sucks for me is that I just started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday, so unfortunately I can't really "eat" after the procedure. I was supposed to have this done on 6/27, but the hospital called me a couple of weeks prior and had to reschedule.

Thats a bummer!

[CorvetteGirl 78]

good luck to you on thursday and let me know how it goes. maybe you could ease my fears a bit. Yeah i def think its more embarassement then worry about the procedure itself. I remember my stepdad had this done a long time ago and i was cracking up all night watching him drink the solution and get up to use the bathroom literally every two mins. Wont be so funny when its my turn!

I'll be sure to let you know how everything goes!

[CorvetteGirl 78]

good luck to you on thursday and let me know how it goes. maybe you could ease my fears a bit. Yeah i def think its more embarassement then worry about the procedure itself. I remember my stepdad had this done a long time ago and i was cracking up all night watching him drink the solution and get up to use the bathroom literally every two mins. Wont be so funny when its my turn!

Well, I survived the dreaded bowel prep kit. I'm not going to sugar coat it.....this stuff SUCKS major bigtime!!

I got through 6 of the 8 glasses of the stuff and had to take a break....my tummy was so bloated and distended...very uncomfortable. I waited about 20 minutes and finished the remaining 2 glasses.

Not the most fun experience ever. I will say that the stuff sure does what it is supposed to....this may be TMI, but near halfway through, what's in the toilet just looks like you peed.....yup...nothing else was there. I feel kind of wiped out...like you would with a good bout of diarrhea. Stomach is gurgling and rumbling like crazy this morning, but that's really from hunger.

But hey!! Lucky me!! When the procedure is over today, I get to have a Protein shake. Yup!!...I'm on my liquid diet. I so wish I could just have a light Protein and veggie dinner. That would be awesome!

I'll report back later when I get home.

[CorvetteGirl 78]

Ok...back home after my double whammy procedure today! Everything went pretty smoothly and I was well taken care of.

However, I did have a "floppy" colon, so even though I was thoroughly cleaned out, they couldn't go as far up as they normally do. SOOO.....lucky me again!.....I get to go in yet again for a barium enema, and I'll be awake for that one.

The endoscopy also revealed a linear ulcer in my stomach, and Dr. Gersin i going to wait for the exact results on that one on Monday. Depending on where the ulcer is, he may be able to do the sleeve on the 22nd if it's in the part of my stomach that will be cut out. If the ulcer is on the line that would be folded over and sewn, he will wait to do the sleeve until the ulcer is healed, which all in all means 6 weeks of Prevacid and a six week minimum delay for my sleeve.

I know it's for the best and I trust him completely, but I am totally bummed out.

[hopeliveshere 294]

im glad to hear that you got through the procedures that eases my fears a bit. i know your bummed ( i would be too) but hang in there everything will turn out fine in the end! Good luck on the rest of your journey and keep me posted!

[NoneYa 380]

I'm sorry you have to go through one more thing. That sucks!

[CorvetteGirl 78]

Thanks guys!! Just got off the phone with my docs nurse and my barium enema is scheduled for 7/17 at 8 am.

At least the prep for this procedure isn't as brutal as it was for the colonoscopy.

I am most grateful for that! I can get through the procedure...a little discomfort but no biggie.

[CorvetteGirl 78]

im glad to hear that you got through the procedures that eases my fears a bit. i know your bummed ( i would be too) but hang in there everything will turn out fine in the end! Good luck on the rest of your journey and keep me posted!

Update! The pathology report from the endoscopy came back negative! I had the barium enema procedure done this morning and my doctor's office called back with the results saying that everything was negative!!

SO!!!......we are full steam ahead for surgery on Monday, 7/22!

I couldn't be happier!! :)