Colonoscopy

[Redhelen72]

do you get the results straight away or does your GP give you the results?

[Tilly2]

When I had mine the consultant talked me through it as he went. Afterwards, he went over the details and explained what he'd done.

It was an interesting experience. Not at all painful and fascinating to watch on the screen.

[Redhelen72]

Thank you - I was wondering if you would walk out after the procedure knowing that there was nothing 'sus' or not.

I suppose its the unknown that causes the stress

[Tilly2]

They make you lie down for a while to recover before you can walk out, but yes, you will know what the result is.

[Redhelen72]

Cheers Tilly

[retrocop]

I am in the middle of three colonoscopys at the moment. My second is on Tuesday. It is usual to be given a report of how the procedure was conducted,type of sedation and how much,if polyps found and cut out. (You can watch that being done on the monitor.

My very first colonoscopy the surgeon ,afterwards, glossed over the fact that he had taken a biopsy of a large polyp.and was unable to scope the full sigmoid. What he meant to say is' I think you have a cancerous growth mate and I'll tell your GP when the lab result comes back'. My GP duly called me in late after a week and confirmed what I suspected ( my wife was an endodcopy nurse at the time). It was cancer of the sigmoid colon. Successfully cut out a month later and a colonoscopy check up every three years.. Only one went ting tong and the interior wall of my colon was torn and caused a massive bleed ten days later which led to a month in a ward  two years ago.The tear caused a stricture and that is why I have to have my colon very gently dilated in stages so as not to rupture it.I can no longer take a General Anaesthetic. The procedure itself is simple  and pain free. For the fist time next Tuesday I am going to try it without sedation. They will still cannulate me in case I don't get on with gas and air or something goes wrong but at least I will be able to drive myself there and back without inconveniencing my wife. The procedure could be 4 hours after arriving and being prepped.

[Redhelen72]

Its my husband who is having it - he claims he is not worried - but I am, his father had bowel cancer and my best fried died at 45 of bowel cancer.

[Tilly2]

Best to have it checked out then, Helen. 

[Redhelen72]

He has an appointment given the terrible state of the NHS over here they got him an appointment in 3 weeks - that has added to my worry

[calmck]

Usually each gastro doc has scheduled days to do colonoscopies etc so all their patients are scheduled for the same day. Probably lucky to have an empty slot available

[retrocop]

After my colon was torn just over two years ago I finally had a colonoscopy recently to confirm there was a partial blockage caused by the stricture.I waited two years for this current remedial treatment. I consider three weeks will soon go.I had always considered I had a relapse of cancer which the chemo had not prevented but it did.

[retrocop]

calmck

That is quite correct. My procedure (dilation) is known as a dirty procedure and no matter what they tell you on reception the dirty procedure patients are always last on the list.

[douglas9401]

I was told the outcome by the scopeologist, directed to a side room for a sarnie and tea then told to expect a letter in the post confirming the details.

All good and very straightforward, especially if you don't take their drugs and rely on gas and air for any discomfort.

[anneasquith]

He's having the investigation rh, that's the important thing. 3 weeks in the health service of today, probable a decent time .

[brainiac]

Having had two, I'd say the preparation with the Picolax that purges your insides is more unpleasant than the actual procedure.  You can watch it all on a monitor above you, but I gave that a miss!

Got the basic results soon after the tea and biscuits.

[brainiac]

I went back to the same hospital for a check-up/chat with the older, experieced consultant who did the colonoscopy.  I said to him " I suppose you must have done a few hundred colonoscopies by now."

He paused for a moment, then said "oh no, it must be thousands."

Actually that really reassured me, as I thought he must have seen everything up there that it's possible to see, and would not have missed anything :)  

 

[Vagus]

Helen, it's only a three week wait for your OH because of his family history (dad).

My dad also had bowel cancer so I was seen very quickly too, when I developed some symptoms.

Ive had eight colonoscopies in the last ten years. Each time, after the procedure, and once I've 'passed wind', I've been taken to a waiting room, given tea and biscuits then had a consultation with the specialist nurse. She explains what's been done, how many biopsies have been taken, how many polyps they've seen, any other inflammation that might be there.

Once the results of the biopsies are available, usually a couple of weeks, then I get a letter from the consultant telling me what the results are. A copy of the letter is also sent to my GP.

I have a difficult bowel so have deep sedation overseen by an anaesthetist, which completely knocks me out, my OH has no sedation at all.

 

[Redhelen72]

Thanks everyone

[Canary42]

I got the all-clear at the time. 

And I endorse brainiac " I'd say the preparation with the Picolax that purges your insides is more unpleasant than the actual procedure"

 

[juliecarlstan]

The GP will review results with you at a later time.  Even though a Colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure, you will be given sedation, and (probably) not feeling your best, since you need to fast for 24 hours before, there is a lot of preporation.