Re: complications from adhesions?-Tina
From: Christine M. Smith (smithy@maine.rr.com)
Wed Jun 16 12:25:42 1999
At Wed, 16 Jun 1999, Tina Shelby wrote:
>
>Chris,
>
>I have worked with a GI doc here in Tennessee - I was shocked but there are
>some GI docs here in TN that do colonoscopy's on patients without sedation.
>Many of Dr. S. patients would tell him about their "horror stories" of being
>awake during the procedure and how they swore they would never have it done
>ever again. We had to spend alot of time trying to convince them they
>wouldn't be awake and they wouldn't remember anything about the test. They
>were always very anxious the day of the procedure but when they awakened
>from sedation they were so relieved and thankful. Again I say that it is
>cruel and inhumane to do this. The GI doc I worked with used sedation on all
>gi procedures including flex sigmoids - because of this - his patients
>didn't mind having the test repeated yearly if he reccommended so - because
>they knew they wouldn't remember anything. He uses Demerol and Valium for
>sedation. He has used versed in the past but because of the expense he
>switched back to valium. He uses Stadol if the patient has an allergy or
>intolerance to Demerol. He is in a practice with 4 other GI specialists and
>they all use the same sedation policy for the colon/sigmoid tests. However
>as you pointed out - these guys do not do many flex sigmoids because disease
>processes of the colon are not limited to just the sigmoid area.
>
>Tina
>
>Hi Tina:
Wow-a colonoscopy without medication. I don't even know how its
possible. I would think they'd have to tie the patient to the table. I
don't mind being awake, just as long as it isn't terribly painful. I
really don't like not remembering what happened. Can they use just pain
killer and not the versed or valium? Would that work? I would prefer to
have complete recollection of the procedure. I hate the thought of
surgery with everyone in there and I am clueless as to what is
happening. My husband was fully awake for his colonoscopy but he felt
nothing and had a strange detached feeling as he watched the monitor and
listened to the doc explaining everything as he went along. I guess
this is the way the meds are supposed to work? He had a sigmoidoscopy
once and had a vagal reaction. They told him never to have another one
(sigmoidoscopy) and next time he had a colonoscopy. I understand these
vagal reactions are quite alarming and sometimes it seems like the
patient is "coding".
Chris S.