MaryB Posted December 31, 2018 Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 Hi, I have NMS (NCS they keep changing what they call it) I have feelings of an adrenaline surge and them, a sudden overall weakness, and if I am not smart enough to lay down, I will faint. (As the people at Walmart, the grocery store, the hospital ER at the sight of blood, etc, etc can attest too) My mother had colon cancer which prompted early colonoscopies for me. Every time the prep has had extreme bad effects, rapid heart rate, very high BP, fainting, etc. the last time was the worst and scared me enough that I have delayed the next one. Which is 2 years over due. My Dr. retired and now I have a new one who seems to brush this off, but is giving me a new prep that he feels is less taxing and much less volume. Have any of you had similar problems with this test? And what did you do about it? Thanks for your input!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsiebarbie Posted December 31, 2018 Report Share Posted December 31, 2018 The prep wasn't great for me either, but the doctor was unsympathetic so I managed. I did it without sedation, because I didn't wanna add anything else to my nightmare of a dysfunctional ans. Interesting to say the least. Lol Sorry I don't have any great advice, but I'm wishing you good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StayAtHomeMom Posted January 1, 2019 Report Share Posted January 1, 2019 I have never had a colonoscopy yet. Maybe you could ask the doctor how the different prep could help you. Maybe talking it out with the doctor will help ease your anxiety about the procedure. If all else fails see if you can take a few Xanax to help get you through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted January 1, 2019 Report Share Posted January 1, 2019 Dear @MaryB - I also have NCS, as well as POTS. And I also have had 3 colonoscopies, the first one ended up with a seizure during the procedure and the second one was done as an observation stay in the hospital to get IV fluids during the prep. No seizure that time but a nasty flare and 2 syncopal episodes after the procedure. The anesthesia people in my local hospital are aware of my dysautonomia and are very careful with sedation due to the POTS. The latest colonoscopy went over super well - I now have a port and get weekly infusions. So I did the prep while infusing for 24 hours at home and had 0 problems during or after the procedure. So - I would inform your doctor of your history of NCS and ask for IV fluids. If this cannot be done the night of the prep then ask for them the minute you get in the door for your scoping. They do that for me with any procedure ( EGD, surgeries etc ) and it is a well known fact that extra IV fluids help prevent syncope. Please do not reschedule your colonoscopy - it is very important you get this done, even IF you faint. And if possible have someone with you during the prep to prevent injuries from falling. Best of luck - be well!!!!! And I hope the results will be good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterSown Posted January 1, 2019 Report Share Posted January 1, 2019 I have NCS, I get Drop Attacks throughout the day. What previous preps have you used? This is something you can fix or lessen in severity. For my first colonoscopy, a few years ago, I was given miralax to drink with a gallon of water (or some very similar thing) and it made me sick as a dog. I felt horrible inside my head, I was shaking and I threw up a lot of it. Last year I had another colonoscopy and the doctor switched me to Prepopic which is a different type of laxative and is much less fluid to drink. I held it down fine and didn't feel ill at all. Ask if you can have a choice for preps and tell the doctor your previous reactions--they will give you a script for a different prep if they think that is right for you. It is very important to take care of yourself, colonoscopy is not a fun experience, not at all, but it is a necessary evil. I hope it goes well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryB Posted January 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2019 Thank you all for your comments, seems with have had very similar experiences with these preps. I have been given a new one that is suppose to be easier on the system, called PLENVU,which is Polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes. In the past I have had several different ones, 1st one was one that was pulled from the market due, last on was magnesium citrate (sp). I am trying hard to not panic and cancel the appt. Your comments have been helpful toward reaching that goal. Thanks to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 I had to do a fecal transplant about 5 years ago due to a resistant C.Diff infection that wouldn't go away. The procedure is very similar what they do for a colonoscopy. Prep was Mag Citrate which wasn't pleasant. Dr prescribed 1/2 the normal dosage and it still was rugged. I would have paid good money for an "UNDO" button. I drove myself to the hospital with a towel on the seat out of fear. Of note: bootie burn, which I figured out was caused by stomach bile. Washing down there after each trip to the bathroom fixed that. The Dr changed the procedure slightly for my situation: 1) Procedure was done in a full hospital, not some outpatient surgical center, in case things didn't go well. 2) Saline drip was started immediately upon entering the pre-op room. 3) BP/SPO2 monitored often for 2 hrs prior to procedure 4) NO sedation was used. 5) Pediatric (small) scope was used to help avoid/lessen the vasovagal response. 6) They put me on 100% O2 for the procedure via nasal cannula. I hated this and kept coughing from it. Probably totally unnecessary. 7) During procedure only SPO2 for O2 sat & pulse was monitored. O2 sats never changed for me, but pulse was very much in-line with how I was feeling. Honestly? The bowel prep was infinitely worse than the procedure. There were two times where he over-inflated and I started to gray out and yelped. He backed off and I was fine. Not even close to passing out. Probably 15 total seconds of graying out time for the whole thing. I've had worse and more unpleasant dental visits. They discharged me ~10 minutes after the procedure. I was exhausted and asked if I could take a nap. No problem. They let me sleep for 90 minutes (my request). They would have let me sleep longer. I was back at work before lunchtime, worked a full day, then drove for 4 hours the next day with no side effects other than I kept coughing from the O2/nasal cannula. On the topic of "screening" colonoscopies, that seems to be a uniquely American phenomenon. There are other, more accurate (specificity), non-invasive ways to screen for colon cancer which are the norm in many other countries, but the politics of colonoscopies is beyond the scope of this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KiminOrlando Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 I just ended up in the ER from that Colyte prep with electrolytes. Colonoscopy was cancelled. Do any of you have gastroparesis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyproblems Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 I have gastroparesis and I'm due for a colonoscopy next month. I'm sure I'm going to need to be hospitalized. I was last time and it was still rough. Is that a consideration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KiminOrlando Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 That will be what I plan to discuss with my dysautonomia specialist next week and the gastroenterologist after him. I had to have 2 bags of fluids. I told the ER doc about my blood pressure issues when I stand, but they kept taking it in bed with my feet up. It was 'within normal limits'. I decided to just stop talking and gratefully take the fluids. I still don't think my chart documents the problem. I felt too bad to care much. How do you get insurance to pay for you to stay in the hospital? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toomanyproblems Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 I was in the hospital for gastroparesis problems at the time. But also I need to be hospitalized because I have Addison's and the risks of fluid imbalance during the prep is serious. I hope you can be hospitalized.It's easy to pass out with pots and the procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 @KiminOrlando - I had several colonoscopies - an Outpatient one that ended up with an admission to OP ( outpatient ) stay due to autonomic seizures during the scoping, then another one that was done while being hospitalized for the prep and another one ( recently ) after receiving home infusions during the prep ( best experience ). Last year I was supposed to have one ( prior to having access to home infusions ) and my PCP told the GI that I had to be hospitalized for he prep. It ended up that I did the cologuard ( mail-in sample ) that year b/c the hospital had issues with an Outpatient stay for a prep. So - this year I had a colonoscopy with IV fluids during the prep at home and did well with both the prep and the procedure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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