Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group colonoscopy

and the one that enters from the mouth for a look see...what do you call that one?

are they sore or just uncomfortable?

I have made an appointment to see the Gastro man later this year about my "IBS" and I am slightly concerned about the "look down the throat" exam.

my concern is how does it work if you have a slight curvature in the neck back when attempting to insert camera?

I often feel my gullet is too small even for FOOD!

during my recent THR the anaesthetist was only too happy to give me an epidural partly because of my neck and back problems.so where does that leave the folk who MAY want a look down the front end?

You sspeak with them about it *before the event. Tell the anaesthetist (though they might only give a moderate sedation) that MUST be very careful of your neck, that you have etc etc.

Upper one is called an endoscopy. Lower is colonoscopy.

In the UK more likely to have a sedation. You can also elect for NO anaesthesia and just have the sedation. Talk it over with yr medical team.

The procedures for me were always fine. They sedated me and I "went to sleep" and when I "woke up" it was all over.

The only unpleasant part, ever, for me, has been the prep for the colonoscopy. If not for that, there'd be nothing to it.

Talk to them about the upper endoscopy. The scope is flexible. Its small too, so you should be OK.

Just talk to your doctor about any of your concerns.

I couldn't have the standard sedation since I'm on LDN, but my GI doc knew exactly what to do about it. I got a different kind of sedation.

Our doctors are pretty smart; they know how to work around issues.

Good luck to you

They do use much more flexible tubes than they used to. They can use smaller tubes if they think they are going to have difficulty. I've had them done with and without sedation. I really don't like it without - you get the nasty gagging as it goes down, and to me, its always felt very uncomfortable when they push it down into my stomach. But its just uncomfortable rather than painful, so if you really don't like sedation, then its manageable without, and it is over and done with fairly quickly with little or no after effects. My neck isn't good, and I do have the feeling of my vertebrae jagging into my throat when my neck is bad, as well as intermittent swallowing problems, but I managed to have an endoscopy done without sedation, and without any problems. I did take a squishy microbead cushion with me into the procedure room, to make sure that I could lie comfortably on my side (cushion supporting my neck) while they did it, and I think that helped.

Sue, did you not want to break the cycle of your LDN?

thanks Cemc and Sue

If you mean for the colonoscopy, that was the original plan, until the GI doc had a better plan.

If you mean in general? Maybe I thought I'd have to with the Humira, but its been fine to be on both. My rheumy is fine with me being on both since the LDN has helped me so much with the enthesitis and the Humira has helped everything else. Would the Humira alone be enough? Maybe I'll see in the future, but right now things aren't perfect yet, so for now, keeping both drugs, doctor thinks that's the best plan.

My experience was just like Sue's. I went to sleep and when I woke up, both procedures were done. I did notice a bit of a scratchy throat that was all gone the next day.Like Sue, I thouht that the prep was the only bad part of the whole thing.

I have my second colonoscopy a week Friday (5 years apart). No problem first time.

I have had them both done many times and I agree with Sue. I have had both with no sedation and with sedation. The only part I don't like is the prep.

You will do ok. Just be sure and talk to them about all of your concerns. Then you will be so glad when it is all over