Alternative to colonoscopy

[Marypoppins19]

I don’t want to list all my reasons but I really feel incredibly uncomfortable about having a colonoscopy with sedation. The sedation just didn’t work previous and I felt traumatised - mission aborted.
Would a CT or MRI be possible for my GP to arrange?

[Montybojangles]

It depends what they are looking for. Colonoscopy means they can biopsy parts of your gut to send to the lab to test for various things, or remove polyps if they find them. My biopsies confirmed crohns when the consultant wasn’t sure if the inflammation he was seeing was crohns or not. Just looking isn’t always enough. That said you can have an MRI with contrast that will pick up inflammation or narrowing, or a pill camera that you swallow and it takes pictures as it travels through your system. They might be procedures that a specialist needs to request though, I’m not sure.
I know some people have general anaesthetic as they are extremely anxious about colonoscopy, might that be an option if it’s really necessary?

[Marypoppins19]

Thank you so much for your reply. I did wonder if they would agree for a general anaesthetic. I don’t want to miss bring diagnosed but my fears are so great that I know I’ll be wasting their time

[iVampire]

It does depend what they are looking for,

I had a CT scan instead (there are two types which can be done). All the type I had could do was rule out cancer. And the only reason I was done that way was because I was newly diagnosed with leukaemia, on oral chemotherapy, and the risk of malabsorption of my cancer meds was too great at that stage.

I had a full colonoscopy when I had been stable in functional remission for a while and the consequences bowel prep were no longer dangerous. I could not have the usual painkiller (fentanyl, contraindicated) so was done with sedation (midalozam?) and gas and air. It was needed because other things needed to be checked and biopsies taken.

I found it uncomfortable with some painful moments. I get why you are concerned. But if there are good reasons why you need a colonoscopy, then I really would urge you to look at how you can get through it

[Littlefluffycloudos]

Get them to use gas and air I much prefer it

[Afternooninthepark]

I’ve got a colonoscopy and endoscopy due in a few weeks and I am absolutely dreading it. I asked my gastroenterologist if I could have the virtual colonoscopy but she said that if they found polyps or needed to take biopsies I would still have to have a regular colonoscopy later so it would be best if I bit the bullet and went for the regular one. I am absolutely dreading everything about it, including the horrendous prep. I have really bad anxiety.

[faelavie]

A CT colonography is possibility but if it found anything they wouldn't be able to biopsy or remove polyps and you'd need to have a full colonoscopy anyway in that case. Colonoscopy is the gold standard test for examining the bowel and so I really recommend you bite the bullet here, as anxious as you are.
General anaesthetics aren't routinely given for colonoscopy (except for children) because of various reasons... GA comes with its own risks which should be considered esp when colonoscopy is not a surgical procedure, also you may need to reposition during the test which would be difficult under a GA when your airway needs maintaining etc - however, you may be able to ask your GP to refer you for one if they know of any hospitals that would do this.
But tbh it seems like you just weren't given an adequate amount of sedation last time, which could be due to a number of reasons (e.g. restrictions placed on the unit), you should mention your previous experience on your admission. Larger general hospitals can usually give more drugs than smaller community ones, so this may be worth bearing in mind. Good luck!

[Marypoppins19]

Thank you for your replies. I’m going to push for a GA and prey they agree. Afternooninthepark - wishing you all the luck in the world. Not at the same time I presume??

[Lougle]

Could you ask for adequate sedation? I had a colonoscopy and despite being certain that I was going to watch it all (I'm a nurse) I fell asleep almost as soon as I was injected.

[Miljah]

Why are you having the colonoscopy?

Confirmation of their suspicion, or 'ruling out'?

If the former, get the colonoscopy; if the latter, discuss CT colonography, aka pneumocolon.