Afraid of colonoscopy without sedation whilst breastfeeding

[jardins]

I'm 41 and have had my 3rd DC end of January whom I am breastfeeding. I live in France. I went to a gastroenterologist yesterday (at least I know how to spell that now) as I have been suffering from hemorrhoids and bleeding for a while now. Fun fun. My GP didn't seem that concerned but seeing how worried I was she referred me to this specialist. I got an internal examination yesterday up to 15 cm and the specialist saw a fissure which would justify the bleeding. She saw nothing to cause alarm. BUT she was concerned by my recently checked iron levels which were very low. Obviously these would be caused by the pregnancy (my levels were not too bad when checked at 8 months gestation), the birth; I always lose a huge amount of blood, the breast feeding, and the hemorrhoids/fissure. She told me she has had two patients diagnosed with cancer post partum who were younger than me and so she wants to perform a colonoscopy in a months time. This procedure will have to be without sedation as I am breastfeeding. Needless to say I am so scared. She even said I had a eighty per cent chance everything would be ok and a twenty per cent chance not! Why those figures?!!!!

As she bombarded me with information re: purging medication I would need to take 24 hours prior to the colonscopy, the prodecure, etc. I knew I should be asking her questions but I felt numb and a little violated. I have an appointment with my GP on Tuesday to talk this through.

Apart from the fear of a bad outcome and the discomfort of the intervention itself WITHOUT SEDATION, arghhhh, I am really concerned about how my milk supply will be temporarily affected by all the purging, etc. Since I will not be having a general anaesthetic I can eat in the morning which is good. I guess I shall have to look into expressing milk for the first time in my life. I cannot imagine the fun involved in running to the bathroom every few minutes whilst cluster feeding my baby during the evening.

Can anyone give me some advice, reassurance about any of the above? I am feeling vulnerable.

Thank you

Why does she say you can't be sedated ? The sedative will be cleared from your milk at the same rate as from your blood, so as soon as you are properly awake, you can bf safely.

The BFN have a factsheet about colonscopy which you might find useful

If you can express enough in advance (freeze?) could you then have the sedation?

I can't help on the breastfeeding at the same time front but I have had colonoscopies without sedation and it isn't that bad (I had a badly inflamed colon as well). I don't think there are nerve endings as such in the colon so if you could cope with the first 15cm you have survived the worst of it already. Don't watch the screen if you have the choice, just zone out if you can.

Forget the figures, they were probably to reassure you, she probably cited figures and scare stories to try and balance getting you to have test and not be too worried. The way you are feeling is completely normal and I'm sure the staff will be used to dealing with any fears or worries you have. Hope it isn't too traumatic... (saying good luck feels wrong)!

I had one without sedation when bf. I cant remember if I had the medication the night ebfore - I have a feeling I didnt. I did ahve an enema that morning.

It isnt pleasant, it feels like your colon is being filled and filled and filled with wind. It is bearable though and over pretty quickly.

Was just going to suggest expressing too but I have been pipped to the post (sorry dreadful pun).

If you express enough in advance to feed your baby, you can then continue expressing whilst going through the process to keep your supply up.

Find out how long they recommend you don't BF for and plan your expressing accordingly.

Good luck

Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice. The BFN link was very useful CMOT

I just can't get my head around the fact that suddenly I'm being thrown into the cancer worst case scenario category. I KNOW it can happen to anyone. Please tell me if you think I'm over reacting. I just can't work out how scared I should be. I guess being a mother of three with a little baby makes me all the more vulnerable. I keep looking at my gorgeous baby and wondering 'What if?'

All my blood tests were absolutely fine during my pregnancy (they LOVE blood tests here in France). Yes, I have suffered from mild bleeding from time to time over the past few years but I always associated it with the discomfort of piles (and probably, now that I know, a chronic fissure). The trouble is that years ago I didn't spend my time googling and consequently did not know that rectal bleeding should always be checked out to eliminate serious causes.

Yep, it's all about feeling vulnerable with a LO. I simply don't want my baby to miss out on anything - ie low milk supply, tired mum - before and during the colonscopy. Also my DH will be taking care of her on the day itself but I do not really know anyone well enough where we live (we moved last summer) to come and be with me when I get the results.

Keep that advice coming, please!

Hi. I had a colonoscopy when 6 months pregnant without sedation. It's not terrible, just uncomfortable as they have to open up your tubes, as it were, with air. It's just like having really bad trapped wind. They release the air afterwards too, although you will probably do some award-winning farts too. There are all sorts of things which can cause bleeding. I had a polyp removed and that was it. I am a real worrier and felt really vulnerable too and was terrified that the procedure would cause a miscarriage, but it was fine and worth the feeling of relief afterwards. They usually make you take some meds in advance to 'clean out' your system, but I couldn't take this cos of being pregnant, so I had an enema instead ... interesting experience. All the best and stay positive.

Hi Jardins

I had a colonoscopy while bf but my son was a little over one. I was sedated (but conscious) after promising not to feed my son for 24 hours (hahaha). It didn't affect my supply at all and he was fine with the happy milk. But then he was a vigorous toddler and not a little baby.

I enjoyed watching the screen, actually. It took my mind off it!

Mine was cancer, by the way and things were grim for a long time. My cancer and the pain associated with it had been masked by pregnancy and post-pregnancy symptons. I was 40 which is very young for colo-rectal cancer but not unknown. It is a good thing you are being checked.

Wow ThingOne I admire you so much! Are you alright now? Is it just a very bad memory now or is it still very much in your foremind? Thank you for your honesty. Dare I ask what your symptoms were? Do you have any family history as such? Anyway I do not deny it's a good thing to have done, believe me, but I feel like such a baby.

JimmyTarbuck thank you too, really, for making me feel I am not alone (which I obviously am not . Yes, when it comes to health I'm a real worrier too.

Can you ladies hold my hands a little over the next few weeks of waiting? Call me a wimp but I need a little virtual help.

Big thanks.

Bump.

I wouldn't worry about the cancer thing. Colonoscopies are great diagnostic tests for making sure everything is okay...if something wasn't okay, you could catch it earlier, but chances are you'll be fine. I had one done years ago as part of tests before getting diagnosed with IBS.

I would plan to express enough milk beforehand because the "clear-out" meds can be pretty unpleasant and you may not be in any fit state to breast feed that day anyway (I lived in the loo with blankets and books!). It really depends what medications they use and how you respond (but getting lots of diarhheoa is a good thing in this situation, or they might not be able to do the procedure).

If that means you can have sedation, then great. I was sedated thoroughly before my procedure as I had a gastroscopy first, but I woke up during the colonoscopy and watched the screen.

You could always try expressing during this period to keep up your supply even if you discard the milk.

Very often we are told not to bf because of a surgery and all the drugs involved, but I discovered that most of the time, there are no risks at all. A La Leche Liga's member told me about all the studies done about medication and bf. You can find all the references in this web site (in spanish I am afraid) www.e-lactancia.org.

Best of luck and try not to worry
iv had 3 colonoscopys first was without sedation was uncomfortable lots of wind pumped into you, you think you will actually explode but its over quickly, really! Second i was bf'ing had enema morning of, no bowel prep day before and fed ds just before going into the hosp had expressed milk for him he was just under 6months but point blank refused to suck a bottle and dh ended up givin him petti folou and as much milk as he could from a cup... I was asleep for colonoscopy as they did an examination under anastetic at the same time was blizz to get a bita sleep i was told first thing before going in i couldnt bf for 24hrs then after the consultant said thats rubbish just pump and dump two feeds from each breast not to feed till next morn if possible but if needs must it would be totally fine to give a feed that night! And i did and he didnt even sleep any better then usual
my 3rd colonoscopy i had the bowel prep which is bloody awful you will not be running to the toilet you simply will not be able to stand up from the toilet for 2hrs at least after each dose!! And it flared up my piles badly (sorry tmi) but the sedation next day was lovely...
Hth take care and try not to worry xxx

I agree with others that it is uncomfortable, but bearable without sedation (I can't be sedated, so have had colonscopy and endoscopy without sedation in preference to having it under GA).

A good nurse who is aware that you have not had sedation and will 'talk you through it' is definitely valuable - some places will let you take in an mp3 player for yourself too.

Thinking of you...

Good evening all of you lovely, kind, truthful, and reassuring ladies.

I have taken on all the information you have given me. I think I dread the evening of prep medication (and consequence on my LO's cosy, loooooong breastfeeds) even more than the sedative free colonoscopy.

I am seeing my GP on Tuesday. Over the past 48 hours I have spoken to three doctors, all specialists - one of whom is my sister who has performed numerous colonscopies. They have all had exactly the same opinion, independantly, of course. They all believe that the gastroenterologist has TOTALLY overreacted in her diagnosis and is, perhaps, reacting on her bad experience with the 31 year old and 37 year old patients who had cancer. The thing we don't get is why she is insisting I have a colonscopy when she has examined me (15 cms), found hemorrhoids and a fissure which account for the bleeding but nothing worrying and that I have absolutely no other symptoms at all. My sister urges me to see my GP and get a second opinion. TBH what was awful about my appointment was her bedside manner: you have a 20% of having a cancer - . My sister (who is actually a haematologist) said it's more like a 1 % chance. A number of friends and family (not doctors have all told me also that they have suffered from fissures and piles and bleeding on and off particularly after giving birth and no doctor has every suggested on that fact alone they should get a colonoscopy.

Ho hum. I don't mind having to go through unpleasant procedures for the sake of being a responsible mother. What I do mind is having to go through a procedure which is unnecessary. It would be easier if I could do it in, say, in two and a half months when my lO would start eating and would therefore not be totally dependant on breastfeeding. This means I could have the sedation and be less stressed about it all altogether; I shall see what my GP says.

Any thoughts? Thank you so much for all your input.

I'm so sorry you're going through this... I'm also BF and going through all sorts of medical tests and procedures so yes, I understand the worry.

Extrapolating purely from my own experience, I imagine that what will help you more than anything else is emotional support, people to hold your hand before and during and after. I'd offer to come with you if I could...

Oh OrganicHairbrush that is such a lovely post. I totally agree with you on the emotional support. One thing which is tough is that we moved to a new region here in France last year so I don't really know anybody who can hold my hand. However my best friend back in the UK said she would be there with me on the day of the procedure which made everything easier to envisage.

I am so sorry to hear about your stresses. What sort of tests are you going through? Please don't tell me if you don't wish too.

It goes without saying that I am here for you virtually if you wish to offload, ok? I honestly think I've been through some of th worst days in my life since this past Thursday. I kept looking at my beautiful DC and wondering.... it doesn't bear writing about but I'm sure you can imagine....

Let me know how you are, please?

Poor you jardins, it does sound stressful. Your gastro specialist could clearly do with some communication skills.

My cancer's not quite a distant memory, although I am working on it. Ask me again in a couple of years .

I had a colonoscopy without sedation whilst on holiday in France two years ago, was a great start to the holiday!! Was by myself but it wasn't too bad, just uncomfortable and made me feel very windy, the worst bits were the enemas beforehand! Yuck, would not want to be a nurse on the gastro ward! Can't give any advice on the breastfeeding stuff though sorry.

Yes jardins, unfortunately I get your fears... and how having a DC makes it both so much better and so much worse. I really feel for you being away from friends. And being told all sorts of things by different doctors, too...

I'd rather not go into the details online of me, but I'll sign up for CAT once I can dig out my debit card (DD is currently attached to my leg so can't move).