Hi Ginny: I hope they aren't making you take Golytely for the colonoscopy! I would think that between the colonoscopy and endoscopy they will find out where you are bleeding from your gi tract. The sigmoidoscopy is limited to the lower portion of the tract. I can't remember if they considered crohn's disease with you or not. I can't remember anything from my colonoscopy at all after the first few moments. I remember the first injection of the drug and a kind of twilight feeling in my head. I remember seeing some type of black tube which I assume was the colonoscope, I remember the nurse looking like she was getting "down to business" behind me and that's it. Then I remember hearing the doctor tell me it was all over and it sounded like he was yelling at me, I'm sure that was the effect of the drug. I guess they observe you for a few minutes and i remember watching him sitting doing what looked like a crossword puzzle!!!! They gave me another dose of demerol and versed when I complained so I guess the versed, which is an amnesiac, removed memory of the pain I complained about. Next time I think I would ask them to skip the versed and go with the pain killer only. I'm told this can be done. Good luck. The hardest thing I have with these procedures is surrendering to them. I feel like I still have to be in control of the situation which is very hard when you are drugged. They are there to take care of you. That's their job and they love it or they wouldn't be doing it! As far as communicating with doctors, well, I don't think I do that very well. I'm am always criticizing myself for my apparent lack of ability to get them to realize how this situation is affecting my life. I guess they feel that if you are able to function, work, etc. it can't be that bad. So the last time I saw my pcp I basically told him that this was ruining my life. He seemed to be impressed with that and referred me to the pain clinic. I do think it easier now that I have had to have a pcp for insurance purposes. I feel he is beginning to understand me better now that he has known me longer. This is why I'm taking the loss of my gyn so hard. I saw him for 20 years-its hard adjusting to someone new.
Chris S.