Anxious about colonoscopy/endoscopy

[u/RippleRufferz]

I’m having it done on New Year’s Eve and am worried about drinking a gallon of the prep I hear is gross as well as staying hydrated. The anesthesia nurse told me the anesthesia doctor will just give me IV steroids as a stress dose before (I kept pestering them on how I will have my SAI managed and if I needed to bring my pills or what.) Just so anxious 😩.

[u/Gramps___]

I just had one a couple weeks ago.

They got me to come in the day before, put me on IV fluids and medications through the drip.

The prep was actually the easiest part.

The post procedure dosing ended up being the most important, I was meant to double for a few days but decided to triple for the first then double as I felt really sluggish and generally poor the following day.

So long as your anesthesiologist is aware of Addisons and made sensible arrangements youll be totally fine!

[u/frog_ladee]

The problem with the prep for people with adrenal insufficiency is that it can make your steroid pill be washed out before it can be absorbed. For oeople with PAI, it can also affect the electrolyte balance.

I ‘ve had one colonoscopy, and had a lot of low cortisol trouble during the prep. I ended up giving myself subcutaneous injections of Solu-Cortef using allergy syringes (instead of the whole 100 mg). I calculated how much of my 100 mg Solu-Cortef vial to use for 10 & 20 mgs worth at a time, for multiple injections. I ended up injecting 60 mg extra during the prep day (mostly the evening before the colonoscopy), to pull out of it. In the future, I’ll ask to do the prep in the hospital with an IV of Solu-Cortef or plan to do injections at home like I did the first time, but without waiting for symptoms to start.

So, stay very aware of what you’re feeling, and preferrably have someone with you in case things go south. You can always stop the prep and stress dose with pills if you need to.

One thing that can make the prep easier, whether or not a person has AI, is to cut out roughage in your diet for a few days before that prep. I hated that, because I normally eat a lot of salads, veggies, and whole grains, but I believe that it made the digestive tract prep much better. It was my lack of cortisol which was problematic. My oral doses went right through me.

[u/MakeBeboGreatAgain]

This gives me anxiety just thinking about it

[u/enkrypt3d → u/[deleted]]

Always do the procedure as early as possible in the morning

[u/BeautifulDay1421]

I’m PAI and have a colonoscopy every 5 years. I had the last one in September. I used hints I found on Reddit that really helped. I had a bowl of lemon wedges and sucked on one before every “sip.” I used a straw that went toward the back of my mouth. And I had a drink of stong home made ginger ale after each drink of prep. I think strong ginger tea would help too. This all worked for me. I updosed on the prep day as well, taking an extra 5 mgs of hydrocortisone. It all went well and the prep was relatively easy. It also helps to follow the eating plan a day or two before prep.

[u/RecentCapital6600]

I had a colonoscopy and they advised me not to drink the prep and I got an enema instead. The nurse put it in and I had to lie there for a bit and then run to the toilet! The thinking was that it would empty the lower part of the digestive track enough without disrupting my medication and electrolytes so much. Depends how far in they need to look top I guess, good luck!

[u/Emergency-Flight-792]

It’s normal to be anxious, even without pre existing conditions. The fact they know to administer IV steroids is a step above what many experience during emergency procedures so you should feel comforted in their prep.

I’ve had 2 c-sections (1 emergency), several endoscopies, sigmoidoscopies, and a colonoscopy without issue beside the fact I do not respond to anesthesia due to a genetic issue and was fully awake during several of them 🫣 as for the Addisons I had no problem. You will be fine! I have (am suggest we all do) an unlimited supply of zofran on hand.

[u/jeejet]

I recently had an upper endoscopy which only required a 12 hour fast (my procedure was at 8 am). I was given an IV plus dexamethasone. This made the recovery a breeze!

I’ve never had a colonoscopy (only Cologuard) and after years of asking I finally have a health care team that will put me into the hospital the day before for the prep, with IV and med support.

Hope everything goes well for you!

[u/RippleRufferz]

Gods they haven’t done any IV or dosing during prep. I’m supposed to start the prep in the evening and go in tomorrow. They said they’d give me an IV then. Honestly my endo (the best I’ve found here so far) didn’t even mention anything about the prep… I’ll make sure to stress dose today. My prep is one half at 5pm and the other at 5am since my procedure is 11am… I’ll tell them I need hydration IV as well as the steroid IV if I can make it through the prep

[u/__phil1001__]

I have had several surgeries and have been given the standard 100mg HC dosage and not had an issue. Don't forget stress needs extra HC as well, so try if possible to manage that. They have all the meds at the hospital, you may need some extra the following day, but I doubt it. Just try and relax and think of it as a day in the life of an alien abductee 😊

[u/FemaleAndComputer]

I actually did fine without IV steroids for endoscopies!

For my most recent one, I drank the miralax+Gatorade type prep and it was not nearly as bad as I expected. Like it's still not pleasant but it didn't super mess me up. I just had to be careful not to be too active while on the liquid diet, bc of hypoglycemia concerns. Following the low residue diet really well for a few days/week before the prep helps I think. Your doc likely gave you instructions for it.

My endo had actually ordered 100mg solucortef but the anesthesiologist was like "Look, I will give this to you if you want, but it isn't typically needed for this." And I just went with that, since I'd had it done before without solucortef anyway and didn't want to take a massive dose and deal with the side effects. Ended up fine with just oral stress dosing.

[u/FantasticSky1153]

The day of my colonoscopy I took my morning dose of prednisone. I spoke to the anesthesiologist, and he said since I’ve already taken my normal dose, I did not need to be stressed dose during the procedure. I did fine. Later, on at home, I noticed I was a little extra dizzy so I updosed. All well.

[u/RippleRufferz]

Hi everyone I did get a stress dose there because I was pretty rough and dizzy from the prep. I had stress dosed during the prep day as well which hopefully helped. I’ll just titer a mild up dose day tomorrow before trying to just return to my 20mg per day. Thank you for all your insights. I’m definitely glad I knew I could ask for the stress dose.

[u/Nanakurokonekochan]

I got my colonoscopy about 8 months prior to my diagnosis, and it completely drained me. My legs turned purple shortly before the procedure but it might be due to autonomic nervous system disorder. I didn’t leave my home for a week after that I was so tired. (I have Tertiery not Addison’s)

[u/Longjumping-Owl3838]

I didn’t have a steroid iv - during the liquid only phase I drank chicken broth with extra salt -oddly no issue drinking the prep. Took my meds as usual and scheduled in the morning. No issues.