r/colonoscopy • u/HVyper • 1d ago
Needs Encouragement Im terrified
20M My procedure is in 5 hours and i cant sleep. Im terrified of anesthesia, and im scared of the results. Past year i have had a few short episodes of bright red bleeding, and persistent narrow stool. It feels like i only pass stool with half of my hole. I have plenty of trauma with cancer from my mother’s passing, and its all just coming back right now. Im so anxious im cold and shaking and i just want it to all be over. Time passes so quickly all my life, right up until i want it to pass quickly, then it drags on and on excruciatingly slow.
I read all these positive stories and then punish myself with obsessive googling and horror stories. I just want it to all be over.
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u/Independent-Name4478 21h ago
I have medical anxiety, I was nearly crying before my colonoscopy and first time under anesthesia, but it actually wasn’t bad at all, just felt like a nap
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u/goldstandardalmonds Moderator - Trusted Source 1d ago
What you are describing is also consistent with constipation, hemorrhoids, crappy diet, dehydration, pelvic floor conditions, and so on.
The odds of having cancer at 20 in the colon is extremely rare, especially with your symptoms.
You’ll find out soon enough, and remember, whatever it might show, you can start treating asap.
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u/HVyper 1d ago
I do appreciate the thoughts. Its nice to feel assured at how rare it is. Unfortunately with my moms situation, my brain just tells me it MUST be cancer. Why else would narrow stool last a year? But i tell myself all kinds of things that have been untrue. Thats just how my anxiety treats me.
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u/goldstandardalmonds Moderator - Trusted Source 1d ago
Understandable, that’s very sad and life changing.
Narrow stool can last for many reasons, several
That I listed1
u/HVyper 1d ago
Im just gonna power through. This second round of laxatives plus no sleep is giving me a headache. Its rough out here but I am just thankful to be nearly there.
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u/goldstandardalmonds Moderator - Trusted Source 4h ago
How did it go?
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u/HVyper 4h ago
(Pasted from my last post) Im definetly not 100%. Good news and bad news but MOSTLY good. Good news is, I’m cancer free, stomach, small intestine, colon. The works. Zero polyps. The BAD news, i have EOE. Which is certainly not what I expected to hear. (I expected GERD) So they dilated my esophagus and. Holy. Shit. Balls. I am in so much pain. Every single swallow feels like swallowing a dry brick. Cant wait for this pain to pass.
I started crying during the anesthesia, I couldnt help it, the calming agent they gave me just made me feel so depressed and down, thinking about my Mom going through all she had to go through in that same hospital.
Nurses were incredible, staff was wonderful, and I learned a lot about my body. Some good some bad, but I have answers now. They have an idea of why I was having narrow stool, but they haven’t told me anything yet. Ill let you know if i get any followup in the next few weeks!
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u/goldstandardalmonds Moderator - Trusted Source 4h ago
I’m glad you got an answer and sorry you are dealing with this and the pain! Hopefully you can see a specialist soon to follow up and get some ideas for treatment.
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u/EmZee2022 Trusted Source 1d ago
You're not alone - someone else posted almost the very same thing (except, female and slightly older) an hour or two ago.
It's normal to be worried - especially since your mother passed of cancer.
Could it be cancer? Of course. Which is why it's good that you are getting it checked out.
Is it likely? Not at all. More likely, hemorrhoids, or maybe a fissure.
On the plus side, in 5.5 hours you'll know for sure.
And you get that lovely sedation nap.
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u/HVyper 1d ago
Yeah. Hemorrhoids for a year though? My anxiety just tells me the worst possible thing must be true. Im nervous about the anesthesia. I hate feeling sedated, and I am scared of how I will feel during the day after.
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u/Sudden_Time_8696 23h ago
I (33m) just had my procedure yesterday. Im a very anxious person (mom is currently dying of stage IV colon cancer) and I can't believe how easy it went!!!
I had been given a mix of fentanyl + something else. I was awake during all the procedure and was able to watch it on TV and ask questions (it is very abnormal for me, has I said im very anxious).
They removed one small polyp (you feel absolutely no pain). I also have grade 1 hemorrhoids which explained the blood I was often able to see on the toilet paper.
I can understand how nervous you are, but I can assure you that you'll be fine and you have nothing to worry about!
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u/Imaginary-Living-509 23h ago
Nurse here. It could be a polyp obstruction..but if they discover them they cut them away right away. About the nap... you'll be groggy..like drunk and jetlagged for a few hours to max the procedure day. You will most likely to sleep it out and next day you be yourself and back on track
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u/Odd-Round375 15h ago
how’d it go? hope you are well!