Colonscopy

Hello...asking if any of you have had Colonscopy.. Any special consideration with a pacemaker? Thanks

5 Comments

I had one with PM & on Coumadin

by janetinak - 2013-01-30 01:01:41

Agree with Carolyn all OK esp the "beauty sleep" I had a biopsy to see why I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome but it was negative & all OK for 10 yrs. Go for it, best to catch things early if there & great to know all is negative if it is. In my opinion, best test there is-get a conclusive answer right away.

Janet

colonoscopy

by Alma Annie - 2013-01-30 02:01:33

I am having one in 3 weeks time, my fourth but first with pm. Doc said no worries at all with pm, so don't worry.
Alma Annie

Had one

by golden_snitch - 2013-01-30 04:01:18

Hi!

I had one two weeks ago. Since they removed a large polyp with an electric sling (don't know what the correct translation is, it's something like electrocautery), I had to have my pacemaker checked afterwards. Didn't know that before, but then no one had expected me to have any polyps. So, I called my cardio, and he said that, yes, he needs to check the pacemaker after any use of electrocautery, but that in most cases nothing happens to it. It's just to be on the safe side. My pacer was perfectly fine.

I'm on Coumadin, too, and had to stop that before the colonoscopy (bridge with heparin injections). I wasn't allowed to take it for a whole week afterwards because the spot where the polyp was, was a relatively big wound that needed to heal. They had put some clips in to prevent bleeding, but still, no Coumadin for one week.

Good luck!
Inga

Thanks

by 082343 - 2013-01-30 08:01:45

Thanks you for responding, all of you...this is a great support group for Pm's that have a question....

COLONSCOPY QUEEN ~ ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2013-01-30 12:01:08

Never had a colonscopy until I was in my mid/late 50's. I did not have a pacemaker at the time, but since this colon test was new to me, I went thru the same fear, being scared, worried and all the emotions which come naturally with the UNknown happening.

After following the instructions for the colonscopy the eve before of drinkinng the 'cocktail', which was not bad at all. I then went into the colonscopy office early the next morn, filled out all the normal paper work, was led back to the 'prep' area where they talked to me, explaining all the procedures (simple), met the anesthesiologist (sp?) who will be giving you the 'beauty sleep'. An IV is placed in your arm for liquids/sleep med and eventually I was taken to the 'surgery' room for the simple procedure. Because you are still 'not real awake' after being 'asleep', the office required I had a driver to drive me home AND that I not make any short/long term decisions on anything, due to my 'sleep'. Because they found two polyps & simply removed them, I was required to go back in 3 years.

After having A-Fib diagnosed at one point and a blood clot removed at a later date and put on Warfarin, the heart Dr. placed a pacemaker in Nov. 2009 ~ MY 'Energizer Bunny' ~ ha-ha.

Since 2009, with my Energizer Bunny, I have had another colonscopy. I do not think anything can hurt and/or harm the PM and/or the person, except the few things the Dr. and/or PM rep can tell you to avoid being around. A colonscopy, in my opinion, should not even affect your PM. In fact, after about the first year after having my PM placed, I absolutely forget I have a PM. It is like my right arm ~ 'it' is there, I just don't remember.

I am told my 'Energizer Bunny' should last 'til 2017.

Thoughts from TEXAS,
Carolyn G.

You know you're wired when...

Like the Energizer Bunny, you keep going.

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