Update: endoscopy/colonoscopy

I had the endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures today. I'm pleased to report that great care was taken by the medical staff. They said pacemakers are not a problem with these procedures. ICDs are more complex but doable. I wore a heart monitor the whole time as well as had blood pressure monitored.

The prep was not bad at all because they use only a four cup gavilyte-g method night before and then four cups morning of the procedures.  "Gavilyte-G includes electrolytes so that there is no net increase or decrease in electrolytes or water in the body"-as per their literature. I was told you can now drink clear fluids up to four hours before the procedure so I didn't get dehydrated.  (I also knew to eat a low residue diet two days before and then the clear liquid diet day before.) 

I was concerned about them doing electrocautery in case of finding a polyp. The gastroenterologist said they can still use it in the colon but not in the throat/stomach due to the proximity to the pacemaker. They rarely do electrocautery on smaller polyps now, instead using cold procedures. I did have one very small polyp which he removed with cold forceps. 

The gastroenterologist said all is well inside but he believes that I have developed lactose intolerance! Never had it before, but he said that it can develop with age. Ah the joys of growing older. Ah the joys of being blessed to be able to grow older thanks to my CRT-P pacemaker!

9 Comments

tests

by new to pace.... - 2023-02-22 21:06:05

Glad to hear all went well.

lactose intolerance is not hard to live with.  I heard Mushrooms also have a lactose like sugar in them.  If you eat them take a Lactaid tablet helps with the bloating.

new to pace

What a thoroughly busy time you have had dear Lavender

by Gemita - 2023-02-23 05:32:38

Lavender, so pleased to hear your news this morning that nothing worrying has been found.  Thank you so much for the excellent feedback. I will keep this info in my gastric folder.  The Gavilyte-G sounds a little safer although the low residue diet two days before and then the clear liquid diet day before, followed by total 8 cups Gravilyte-G night before/morning of procedure still sounded difficult to cope with, but it is over now.

Very helpful to know that electrocautery on smaller polyps are rarely done today;  instead they use cold procedures.  I see you had one very small polyp removed with cold forceps.  I presume this will be tested for any early signs of a problem?  

Lactose intolerance?  Have you already had any testing for this condition?  I see the Hydrogen breath test is one of the most accurate lactose intolerance tests.  If confirmed, maybe you can work with a dietician to manage your diet since dietary avoidance of lactose might be difficult to “safely” achieve.

I send my very best wishes to you and to the family Lavender.  Take care of that little device and your heart and recover well xx

More info

by Lavender - 2023-02-23 08:30:49

Gemita- thanks for your, as always, kind and wise input!

The polyp will be tested. I was also biopsied for h. Pylori and celiac...will get results in time  I have had all of these tests five years ago and all were fine.  Due to finding a polyp, you get on the five year plan of colonoscopies.  Because the prep was so easy, I won't dread the prep anymore!

The Gavilyte-g smaller dose I was told to take is much less than most preps call for. It used to be that you were required to drink a whole gallon of it.  All in one evening! This new split method is a total of 32 ounces night before then 32 ounces in the morning. So it's half the total liquid now. You have an hour to drink it, so it's four 8 ounce glasses over an hour. Very manageable. 
 

The low residue diet two days before and then a day of clear liquid only the day before leaves very little that must come out. I have had two other colonoscopies over the past years and this was a cinch. You're not sitting in the bathroom all night. 
 

As for lactose intolerance, it will be a new experience but I truly eat very little dairy. I've never had a problem with it before though. The gastroenterologist told me that we can develop this as we age. We lose the ability to digest dairy due to losing more lactase enzymes. "When you eat or drink dairy products, enzymes in your small intestine digest lactose, so the body can make energy. In people with lactose intolerance, a certain enzyme, called lactase, is missing from the body. When those people eat dairy products, the body has no way to break down the lactose. This leads to fermentation of the sugar in the intestines and triggers symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating and gas."
 

That is exactly the symptoms I experienced when eating yogurt, cheese etc. 

I won't be having further tests for it. He said that I should go dairy-free and he will see me in one to two months to assess. There are lactose free products out there that I will try. I will want yogurt. It's a favorite item so I'll try some of the lactose free ones. 

Mary, I appreciate your comment as well!

Lactose Free Options

by SeenBetterDays - 2023-02-23 10:07:45

Hi Lavender

Pleased to hear your procedures went well and you were looked after by the medical team. Just wanted to pick up on your lactose intolerance. I have excluded gluten and dairy from my diet as I have auto immune tendencies and have been told that this may help me. I have found some really nice alternative milks such as oat, almond and coconut. Also coconut yoghurt makes a nice replacement for the dairy version. I know there are also quite a range of vegan cheeses available now but I haven't tried any yet. My husband is celiac so we are used to label checking now! Hope you are able to make the transition easily and feel the benefits of the change.

 

Colonoscopy prep

by _Claire_ - 2023-02-23 11:23:14

Hi Lavender 

Thank you for your posts about this subject, I’m sure it's really helpful for many people that will read the posts. I've had a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is a very similar procedure I believe. They advised me to have an enema on the day. This allows for normal eating and drinking up until then (although I still fasted due to incorrect communication from the nurse). The enema was incomplete, so I have to have the flexible sigmoidoscopy repeated and I keep putting it off. I was worried about electrolyte problems with the enema but the nurse said that she didn't know about this. I seemed to be fine after. Just for information, I wondered if you were offered the enema option and why you chose the prep you had today instead? It does sound like you coped really well with this prep and I’m really pleased for you :) 

Different preps

by Julros - 2023-02-23 12:05:27

Yes, flexible sigmoidoscopy is similar, but a colonoscopy examines the entire large intestine, so  a more complete evacuation is required. A sigmoidoscopy examines the first section of colon past the rectum ( about 2 feet). A colonscopy can exam 4-5 feet. 

 

Response

by Lavender - 2023-02-23 12:18:26

Seen better days-thanks!  The RN who discharged me said to look into coconut milk yogurt. He said it's good! Lol I will be scouting out the stores. I've been celiac tested before and was fine. He took a celiac test yesterday so I'm interested to see what it shows. I love cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream and other cheeses so I will look into some alternatives. I tried almond milk a few years ago and it caused digestive trouble 😩my dang body is sensitive to so many things although I have been blood tested and had no food allergies. 
 

Claire-thank you! I was not given a choice of prep solution. They have a gal who chooses that based on your medical history. I told them I wanted a heart friendly option. I was given Gavilyte g with electrolytes. I also was told to take this smaller dose. The pharmacist was surprised at my doctor saying to use it differently than the pharmacy instructions. But it worked great. 
 

Your sigmoidoscopy only looks at the lower part of the large intestine so you only do an enema to clean out that portion. 
 

Keep in mind that unless it's an emergency, the wait for tests is very long. It's best to get on the schedule. I've had a several week wait and was only seen this soon because I had to be seen in the ER two weeks ago for this. I was then added to the end of the day of the gastroenterologist's schedule. 
 

Colonoscopy must have the entire large intestine emptied out that's why you do a different prep. The endoscopy looks in the other direction-from the mouth down through the stomach into the beginning of the small intestine. So everything needs to be empty. 
 

LOL that you're graded in how clean it is in there so they can see. It's called The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS).  Each region of the colon receives a “segment score” from 0 to 3 and these three segment scores are summed for a total BBPS score ranging from 0 to 9. Therefore, the maximum BBPS score for a perfectly clean colon without any residual liquid is 9.

I got a nine!!! ðŸ¥³

lol

Glad all is well

by FG - 2023-02-23 13:26:20

I am a radiologist and do barium enemas (BE) and upper GI's etc. on a daily basis. We still do BEs when there is a "failed colonoscopy". I had a small precancerous colon polyp removed about 10 years ago and thanks to God it was taken out because they said that in 3-5 years this type often becomes cancer. 

Thankfully we live in a modern era with good medical care available so we can all live a little longer. Like getting a pacemaker. Yes, I know...

All the best wishes Lavender!

Lavender

by _Claire_ - 2023-02-23 18:31:05

Congratulations on receiving grade 9! Hahaha, I had no idea there was a grading system! I love this group, I learn so much 😆

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