Colonoscopy through stoma - Experiences and advice?

Hi! Has anyone had a colonoscopy through the stoma? How was it! I have one coming up and I'm so nervous..

I've had a few both with and without anesthesia. Neither were terrible, also didn't have to prep much other than to switch to all clear liquids for 24ish hours before. (I have an ileostomy)

Hi New,

Nothing to get nervous or worry about at all! It's usually normal bowel prep the night before and then they'll ask you your name and date of birth about 50 times while they put the IV in.......and then the anesthesiologist will chat with you to make sure they get that right......then wheel you into the exam room. They'll be chit-chatting and getting everything ready and then the anesthesiologist will simply tell you to count down from 100...........and 96 is all you'll remember getting to. You'll wake up in the recovery area with a smiling face looking at you, who'll check your vitals and offer you some apple juice and a Graham Cracker! A few minutes later they'll hand you your clothes and tell you to get dressed while they contact your ride home and tell them you're ready. Just before you go the Doc (or an assistant) will come in and tell you how it went. You'll probably sleep on the way home, or when you get there........and a few hours later you'll be as good as new!! You got this, so put it out of your mind until the night before.......it's easy-peasy!!!

;O)

Bob

Bob, you have got that procedure down pat. The best part is when you wake up, knowing the procedure is over. The worst part is the clean out the night before.

Took about 15 minutes and I remember nothing except the ceiling getting all blurry.

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I just need to thank you so very much for your post. I just signed up to this site this early morning and this was the first question I saw posted. I to have an upcoming appointment for my first colonoscopy to go through my 5-month-old stoma. I am praying for a reversal after all is said and done. I've been feeling scared out of my mind until I read your response. All I can say is.... thank you thank you thank you. You just did this gal a world of good!! Positive thoughts going your way for all that you are going through. Again.... thank you.

Hi all. The part I like is if you wear a 2pc. system, they just pop the pouch off, do the scoping, and the pouch is back on and you're done. The hardest part for me is the fasting and clear liquids for a day.

They did mine right through a one-piece without taking the pouch off.

Yes, I have one every year. I have an ileostomy. It's completely pain-free. No sedation or bowel prep needed. It's really interesting watching the screen seeing the scope inside you, just slightly uncomfortable when they put gas in to blow you up so they have a clearer view. The doctor will push their finger in your stoma first just to see which way they need to push the scope. It's pain-free, just feels strange seeing someone pushing their finger in. With an ileostomy, the scope won't go any further than 24" in at best, usually not even that far from scar tissue inside. It's slightly different from what I've read if you have a colostomy, but as I don't have one, I will leave that for the members with colostomies to say.

Thank you so much!

I hope you get your reversal. I'm trying to do the same. Best of luck to you!

Hi, Bob is right on the button...you might just need a driver to take you home after the procedure. No worry, everything will be fine. You got this!

Does the colonoscopy damage the stoma? Mine is quite flat and only 1".

Does the colonoscopy damage the stoma? Mine is quite flat and only 1".

Does the colonoscopy damage the stoma? Mine is quite flat and only 1".

Does the colonoscopy damage the stoma? Mine is quite flat and only 1".

Does the colonoscopy damage the stoma? Mine is quite flat and only 1".

Does the colonoscopy damage the stoma? Mine is quite flat and only 1".

I just had one done last week. I had been dreading it, but it was actually not as awful as expected. I ate very lightly for two days prior to the liquid-only day. The purge was not as painful as it used to be pre-colostomy. Went in, got knocked out, bada boom, it was done. Took a couple of days before the bag had much accumulated afterward. Got the good news that reversal is possible, so I'm more optimistic now.

I'm surprised to see these replies. Not trying to scare but I had one last night and it was worst pain yet. Slept through procedure itself but prep was putting a catheter through my stoma with no sedation or pain medication. I went into shock from having intestines pushed around and even had pain up underneath my heart area. After I relaxed for 15 mins they did traditional enema before sedation then endoscopy and colonoscopy. Don't want to scare but if they try to put a f%@#ing catheter in I recommend asking for sedation first