How do single people do colonoscopes?

[Anonymous]

Ask a friend, I offered to do this for my best friend. She got an end of day appointment and I didn't miss more than an hour of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.

This is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse accompanies me. The nurses bring my bag of clothes from my locker and I put them on in the curtained cubicle where they wheeled my gurney. If I am not awake enough to do that yet I am not ready to leave. I go out to spouse in waiting room.

Agreed. I dressed myself. No one helped me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.

This is not true.

Thank you. No one helped me get dressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was perfectly willing to book a medical transport (I think it was about double the price of a regular taxi) but my sweet neighbor insisted on driving me and was happy to leave her husband to deal with the kids & morning routine [HAHAHA].

Fasting: oh yeah it's awful. I took the fasting day off (or worked from home--can't remember) but definitely spared my colleagues the hangriness. I took the procedure day off too though honestly it was a very early appointment and I could've been at work fine by 9am.

Do you think this makes OP feel better. You are so special someone insisted on changing up the morning routine, having her husband leave later for work so she could be there for you and so you need to let OP know this when her neighbor may not be able to do this? It's lovely your neighbor did that/ Do you also brag about other kind things people do for you to those who don't have people looking out for them that way?

Calm down. There are medical transport services that exist, and they are common in the DMV area, if that's where OP is posting from. People use them even if they have family. And again, a colonoscopy is not the most debilitating medical procedure--not for everyone. I sat in the waiting room until I felt steady on my feet, and then took a taxi home.

I was not allowed to take a taxi/Uber. These medical transport services sound great for those who do not want to rely on a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too was worried about not eating all day but it was fine. Funny how willpower works when you know that you absolutely can not eat or you have to cancel your procedure. I actually found it easier to not eat while being at work because I wasn't sitting around my house bored and staring at the fridge. I ate jello and sipped on bone broth all day and it was fine. After you take the prep the last thing you want to do is eat.

As for getting home.. either have a friend pick you up or do medical transport. I had mine done at VHC and they automatically texted my husband when I was ready so it was very efficient/he didn't have to just wait in the lobby the entire time.

DP here - all these people saying "just get a friend and get medical transport" without providing actual details for this "medical transport" especially since you had your HUSBAND pick you up.

I tried to find "medical transport" in the DC area and could not for my colonoscopy. The doctors office did not have a suggestion and I googled the hell out of it and called around and could not find anyone. If you want to be helpful, dont just say "medical transport." give an ACTUAL name of a company and hopefully phone number as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was perfectly willing to book a medical transport (I think it was about double the price of a regular taxi) but my sweet neighbor insisted on driving me and was happy to leave her husband to deal with the kids & morning routine [HAHAHA].

Fasting: oh yeah it's awful. I took the fasting day off (or worked from home--can't remember) but definitely spared my colleagues the hangriness. I took the procedure day off too though honestly it was a very early appointment and I could've been at work fine by 9am.

Do you think this makes OP feel better. You are so special someone insisted on changing up the morning routine, having her husband leave later for work so she could be there for you and so you need to let OP know this when her neighbor may not be able to do this? It's lovely your neighbor did that/ Do you also brag about other kind things people do for you to those who don't have people looking out for them that way?

Calm down. There are medical transport services that exist, and they are common in the DMV area, if that's where OP is posting from. People use them even if they have family. And again, a colonoscopy is not the most debilitating medical procedure--not for everyone. I sat in the waiting room until I felt steady on my feet, and then took a taxi home.

If medical transports in the DMV are SO COMMON, then POST SOME NAMES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.

Not if you get MAC propofol rather than fentanyl. Don't use a provider who uses fentanyl if you dont have someone to be at home with you after the procedure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see people on my local Reddit every so often begging for someone on the board to be their colonoscopy companion. What they don't realize (it's their first colonoscopy) is that the person who is your companion will be responsible for getting you out of your hospital gown and back into your clothes, because you'll be a bit out of it. You're aware, but weak and need some help. I'm almost 60, and this is what our society that is all "you don't need anyone, you don't need a spouse of family, only yourself" screws you over.

This is absolutely not true. The medical care staff keep you in recovery and check on you until you can get dressed. My DH didn't see me until I was in the waiting room ready to go. I've had this done twice and so has DH. Where are you going that your "companion" had to dress you??

[Anonymous]

Try care.com

[Anonymous]

When I had to have a (different) minor surgical procedure when I was single, I asked a friend.

I'm married, but if my husband was gone tomorrow, I have at least 5 local people I could comfortable ask to do this, and probably another 10 I would ask in a pinch.

Maybe work on building community? Living in a world where there are people you can ask for favors, and who ask you for favors, is a dramatically better world than always having to handle every single thing by yourself. Do you have kids? Doesn't seem possible to me to be a single parent without that kind of community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I scheduled one without anasthesia. I know lots of people will be shocked - shocked! - but, if you can find a doctor willing to do the procedure that way, and you don't mind some brief occurances of discomfort (yes, there is some), then that is a possibility.

This is an option. Although it's rare in the US, in Japan most colonoscopies are not sedated. I did mine without it. I thought it would be bad, but I really don't like sedation so was willing to suffer. But I didn't: there were a few moments of discomfort, but honestly it wasn't as bad as a typical dentist cleaning.

I understand many people have different preferences, so do whatever you prefer, but you have a choice.

My anesthesiologist spouse chose to do his colonoscopy in Maryland without anesthesia. He says that anesthesia is safe, but no anesthesia is safer. (He did get mild sedation but was awake the whole time.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was perfectly willing to book a medical transport (I think it was about double the price of a regular taxi) but my sweet neighbor insisted on driving me and was happy to leave her husband to deal with the kids & morning routine [HAHAHA].

Fasting: oh yeah it's awful. I took the fasting day off (or worked from home--can't remember) but definitely spared my colleagues the hangriness. I took the procedure day off too though honestly it was a very early appointment and I could've been at work fine by 9am.

Do you think this makes OP feel better. You are so special someone insisted on changing up the morning routine, having her husband leave later for work so she could be there for you and so you need to let OP know this when her neighbor may not be able to do this? It's lovely your neighbor did that/ Do you also brag about other kind things people do for you to those who don't have people looking out for them that way?

Calm down. There are medical transport services that exist, and they are common in the DMV area, if that's where OP is posting from. People use them even if they have family. And again, a colonoscopy is not the most debilitating medical procedure--not for everyone. I sat in the waiting room until I felt steady on my feet, and then took a taxi home.

If medical transports in the DMV are SO COMMON, then POST SOME NAMES.

Here you are. There are many more in the DMV area-some with dozens of reviews, if you use Google, yelp etc. A doctor’s office and hospitals would have their own list of common providers close to them.
MTM Health (DC, MD, NoVa) SBMedicalTransport (MoCo)
City Medical Transportation (Arlington)
M&M Patriots Transportation (Chantilly)

And OP can post something with a clearer request for recommendations for medical transport if they still can’t find something.

[Anonymous]

As a single person with no family in the area who just did this last month, I was fortunate that I had a friend who could take me. I scheduled it for a day that worked for her. She did not have to "do" anything in terms of helping me, other than sit in the waiting room for a while and then drive me home, so it did take a few hours out of her day. I got dressed by myself after the procedure.

The doctor's office asked in advance for the name/contact info for my driver, and also provided information for medical transport services in the event I didn't have a person to accompany me.

They want people to be able to get these screening procedures done - there are resources available if you don't have a friend to go with you so please do not skip your procedure because of that. Contact your doctor's office if you cannot find a transport service near you; surely you are not their first patient to have an issue with transportation.

[Anonymous]

+1 for MTM health. People with no one to drive them can use it often.
https://www.mtm-inc.net/healthcare/nemt/6