pneumonia/colonoscopy/sedation

Both my internal med doc and the gastrologist agree on proceeding with the colonoscopy as long as I no longer have fever or coughing. I'm glad since I'd already started preping for the procedure by coming off coumadin and giving myself lovenox shots since Saturday. I was going to have antibiotics for the colonoscopy anyway due to my endocarditis history - guess I got a head start - I was given Rocephin IV in the emergency room, and am taking Levaquin orally now. I'm still requesting no versed. I had my pacemaker surgery and a lithotripsy for kidney stones last year with promethazine & demerol or fentanyl without the benzodiazipines. I expect it to be rather crampy & uncomfortable, but I think my body can handle that better than my mind can handle the amnesia. I'd rather suffer physically by my own choice that suffer mentally and emotionally by someone else's decision.
Vonnie

5 Comments

lovenox

by VonnieVern - 2008-11-24 06:11:06

Lovenox in a faster acting shorter lasting anticoagulant than Coumadin. So they have you stop taking Coumadin 5 days before a surgery or procedure, because it takes that long to get out of your system. Then however, you're at less risk of bleeding, but at more risk for developing a clot. Lovenox is a more immediate acting but shorter lasting anticoagulant, about 12 hours. So I get a shot of Lovenox every 12 hours until the day before the colonoscopy. Afterwards I continue on lovenox until the coumadin builds back up in my system.

Lovenox

by Pookie - 2008-11-24 06:11:26

Thanks for the explanation vonnie....each day I am learning something new!

Pookie

full steam ahead!

by Pookie - 2008-11-24 06:11:40

Hi Vonnie.

I'm glad to hear that you are going ahead with the colonoscopy, especially since you've already started the prep.

What the heck is Lovenox?

Good luck & keep us posted.

Pookie

Good News......

by Bionic Beat - 2008-11-24 11:11:18

I'm glad you've got the go-ahead for your procedure.

Is your tummy as purple as mine was on Lovenox?? lol

If you don't rub the area, it bruises less...just a tip.

Yea, as long as you don't have a raging fever, it's better to get it over with......esp, as you've started the prep.

Hope it's not too crampy....my GP had one without drugs and that was his major complaint.

Good luck with it.......better you than me!!!!! hahaha


Bionic Beat

purple polka dots

by VonnieVern - 2008-11-24 11:11:56

Thanks, Bionic.

I think if I'm ever hospitalized again and have to have Lovenox shots I'll ask to do them myself! I've got little purple dots from doing my own shots, in the hospital they were BIG purple spots. The first time I'm not sure if I was told not to rub, the last time I know they told me, but the spots were still much bigger than with me doing it.

As for cramps, I doubt they could be any worse than labor pains! If a man endured without changing his mind, I think I can handle it.

Vonnie

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