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It may not be the providers responsibility but I have a difficult time believing they haven't seen this problem before. They may have ideas that have helped others. OP needs to ask at her appt.
Oh, I totally agree with asking for resources for travel recommendations. In my case, I googled medical transports for my town and found a very nice local company that will do both eye surgery trips. They even gave me a discount due to my long career with the Navy. (They're a veteran-owned company).
Wow, taking a comment about one specific issue addressed by the OP as making an assumption about a poster's "universe" of experience... there's that reading comprehension thing again.
It's also "Otterhere"; not "Ottohere." There's that reading comprehension thing again.
I had a colonoscopy done a few months ago. The surgery center was only about 10 minutes from my house. I took uber to the center and my niece picked me up afterwards. The uber driver said next time if I need a ride home, call him and he'd "pretend" to be my contact and be able to pick me up. I'm not saying you should do that, I don't even think I would arrange that.
Bummer. I didn't know they sedated you for a colonoscopy. I imagine it's just a Valium, right? I'll be having one soon & being here for just a couple of months, don't know a soul, so will have to take a Lyft or cab to & fro'.
I'll let my PCP know in case she has an easy solution & if not, call the hospital to see if there's any kind of medical transport. When I lived in FL, there were senior apts directly across from my apt & I saw a medical transport bus there at least twice/wk. It wasn't owned by the apt complex, it was a local co & would bring seniors back/forth from appts. I was looking into the place back then for my mum to move into.
Who knows, they may offer something similar here. It's one of those things that the majority might not know about, because we don't have to unless we need services. Although, in FL, there are so many retired folks, it's in great need. Unsure about the Des Moines area.
And, agree or disagree, if it's a hard 'no' all around, I'll make arrangements for my Lyft "friend" to transport me afterwards. I've been in the ER twice for stomach pain, so can't miss the test... one way or the other, I'll manage to get there & home.
I did mention in a previous post that when I had an accident in Jan, had only been in Austin for 2-days, with no one to retrieve me, the hospital realeased me in the care of an Uber driver, who was on the hospital list of vetted drivers. And, I had major trauma surgery & 10 broken bones, so really wasn't alert & peppy. You'd be surprised how many don't have others readily available to drive them. The hospital said they had 2-3 patients a wk who needed to be sent home via Uber. I'm sure they add it to our bills & it's a needed service, so kudos to them for setting up a program to vet drivers.
Bummer. I didn't know they sedated you for a colonoscopy. I imagine it's just a Valium, right? I'll be having one soon & being here for just a couple of months, don't know a soul, so will have to take a Lyft or cab to & fro'.
I'll let my PCP know in case she has an easy solution & if not, call the hospital to see if there's any kind of medical transport. When I lived in FL, there were senior apts directly across from my apt & I saw a medical transport bus there at least twice/wk. It wasn't owned by the apt complex, it was a local co & would bring seniors back/forth from appts. I was looking into the place back then for my mum to move into.
Who knows, they may offer something similar here. It's one of those things that the majority might not know about, because we don't have to unless we need services. Although, in FL, there are so many retired folks, it's in great need. Unsure about the Des Moines area.
And, agree or disagree, if it's a hard 'no' all around, I'll make arrangements for my Lyft "friend" to transport me afterwards. I've been in the ER twice for stomach pain, so can't miss the test... one way or the other, I'll manage to get there & home.
I did mention in a previous post that when I had an accident in Jan, had only been in Austin for 2-days, with no one to retrieve me, the hospital realeased me in the care of an Uber driver, who was on the hospital list of vetted drivers. And, I had major trauma surgery & 10 broken bones, so really wasn't alert & peppy. You'd be surprised how many don't have others readily available to drive them. The hospital said they had 2-3 patients a wk who needed to be sent home via Uber. I'm sure they add it to our bills & it's a needed service, so kudos to them for setting up a program to vet drivers.
For a colonoscopy they use Propofol, IME. My gastro's office requires a dedicated driver who stays during the procedure and then drives you home again. I'll probably be using the same medical transport company for mine next year that I'm using for my cataract surgery. The only time I've used Uber to/from a procedure (cardiac catheterization) was with the cardiologist's express permission. He was a little startled by the question though.
Bummer. I didn't know they sedated you for a colonoscopy. I imagine it's just a Valium, right? I'll be having one soon & being here for just a couple of months, don't know a soul, so will have to take a Lyft or cab to & fro'.
I'll let my PCP know in case she has an easy solution & if not, call the hospital to see if there's any kind of medical transport. When I lived in FL, there were senior apts directly across from my apt & I saw a medical transport bus there at least twice/wk. It wasn't owned by the apt complex, it was a local co & would bring seniors back/forth from appts. I was looking into the place back then for my mum to move into.
Who knows, they may offer something similar here. It's one of those things that the majority might not know about, because we don't have to unless we need services. Although, in FL, there are so many retired folks, it's in great need. Unsure about the Des Moines area.
And, agree or disagree, if it's a hard 'no' all around, I'll make arrangements for my Lyft "friend" to transport me afterwards. I've been in the ER twice for stomach pain, so can't miss the test... one way or the other, I'll manage to get there & home.
I did mention in a previous post that when I had an accident in Jan, had only been in Austin for 2-days, with no one to retrieve me, the hospital realeased me in the care of an Uber driver, who was on the hospital list of vetted drivers. And, I had major trauma surgery & 10 broken bones, so really wasn't alert & peppy. You'd be surprised how many don't have others readily available to drive them. The hospital said they had 2-3 patients a wk who needed to be sent home via Uber. I'm sure they add it to our bills & it's a needed service, so kudos to them for setting up a program to vet drivers.
They generally use ( at least here in the US) conscious sedation for colonoscopies. That involves an IV infusion of a short acting anesthetic, propofol, sometimes Versed is added. That puts the patient to sleep, but it's a light sleep and the person is still breathing on his/her own ( no breathing tube), and generally wakes up when the anesthesia infusion is stopped. Many people experience some grogginess, confusion for a time after the anesthesia, so are not permitted to drive home on their own after any procedure involving this anesthesia. I've had this anesthesia a number of times and have always woken up ready to go, not groggy beyond a few minutes, but no matter, you still can't drive home.
The concern on the part of the surgery centers is that their patients get home safely, though they will suggest ( they can't mandate) that someone stay with the patient for safety reasons, and not to make any important decisions, or drive for the next 24 hours. When the person is ready to go home, a nurse will accompany that person to the waiting vehicle and make sure they're safely in the car, and that's it.
The surgery centers I'm familiar with around here ask " who's driving you home?", that's it. I noted on the website of the surgery center where I had my endoscopy/colonoscopy this past week instructions that if a patient planned to take public transportation home, they had to be accompanied by a responsible adult, so apparently just taking the bus home wouldn't do.
I think a list of vetted Uber drivers is a great idea on the part of the hospital. As you mention, there's a great need for this service as many people are in need of reliable transportation home after a procedure involving sedation. Are you still in Austin, or in Des Moines? If you're in Austin, might it be possible to get a name or three from that vetted Uber list and contact them? You'd be in much better shape after a colonoscopy/anesthesia than you no doubt were after your accident in January that left you with all those injuries , so going via Uber driver would be easier this time, I'd think.
But regardless of your location, I'd hope your PCP, or the facility where you will be having your colonoscopy might well have suggestions as to who might provide your transportation to and from
the facility. Sounds as though you are motivated to get the job done, so to speak, so I have every confidence you'll find someone to help you out. And I second your sentiment about making sure you get that colonoscopy- you never know, the consequences could be disastrous if you skipped it ( ask me how I know.....)
Anyway, good luck!
I was put out with something in an IV so it wasn't just valium. I didn't ask what it was.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungalove
For a colonoscopy they use Propofol, IME. My gastro's office requires a dedicated driver who stays during the procedure and then drives you home again. I'll probably be using the same medical transport company for mine next year that I'm using for my cataract surgery. The only time I've used Uber to/from a procedure (cardiac catheterization) was with the cardiologist's express permission. He was a little startled by the question though.
Thank you both. I had no idea it was anything that strong, so I definitely will inquire about transport next Tues when the office opens, before they book the test. Interestingly, Valium barely affects me, but almost anything else zombies me out. I'm also still recovering... the dr said it will be 18-mos before all the orbital bones have completely healed, so I don't want to take the chance of walking alone & tripping & falling... if the sedative is that strong, I want someone to guide me right into my apt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Travelassie
They generally use ( at least here in the US) conscious sedation for colonoscopies. That involves an IV infusion of a short acting anesthetic, propofol, sometimes Versed is added. That puts the patient to sleep, but it's a light sleep and the person is still breathing on his/her own ( no breathing tube), and generally wakes up when the anesthesia infusion is stopped. Many people experience some grogginess, confusion for a time after the anesthesia, so are not permitted to drive home on their own after any procedure involving this anesthesia. I've had this anesthesia a number of times and have always woken up ready to go, not groggy beyond a few minutes, but no matter, you still can't drive home.
TY. As above, given the strength of drugs, I'll have to make sure I'm safe & have someone guide me inside safely.
Quote:
I think a list of vetted Uber drivers is a great idea on the part of the hospital. As you mention, there's a great need for this service as many people are in need of reliable transportation home after a procedure involving sedation. Are you still in Austin, or in Des Moines? If you're in Austin, might it be possible to get a name or three from that vetted Uber list and contact them? You'd be in much better shape after a colonoscopy/anesthesia than you no doubt were after your accident in January that left you with all those injuries , so going via Uber driver would be easier this time, I'd think.
I'm not in Austin... in DMoines since April. Perhaps the difference with that hospital vetting Uber drivers is it's a huge trauma hospital way out in the suburbs... there's nothing around in that area but the hospital. Many patients are probably like me... I had to be transported in ambulance to 1 hospital, then helicoptered into the trauma hospital. If you have no one to drive you (you might even have a bunch of people around, but if they don't or can't drive, you're still stuck), most patients aren't easily walking out on their own, so they really need someone safe & capable with them.
As I mentioned, the nurse said they send at least 3 patients home by Uber/wk & for some odd reason, they discharged me at midnight... the nurses were stunned they didn't keep me an additional night. My driver was a big, sturdy, young man, who was very kind, helped me out of the car, carried my purse (what a guy! ) & offered me his arm to walk me up the outside stairs (I clung onto him like he was a bag with $1M in it)... those steep stone steps were frightening to try to navigate. I was so out of it, I couldn't figure out how to unlock my door... he had to do it, then asked if he could reach inside to flip on the lights... he didn't step inside, but did ask if I'd be okay and/or if he could call someone for me.
And, you're right, it is a very valuable service & they were very careful in Re: to my safety & releasing me, even though the driver was vetted. When they wheeled me out, the driver was just arriving & the nurse wouldn't let me stand up until the security guard double checked the license plate & took a pic of the driver's ID & license plate & texted it to security. They also asked him a number of q's (I wasn't listening, so I don't know what) & it was 2 nurses & a security guard who escorted me out, not just 1. I really appreciated that solid care.
Quote:
But regardless of your location, I'd hope your PCP, or the facility where you will be having your colonoscopy might well have suggestions as to who might provide your transportation to and from the facility. Sounds as though you are motivated to get the job done, so to speak, so I have every confidence you'll find someone to help you out. And I second your sentiment about making sure you get that colonoscopy- you never know, the consequences could be disastrous if you skipped it ( ask me how I know.....) Anyway, good luck!
I'll do just that... hopefully this info will help the OP, too, if she hasn't already had her procedure.
And, no I won't let it go... I went to the ER twice & I'm heartbroken that I lost a brand new great job due to it... I've got to get a job asap... just waiting for some testing to get everything under control first.
I drove my friend for her cataract surgery. I helped her go in, they took my name and number, and I left. They called me a couple hours later to pick her up. She did not need anyone to stay with her.
I spent the night with my girlfriend in fact because my appt was early the next morning. She left me there, ran some errands, and then when they called she picked me up and took me home, where I stayed, alone. No one checked one way or the other.
And hey, I was married! But my husband was working out of state so there's that. He was there for the first cataract surgery but not the second.
I was fine as frog's hair in a few hours so it was all good! In fact, I think I went somewhere that evening and I know I did my usual running around thing the next day.
And I haven't had to wear glasses since so yay, me!
Yes, well, if you have friends willing to drive you and stay with you, then you're not one of those who has "no one to accompany you," so it's all good. This thread about about people who DON'T have friends willing to drive us and stay with us.
I recently read "Gulp" by Mary Roach, and she reports having had a colonoscopy without any sedation (so she could report on it), so maybe that's optional. You can always ask...
I spent the night with my girlfriend in fact because my appt was early the next morning. She left me there, ran some errands, and then when they called she picked me up and took me home, where I stayed, alone. No one checked one way or the other.
And hey, I was married! But my husband was working out of state so there's that. He was there for the first cataract surgery but not the second.
I was fine as frog's hair in a few hours so it was all good! In fact, I think I went somewhere that evening and I know I did my usual running around thing the next day.
And I haven't had to wear glasses since so yay, me!
For sure, with any luck there's a world of difference between the pre- and post- cataract vision, I had my cataract surgery 9 years ago, and I still appreciate how well I can see. I just use dollar store cheapies for close up and computer vision. My husband ( who I did take back and forth to his surgeries, piled on the TLC afterwards, living in the same house and all.....) )
has had the same results so he's glad he had it done too.
I just had an EGD and colonoscopy a few days ago, and as I generally do, felt just fine and ready to go when I was awakened after it was over. I could have driven home, except for the bad news I got left me a bit shaken so glad I didn't have to.....
But I did drive that same afternoon, to our local friendly imaging center for some CT scans, felt just fine, even somewhat wired, I think, no problem driving. My husband offered to drive me, but I knew he was not feeling very well ( coming down with a cold he got from his buddies during their ham radio Field Day last weekend), and I did feel just fine so I told him I'd text him when I got there, when I left so he would know I was ok.
I had to wait for two hours when I got there as wehad stopped for breakfast on the way home and the scans were with contrast. So I went off and spent that two hours doing "retail therapy", got some pretty shirts I didn't need and went back to the imaging center when it was time, then drove home. So a fair amount of driving, and I even had to read and sign the forms they asked me to ( not sure that'd be counted in the major decisions they instruct patients not to get into for 24 hours, but whatever...). I felt just fine with all this....
I believe that arranging transportation to and from medical procedures, alone or not, falls into the " do what you gotta do" category, and a decision to forego a screening procedure, or a followup procedure to positive screening results, or troubling signs and symptoms because one is "alone, alone, alone" and can't possibly find transportation is, IMO foolhardy and may imperil one's life. The results are not always what you expect them to be.
There is always a way, regardless of the number of other persons who routinely populate an individuals life. It may take some effort and ingenuity to find that transportation to and from a medical procedure- which is why, I imagine, the suggestions offered in response to the OPs comments about having no one to drive her for cataract surgery could be helpful, regardless of the suggestion maker's marital, single, or alone alone alone status. A person generally doesn't know what resources are out there till they need them and look for them.
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, so going via Uber driver would be easier this time, I'd think. 
)
) & offered me his arm to walk me up the outside stairs (I clung onto him like he was a bag with $1M in it)... those steep stone steps were frightening to try to navigate. I was so out of it, I couldn't figure out how to unlock my door... he had to do it, then asked if he could reach inside to flip on the lights... he didn't step inside, but did ask if I'd be okay and/or if he could call someone for me.
