NP; Colonoscopy

[Paul Mackin]

Joe Allonby wrote:
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 8:53 PM, <page at quesnelbc.com 
> <mailto:page at quesnelbc.com>> wrote:
>
>     Age: 50 or a bit later. Definitely by 55. As far as the normal
>     weekend, in
>     my experience morphine isn't that easy to come by. Good thing, too. I
>     could easily skip the indignity and go straight to the good part.
>     Just a
>     little prick and.... comfortably numb.
>
>     >
>
>  
>  
> It's not that difficult.

You don't really experience the indignity because one moment you're 
lying on a gurney in a large semi-open area with an I.V. pumping slowly 
into your arm feeling very comradely toward a bunch of other other guys 
and women all about to get the same procedure. Next moment (and it seems 
like only a moment) you're awake alone in a recovery room with a piece 
of paper in your hand telling you the results of what they found and 
repairs they made.

I'm describing the way they do it at a big  hospital (Georgetown  in 
DC).  At other facilities I've heard about they do it without anesthetic 
or of course an anesthesiologist  present. This makes for a cheaper 
operation, which the insurance companies prefer. Recently one big 
insurer (Aetna) announced they wouldn't pay for anesthesia any more 
except in special cases truly requiring it. Doctors strongly objected 
and the insurer backed down.

Obviously anesthesia makes it easier for the doctor as well as the 
patient. Also at teaching hospitals like Georgetown there are likely to  
be medical students and residents standing around. It's nice for the 
doctor (teacher) to be able to discuss interesting things freely without 
fear of upsetting the patient.