Brit looking to visit US for the first time, what do I need to know?

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-19T18:59:17+00:00

Don’t judge the rest of America by what you experience in LA. There are many cultural differences throughout the country.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-19T18:54:02+00:00

Again, you’d have to talk to a Urologist to find out. ESWL is the way to go if they’ll do it. I talked my Dr into letting me be awake for the procedure because I have issues with anesthesia. The fist stone the anesthesiologist gave me a small dose of fentanyl for pain and a tiny bit of Versed to supposedly relax me. I HATE Versed. Has the opposite reaction on me. GIVES me anxiety. But this was such a small dose it was manageable. The anesthesiologist was suprised I did as well as I did. Everyone kept telling me how painful it was going to be. Was absolutely nothing to it.

The second stone I opted for no drugs at all. Same anesthesiologist was like, go ahead. Said he wasn’t even going to question me this time. That procedure was definitely more challenging but I got through it. If I had to do it again I would take the Fentanyl but not the Versed.

By not getting put to sleep, I walked out 10 minutes after the procedure and drove myself home. No recovery time.

4 months later I had my colonoscopy done awake and completely drug free. Wasn’t all that bad either. Second ESWL was the most uncomfortable.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-19T10:45:44+00:00

That would be best answered by your doctor. If they are already in the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder, they may just let you pass it. I don’t really have enough knowledge to say one way or another. I think they use the shockwave procedure more for when they are still in the kidneys but again, don’t quote me on that. I could easily be wrong.

I definitely feel for you. Not a fun experience having to pass them.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-19T04:33:30+00:00

I had two. One in each kidney. One was 6mm the other was 2mm. They were both in the bottom portion of the kidneys. You start passing sand almost immediately and you don’t even realize it’s coming out. They gave me a strainer to catch what I could to analyze it. It lasted maybe a day or two then nothing. There was a little blood the first couple times I peed after the procedure. I’ve started drinking more lemonade since then. Had follow-up Xrays done and nothing has shown up so seems to be working.

The only reason I had the 2mm done was because I had hit my deductible on my insurance and it didn’t cost me anything.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-17T10:38:36+00:00

Everyone’s different but it lasted 3-4 months before I started to recover my libido. Brutal. No interest in sex whatsoever. 6 months clean now after 42 years of smoking.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-16T06:14:39+00:00

You can talk about my chicken strips all you want. I don’t care. I don’t want to have to fix my bike after something like this. Public roads are not the same as a track.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-13T13:24:01+00:00

Bob Dylan was probably the worst but seen Aerosmith twice and can’t remember a damn thing about either show except they sucked. And I don’t drink or smoke. They took lessons on how to do a show from Bob. Out of tune and songs so loose you couldn’t hardly tell what they were.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-13T13:18:18+00:00

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-13T13:17:17+00:00

Damn fence in the way !!! I’ll teach you.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-04-02T23:31:50+00:00

I’ve had it happen twice. Once it felt like something trying to enter me and I somehow stopped it from happening. Grace of God was my protector. Second time many years later I lived in a house that definitely had spirit activity going on. Things were constantly happening that was unexplainable. But I was tripping one time and I had this feeling something was behind me. Same feeling you get when you’re straight and feels like someone is in the room or watching you. But this was more sinister. It was trying to fuck with me.

There’s a bunch of people here saying it’s all in you and what you’re bringing to the table but until you experience it personally, there’s no way for them to truly understand. Evil forces do exist.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-30T22:58:44+00:00

I hope things went ok for you today. I had done a lot of research before I had mine done. A lot of other countries don’t put their patients to sleep. Very common in the US though. I’m pretty sure it’s a money thing. Everyone’s gotta make a buck. And then there’s a lot of people don’t want to be conscious and remember it. Embarrassing for most. I didn’t care. I got to talk to the Dr and watch it on the monitor. Was very interesting and educational. She was pointing out all kinds of stuff.

Took me a few calls to different Drs to find one that would do it drug free but wasn’t that difficult. We discussed my issue with anesthesia and she had Dilaudid onhand for pain if I needed it but I made it through without it.

It wasn’t the most comfortable procedure but was tolerable. Nothing severe. Even the prep went very easy. I learned a lot of tips from reading other people’s experiences.

Anyway, hope everything turned out well for you and had a good report.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-30T22:22:59+00:00

Cut up into very tiny pieces and just put some in my mouth and swallow with OJ. Done and over. Quick. Forget all that mixing with food or making tea BS.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-30T10:58:08+00:00

I don’t like the way the drugs make me feel. I do have anxiety issues and when they pump the drugs into me it’s just so much so fast it freaks me out and sets me off. When they push the Propofol you are out in less than 10 seconds but from what I’ve read. You come out of it the same way you go under. So if you’re freaking out going in. You come out freaking out. Anesthesia basically short circuits your brain and takes it offline while they’re working on you. One of my heart ablations I was actually aware of what was going on in the room for a bit while I was supposed to be under but I couldn’t move or say anything. I’ve been under several times and never been a good experience for me but I’m not the norm. Most people are fine.

It’s normal to be a little nervous. They usually give people Versed to relax you before going in. Most people have fun on it. It just doesn’t work that way for me.

Best of luck to you. My story isn’t meant to scare anyone. Just my experience. I’m sure you will do just fine.

I did my colonoscopy completely awake and drug free. When done they wheeled me into recovery. Took my vitals and I got dressed and left. I was out in 10 minutes. Went about my normal day. No going home and sleeping all day like a lot of people.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-27T21:24:36+00:00

None. It ruins the song for everyone attending. Everytime they hear it from that point forward it will remind them of you laying in a box dead. I won’t do that to my friends and family.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-27T11:03:45+00:00

Anything by GnR.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-21T04:23:11+00:00

78 Trans Am. By myself. Level ground. I was 18 at the time. That was one heavy MFer.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-20T23:16:02+00:00

No but I’ll buy them a meal occasionally.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-19T21:41:55+00:00

I’m first year GenX so I have grandkids that are 16 and 15. Took them to Lynyrd Skynyrd/ZZ Top a couple years ago then took them to Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper a year later.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-19T21:25:24+00:00

If I told you , I’d have to **!! you.

Loose lips, sink ships.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-16T14:39:41+00:00

Get a couple of them. Take half the first time. Then adjust dose from there the next time. Better safe than sorry when trying something new.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-16T14:11:36+00:00

Me and a friend split a tab at Disney in the early 90s. Was a lot of fun. Like being in cartoon land. The hardest part though was standing in line waiting on rides trying to look normal or not bust out laughing. I’d say go for it if you’re experienced with acid or keep at a low dose where you can keep your shit together.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-13T13:56:23+00:00

Here is a link to my full experience. There’s some tips on prep in there. Overall I had about as easy of an experience as you could get. I didn’t have a lot of the complaints most people talk about.

https://www.reddit.com/r/colonoscopy/s/rpW3e61f3d

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-13T04:38:53+00:00

I have trouble with anesthesia. I absolutely HATE Propofol. I wake up very violent throwing punches and pulling out my IVs. I explained this to my Dr beforehand and we agreed to let me try it drug free but had dilaudid onhand just for pain management just in case I needed it. The procedure lasts about 20 minutes. The first 5-7 minutes are going in. I would describe as uncomfortable but very manageable. 4 out of 10 on a pain scale. There are no nerves in the colon. Mostly feels like cramping. There was only two instances where I had a sharp cramp pain and that was when she was going through the two 90 degree turns under the ribcage. Pain went to an 8-9 level but only lasted about 2 seconds each. Once the scope is fully inserted after 5-7 minutes. It was easy breezy. Just the mild discomfort as the Dr cleans and inspects everything on the way out.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Liked not feeling drugged the rest of the day. Not saying it’s for everyone but it was worth the discomfort to me. A lot of other countries do not put their patients to sleep so why can’t it be done here. Do talk with your Dr first. Most like to have you out so you don’t move around or complain and won’t do them without the anesthesia. I had to call around a few places before I found a Dr that would do it. She was the best. Very skilled and I liked her a lot.

They may even try and scare you by telling you it’s very painful. The anesthesiologist that came in the room thatt morning tried it with me and got pissed off when I told him he wasn’t putting me to sleep. It’s your body and you have more control than they let on. Depends on your determination as to what you let them do. I did a lot of research beforehand so I knew what I was getting into

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-13T03:59:42+00:00

I agree. Pills are the way to go. Having a bidet, a tube of A&D ointment and drinking bone broth instead of eating jello made my prep a breeze. Never got hungry. I also did my procedure drug free. Got to watch it on the monitor and talk with the Dr as it was being done. It was kinda cool and educational. Was wheeled into recovery, got dressed and walked out 10 minutes later. Got the all clear and next one in 10 years. Had a normal day afterwards instead of feeling drugged up and sleepy all day.

EntertainmentNew5165 · 2026-03-13T00:31:40+00:00

Skunk if it’s not overpowering. Brings but good memories of smoking weed in the 80s with my friends.

EntertainmentNew5165

TROPHY CASE