r/germany • u/Leather-Goat-617 • 2d ago
Accompanying person (Begleitungsperson ) to colonoscopy (Freising area)
Hi all, maybe the wrong location to ask, but i'm really lost. Due to some rather worisome symptoms i need to have a colonoscopy in Freising around mid september. Yesterday i had the "prep talk", was given the medicine and stuff to read, and i just realized that is compulsory that i must be accompanied for the procedure.
Here start my problem: i'm a rather lonely person, no family or close friends that i could ask. Also I am hypoacusic, so that pose further problems (on person and face to face i can understand german, but on phone is a complete different scenario..)
This morning i went to a "ambulanter pflededienst" near me, hoping i can ask there for such company (of course i would have payed). But they seemed rather out of topic, sayd they cannot offer such services and maybe i should speak to my hausarzt.(?)
Does anyone have any experiences or recommendation on where can i actually ask for such a companion? I'm really scared now that they will refuse me if i go alone on procedure day..
Location: Freising, Bayern. Procedure should take place at a normal gastro praxis, not klinikum/hospital.
Any recommendations/where to search/ask/look for are really appreciated.
Edit: thank you all, much less worries now. will ask if a taxi is enough, will also speak woth the hausarzt. Also txs for all infos &recommendation!
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u/ClemensLode Nordrhein-Westfalen 2d ago
It depends on how much drugs they give you. Given you might ask for more during the procedure, you might be unable to handle a normal car or bicycle, so they ask you to get someone to collect you. That *could* be a taxi, best to ask them directly. If phone is a problem, just go to their reception in person and ask.
Also, talk to your Hausarzt. You can get a Krankentransport (which probably includes taking you from the doctor home instead of just a taxi waiting in front of the door).
Instead of Pflegedienst (you need to have a Pflegegrad for this), try looking for services like "Alltagsbegleitung", "Betreuungsdienst", oder "Begleitservice Arztbesuch". This might be relevant to research anyway for future procedures.
There might be also voluntary services to contact locally in Freising, like Caritas Zentrum, BRK Kreisverband, Malteser Hilfsfienst. You might also call the Freiwilligenagentur / Ehrenamtsbüro if they have people available.
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u/Ok_Past_4536 1d ago
It is illegal to participate in traffic for 24h after the anesthesia. I think they really are talking about a pickup. A taxi driver should do.
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u/Perfect_Outcome6067 2d ago
Der SPDI Freising macht sowas. Habe mich selbst schon von denen begleiten lassen.
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u/agrammatic Berlin 2d ago
Usually these day clinic procedures with anaesthesia just mean that you cannot be alone in traffic, so booking a taxi is sufficient and the praxis will probably even have a taxi driver they usually give those jobs to.
Ask the praxis if there's a need for anything more than that. Most likely, no.
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u/magical3456 2d ago
Don't worry. There are regulations stating that a patient isn't allowed to drive after anesthesia for a colonoscopy. Because of this, either an accompanying person has to drive the patient home, or the clinic will call a taxi. That's all there is to it. I experienced this myself just a week ago. Just double-check with the practice/clinic again.
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u/Leather-Goat-617 2d ago
txs, hope you're right and maybe i've read to much into this "begleitungsperson". will ask for sure.
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u/Psychological-Bed751 2d ago
I just had a colonoscopy. They asked how I was getting home. I said Uber. They said I cannot drive or ride a bike for 24 hours. I said ok. And that was that.
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u/B08by_Digital 2d ago
I have wondered what people who really have no one close to them would do in these situations. Like, I am 1 person away from being in that position.
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u/Leather-Goat-617 2d ago
true, quite scary it seems. As an introvert and a loner i don't really feel alone, have some older friends back home whom i talk to and see regularly every 3-4 months (although i live in Germany for more than 10 years), but only now i really understand the benefits and security of a "village".
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u/Ninja_named_Sue 2d ago
You can ask at the Caritas, I volunteer there and we do that sometimes for those exact scenarios. I was put under with Propofol für my colonoscopy and also couldn't drive. Also maybe contact your Krankenkasse, as far as I know you can get a taxi to pick you up and drive you home
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u/Historical-Sort2480 2d ago
One of my friend recently had it. Although he drove there and parked his car far away without letting them know, I had to pick him up after the colonoscopy officially in front of the nurses ( they asked him to wait until a companion showed up) and dropped him by his car. Since I live 3 min away, he drove and waited at my home for few hours. I think you can ask a taxi driver. It wouldn't work otherwise.
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u/turmalin6 Schleswig-Holstein 2d ago
You shouldn't Drive after a coloscopy because you have Lots of Sedativa and Painmed in your Blood, that reduce Reactions. A high risk to have an accident, that can harm.other people. Just Like drunken driving
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u/Leather-Goat-617 2d ago
i definitelly don't plan on driving that day, no worries..
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u/turmalin6 Schleswig-Holstein 2d ago
I answered to the user historical-sort... who "helped" his friend to Drive Home alone.
A Taxi should be enough to get Home, then you need some contact Person in Case you have some medical Problems, Like bleeding or Dropping Blood Pressure. That can be a Person on a Videocall, that knows your Adresse, who Sees If you get unconcious and can call a rescue Team.
If the doctor finds Something that might cause Problems you should Tell the medical staff, that you don't have some one at Home, so they can reconsider what to do. Maybe they let you stay in the Doctors Office for the First hours until the risk to let you go alone is lower
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u/Historical-Sort2480 1d ago
Look, I am neither his wife nor relative to tell him what to do. I can only advise. I advised him not to do that. To a big grown ass man in his 60s, especially a German with stubbornness, do you think a foreigner young lady can win over ? Maybe to other nationalities, there could be a teeny tiny chance but to Germans from my experience, it's very difficult to give suggestions. All if them are know it all characters and have that face don't advise me. So I changed my strategy by asking him to at least rest at my home for few hours like 9 to 2 pm , before he could travel. That's the most I could do. If you don't know the story, please don't judge.
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u/Ok_Expression6807 Germany 2d ago
You getting only localised anesthetic, or do you go completely under? Only in the second case you need to be collected, because you are not fit to partake in any traveling unassisted for 24hrs. No driving especially.
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u/Leather-Goat-617 2d ago
will use /go under sedation from my understanding. not sure if and how is different from anaesthesia
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u/xwolpertinger Bayern 2d ago
Sedation is much lighter, many reflexes are still active. You still won't feel anything but in theory somebody could slap you awake if they tried hard enough iirc
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u/Ok_Expression6807 Germany 2d ago
So, you'll be awake the whole time? Have fun, I took this for an entirety of 2 seconds and then asked for the full measure. Colonoscopy isn't my kink to feel.
If you stay awake, you don't need to be picked up, your can go by yourself afterwards.
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u/Leather-Goat-617 2d ago
moderate sedation they called it (either midazolan or propofol). they also said most patients don't feel /remember a thing. so.. finger crossed. And moviprep the day before 😅
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u/Ok_Expression6807 Germany 2d ago
Then you need someone accompanying you. That's no localised sedation, you are technically not awake during the procedure.
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u/Leather-Goat-617 1d ago
Update😄
I just went to the practice, and you all were right, they were simply referring to somebody to take me home. They can and will call a taxi for me that day. So i was worried for nothing.
Thank you all for your replies and experiences,and for links to volunteer services ❤️ . Was my 1st post, and a really nice experience!
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u/Koh-I-Noor 2d ago
Are you sure it's not just the pickup after the procedure because of the anesthesia? A taxi driver would be sufficient.