What to expect after colonoscopy and endoscopy?

[SteveBrucesNose]

I'm booked to have both a colonoscopy and endoscopy at the same appointment in a few weeks time. Unfortunately that was the earliest I could get booked in for as my consultant is going on holiday, and it took me lots of research into the the best person to see so I'm not letting anyone else do it! I'll say now that I'm not in the UK and this is all relating to private health insurance, so not NHS hospitals clarifying just in case. Of what, I don't know

I've had horrendous stomach issues for as long as I can remember, and I've got fed up of various doctors saying to me 'well the D&V has stopped for now, so lets just see how it goes', and then the next time I go in with similar they give me things to stop the D&V and never look into it any further. I got fed up and self-referred to a consultant gastroenterologist who I saw last night.

Because I wanted a particular specialist, the hospital is around 1.5 hours drive from home, but close to my husband's work. Obviously I'll be off work the whole day as I'll need to take the foul potion beforehand.

I suppose what I'm really asking is, will I be up to travelling home that evening? Its my first time for each of the -oscopies, but the thought of having something shoved up there and waggled around and then having such a long drive home scares me a little. Would it make more sense to book into a hotel for the night?

Would I be normal for going to work the following day?

Will I just be a complete utter wuss and need someone looking after me?

Would it be best to get DH to take the afternoon (at least) off on the day? He'll be driving me home afterwards, but I've been told my appointment time with the consultant is from 2pm to 5pm, so could he just come and get me after work?

And finally, does it sound weird that I'm actually kinda looking forward to it? I'm not hoping for a diagnosis of something nasty, but I'd like it ruled out, and once things get ruled out I can start trying to get better. Or once something is diagnosed I suppose, as long as we know. I'm just fed up of, well, not knowing what's going on and nobody really takes it seriously.

[gobbin]

You should be fine for going home the same day especially if you don't have sedation.

If they suggest sedation for the colonoscopy then you will definitely need the lift home but you should be fine for work the next day.

Either way, you will be tired. The stress of 'what are they going to do to me', having the bowel prep and being poked and prodded is surprisingly tiring.

If you can, have a look at the screen while they do them, it's fascinating! Good luck, these things are very routine to the staff so don't be embarrassed and hope you get some answers to your issues.

[SteveBrucesNose]

Thanks gobbin

Whilst some parts of me are screaming out for me to not be awake during all this and not know whats happening, part of me has a real morbid curiousity about seeing what's going on in there. I can imagine it really is fascinating!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi Steve I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy a couple of weeks back.

Mine was in the afternoon, I was given a sheet of information and the tablets + drink granuals.
There's a list of food that you can have two days before ( basically bland, non staining food that won't leave a residue. No dairy either)
I had boiled eggs and white toast (I had stopped eating bread so this was blardy lovely )

Day before the procedure, I had breakfast before 7am (as directed) . DH made me one slice of toast + coffee...........then the tablets + drink+ clear fluids (lemonade , lucozade, black coffee)

I thought I'd be falling about with hunger but I wasn't.

On the day, I could drink till 4 hours before. We got a taxi (DH doesn't drive) but TBH I'd have been fine on the bu (My guts were empty )

I was sedated , not because I;m a wuss, I just wanted to be detatched.
I've had 2 DC with gas'n'air and 4 wisdom teeth under a local, but I didn't want to be a part of this .

The endoscopy, you feel like you're gagging, but I didn't feel much. The colonoscopy feels a bit 'pinchey' but it's like being in a dream when someone tries to wake you up, and you want them to go away.

They gave me the initial results, a letter to take to the GP, waiting for results of samples taken.
Cup of coffee after was lush. But they make you pass gas ( I just lay on my hospital bed and parrrrrp before you drink.
I had light food when I got home, but fine.
Next day I wasn't working (I do PT) I could potter about, but you can't drive, drink alcohol or sign legal documents for 24 hours .

You want to know about the bowel explosions don't ya?
Stay near a loo. When they start they START. I poohed from 12 noon to 2am.
I used an entire roll of loo roll, and a box of those moist wipes. Sudocream was not my friend.

[SteveBrucesNose]

Cheers 70 that's fab. Well, I'm sure the explosions weren't fab, but I'd rather know about them! Hmmmm. Not sure about that long drive home!

Thanks to both of you, excellent blow by blow accounts. I'm not sure whether I want to see or if I want sedation and not to know anything.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

By the time you drive home you'll have nothing in your insides , so you can snooze while your DH drives.

I was there for an hour or so afterwards, they make sure you are recovered and have a drink .

By the time you've fasted and had the laxatives, your bowels are squeaky clean.
(I had Picolax, mix with water, it goes hot , then add more water , and swallow. It wasn't too bad, like a lemony Andrews Liver Salts)

[Redcherries]

I'm fairly old hat at these, never have sedation so I can have a nice glass of wine and nice food that evening. I always take DH, the bowel prep and general stress of it is exhausting.

For the prep I always make sure all electrical devices are charged for toilet internetting/reading. depending on times and how your prep is put together I would sleep on a towel just in case. None red jelly and ice lollies are good, chicken broth during the day to keep minerals up. If you end up with the one where you have litres of the stuff to drink make sure its really cold, drink with a straw so its hitting the back of your mouth and take long hard swallows to get as much down with each attempt ;)

I think I've now had 6 colonoscopys in a few years and two endoscopys, I treat them as a chance to have a few days down time and rest, with a bit of TLC from the family! very interesting to watch the screen, although top end ones I've had to be facing the surgeon not the screen.

My last one was private, they had me tucked up in bed watching daytime tele before and after, with my choice of food after. NHS is tea and biscuits after.

Good luck!

[SteveBrucesNose]

Right, so I'm in hospital as an emergency case as I had days of rectal
Bleeding.

Seeing a different specialist as I'm in a different city, due to the emergency admission. He wants to stabilise me first, and then do
Endoscopy and colonoscopy on Saturday. Looks like I'm not getting our before that

So, I'm going to be in here for the build up which is good. And everything has been brought forward from 10/9. I find out what's going on sooner.