Will they do a Colonoscopy

[beggingbehind]

So DS 16 has had periods of runny or normal poos, when they are also frequent and have blood. Hell go 3 weeks with nothing the occasional 'bad episode' and then have 4/5 days on toilet with bad runs. iyswim. We went to GP when he was 15 they referred him to paediatric gastroentology. They did blood tests (normal) and requested a fecal calprotein test(?) with view of colonoscopy if symptoms hadn't settled or anything came up. Due to circumstances beyond our control he didnt go to follow up appointment. We went to a completely unrelated apootment a month ago it was brought up and DS said he still was having problems. So they want to carry on investigating. Hes been referred to adult as now 16 (not an adult in my opinion) They want to do all the tests see how they come back there testing for Chrons/ colitus (in the family aswel) same as befor if the symptoms still there theyll do colonoscopy. But the thing is me and DS really dont thinks its IBD neither do doctors they just want to check. DS really dosent want a colonoscopy now an adult he wont be kncoked out. Im just asking cause im sressed, DS not copying, im not copying. it just never ends!

[RedBugMug]

inn adults, they will use sedation instead of ga. it will be fine.

[Raiseyourglass26]

It's difficult to say either way if he will be given a colonoscopy, but with the family history of IBD I would be inclined to think they will do one just to check.

An adult can request a general anesthetic for one though so he doesn't have to be awake for it

for you and ds

[Ilikecrocs]

I have Crohns and only had one colonoscopy. My Crohns is more in the small bowel rather than large so only tend to have MRI's. But the colonoscopy isn't that bad and he'll be heavily sedated if necessary and given gas and air too.

[sliceoflife]

Unfortunately if you were discharged from paediatrics and re rereferred after 16 you have to go to adult services. If he needed to be admitted as an inpatient it would be to an adult ward and therefore under an adult gastroenterologist. Ask if your hospital has a consultant who looks after transition patients i.e. those kids with inflammatory bowel disease moving from paediatric to adult services, they might be more teen friendly and understanding. Your DS should be able to have sedation rather than a general anaesthetic, but I can understand him not wanting a colonoscopy. Your first step is to get the calprotectin result, if it was abnormal but done a while ago see if your gp can send a repeat sample while you wait for the gastro appointment to save having to do it again and then wait for the results which can take up to 2 weeks. The gastroenterologist will have something to go on at the first appointment, and some idea if the level of rising or falling. Also take any previous weights and a symptom diary with you. Please don't let your ds ignore or play down his symptoms, gastroenterologists talk about bowels and stools all day long. Have a chat with ds before your appointment so he knows what will be asked and the language that might be used e.g. 'How often do you have you bowels open' often means nothing to a teenager, likewise 'what are your stools like'. They to get him in the habit of looking in the toilet pan, the doctor will want to know if there is blood or slime, is the blood mixed in the poo or just on the outside, is there any blood when he wipes, does he get the need to go urgently or can he hold on if necessary. I swear so many teenagers go to the loo in the dark, put the lid down and flush then say they have no idea what they are passing.

[balence49]

I didn't know that you can ask for a general anaesthetic! I highly recommend doing so as when Iv had it twice with "sedation " it was the most awful experience Iv had and that's in 25 years of loads of hospital admissions and health problems. To the point that I now just put up with the poo issues coz no way am I doing that again.

[StealingYourWiFi]

I work in endoscopy and they will NOT give a general anaesthetic without due reason. The risks of general anaesthesia are not worth it. We need patients to be semi conscious as we need them to reposition and also to let us know when they have pain. The pain is caused by the air that inflates the colon and will feel crampy. Your son will be given a good dose of a sedative and a pain killer, they may also offer gas and air. The air used to inflated the colon has changed now in many hospitals and reabsorbs faster so is less painful.

[beggingbehind]

Thank you, hes already worried about it as we both sort of know its very likely to happen. His grandmother (my mother) has Colitus. The symptoms have been going on a while. We thought it we thought it was IBS, his uncle has it. But due to blood being mixed in and slight weight loss. (although hes already v skinny) they want to cheek to be on the safe side. He's only just turned 16, bless. He's very nervous. Whats the waiting list like will he wait long. Ive been trying to explain what will happen. What will happen! I feel awfully for him.

[StealingYourWiFi]

The waiting list is not long in my area but it depends where you live.

[RedBugMug]

don't feel awful.
it's a good thing after all his problems to get to the bottom of this. (pardon the pun). treatment and/or dietary changes can make a real difference to the quality of life.

[beggingbehind]

We did do dietary changes and he had tests for allergies just in case, didnt help

[beggingbehind]

I dont think this will ever get better!

[StealingYourWiFi]

He will get better a colonoscopy will really help. We can find out so much from them.

[beggingbehind]

All i have read so far, trying to get my head round it so i can help hime. Is you have to do bowl prep a couple days before, which a lot of people say is worse. You go for day of appointment get seen by nurse get asked questions. Go room for colonoscopy, get sedated (or not sometimes apparently) They do the colonoscopy, which can be uncomftable sometimes. Stop sedation you go to recovery go home. But thats all i really know and DS wants to know more and i dont what to do to make him feel less anxious! So what happens in more deatil or is that it

[RedBugMug]

the preperation is uncomfortable. usually it's eating very bland and colourless food for a day and then taking a strong prescribed laxative to empty the intestine, which takes another day (timelines are different depending on what laxative is prescriped), the consultant or nurse will explain in the consultation.

I would suggest to your ds that he writes down any question he might have so he doesn't forget.

[Crumbs1]

He is perfectly entitled to refuse and this would have to be respected. The consultant should discuss reasons, what other options are and what is likely to be outcome and risks so he can make an informed choice. It's not what 'they' want it's what he wants.

[viques]

I have had several colonoscopies. The prep starts a couple of days before your appointment , you will have had a preliminary appt to discuss the procedure and probably be given a booklet. The prep starts with a boring couple of days on a bland white diet. White fish, mashed potato, white bread, rich tea biscuits etc etc if I recall. Dull but doable. You then stop eating (but can take fluids) . In the evening you take a fairly revolting drink which empties the bowel (strangely what comes out is mostly liquid). I advise you to make sure there is plenty of nice loo paper and Vaseline for your bum because it can get a bit sore. It is fairly dramatic but only lasts a couple of hours. The worst bit is the drink, once that is finished then celebrate, the worst is over.
The next day you attend (ask for an early slot if possible) on arrival you will be put in a gown and given a pair of NHS paper knickers with a large hole at the back. Then have a back of the hand needle - forget what they are called - this is for the sedative, you will feel aware but woozy.
The procedure is you lie on your side and the camera thing is inserted, not painful in itself but it does get a bit uncomfortable towards the end as they have to push around a bend in your colon to get to the last bit. I could see it on the screen and it was quite interesting. If they find polyps they will snip them out - painless- and remove for analysis.
Then they take the camera out. You go back to the waiting area and with any luck get a cup of tea and a bit of toast, but I would take in a drink and a few biscuits or something in case this doesn't happen!
Hope this helps, it is not very dignified, the diet is dull, the drink is disgusting, the pooing is like a bad case of the runs, nothing very pleasant but it happens bit by bit, you are at home for most of it and the actual procedure is embarrassing but not as uncomfortable as you think.

Hope this helps.

[DancingLedge]

I really wouldn't describe it as painful, and I' m quite a wuss. Mostly no sensation, sometimes a bit of pressure, sometimes uncomfortable.

[BoobleMcB]

Don't bother with the sedation, it's a barely therapeutic dose anyways. And although it's a sedative it's not a pain killer so he'll still feel it.

Go with gas and air, I did and it was fine. No problem at all. The gas and air has a mild sedative effect bit is also a painkiller. Plus the recovery time is minutes rather than hours so he'll be discharged WAY sooner

[beggingbehind]

Thanks all again. Big thank you to viques for description.

[BoobleMcB]

There are a few different types too though so wait and see

[BoobleMcB]

Each needing a different prep

[chickensatay]

I am a gastro nurse and the majority of people come back from there colonoscopy saying it wasn't as bad as they expected and/or they can't remember a thing. Where I work sedation is given as standard and you can ask for more if you are anxious. Speak to the unit if you can stay with him (not during the procedure obviously) if he would rather a familiar face- this would not be an issue in my work (we have adults who's family stay with them 24/7 as an inpatient for no particular reason). The prep isn't pleasant but its very important it's done properly otherwise the procedure may need to be repeated. It's vital that he gets this test so don't put it off out of fear.

[StealingYourWiFi]

booble not correct, at least where I work. We give Fentanyl as well as Midazolam as standard and also offer Buscopan if needed.

[BoobleMcB]

stealing when I had mine it was only Midaz. And they said they only give a tiny dose, in fact he said it barely crosses into the the therapeutic range

[MakeupLover1]

Hello Beggingbehind

So sorry to hear that your son is having problems. My son is also 16 and has had bowel problems for the past four years and is so ill that he is hardly abke to attend school most of the time. He had a diagnosis of slow transit constipation as shown by X-ray marker studies done at the Evelina children's hospital London. No laxatives have been successful in effectively clearing his bowel on a daily basis. He also suffers from pain and abdominal cramping daily plus diarrhoea even on low doses of medication.
He had a colonoscopy last year when he was 15 and had this done under sedation. He, like your son, was also apprehensive but with sedation he could not remember a thing about it afterward. Like you we have a history of IBD in the family, my brother has Crohn's disease and my dad has ulcerative colitis. I also have coeliac disease. I can understand why he is nervous but with a family history of these conditions and the fact that he is passing blood, I would say that it is extremely important that the colonsoscopy is done and that your son understands why it's needed.
I can understand why it is a stressful time for you. My son is doing his GCSE exams in a few weeks, his attendance at school this academic year is less than 30%. We are in fact in the process of getting the school to apply to the exam boards for him to sit the exams at home with an invigilator present as he is so bad.
Good luck with everything xx