Shitting myself... colonoscopy next week!

[TrampyCat]

Please tell me your positive stories! I got my letter through and it explains all the risk's so now I've convinced myself I will probabily die! I have anxiety / ocd so that doesn't help! Looking for reassurance please.

[Gruffalosgrandma]

Calm down. It's policy to tell you everything that could possibly go wrong even when the odds are 1 / 5,000,000. I've had several. They will give you a sedative and painkiller ( though that's probably not really necessary) and it's over before you know it . They tell you the results straight away and give you tea and toast. You will be fine.

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Don't worry OP. I had a colonoscopy about a year ago and it was fine. Very uncomfortable and yes a little painful at times but I never felt that my life was at risk, just maybe my dignity!

It felt more like a trip to the dentist - dr asked me about my job etc - rather than a medical procedure and lasted about 15 mins or so. They place the screen so you can watch if you want, it was pretty gross. Think I got a gallery of photos to take home too!

TBH the worst bit for me was doing the enema before hand. I'd never done one before and worried that I'd done it incorrectly and it made me feel quite sick. Luckily I did it at home (I had to pick up a kit from the hospital I think) so I could feel relaxed.

The other bit that's a bit TMI maybe is that they really lube the area up.. I should have spent longer in the loo after the procedure to make sure all of this was gone as I did find some of the lube etc came out into my pants when I was walking to the bus stop so maybe bring a sanitary towel or something with you as I felt v self conscious!

They'll talk you through it and I think the nurse even held my hand too. Don't worry you'll be fine

[TrampyCat]

Thank you! I've got to have an enema at hospital before the procedure, I have visions of poo exploding everywhere! They don't give sedatives routinely here unless necessary, but I don't have anyone to stay with my afterwards so that'd probably for the best. Will I be in pain afterwards? Is there anything I can do to make things less painful whilst having it done? I've had a endoscopy before, I refused to swallow the numbing spray so wasn't very pleasant but I can't remember the risks! Surely it'd be similar?

[9unctured6icycle]

As far as I'm aware you need to do the prep the day before (the awful drink that cleans you out from end to end) but I had no enema. Are you sure that's part of it?
I had light sedation (felt normal but in hindsight everything seems a bit fuzzy) and had to be taken home by DH. I could have taken a taxi but was afraid I'd be full of wind!
My top tip is to take a double dose of probiotics when you get home and for the next week or so. It seemed to return everything to normal very quickly. FIL was worried about his colonoscopy so we bought him some probiotics and they seemed to work for him too.
Soup, light foods, rest when you get home. Otherwise I'm sure it will be fine. Good luck they only find healthy pink stuff up there.

[9unctured6icycle]

'Good luck I hope they only find healthy pink stuff'...

[Tartyflette]

No sedation???
The worst part of mine was the bowel prep, 48 hous of shitting through the eye of a needle.
The actual procedure was fine, the consultant was lovely. He told me it wouldn't be anything like as bad as I feared. I didn't believe him but he was absolutely right.
However, they were shit-hot (sorry) with the meds and I hardly felt a thing. Every time I so much as winced they shot a bit more sedation into the IV line. (valium and a painkiller, I think)
If I were you I'd ask for light sedation, they keep you in a recovery room afterwards, feed you tea and biscuits then let you go after about 40 minutes.

[Teabagtits]

It'll be absolutely fine. You'll get off your face on the sedative and not give a shit about it. It was actually quite fascinating for me to watch mine. You'll do all your shitting yourself the day before with the prep and honestly while that's the worst part about the experience it's really not that bad and doesn't hurt at all. I've had a few and while I was terrified for the first if anyone had told me how pleasant the sedative was in advance I'd have saved myself the worry. It'll be over before you realise. Good luck!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

I've had one. It was fine. Not very comfortable! The nurse at one point said to me, "You really must try to relax," and I snarled at her, "Have you ever had one of these done to you?" That shut her up. :)

I recommend gas and air, or sedation, or AND sedation... Take everything you can, just because you can!

But it's really fine. I far preferred it to the colcoscopy I had done 10 years ago after a smear revealed I had CIN III cells in my cervix. That was really painful.

Good luck!

[sandgrown]

I thought you had to take the prep stuff the night before? I had the sedative and was fine . I watched on the screen and they removed a polyp while I was there. They asked me to get someone to pick me up and I was a bit spaced out! No after effects except lots of wind!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

I had gas and air - and I'd never had it before. When it finally kicked in, I felt amazing - really happy and exuberant. My friend picked me up from the hospital, and I was just full of joy. She asked how my colonoscopy went and I replied, "it was just like being being shagged up the arse by a HUGE cock that just wouldn't quit!"

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Wow I never have any sedation! I'm kinda jealous now!
If it helps I had mine done at Kings college hospital in London.

'Twas: enema that morning (not the night before now I think if it, duh!) that I did myself at home after getting it from the hospital.
Go to the hospital, think I got given a gown and stuff to get changed in to.
No sedation of any kind, just pure grit of the teeth whilst they rummaged around. Loads of lube!
It was a very uncomfortable feeling and I remember thinking 'please let this be the last bit' but it was only a bit painful. Def glad it was over and the last bit was the worst/most painful.
Afterwards I was wheeled back to an open ward where I got tea and a biscuit or something and was told to relax. My DP came to get me but tbh I think I would have been better if I was by myself so I could have relaxed and let all the lube etc, erm... leave.
I think cos he was there I just wanted to get back home and that meant that after one trip to the loo there was still some of the lube inside me that reappeared when I was walking home to the bus!

Take a sanitary pad with you and wear your comfiest clothes and you'll be fine. Afterwards it doesn't hurt at all to my memory but I guess you could always bring some neurofen or something if that would help you.

[Gruffalosgrandma]

If you are having an enema at the hospital, with none of the drain cleaner laxatives to take the day before at home, I would think that they are only looking at the lower part of your colon which will be quick and straightforward .

[Gruffalosgrandma]

And please stop worrying about the risks. When I was upset about them I was told by a lovely nurse that , although they have to tell you them , she had never seen any of them happen in over 30 years in the job .

[TrampyCat]

Thank you all for the tips and advice. It was originally a colonoscopy i was suppose to have but the consultant said I only needed a sigmoidoscopy so it'll be quicker than a colonoscopy. That's why I don't need the laxative preps the day before just the enema on the day.

[UnbornMortificado]

My mam had one last year and she was recovered in about 2/3 days no idea on the technicalities of it (I didn't really ask!) but good luck.

I had a gynae procedure under a spinal a month back and was given sedation no problem.

I did leave my dignity at the door though

[Gruffalosgrandma]

Recovered in 2-3 days ?? Cup of tea, slice of toast and recovery is complete.

[UnbornMortificado]

Gruffalo she could of been exaggerating slightly to get a bit sympathy and cuppas made. I wouldn't put it past her

[Gruffalosgrandma]

Ha ha unborn, I had one like that.

[maxybrown]

Am so glad to see this thread. I have mine on Saturday (I have ulcerative colitis) and am panicking like mad. The o my other thing that i get worked up about is the dentist. Like full on crying (otherwise I'm so laid back!) So whoever compared it to the dentist won't help me .

We can hold hands together OP

[maxybrown]

Ohhhh sigmoidoscopy is easy least! Now I'm jealous

[SnagglePuss37]

You've said everything I was going to say! Including the bit about surplus lube - take tissues and take your time, even if you do feel you can't get out of there fast enough. Relax, OP lady, it's really no biggy and it's for your benefit. Relax, mentally & physically.

[SnagglePuss37]

My partner also has colitis and has recently had 2nd colonoscopy. Said knowing what was going on made it a lot more easy to relax 2nd time. They use LOADS of lube, so be aware that what went in earlier is going to come out once you get up and walking around again! Go prepared, with pantyliners or similar. Best of luck

[TrampyCat]

Happy to hand hold maxy altho mine doesn't go as far as yours.

OK so the plan is to have a good wipe after, plenty of panty liners and a bath as soon as I get home!

[BoogleMcGroogle]

It's fine. Not fun but one of those things where you wonder what all the fuss is about. I have one every 2 years and last time got off my face on gas and air while the consultant shared his plans for his fortieth wedding anniversary. I got praised by the nurses for my bravery for not having a sedative and are about ten custard creams. Really, try not to worry. And I found Noel prep alternated with coke and eating lots of jelly babies ( not the purple) both help with the prelude.

[Stripyhoglets]

I had a sigmoidoscopy and had the enema at hospital before the procedure - uncomfortable but fine. I didn't need sedation for the process which was a bit uncomfy and slightly painful on occasion but manageable without sedation or gas and air.