Experiences of moviprep / colonoscopy

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

My mother had bowel cancer in her 50s and I have had some symptoms which could be signs of, amongst many other things, bowel cancer. So I went to my GP and am booked in for a colonoscopy next Wednesday. I have read through the instructions given to me with the moviprep as well as googling it, and I'm dreading it. It lists nausea and vomiting as common side effects. Malaise and pyrexia ( fever - I had to google that one) as very common. I have to be up at the hospital about 40 mins drive away at 7.15 am so was planning to drive myself, but will I be in a fit state to drive the morning after taking the moviprep and after 24 hours fasting? I have to take the moviprep at 1 pm and 6 pm ( I think) on the day before. I feel queasy just thinking about it. Any tips?

[Chchchchangeabout]

It will be fine as an experience. Watch lots of tv and stay near a loo.

Not sure about the driving sorry.

[SauvignonGrower]

It's fine. Take it and hang out near a toilet! I really wouldn't drive. You'll have zero energy from the fasting. You just need to zone out and not engage brain.

[happyfrown]

if your being sedated they wont let you go/drive until you recovered or someone is collecting you.
I was awake when I had mine, just had gas and air. it was very uncomfortable, I wont lie. my ex partner drove me home but even if I drove I couldn't of driven home after. I was in pain and way to light headed. just about walked to the car ok.
hope it goes ok for you and all the best in results.

oh and I had no side effects from the lax. think you will be fine.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Thank you for your responses. Coming back wouldn't be a problem : should be early to mid afternoon. The nurse said I could leave my car in the car park overnight (they will give me a ticket to put in it) so I could come back to get it the next day. Or I could forgo the sedative - it can't be worse than giving birth surely? In any case, I'll have DH and the kids on standby for an early morning start then in the event that I'm not up to it...

How long does the moviprep take to work? I'm guessing about 20 minutes - is that about right? And how long after you've stopped taking it does it stop giving you diarrhoea?

[happyfrown]

i have a bit of a phobia with diarrhoea and was more scared of that then the colonoscopy, I started reducing what I ate before I took the lax pills so I didn't have a lot to clear out. you could do that? but then I was very light headed and drained. I cant remember how long it took to work sorry.
i didn't have diarrhoea when i started eating again but i ate small and built up to avoid stomach upset. everyone is different tho i suppose.

i hate the thought of being sedated so i went without it. if i had to have it again i might have to be sedated. it was quite uncomfortable. i have a good pain thresh hold but it did challenge it!

[gamerchick]

The prep was worse than the thing, use Vaseline on your ring piece from the beginning not when you get sore like I did. I wore a tenna nappy to and from the hospital just in case to save clothes. I didn't have the sedation so I could leave the hospital quicker where I went straight to the chippy. The loose stools went quite quick but I did find I needed a sofa day the next day as insides felt swollen battered and bruised.

Good luck.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Thank you. Some good tips. I'll apply Vaseline before taking the moviprep and keep some reading materials near the loo. A Tena nappy? Am I likely to shit myself in the car on the way there? If DH takes me, the kids will be in the car too. I'll never live that down to say nothing of the smell! I'm hoping I should be ok because I have a morning appt so I won't have had any moviprep since the night before. Please tell me I won't shit myself in the car!!

[sadie9]

If you are still shitting yourself while heading to the hospital then you didn't take the stuff on time. It is timed so that your colon is clean and empty a good few hours in advance of it. So you should have well stopped by the morning.
I was fine when I had mine. And I didn't feel faint at all from fasting and I am a 'fainter'. I had sedation, and had someone collect me later that afternoon. Have the sedation and get someone to collect you.

[gamerchick]

No you'll probably not shit yourself but the feeling I was going to didn't leave until it was all over and I was long back home. Maybe a couple of dribbles. It's more psychological.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Phew! I might use a Tena pad anyway just in case to catch any 'dribbles'. I have some anyway as I use them instead of sanitary towels.

[charliebear78]

I had my Colonoscopy on Weds.
The prep for me was fine-no side effects and was not really on the loo that much-what comes out is really just like water towards the end-no smell and for me it was not uncontrollable-so no accidents, don't worry!
I had to get up at 6am to take my second dose and not being able to have a cup of tea was the worse part of the whole prep.

The Colonoscopy-I was sedated-not offered any alternative, I don't know if the sedative didn't work but I felt no different at all and yes it was very uncomfortable but over in half an hour-and it didn't feel like it took that long!
I am still having some pain but much better today.
Tips-Chill your Moviprep and drink it through a straw, you can add light coloured cordials to it also, but I did not really mind the taste and just took lots of big gulps.things started working after about an hour.
Use cream on your bottom from the start and use a pad on the way home,as you might have some leakage!!
Good luck

[VLCos]

I found the movi prep not to bad really and the diarrhea was controllable . I drove myself to the hospital but my appointment was in the afternoon .
I didn't have sedation and it wasn't painful but I think each person is different . Good luck OP

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Thank you, Charliebear, and Vlcos. I saw your thread about deciding whether or not to have a colonoscopy a few weeks ago. Glad** it went relatively well and nothing too concerning.

[charliebear78]

How's everything going Lavender?
Good luck for your Colonoscopy

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Thanks for remembering, Charliebear!
Almost finished the first prep. Feel very sick. Struggling to get it down. The nausea seems to be a combination of the taste (which I can more or less overcome by holding my nose when I drink it, and washing it down with cranberry juice or green tea) and the direct effects of it, especially on an empty stomach, which i can't do anything about. I doubt very much I'll be able to get through the whole 2 litres without vomming. The first glass was ok; after that each glass has just made me feel progressively worse so I've had to leave bigger gaps between glasses than I should. Some comfort to be had from the** fact that I have had 2 bouts of diarrhoea now so it must be working as intended.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

In case anyone is wondering, the moviprep tastes like salty lemon squash made with artificial sweeteners.

[VLCos]

@Mycarsmellsoflavender I hope it all goes OK :-) definitely sounds like it is working . I didn't find the prep to bad . Flavour ed it with orange but last glass or 2 was hard going x

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

I'm actually feeling better now even though I'm still finishing drinking it. Waiting for it to work was the worst part for me. It took over an hour from when I started drinking. Now that it's working ( 5 times now!) I don't feel sick. Even managed to get the DCs their teatime drinks and snacks. Might also be because I stopped the cranberry juice as I felt it was too acidic.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Thanks, VLcos.

[gamerchick]

Remember the Vaseline, every.single.visit to the toilet.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Ha! Yes, I've been doing that. Starting to get a bit sore now in spite of it.

I'm starving!! Could murder a packet of crisps. Another 18 hours or so to go without food...

I should be starting the second dose very soon but I'm still getting the effects from the first one. I'm empty now anyway so wondering whether I really need to. I might start it and see how I get on and not get too hung up on finishing it as i would like to stop drinking it early enough to not have to go to the toilet every 20 mins in the night.

[Milliways]

I wasn't allowed to drink anything red with mine- but maybe because was also having an endoscopy? I added a decent squash, very chilled, 2 straws to maximise each mouthful and avoid the tongue, then swished and spat out plain cold water between each mouthful (I am a wuss with bad tastes, and by the second dose was feeling I wanted to minimise the liquid intake by swallowing the water).
Hope you manage some good sleep tonight when all doses complete, and that it all goes smoothly for you :)

[gamerchick]

Aye but imagine how sore you would be not using anything

Take the dose, there is a good reason they give you the amount they do. You want to be completely empty, no dregs hanging around.

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

Ok. On the second glass now.

[ShapelyBingoWing]

Ooh, two of us prepping this evening. Fun! I'm starting my second litre at 8.