Colonoscopy

[Peacon]

I have a appointment for a colonoscopy on Thursday and I am terrified. I am sitting here feeling sick I can't sleep or eat and I am crying. I am a 56 year old woman who has anxiety and depression. I have to start the moviprep tomorrow and try to be sick just thinking about it. I am having sedation which I have had for dental work but have been told it's not the same and won't be out as I am at the dentist. Please can anyone help I want to cancel.

[DancingLedge]

It's scary before it happens, but really no that bad. I'm quite wimpy, and I would describe it as mostly no discomfort, maybe 20% of time mild discomfort.
Bit like having a smear, takes a bit longer.
And then at least, in all probability, you'll be told there's nothing too awful going on, and you'll feel very relieved.

I don't blame you for feeling nervous, but, tbh, you're probably having a worse time right now.
Focus on 15 mins after your appointment time: it'll all be over then.

[DancingLedge]

The sedation I had did not put me out, but was quite heavy duty, and I stopped minding about any of it at all.

[Ridingthegravytrain]

I had one last Friday and an endoscopy. It wasn't as bad as I expected. I remember a lot of it but I was sedated so i felt relaxed and woozy. The prep was the worst part. I had moviprep and had to take one sachet the evening before and one at 8am the day of the procedure (it was in the afternoon)

I would recommend making it up in advance and chilling it in the fridge. It is more palatable. I downed a glass every 15/20 mins or so and it started working about 2 hrs after the first glass.

You need to be close to a toilet but I didn't get any pain or cramping. You will feel wiped out

I managed about half the litre the next day and then started being sick (I am always sick if I don't eat, so don't get scared!) the only reason I mention this is even though I left about 200ml and threw up about another 400ml it still worked perfectly and I was empty. So if you are ill it's not the end of the world

I was there on my one and petrified but it didn't hurt. Don't worry you will be fine. And tmi but don't worry if the liquid never turns clear. Yellow is fine!

[DramaAlpaca]

The prep isn't pleasant, but it's the worst bit & you'll be running to the loo a lot. The actual procedure under sedation will honestly be fine. You won't be very aware of what's happening & it won't be painful. I'm just a bit younger than you & I also have depression. I had this done last year & it really was OK. Try not to worry

[Littlelondoner]

If they offer sedation say yes. You wont remember a thing.

The worse part is the prep. But you are in your own home. So you can get comfy and take your time if need be.

My top tip is. Chill it. Ice cold. Pour one glass of it and an other glass of juoce or flat lemonade or something sweet. Put straw in each and relive your youth and strawpedo or down them both through straw at same time. The other drink takes edge of taste and the straw means you can bypass your tounge.

It is quite thick and a strange tecture. So do not worry if you are sick. This took me by surprise my first time so have a bowl handy.

It is far far from pleasant but a neccessary evil shall we say and over so quick.

I asshume you are having one due to feeling unwell so just focus on getting answers etc and see it as a step you need to do to feel better. Thats what gets me through it.

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

I had one without any sedation. Not advisable. I wasn't even offered sedation.

[Peacon]

Thanks everyone my anxiety means that I obsess over things and always think the worst will happen

[TeenageWildlife]

Drinking the stuff is the worst bit. The procedure is fine, don't worry. I was very anxious and it was really, really fine.

[wageslave]

I had one a few weeks ago. The moviprep was the worst bit, the procedure itself was fine, people doing it were lovely and very kind. I had three puffs of gas and air and then talked to the medics all the way through it, including discussing what they could see at the time. It was supremely helpful in me getting a diagnosis for a long term problem
You'll be fine, good luck!

[FaithAgain]

The prep is definitely the worst bit. Plan to stay at home. Buy some nice wet toilet wipes as you'll be going a lot. I chose to have the sedation. I found it okay. I thought it would be awful, it wasn't. It was a tad uncomfortable at times but they gave me gas and air and I got through it easily. The memories are hazy but I know it took about 45 minutes, seems much less. Honestly, it's okay. Nowhere near as bad as I imagined. You're going to be okay.

[KurriKurri]

I had one a couple of weeks ago and a gastroscopy at the same time. The prep stuff isn't great (I had picolax) but it's bearable - get some of those moist wipes as you are going a lot and constant wiping can make you sore.
The actual procedure - I had sedation which didn't make me unconscious- just a bit more relaxed. I have a twisty bowel ( a lot of women do)so it was a bit uncomfortable but only for a few secs because as soon as I said it was uncomfortable they gave me gas and air which makes it fine to cope with. The colonoscopy was easier than the gastroscopy.

It is a very quick procedure, tell them you are nervous and someone will hold your hand throughout and talk you through it.
It's not the most fun thing in the world, but it is very far from being the worse procedure you can have, and totally doable - much better than worrying about your symptoms, And they will tell you the result straight away (obviously you'll have to wait if you have biopsies taken - but anything else they will inform you).

Get some things like lucozade to drink tomorrow and take it very easy, have as quiet a day as you can.

[MostIneptThatEverStepped]

OP I have one on Thursday too! I get back from holiday tomorrow and the minute I get through the door I'll be taking the drain cleaner stuff.
Go for the sedation, I'm certainly planning too.
I think we'll be ok. My 85 year old mother had one recently and refused sedation 😂
We can compare notes if you like...wait no that sounds awful! Anyway I wish you all the best with yours. Plan to eat something amazingly yummy afterwards, you will have earned it!!

[viques]

Another good tip : get some Vaseline because during the prep stage your bum can get very sore, and it helps.

Good luck, you will be fine, it's an un nerving experience, but done for a good reason.

[Imaginosity]

I am the biggest wimp ever when it comes to medical procedures but a colonoscopy with sedation is honestly not that bad at all! I've had several. The movieprep is not the nicest thing to drink but it will be over before you know it. The 'thoughts' or the 'idea' of a coloniscopy ia far far worse than the reality if it.

[Peacon]

Well I made up the prep put it in the fridge to cool and have had 2 half cups I tried to use the straw but found it better to add some lemon juice hold my nose and just neck it. It wasn't as bad as I thought but see how I feel trying to finish it. Will have half cup every 15 to 20 mins.

[Imaginosity]

Drinking that prep part is far worse than the actial procedure

[charliebear78]

I do think the idea of it is worst than the procedure.
I had one two weeks ago and was given sedation-I will be honest-I didn't feel any different and was aware of it all and found it very uncomfortable.
I also was in quite a bit of discomfort for the rest of the day and the next day!
The prep didn't bother me at all,the worst part of that was not being able to have a cup of tea and having to get up early to start my next dose.
However I am very glad I got it done and nothing was found.
You will be fine-it is now just a distant memory.

[viques]

Peacon, best wishes for tomorrow, make sure you plan something nice for your Thursday evening supper, you will deserve it. Come back and let us know how you got on.

[arousingcheer]

I worried about it too but it really was no big deal. I didn't have that much of an issue with the prep in that I wasn't running to the loo over and over (I must have bowels of steel). I was concerned that it hadn't, er, entirely done what it was meant to, but when I said that to the nurse she kind of shrugged and I guess we just hoped for the best.

The procedure was fine. I had light sedation which makes you feel pretty even about things. It is subtle, I didn't feel out of it at any stage but later you realise time doesn't pass in quite the same way under sedation and it can make you a little emotionally disconnected (which is great under the circumstances).

No one told me this beforehand but they gave me a pair of paper shorts (!) which have a little hole at the back for The Procedure. It made me feel oddly secure that my whole bum wasn't just out there in the breeze, and I was wearing wool knee socks, so I felt almost decent despite what was going on.

My top tip is to take a double dose of probiotics when you get home and eat something light (soup, a poached egg, porridge or similar). I was a bit gurgly and windy until I had the probiotics, and from then on everything was back to normal.

I wouldn't jump for joy if I had to have another but I wouldn't be worried about it either.

[arousingcheer]

And as charliebear78 says above, the worst part above all was not having a cup of tea!

[MollyHuaCha]

Good luck Peacon. You'll be fine.

[MostIneptThatEverStepped]

Have had my prep too Peacon.
We must have different types as mine was in 2 doses 6 hours apart. Made me feel a bit queasy the first time, waiting to see what happens now, having just had the second dose. Trips to the loo haven't been quite as awful as I thought (yet!)

Wishing you all the best for tomorrow, hopefully it will all be over quickly and easily and you'll be home eating something nice in no time. I'm waiting patiently to dive into the enormous bars of Milka a brought back from the duty free today 😄

[Peacon]

Mine is 2 doses 1 ltr tonight and the 2nd 6.00 in the morning for a afternoon appointment

[MostIneptThatEverStepped]

Ah great fun! My appointment is also in the afternoon. I really want to try and sleep as long as possible in the morning so I'm not awake feeling hungry for as long.
I've been trying to see the funny side of it all...when I got home today there was a letter inviting me to a mammogram in 2 weeks 😂
Hope you can get a good nights sleep tonight.

[DubiousCredentials]

Good luck for today