Colonoscopy Preparation

[Parkmama]

I have a colonoscopy booked in a few weeks and will be taking moviprep to clear my bowels out from around 1pm the day before. When does the running to the toilet start once you start drinking the solution? Just trying to work out if I need to book that afternoon off work in readiness? I WFH so that's ok, but routinely spend a lot of time in meetings on TEAMS. Wondering if it's just easier to book some time off? Would prefer not to go into details with my boss simply because I'm having a few different procedures / scans happening over the next few weeks and would prefer not to divulge it all unless I really have to. Is it possible to get a decent nights sleep following the litres of movicol preparation?

From memory (it’s been a few years) it was fairly quick to take effect - 30-60 minutes maybe? I would not want to be in meetings - pretty urgent when it kicks in.
Once you’ve finished all of it I think it lasted for an hour or two, but by then you’re very empty. I slept fine after and started it about the same time as you.

Clear your diary , once it starts it’s urgent

Please make sure you get the right date, friend having stuck to the preparation to the letter turned up on the wrong day. 🙄🤔 good luck.

I have a colonoscopy booked for 6.30pm on Thursday. I can’t eat after 9.00pm on Wednesday and supper that day is meant to be very light. I have to start the Moviprep at 7.00am and have already told my online art class that I won’t be attending that day - though not why! I expect to be sitting in the bathroom with a good book!

I’ve recently done the Moviprep preparation and I’d say you definitely need to clear your diary (and the bathroom) until at least early evening. I started mine at 4pm, took an hour to drink the first sachet (add squash to it - it’s very salty) and stayed in the loo until the next sachet that I took at 7pm. I managed to ‘safely’ get into bed, lying on a towel, at midnight.

The action starts about 30 minutes after completing the first sachet for me. It was the volume of liquid that made me gippy, not the poopy bit! 😳🤢. Good luck with your colonoscopy 💐

Had one recently. Light diet the day prior to movieprep.
Started at 12 midday took about 30 mins and on the loo 5 or 6 times. Second dose at 6 very little left and it stopped at 10. Full night's sleep. Fasted from 12 midnight .

Don’t work. It’s quite an aggressive thing ones it’s gets going, not like having a tummy bug, but you will be totally cleared out.

The drink is tough going, my top tip is make it as cold as you can, make up a jug and stick it in the fridge.

I had one a couple of months ago, first sachet worked around an hour after I started drinking it. I had about 1/2 an hour respite until taking the second where I could get off the toilet and then I was on the toilet for another 1.5 hours after the second sachet. I recommend an iPad ☺️
The prep is the worst bit about the whole thing

Thanks everyone, will book the time off and let DH and DC know I'll be busy in the bathroom for the afternoon!

Its better to eat light the day before too

It is Amazing how much comes out of you !

Protective sheet / Towels on bed and a clear run to the bathroom and noone in there

When i had it, i was so glad we had 3 toilets,
There is no way i could of waited for someone to get off the loo

Book time off!!!

It can be unexpected and explosive, and also constant!!! You also might end up sitting there for ages incase more happens at very short notice- so take a good book or move the TV into the bathroom!

Dab some vaseline, moisturiser or lube on your anus - makes the whole process less painful!

I'm just going to update with my experience for anyone doing a search on this and going through similar:

• definitely book time off work
• assume you will be in the bathroom for a good couple of hours after drinking the solution
• use Vaseline it really helps
• take a book or ensure your devices are fully charged
• have some wipes handy to keep clean
• ensure you have plenty of toilet paper
• when you think it's over, use the time whilst you're waiting to be sure, to clean the bathroom then enjoy a lovely bath before finally emerging!

I was quite worried it would be painful, it really wasn't in my experience so that was a relief. The solution itself didn't taste amazing but I got through it. I was surprised at how little warning you get, I thought I would at least feel the urge to go, this did not happen! It's best to position yourself on the toilet soon after finishing the solution so you're ready for the action.

Thanks @parkmama

How soon can you make up the prep before taking it? I know it needs to be chilled but not when mixing.

Got all the tips but still nervous 😩

I can't remember what I took (It didn't need chilling, I know that much) but yes, take time off work and do not leave the house unless it's on fire.

@Theforest I made the solution and chilled it in the fridge a good couple of hours before drinking it. I also had a couple of pints of iced water available to drink in between the solution as it helped to get through it. Towards the end I also swished with mouthwash as it started to make me feel a bit nauseous and that helped.

@Theforest I was nervous too, but it really was ok, not the worst experience. Privacy and being prepared made all the difference.

Thanks @Parkmama @Spidey66 I will make it beforehand and chill it then.

I have a few bottles of water in the fridge for the extra drink. Maybe I should get some mouthwash!!

Was it a couple of hours after each part? Mine is 5pm and 9pm for an early appointment. Might do the second a bit earlier, so I can go to bed!! I am having the colonoscopy because of chronic diarrhoea, so I am hoping that I wont have too much more to come out!!

You might find it easier to drink the cold moviprep solution with a straw. I do, as it bypasses your taste buds a bit.

@Theforest it was probably less than a couple of hours, I think it was more likely 90 mins and then I waited a good 30 to be sure it was done. My appointment was at 8:45am and I took the first sachet at 1pm and the next at 6pm with a 'rest' in between, not sure what that was for to be honest! And yes a straw helped too. I hope you get answers, I had the procedure to screen for polyps in my colon, of which there were none. The colonoscopy itself was ok, they gave some twilight sedation drug which made it all seem very pleasant and then I promptly forgot most of it! Best of luck to you

Thanks - I'll get some straws too

I found the effect comes in pretty quick, within the hour, and you will be surprised how much comes out, even when you have had diarrhoea and being on a restricted diet. The prep is definitely the worst part, but it wasn't painful at all. The best thing you can do is stay at home and in close range of a toilet, definitely no work or
Zoom meetings. Once it starts, it's best to stay put on the toilet until it finishes. Can be a couple of hours I'm afraid. I didn't find the second dose was quite as bad. The test itself was easy. You will be fine and it will be good to hopefully have some reassurance.