Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Colonoscopy tomorrow, starting bowel prep today!

64 replies

widowtwankywashroom · 30/12/2023 12:49

Colonoscopy tomorrow ( on a 2ww pathway, Dr found a lump on a rectal examination )
Bowel prep starts today, I am dreading it

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
lemonyellows · 31/12/2023 17:01

@widowtwankywashroom great news!!! Well done for getting through it

Newyeareve · 31/12/2023 16:59

So pleased that it all went well and nothing sinister found.
I’ve had 3, 1 without sedation. The sedation never works very well for me so the procedure is normally painful. The last one I had, I followed the prep exactly to the letter but, even though I had spent most of the time rushing to the toilet, it hadn’t worked properly 😞. They gave me the choice whether to continue, at risk it could have to be repeated, or reschedule. I went ahead, as couldn’t even contemplate stating again, and luckily it didn’t need to be repeated.

StoodySmithereens · 31/12/2023 16:49

Great news OP! Tea & toast is the best.

StoodySmithereens · 31/12/2023 16:45

I’ve been through it twice. Just as you think you won’t 💩 you do, & it doesn’t stop. Stay very close to the toilet, leave all doors open, & run. Actually you can just sit on the toilet & stay there.

The first time I managed to drink all the stuff, & it went well.

Second time I couldn’t drink all of the stuff, & I apparently told him to fuck off so he stopped.

Hope you get good results!

Sorry got the dates mixed up & didn’t see you update.

Emmadaily · 31/12/2023 16:38

That's great news ( I was following your OP)
All the best for 2024 now you are all sorted

Investinavest · 31/12/2023 16:06

Ah well done OP, bossed it! Glad it's all over and nothing sinister going on.

Enjoy your New Year!

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 31/12/2023 16:03

Pleased to hear op. Hopefully others won't be as worried if they need to go through this

Lizzieregina · 31/12/2023 16:01

@widowtwankywashroom thanks for the update! Glad all went well!

stayathomer · 31/12/2023 14:33

I’d say 7up can get you through but then they said I had tons of acid in my stomach and I think it could have been because I had a glass of seven up for every litre of the shite (the people who say it’s grand are so lucky, I absolutely detested it!). The colonoscopy was a breeze! Best of luck, it’s awful but unfortunately necessary!

Tinkerbyebye · 31/12/2023 14:33

I found it best to do the prep an hour before and put in the fridge. I then added a couple of ice cubes as it’s easier taken cold, a couple of good gluts followed by sips of elderflower cordial ( and is fine as long as it’s not red)

TheBuggerlugs · 31/12/2023 14:31

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns

widowtwankywashroom · 31/12/2023 13:34

This reply has been deleted

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns

Mine is a little tender.......

OP posts:
toomanyleggings · 31/12/2023 11:16

Well done! Pleased you’re ok

AllAroundMyCat · 31/12/2023 11:11

Well done OP, great news.

TheBuggerlugs · 31/12/2023 11:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns

Topofthemountain · 31/12/2023 10:53

Pleased it went ok. My Dad has his third in a few weeks, like a pp said, he went really cold last one.

henrysugar12 · 31/12/2023 10:41

The prep is the worst part of the procedure! But last time I did it I made sure to have a liquid diet three days beforehand and took some laxatives too so there wasn't too much to come out...
The prep was a different one and not quite as vile as the old type. Was still gagging drinking it though!

widowtwankywashroom · 31/12/2023 10:32

Well I'm in recovery with a cup of tea and toast
Both ends done with sedation.
Nothing sinister found, just a few polyps which have been removed.
Thank you to all who kept me company last night.

OP posts:
Nonplusultra · 31/12/2023 09:16

Apply Vaseline after every BM, before anything has a chance to get sore. It gets a bit acidic as you empty out, so you need a barrier on your skin.

Goatymum · 31/12/2023 09:16

I had one last year - took loads of advice in drinking in cold through a straw etc and it was unpleasant, but ok. I followed the instructions to the letter but there was still some residue on the procedure.
I also had a small bowel mri a couple of weeks later and had to drink the sodding stuff again for contrast - in a hospital waiting area (private). I just about managed one sachet. Then I had diarrhoea for 3 days after!!
I must have a sluggish system as they had to repeat an endoscopy too and fasting for 12 hours was just about ok (as opposed to 6).
They should tell you results there & then, which is good.,

Muchtoomuchtodo · 31/12/2023 09:13

Good luck op.
I always have a bit of sedation for my colonoscopies, hope it’s all straightforward for you. xx

OSU · 31/12/2023 09:13

Good luck OP. I had several colonoscopies a few years ago and also have had an endoscopy. With the latter if you can be sedated that's great but you may feel a moment of panic when they numb the back of your throat. With the former, if you cannot be sedated, deep breathing helps a lot. The sedation for a colonoscopy is not really sedation but a drug that makes you feel very present at the time but then you forget all about it. Strange sensation!

Whoopsypoopsy · 31/12/2023 09:09

Just read you’re having both ends. I had both, the gastroscopy was horrific, they couldn’t sedate me as I had no veins due to being dehydrated. Opt for sedation if you can xx

Whoopsypoopsy · 31/12/2023 09:08

I found the prep worse than the procedure and I couldn’t finish it. The sheer volume of what I had to drink was ridiculous and it was starting to make me vomit. I couldn’t drink squash for months after as it would make me gag.
I drank about 3/4 of the first dose and about half of the second. It wasn’t ideal but they managed to do the colonoscopy and just sucked away anything remaining.
the procedure itself is fine, don’t be afraid to “fart”, it made it far more comfortable.

toomanyleggings · 31/12/2023 09:03

Good luck!