To ask for your experiences of colonoscopy, super nervous

The prep is definitely the worst bit. I had sedation and was out for the count. Don't remember a thing after the drip going in.

There are lots of different preps, the one I had tasted vile. You had to mix it with something like 500ml of water and then drink 500ml of plain water afterwards. I found making it up with only 300ml and washing each sip down with plain water from the 700ml I still needed made it less grim and overall volume intake was the same. The nurse seemed genuinely surprised when I said I'd had the full dose of both sachets - I'm assuming a lot of people don't manage!

Definitely be sedated and have help looking after the baby. I found the starvation by far the worst bit!

Same here. It was over before I knew it.

Go for the sedation, it just made me feel relaxed and rather unconcerned about what was going on. Luckily. I had an all-female team looking after me so they were very tactful and discrete. You just rest for a bit afterwards until the drugs have worn off. I won’t mention the prep the night before as it’s a bit grim, the Moviprep I had to take was bloody vile. Get some extra-strength orange squash to dilute it with as it’s very unpalatable and very salty. Have your husband at hand to take care of baby as the urgency is indescribable. Good luck!

Btw sedation wasn’t offered when I had mine. But given the choice I’d probably have opted for that. Not because it hurt but because I probably would have generally been more relaxed.

The prep was worse than the procedure! I had mild sedation and was more a weird feeling of discomfort. Its honestly not that bad xx

I had a couple a few years ago. It’s awkward and embarrassing but over fairly quickly and gave me peace of mind that everything was ok. I wouldn’t say it was anymore intrusive than giving birth and far less painful. Hope it goes well.

Get sedation!! I have no idea why they discourage it but there’s no way I’m getting sodomised by a camera without being half asleep.

Anyway I’ve had 2 under sedation and it’s fine - barely even remember it except staring at a screen for a while then having a lovely snooze after

Hi OP! I had one. I’m very petite and definitely glad for the sedation route. I would really recommend it. It is over really quickly and you feel so much better after.

With the prep, I would have someone home as I was just occupied for hours and hours! But everyone is different and some manage better.

Hope that helps xx

I'm prepping for one at 8am tomorrow morning.
First lot of stuff drunk. Don't like the taste. Used a straw as suggested (on MN?)
Don't think I'd like to be looking after a baby whilst prepping.

I have had one every year for 12 years. (Predisposition to colon cancer).

Take sedation - you’ll be awake, but won’t care what they do and won’t remember much. They could drive a Ford Cortina up your arse on those drugs! - they’re great.

The prep is hell. I’d make sure your DH is there and leave some reading material near the loo. Make sure you have squash handy because it helps get the prep down. Then don’t stray more than a couple of feet from the loo.

Good luck OP!

The prep is fairly awful - you’re basically having explosive diarrhoea for hours. There’s no way you could look after a baby at the same time so you’ll need your DH around for that. I don’t think the colonoscopy hurts - it’s just weird so whether or not you need sedation depends on how anxious you are I think. Good luck!