Colon & endoscopy - help!

[helpmeandmybrokenbum]

Hi all

NC for this.

I have a progressively worse bowel disorder, and have only just been referred for exploration (have waited 11 months - all started after I had DS with a v challenging labour an recovery).

I've been referred for a endoscopy, colonoscopy and MRI in the same day. Has anyone else experienced this? I know what the prep, procedure and recovery involve, I've been told I'll be well sedated but what does that mean? Will I see it? Feel it? What's the recovery really like? Do you shot yourself constantly with the pre-prep?

Help. I'm very anxious!! :-(

Also I'm not a weird colon troll. Promise.

The worst bit is drinking the solution in my opinion. Make it and keep it in the fridge. If you drink it with a straw it's not so bad. Get some vaseline in as you will be going to the toilet many times. It will be coming out like water after a while.

The sedation just relaxes you. You will be awake and be able to do as they ask you. You will be a bit sore afterwards but nothing too bad. I haven't had an endoscopy just colonoscopies.

Forgot to say you can watch on the TV screen if you want to but I didn't. I've had a few and the last one was the best as I explained how anxious I was so they gave me some more pain relief.

Thanks so much - I've got a bit of trauma from sedation during and after birth, so I will be politely requesting much pain relief! Can you feel anything?

its a strange thing you sort of know whats going on but you wont remember it i was like in a sort of floaty happy dream it really is ok best you take all they offer and get it done so you can get on the road to recovery good luck xx

I had an endoscopy in 2017 and a colonoscopy last month, so had both but not at the same time. I had no sedation with the endoscopy and was fine, worst bit was the pipe at the back of your throat but once down it's ok.

Thinking I was big and brave and going by how well I managed the endoscopy, I opted for no sedation with the colonoscopy and had gas and air only but it hurt when the camera was in certain places (going around the bend in the colon) and if you're sedated you wouldn't feel it or handle it better.

I would recommend sedation for anyone having the colonoscopy and definitely if you are having both done together.

My husband had sedation for an endoscopy recently and he couldn't really remember much about it despite being awake and he recovered instantly.

Good luck.

For me the colonoscopy with sedation was the best bit
The prep..not so
Eat lightly a couple of days before

Do a thread search... the were pages about this in January... just a few weeks ago. It was SO helpful.

Thanks so much all!

I had sedation for endoscopy, I was definitely asleep! Not as in GA, but they administered the medicine through a cannula and I wasn't aware of anything until afterwards. I had gas and air for colonoscopy and as pp said I really had to breathe hard when going around the bends.