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Colonoscopy prep and pooing time

16 replies

Hooploop · 17/05/2023 18:17

I'm having a colonoscopy on Friday.
I've got 2 sachets of Picolax and have been told to take:

1 full sachet at 2pm tomorrow (Thurs)
Half of a sachet at 6pm tomorrow
Half of a sachet at 6am on Friday

Just occurred to me, I have to be at the hospital for 8am on Friday. Am I going to be sh*tting myself on the way to the hospital?! Should I get up earlier than 6am to take the last dose? There's so much conflicting info online, some hospitals say take both sachets the day before for a morning appointment, some say take the final dose in the morning. Any advice or help from medical professionals would be appreciated!

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MumOfOneAwesomeHuman · 17/05/2023 18:23

Just did this for my mum and the last was taken the night before for a morning appointment. But that was clear on the instructions. There were separate instructions for morning and afternoon appointments.

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Hooploop · 17/05/2023 18:25

Ps. Is it OK to take some light snacks to eat after the procedure (eg. banana) or are you not allowed to eat for a while after? I'm due on my period this weekend and I know I'm going to be ravenous after a day of fasting.

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mindutopia · 17/05/2023 18:31

Just take as prescribed. I was worried about that too, but by the third one, let’s just say there isn’t much left to poo.

You can take a snack if you want. You’ll probably be surprised that you aren’t as hungry as you think you’ll be. I think I was given some juice after at the hospital but didn’t eat til I got home. Bring something easy though, banana probably fine, some rich tea biscuits, that sort of thing.

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Hooploop · 17/05/2023 18:42

Thanks @mindutopia, and yes hoping there won't be much left after round 3!

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HereLiesBetelgeuse · 17/05/2023 20:02

You'll be nil by mouth so there's not much left on the morning of the procedure.

You'll be able to eat light things afterwards. I was given a sandwich and tea at the hospital but it was private, I don't know if the NHS provide a snack after.

The first sachet worked a lot faster than I thought it would, under an hour. When I spoke to the pharmacist when I picked it up she said 'within two hours' so I took it at 2 pm then took the dog out. Was rushing home rather urgently by 2.35!

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mrsdolittle · 17/05/2023 20:38

I had the same worry when I had my colonoscopy earlier in the year. But honestly by the time you have the last dose there will be very little left to come out!!! You might want to wear a pad on the journey to the hospital just for peace of mind but I think if you follow the instructions to the letter you will be fine.

Good luck for Friday

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upinaballoon · 17/05/2023 21:06

I had cameras up and down last August, in the morning, and afterwards the NHS asked me what kind of a sandwich I'd like and gave me more than one cuppa. Might vary from one hospital to another. All best wishes, OP.

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BobbinThreadbare123 · 17/05/2023 21:13

I have Crohn's, so I've had more than 10 colonoscopies in my life. The Picolax will clear you out; evening dose should calm down to let you get to bed by half 10/11 but make sure you drink the water in between. Get some sudocrem in and some nice loo roll (your bum will thank you later). You can't eat anything in the morning but usually there's a cuppa and some toast and jam after the scope. I've never been sedated or anything, so I can always eat the snack promptly - I choose no sedation as often I've had to drive myself.

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Hooploop · 17/05/2023 22:12

Ah thank you @mrsdolittle @upinaballoon @BobbinThreadbare123 I feel a bit more at ease now

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shunderland · 17/05/2023 22:30

I have one tomorrow morning so I've had my prep this evening. I have plenvu so just one at 6 and one at 9. Good luck

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SoupedUpSue · 17/05/2023 23:24

I had the morning sachet and was still running to the loo every 10 mins even though the only thing coming out was bile. I was really worried about shitting myself getting there so I actually got a cab to the hospital at around 6am and drank the last sachet there and then just sat by the toilet for 3 hours in reception until it was time to go upstairs. Absolutely grim but you’ll feel relieved after that you got through it and had everything checked out.

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Hooploop · 18/05/2023 08:00

SoupedUpSue · 17/05/2023 23:24

I had the morning sachet and was still running to the loo every 10 mins even though the only thing coming out was bile. I was really worried about shitting myself getting there so I actually got a cab to the hospital at around 6am and drank the last sachet there and then just sat by the toilet for 3 hours in reception until it was time to go upstairs. Absolutely grim but you’ll feel relieved after that you got through it and had everything checked out.

That's not a bad idea! I'm an NHS patient but having it done in a private hospital, so not sure if it will be open at 6am?

Had the effects of the laxative subsided by the time you went up for the procedure? I'm considering getting up a bit earlier and taking it at 4am. The thought of having an accident in DP's new car on the way to the hospital is making me more anxious than having the laxative or having the actual colonoscopy!

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Mommasgotabrandnewbag · 18/05/2023 08:14

The first sachet worked a lot faster than I thought it would, under an hour. When I spoke to the pharmacist when I picked it up she said 'within two hours' so I took it at 2 pm then took the dog out. Was rushing home rather urgently by 2.35!

Yeah, don't take the dog out op 😂

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SoupedUpSue · 18/05/2023 22:05

Hooploop · 18/05/2023 08:00

That's not a bad idea! I'm an NHS patient but having it done in a private hospital, so not sure if it will be open at 6am?

Had the effects of the laxative subsided by the time you went up for the procedure? I'm considering getting up a bit earlier and taking it at 4am. The thought of having an accident in DP's new car on the way to the hospital is making me more anxious than having the laxative or having the actual colonoscopy!

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mine was in a private hospital too and they were open!

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SoupedUpSue · 18/05/2023 22:06

Also if you live with other people and have more than one loo basically tell them that one is reserved for you. I also stuck a candle in there - random but made it feel that teensy bit nicer when I was running in every 5 mins. And lots of Vaseline.

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Hooploop · 19/05/2023 09:41

Thanks all, I made it to the hospital this morning without incident! By some miracle I was pretty much cleared out by the time we left so was OK to trust the dosage timing! Waiting to go in now and have only been to the loo once since I got here, and it was non-urgent/I had control over it.

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