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Original poster

Colonoscopy advice

18 replies

Kirova · 22/10/2023 17:43

My 4 year old daughter is having a colonoscopy next week (because of persistent abdo pain, bloating and diarrhoea) and I'm wondering if anyone might have experience of what to expect. We've been given good guidance on all the prep, but I'm mainly wondering how she's likely to be afterwards. A lot of the info I can find online relates to adults or older children, so it hasn't been super clear in giving an idea of how she's likely to be (and how the prep is likely to be with such a young child).

It's a bit worrying to go through this with a 4 year old, and obviously she doesn't really understand completely, but she's very happy that she's not having to miss any school! 😉

OP posts:

Balloonhearts · 22/10/2023 17:51

Starr the prep early or you won't get any sleep as she'll be shitting through the eye of a needle. You have to keep going until she is passing clear fluid. It tastes rank so disguise it in strong juice and ice cold.

Is she being sedated I take it?

Original poster

Kirova · 22/10/2023 17:55

Thanks for the warning!! I didn't realise it was going to be quite that extreme!

She will have it under general anaesthetic because of her age.

OP posts:

FrodoBagginsToeHair · 22/10/2023 17:57

If you can get her to drink the prep through a straw and make it as cold as possible. Have another drink (strong lemonade) to try and take the taste away.

as an adult the prep is the worst part.

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4 year olds General health

Original poster

Kirova · 22/10/2023 18:07

Getting a bit worried about this prep now! Does it cause pain and cramping or just, ehm...?

She's had terrible chronic diarrhoea anyway (on bad days it's been 5 or 6 times an hour, all day) so she might tolerate it better than I'm imagining because it's virtually "normal" for her at this point anyway. Just hoping the colonoscopy will give us some answers as everyone seems to be at a loss for what's causing it!

OP posts:

VeniVidiWeeWee · 22/10/2023 18:19

No, it's not painful or cramping.

It just tstes absolutely disgusting. Use methods as above to make it less so.

Original poster

Kirova · 22/10/2023 19:44

Will do, thanks for the tips! Slightly worried that I won't be able to get her to drink it though, if it's as revolting as all that... If that happens, what can be done?

OP posts:

DilemmaDelilah · 22/10/2023 19:50

I had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. I was expecting the effects of the prep to be awful but it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. I think this is because I had had diarrhoea non-stop for nearly 4 months, so hopefully it will be the same for your daughter.
The difficulty is probably going to be getting her to drink the prep. I had a HUGE dose of senna 2 days before and then citrafleet, which I didn't find that disgusting. By all accounts moviprep is just awful. There is at least one other alternative, I think it is called picolax, and there may be more. Hopefully your daughter will have one of the more palatable versions.

DilemmaDelilah · 22/10/2023 19:52

Oh - and I meant to say - I didn't experience any of the bloating and wind that I had heard happen afterwards. I didn't seem to have any had aftereffects.

Sandsnake · 22/10/2023 19:54

I would also have concerns re how she will take the prep, it really is horrible. I would hope that the commissioning doctor may be able to advise with that. Vaseline on her anus - absolute must as it can get very, very sore with all the pooing (much more so than regular diarrhoea). Good luck, hope that they are able to complete the procedure and find out what’s up with her.

lemonyellows · 22/10/2023 20:05

Hopefully they will give her picolax as not so much to drink.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 22/10/2023 20:07

I found some double-strength orange squash from Aldi useful to disguise the taste of Moviprep. I had no bloating or anything else after the procedure, so I hope your daughter won’t either

Original poster

Kirova · 22/10/2023 20:22

We've been given Picolax and also Dulcolax suppository (she has to have half in the evening and another half the next morning). Due to start with all the preps tomorrow but she's had another bad day with loose stools and stomach cramps so I'm dreading this making it worse!

I'm quite at loss as to what they may be investigating - they've done tests and we've made quite a thorough food diary which haven't uncovered any obvious dietary triggers. And surely she's too young for IBS and that kind of thing. I'm still hoping it's a lingering virus that's just left her with a dodgy stomach which will clear up at some point...

OP posts:

Balloonhearts · 22/10/2023 20:28

She might feel better for it as it will clear her out good and proper. And God yes, vaseline on bum hole after every bout.

Picolax is apparently one of the less disgusting ones. If she really doesn't like it -Bribery.

My niece drove a hard bargain, she walked away with a cinema trip, family sized bar of galaxy and 4 squishy things but take it, she did and she did it like a boss. 😂

Balloonhearts · 22/10/2023 20:31

Maybe screening for Crohns or Celiacs? Sorry I can't spell them.

IvorTheEngineDriver · 22/10/2023 20:48

The effect of the prep varies person by person. It's not too violent in my case but I know others who need the loo 3 minutes after taking the first one.

The only thing all agree on is it tastes vile. Like really, really cheap vanilla ice cream. Give it to her as cold as possible, that helps mask the taste.

FrodoBagginsToeHair · 22/10/2023 20:51

Picolax is the best one you can have from my personal experience - it tastes horrible but there is just two glasses of it to drink instead of litres and litres of it like you have to with moviprep. It’s a fake lemony citrus taste with a sherbet sort of powdery texture. Unfortunately because there’s less of it she does have to drink as much as possible to be effective. It’s not going to make her sick or anything it’s just unpleasant.

poor little thing I hope you get a good result

Mindymomo · 22/10/2023 21:00

My DH had a recent CT scan followed by a colonoscopy, he queried why he needed one, but they said it’s mainly to do biopsies and they can remove any polyps at the same time. It was a last minute appointment so he was given an enema when he arrived for his appointment, DH has had one before and consultant thanked him for doing the prep stuff properly as it really helps them to get a good view with the bowel completely empty.

shaniahoo · 22/10/2023 21:34

If she's having part of it the night before I'd put her in a pull up nappy overnight. It really is like water, different from ordinary diarrhoea and I've woken up in the night after evening prep absolutely bursting. And use wet wipes instead of toilet roll, and suducrem after every motion.

If she has to drink lots of fluids in addition to the prep liquid, she might prefer something that isn't sweet, like water with lemon. I say that as an adult, I don't know if a child would feel differently but the prep is so sugary I never want sweet drinks in addition to it.

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