Colonoscopy/gastroscopy prep help please

[Anon1119]

Hello all,

I know I'm going to look stupid here but I'm a bit confused by the fasting timelines etc.

On Saturday 1pm I'm booked in for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

I have the information sheet and I will attach to this message, is anyone able to help me work it out please. This is how I interpret it...

-Day before the procedure (Friday)- low fibre diet
-15.00 on the Fri 1st dose of Plenvu

• from 15.00 on the Friday fasting (no food at all).
• 6am on the Saturday (day of procedure) 2nd dose of Plenvu

However...it's a bit conflicting. It seems to state fasting from 15.00 on the Friday, however it also says no food or drink 2 hours before the appointment. On my admission letter it says no food or drink 6 hours before appointment?

I'm assuming I can eat normal on the Thursday? Then Friday a low fibre diet until 15.00 then no food until after my procedure 1pm on Saturday?

Does this sound about right? Sorry if I appear stupid, I just want to get it right (and not necessarily starve myself).

Also any words of wisdom please? Feeling nervous. Especially for the gastroscopy! I'm going to ask to be sedated.

Many thanks.

The prep is shit (literally!), the procedure a dream (ditto!).

What time is the procedure? I'd fast from Friday breakfast - no point in eating as it's all coming out again, fast - but drink water or clear drinks until 2 hours beforehand. If in doubt check with the hospital/clinic.

I'm surprised that you only have to follow the low fibre diet for one day! I had a colonoscopy last month and had to follow a low residue diet for 4 days, it was the same when I had one 6 years ago. I wouldn't eat anything with fibre from Wednesday at least (tomorrow even better), that includes skins on fruit, no seeds or nuts, no wholemeal bread/weetabix/stalks of veg such as broccoli or cauliflower, no seeded fruit (like berries), etc.

Mine was on Sunday morning, so I stopped eating completely on the Friday night and stuck to clear fluids only on the Saturday. I know I should have eaten, but it seemed easier to get straight into the fasting.

It meant that the Plenvu didn't make me sick, as I was already pretty empty and made the whole experience much better.

When I had my first colonoscopy the preparation was classed as 'adequate', this time it was 'excellent', I think this is due to being stricter than they allow.

I took a sip of lemonade after every slug of Plenvu and it helped enormously.

I also decided to decline sedation (and they didn't give me gas and air either), so I was able to watch and remember everything.

It is only a short time and will be over soon.

Remember no red drinks too. Hope it goes well.

I’m not replying to your question but I wanted to say that Plenvu is likely to be the worst moment in the whole process.
sip it slowly to try and avoid throwing up.
best of luck, it will be over soon!

My mum had other one the day and her main advice is don't stray far from the loo after the drink. She also said that was the worst bit of the whole experience. It's foul. The actual procedure was fine -she went for the sedation.