Abnormally high FIT test

[Thomastuchel]

I have had bowel and digestive problems on and off for a few years. This weekend I was in a lot of pain and cramping after seeing a GP I had to do a FIT test and a Calprotectin test. Anyway I handled them in yesterday morning and my FIT has come back abnormal my level is 400.

I have to go back to the GP tomorrow and am on 2 week pathway.

I knew something wasn't right, I'm in a bit of a flap so any comforting advice, stories or help would be appreciated.

The thought of sedation really scares me. I do have quite bad anxiety though and I'm already working myself up about it. I'd prefer to get it done and be out of there as quick as possible but the sedation will probably ease my anxiety. I'm worrying already I have a panic attack when I'm there.

If the sedation scares you it’s not compulsory, it’s your body your choice op. But I’d suggest talking that over with the team to explore your worries. Personally I’d pay good money to have that sedation again.

The whole process is a bit miserable, no doubt about it. But I found the actual procedure fine. My result was nothing to worry about in the end - polyps and piles - but it’s just one of those annoying things you have to get through unfortunately.

I've woken up with terrible anxiety and the anticipation of it all.
I'll discuss with the team when I'm there what is best for me. That's if I can get myself there through the nerves.

Have been thinking about you this morning, OP. All the best and update us how you get on. Sending positive vibes!

Good luck with it. I understand the anxiety but you are doing the right thing for yourself and you will get through

Hope it goes ok. Don’t worry about sedation. It’s fine and you can still leave soon after. Xxx

It's not until Thursday my appointment but I'm already getting very over anxious and nervous about it.

My GP prescribes me diazepam to take in the run up to appointments. Might you be able to phone the clinic where you're due to have the procedure and ask what they suggest.

Today is prep day 😭 have to take the first dose at 18:00

Ive woken up with dreadful anxiety although that is the norm for me, although it's worse this morning. Somehow i have to get through a shift at work beforehand as well.
Any words of support of encouragement would be greatly welcomed. DH keeps telling me I'll be ok and he's here but it doesn't magically turn the anxiety off.

Thinking of you ❤️💐

You've got this xx 💐

I had general aesthetic I was the last of the day and was still out by 7pm. Bloody hungry. I had a polyp. Surgeon took a photo for me.
But the pain I’d been having for years turned out to be a UTI which was a surprise.

I hope it goes okay. My husband had it and it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.

I'm panicking about taking the prep and I'm not sure why. Then I have to get through tomorrow and the colonoscopy. My appointment isn't until mid afternoon so I have a bit of a wait. The whole
process just makes me feel so anxious. It doesn't help that I'm a naturally very anxious person to start with.

Just wanted to come on and wish you well. I am having the same thing done on Friday. I did actually have a colonoscopy aged 21 - more than 20 years ago- so I sort of know what to expect but I think the prep and everything else is quite different now. My dh had one a few months ago and he said it wasn’t too bad. He didn’t have sedation as he wanted to be fine to go straight away afterwards and he said it was okay. I think I will be having sedation though- I have a lot of chronic health issues and suffer chronic pain anyway so don’t think I’ll cope without it. I hope it goes well for you.

Honestly when something is happening that I really hate, I always tell myself by this time tomorrow or by this time in 2 days etc it will all be done and finished. So no matter how awful it is, by this time tomorrow all the prep will be done. Then when you wake up tomorrow and worry about the procedure say the same thing, in so many hours this will all be done with. Focus on the bad thing being done and getting the results and getting it over with.

Maybe even give yourself a positive, something good to focus on for tomorrow, something nice to eat or something nice to do after its all over and then you have something else to focus your mind on.

This is what I keep trying to do. I think because it's dragged out over today and tomorrow it's making me feel worse. By tomorrow late afternoon it'll all be over with.
I'm at work at the moment and colleagues who have had it done have been giving me their experiences and we've had a laugh about the indignity of it all.

Im trying to break it down.
Work. Last solid meal by 1pm
Go home and start prep at 6pm and wait for the Plenvu to start working
Next dose 6am
Hospital and procedure

I love that colleagues are helping and hopefully distracting. By tomorrow afternoon you should have some answers.

They've been helpful this morning and it's eased my worries a little. Clock is ticking closer to cut off time for food. Everyone was telling me to fill up this morning but I literally can't eat through fear and I know it's more to come out the other end later on.

I'm home and have made up my first lot of prep to put it in the fridge. That was a catastrophy I put it in a glass then realised I was using a lidded cup to put it in the fridge, when i transferred into a jug to mix it I spilt it everywhere, then when I poured it into the travel mug it literally fills it to the brim 🤦🏼‍♀️
Im going to make up the second does before I go to bed so it's ready to drink at 6am because I don't fancy faffing that early to mix it all up!

Hello OP, I went through this November last year. I was like you and in fact when I got there and had the initial booking in with the nurse I couldn't get my words out I was so anxious and tearful.

The prep was horrible but your body can handle it, just remember that. They wouldn't give it to you if it couldn't.

I went with sedation and found it ok. I have a loopy bowel and it was uncomfortable but the sedation sort of made me care less? I have few memories of the procedure itself.

What I do remember is the feeling of absolute relief when it was over! You will get there. Sending you all the best.

Oh one more thing I found getting the prep as cold as possible (I sat mine in the freezer for a while) and drinking it through a straw helped me. I also had a second flask of juice with a straw and I'd alternate prep and juice, helped get it down.

I've already drank about a litre of water today, I carry around 2litres with me most days. When I start the prep, which I'm going to start maybe a bit sooner than 6pm (I feel like I'm just sat here waiting for 6pm) I'm going to have a big glass full of juice to alternate sips with. So a big sip of prep, then a big sip of juice.

i can't think about the procedure yet I'm going to try and deal with that as it comes tomorrow. I've had conflicting advice from people I've spoke to that have already had it done. Some have said sedation isn't necessary, others have said take the sedation
I'm already tired and want to go to bed early tonight but I fear I won't get much sleep.

I think this is exactly the issue, its all so individual so its hard to get advice. Do whatever you feel is best for you, if you are anxious then maybe take the sedation, if you worry about sedation then ask them if they can put on the canula then you can try without but have it if you change your mind.

But either way it should be all done by this time tomorrow.

I agree to do it a little earlier as mine took a while to work, I was even going on Google at I thought it hadnt worked and then it did.

I would use a straw to try and bypass as many taste buds as possible. If you are having a juice chaser it must be clear juice. Good luck!