Colonoscopy prep stress

[goldenkitty]

I know that many many people have this, and I promise I’m not usually this much of a wimp!
combined colonoscopy and gastroscopy tomorrow morning (yes Sunday)
clear fluids and prep today and I’m so anxious! Worried about spewing up the solutions, worried about violent shits, worried my bum will be raw, worried I will feel faint!
I am on an urgent pathway following blood and stool tests so something is clearly wrong
feeling hellishly dramatic and unsure why, I am normally so level headed
don’t even know what I’m asking here!
anyone had these procedures this week and it went great?

It’s honestly not that bad. I was dreading the prep too - I took myself up to my bedroom and stayed there! I wasn’t sore but you can use Vaseline if you find you are. Chill the prep in the fridge to make it (slightly) more palatable. Good luck 🤞🏻

If this is your first go at these tests, then naturally you are all over the place. Combine that with the fact that you are on the urgent pathway, and it's no wonder you are the way you are today.

It is never as bad as predicted. Sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes difficult to drink all that volume of prep, but somehow we all get through it, some better than others.

As others have said, chill the prep and add lemon and lime cordial to it. Use a straw as it prevents the taste lingering in your mouth. Try to drink plain water or Sprite in between as the prep can be very salty I found.

The one piece of advice I'd give is to get someone to buy you some incontinence knickers/pants (not the pads), they are cheap as chips in Aldi and are like kids swimmers. They give you such confidence when lying in bed, and/or in the car on the way to the hospital in the event of any "leaks".

You will be sedated for the tests I presume, so you will not remember any of it, and believe me you will devour the snack they give you when you wake up after all that fasting.

Best of luck, and ask away if you have any other questions. I've had many of the double jobs myself.

Set yourself up in the loo with something mindless to watch and just accept you’ll be there for a while. Use Vaseline all the way through and keep applying. Wet wipes rather than loo paper. I was dreading it last time after a bad experience years ago and honestly it was no where near as bad as I thought!! You can do it and it’s well worth it to get information so they can treat the issue!

As below, be near a loo, get pads and drink the extra liquid they tell you about.

The actual procedure is fine, especially if you can have sedation. That bit was relaxing enough.

Thankyou! Have done a home deliver order for Vaseline and incontinence pants!
got a few Netflix things saved up, wipes in the en suite, will take my prep and stay up there in peace
reassurance is so helpful!

The poo came out so easily and watery that it didn't make me sore, actually. I had several gastroscopies with sedation in the past but when I went for one each way about three years ago they said no sedation. I think they were saving on money or staff. Anyway, they must have given me a quick whizz of gas-and-air because I don't remember swallowing the camera.
All best wishes, OP.

Thankyou so much, yes they did say that I would be sedated for both and partner would need to take me home
would you say it’s worth taking dressing gown and slippers? It’s mentioned on the instructions pack, would it be for when you are kind of coming back around?

Dressing gown and slippers are for beforehand. When dh had his, he had to sit in a waiting area with a hospital gown on so a dressing gown helps with the dignity and keeps you warm.

I found that the prep itself didn’t start me off - it’s the water you drink afterwards. Practically one sip and whoosh. Agree with the poster above - set up an iPad on a stool so you don’t need to touch it, set a movie you enjoy going and dissociate from what’s going on

I would definitely get some anusol wipes. For me the worst thing was the burning anus! I've had 2 (prepped three times but one was cancelled as I was in the actual room) .
Allow yourself to be worried. Be kind to yourself and if you need to cry...cry.
Good luck and I hope results are negative..

I didn't get a sore bottom either. And other than one small non-cancerous polyp there was nothing wrong, it turned out to be something I was eating that was causing my symptoms.

Just going to say this. If you've done the previous days white diet then(sorry) it just pisses out, and barely touches the sides. I was complimentedon the thoroughness of my prep. I had gas and air.

I’ve done Plenvu twice recently. Once for the colonoscopy and then for a LAR as they unfortunately found the bad thing. It’s really not that bad, just follow the instructions to the absolute letter and always be in dashing distance of the loo because you are going to spend a lot of time there. The first dose is the worst of it. I had no soreness.

The colonoscopy itself is fine as they give you a hefty dose of midazolam so you are basically away with the fairies, although still conscious. If you are really distressed they’ll give you propofol (aka “milk of amnesia”) and you won’t remember a thing. Actually if you are have a gastroscopy as well I think they will just put you straight on the propofol.

You'll be ok, it's not fun but not awful, just keep drinking water / clear fflluids

dressing gown and slippers are a must if they suggest them I had a hospital gown skater shorts with an open bum hole and a hospital dressing gown but each place is different and I walked into the room with the consultant - fingers crossed that was me last week - it wasn't cancer but I have ulcers instead that bleed like ....

I’ve not been able to do the light diet as only found out yesterday that I was booked for tomorrow!
first dose and follow up water are complete and it was ok, like fruity salty water?
it’s been around 40 mins and I’m very gurgly and noisy!
right next door to bathroom with wipes Vaseline and power bank at hand
don’t think I was this nervous when I was in labour!

I was in a similar situation to you earlier this year - referred on urgent pathway due to blood in stools. The prep is not pleasant but you can do it. I had to have a second follow up a month ago and honestly it was harder second time round as I knew what to expect!

Re the procedure, try not to worry. The sedation is great but even without it it’s tolerable - I had a funny reaction to sedation first time round where my heart rate kept dropping so I opted for G&A only second time round. Not the most fun I’ve ever had but it was over in half an hour.

Thankfully they found nothing sinister but I did have more polyps than they would expect in someone my age so I’ve been told I need to have a colonoscopy every year to keep an eye on things and I’ve been referred for genetic testing.

Always go for the sedative. The mouth one was way better than the up the bum one, weirdly, it's honestly not that bad. Good luck.

I had an urgent colonoscopy last week. The prep was fine, on the day I had sedation but was pretty “with it” when my husband collected me. It’s a big thing when it’s your first time and you’re on the 2 week pathway. I hope it all goes well for you.

I haven’t Crohn’s so have done this a few times. It’s like weeing out your bum. Other than that it isn’t awful. Usually stops by about 10pm then you’re good. I always find the hunger beforehand to be the worst part. Good luck!

I mean its not nice. Its not pleasant. I did get a bit sore but in the end it just runs out, you're not actually doing anything on the loo as such, you just sit there and out it comes

My issue was that several of these examinations have been long drives away and the timing of it meant that I had accidents on the way, couldnt help it, had to wear pads and then was still going to the loo when I get in there. Awful

Dont try to wipe each time as thats what makes you sore, just sit there and wait for a bit more, or pad yourself a bit.

Unpleasant but there we are.

Thankyou so much, I’m really bubbling now so feel the action is imminent
this has all happened in the last 10 days, saw blood in poo, positive fit test and low ferritin
was shocked to get the call to go in so fast, especially on a Sunday
I guess the Monday- Fridays days are over for a lot of things now though
this time tomorrow I’ll be back home and hopefully snoozing

I had mine on a Sunday, they said the NHS has given it to the private sector to do. it's not an indicator of urgency. The prep isn't that bad , just glug and wait.

The ‘scoots’ really aren’t that bad. It isn’t accompanied by cramps and so feels fine. Just a bit of urgency. I had both scans on the same day too. It was ok. I found the gastroscopy to be quite brutal but not painful. The colonoscopy was really quite uncomfortable until they are passed the first curve of the bowel and then fine. Gas and air is great. I’m not sure the sedation did much. Either way they are all pros (docs and nurses) and know the score. Usually give you a heads up at the end of the appointment too. Good luck.

I've never found the prep that bad but it's always been fruit flavoured and not salty at all. The shits part, the worst of it was over after a couple of hours. You probably won't need incontinence pads. I just wore a normal long sanitary towel just in case but was fine.

You’re all so kind!
doors have opened, it really is like a bum wee!