Colonoscopy, really scared

[Tiny37373]

I'm booked in for a full colonoscopy next Tuesday for investigation with some ongoing IBS issues I've been having. I've had my prep through the post which I have to start on Monday night so that I'm fully evacuated for the procedure on Tuesday morning.

I'm really scared. I've never had anything like this before but I have heard from friends who have had it that it's quite painful. Didn't like to ask too much as it's quite a sensitive subject. Can anyone give me any idea of what to expect? I will obviously have the day off work but will I be ok to work the following day? Is it likely to be very painful during and afterwards?

Are you having sedation?I wouldn't do it without, but some people do.

The worst bit for me was drinking the pints of whatever it is they give you to drink beforehand. It made me feel really sick, I really struggled it down. I have no memory of the procedure itself, just Duran Duran on the radio as I drifted off, and was absolutely fine afterwards, no pain, if a little shaky.

Good luck, it’s important to get it done and it wont be pleasant but you’ll be fine. Big hugs.

Hi
The most uncomfortable part about a colonoscopy is the prep...
you will be given a painkiller and sedation during the procedure which will minimise discomfort. After the procedure You will feel ‘gassy’ this is because they put air inside so they can see properly.
Personally I wouldn’t be at work the next day you are supposed to avoid signing important documents, NOT drive and have someone with you for 24 hours post procedure.
Hope this helps

The prep is awful, your bum will be raw from wiping so much , the actual procedure I didn't find bad at all, I chose to do it without sedation and the parts where it hurt only lasted a couple of seconds and I used the gas and air for those moments.

The prep is the worst bit.
I have had many colonoscopies over the years (thanks, Crohn's) and never been sedated, although sometimes I've asked for the gas and air. I find them very interesting! Not often you get to see inside your own body, TBF.

My DH has regular colonoscopies and he finds setting up in the en-suite with a big jug of the mixture/water, a fully charged phone and Netflix on the laptop helps. The whole evacuation procedure takes a few hours for him.

He doesn't like the way the gas and air makes him feel but says the procedure itself is relatively painless despite having no pain relief. He finds it interesting to see what's going on on the TV showing what's up his butt.

He prefers to have me wait with him and drive him home. He tends to go straight back to work the next day.

Oh, get yourself some posh loo roll and a tub of Sudocrem. You'll figure out why when you feel the effects of the prep!

As everyone else has said, the procedure is uncomfortable but fine. The prep however, is hideous.

Yep the prep is definitely the worst part. Buy baby wipes and have Vaseline ready - trust me - you'll be grateful you've got them.

Also there no way I could have worked on the prep day.

For the vast majority of people the prep is the worst bit (don't go far from the loo, chill the mixture in the fridge and drink through a straw to make it more palatable, Vaseline and flushable lol roll are your friends)

I apparently have a particularly sensitive colon and sedation doesn't work on me according to the person that's done my endoscopies. But I still just managed to get through of it.

Take the sedation and you'll likely be fine

For prep, make sure you have plenty of loo roll. Something to keep you entertained. Apply barrier cream after each time you go to the loo and try to pat more than wipe as the poo gets more watery. Have hand cream handy for after washing hands. A hot water bottle can be useful too.

For procedure get the sedation. They may try and imply you shouldn't have it. Insist if necessary. Remember the technicians etc do this all the time, they won't think anything of seeing your bum. They often pump in air and this can be uncomfy but you'll pass it all back out again.
I'd take the day off after if you can.
Hope it goes well.

I put elderflower cordial into the prep to make it more palatable. You could use some orange cordial. A nurse told me this was ok. I also drank it with a straw which made it easier. Keep some Andrex bum wipes on hand.

I had the sedation and it was over before I knew it tbh. I can honestly say I do not recall being in any pain.

My DH did it without sedation (he's a little crazy sometimes) and he said it was very uncomfortable for him, but not painful in the sense that he felt it was something he needed sedation for. The only nasty part is when they reach the bend, but that was intense more than painful and lasted a second.

Just an anecdote, so you know that not everyone finds it painful. He did hate the prep though.

The prep is definitely the worst bit! But I felt so squeaky clean that I didn't want to eat!

I didn't bother with the sedation because I had to drive myself home and it was fine. A bit uncomfortable when it went round the corners but not so bad. I won't be sedated on my next one anyway. It's fascinating too. You can watch what's happening and chat to the consultant at the same time if you're not sedated. You get the hell out of there a lot quicker too!

I have had a few.
If I were you I would accept the sedation. I tried once without and it was horrendous.
With sedation it’s easy. The prep is not nice but when I had the procedure I don’t really remember it. After I had trapped air and a bit shaky but that’s it xx

Another one who says that the prep is the worst bit.
I didn't have any sedation just gas and air. It was uncomfortable if you have twists/bends but not too bad. You then get tea and toast after it.

It personally but my BIL had to have one in Jan and he opted without sedation and nearly passed out, Actually he's convinced he did! My mum also had one and both now say to anyone they know having it done opt for sedation.
Hope you're okay OP X

I used to work as an endoscopy nurse - most patients said the worse bit is drinking all the prep. Drinking it through a straw can help, and you can usually add squash or cordial (but not blackcurrant cos of the dark colouring). Also get some Andrex wipes as the effects of the prep can make your bum a bit sore!

You should be offered either gas and air (entonox) or medication into you vein. This is usually a pain relief and a sedative. It does tend to be more uncomfortable for women than men unfortunately, especially if you have had any gynae surgery like a hysterectomy. But some women have no pain relief at all and don't have any discomfort. But I would recommend the sedative, especially if you've had any gynae surgery.

If you have the sedative, you will need someone to pick you up and stay with you for 24 hours as it can make you a bit forgetful. You might feel a bit windy and uncomfortable afterwards, moving around and drinking hot drinks can help with this, especially peppermint tea.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm really really dreading this. I will definitely take the pain relief if offered. I don't have a high pain threshold and I suffer terribly with anxiety so I imagine I'll be in a real state beforehand.

I'm trying to see the prep as a fancy form of colonic irrigation....yeah right.

At my hospital they ask you to go on a low-residue diet for a few days beforehand. (Can't remember how many days.) This is v bland. White bread, no fruit or veg, nuts or seeds. Google it. I didn't find the prep much of a problem, perhaps because of the diet. The worst thing for me was feeling hungry. I had an afternoon appointment and I was starving.

The procedure was fine until we came to an obstruction which was the reason I was having it, after it showed up on a scan. Until then, I was enjoying watching the screen. I can't say I felt particularly sedated, but I'd recommend having it. It didn't occur to me to take the next day off. I felt completely normal and could have driven myself home after the recovery period.

Good luck!

Yep the prep is the worse part the actual procedure only hurt once and I was watching it on screen which was interesting

Oh and although I was told I couldn't use public transport I went home on the bus (with DH of course )

@Tiny37373 just to let you know if you have the sedative you can’t work or drive etc for 24 hours afterwards. You can mix lemonade or cordial with the prep, just nothing dark coloured as it could stain the bowel. If you’ve had children and gas & air (entonox) worked for labour / child birth it will work fine for a colonoscopy. You can be sedated but bear in mind it’s a conscious sedation so you’re still awake but it will relax you and pain relief will be given too. Talk to the staff who work there who will be able to reassure you. Also best to eat low fibre for a few days before if possible, makes it a lot easier to clear out.

I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago , the prep was definitely the worse bit and I mean the drinking it not the subsequent squits . I had movie prep and I would say don’t add flavouring to it , it doesn’t help and just makes more to actually drink . I had the procedure without sedation or pain relief as the sedation offered was Midazolam and that makes me vomit for about 3 days afterwards and I didn’t find it painful but I do have a high pain threshold . Good luck OP it’s not going to be as bad as you think it will .

Hi Op....i had a colonoscopy 6 years ago at the age of 40....the prep was vile but the procedure itself was a doddle...i felt nothing and went out that night for a xmas do.