Nervous about having a colonoscopy next week, have some silly questions

[Greenny]

I'm having a colonoscopy next week. I've never had any kind of hospital procedure before so I'm feeling quite nervous about the whole 'being in hospital' thing more so than the actual colonoscopy itself.

I have some silly questions that I'd feel embarrassed ringing up the hospital to ask. I want to preface these questions by highlighting that I'm very anxious about the colonoscopy and am a very private, borderline prudish, kind of person so anything that helps me feel more in control and comfortable helps. So try and overlook my ridiculousness please lol!

• What happens when I first arrive for the appointment? Do I go into a ward/bed or just wait in a waiting room?
• What do I wear during the procedure? Can I wear my normal top or will I wear a hospital gown? Can I wear a bra?
• I wear fake tan and nail polish - is this ok or does it all need to be removed? I know for operations things like this are quite strict but not sure if it's the same for a colonoscopy?
• I want to have the sedation, will I need someone in the hospital with me or can they wait in the car and I walk out to them afterwards?
• Can I wear makeup?

Thank you in advance

I don't have much to add (and will say that they didn't go in quite as far - about two thirds through the colon, as I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy, but to all intents and purposes much the same), but will say that if you have had abdominal surgery or laparoscopies you may have scar tissue and that might make it more painful.
For me, the sedation didn't do a huge amount in terms of pain relief, but did keep me calm. I ended up having fentanyl on top, which really helped. (I was very grateful they didn't make me try gas and air first, as that was why they told me I could have on top - I don't think that would have cut it for me.)
I didn't find the prep that bad - I just needed to go to the loo a lot.
I hope all goes well.

Well done on having it, OP. I've been asked to have one but it freaks me out so badly, I can't face it.

I work in Endoscopy but can only answer for my trust and each will be different. But here's my two cents!

What happens when I first arrive for the appointment? Do I go into a ward/bed or just wait in a waiting room?

If you've not been talked through a consent form and signed for the procedure then they'll take you in and go through the procedure and get you to sign if you're happy. Then you'll be taken to a waiting area to change before going into the room. Smaller departments you'll likely walk into the room. Some take people on their trolly.

• What do I wear during the procedure? Can I wear my normal top or will I wear a hospital gown? Can I wear a bra?

We ask for bottom half off but allow tops on with gowns over the top. We also have dignity shorts that have a little flap at the back for access. You'll be well covered during the procedure and we are all just looking at the screen!

• I wear fake tan and nail polish - is this ok or does it all need to be removed? I know for operations things like this are quite strict but not sure if it's the same for a colonoscopy?

The fake tan is absolutely fine. If you're having sedation it's ideal to not have nail varnish as they will need to monitor your oxygen levels and the nail varnish can make that a bit trickier. I wouldn't worry too much though, even if you can just have one nail with it removed it'll help!

• I want to have the sedation, will I need someone in the hospital with me or can they wait in the car and I walk out to them afterwards?

You'll need someone to pick you up from the department and stay with you after. But they do not need to be in the department while you have the procedure. We call lifts when the patient comes into recovery so that they can come back to collect.

• Can I wear makeup?

Absolutely, if you'd prefer that's absolutely fine!

Other tips... take a dressing gown, slippers.. and a book! Depending where you are on the list, you coulr be waiting a bit. You may well be offered gas and air to help with some of the uncomfortable corners, though some with sedation just don't need it and some decide to have it. They'll be keeping a close eye and if anything becomes uncomfortable, they'll be able to change position/offer gas and air if you're able or potentially more sedation/pain relief if necessary.
Once the procedure is finished they'll take you to the "ward/recovery", check your obs and call your ride home.. offer tea and biscuits hopefully!

Good luck, it's absolutely normal to feel anxious but soon enough it'll be over and done with.

Thank you all, you've helped me feel so much more prepared!

I was really surprised at how well I got on with the gas and air after having sedation for years! Will definitely just use it next time. And being aware enough to watch the scope go round your intestine on the screen is amazing.

I honestly think the worst part is the day before - the Moviprep, the anticipation - but on the day itself it's really not that awful (apart from worrying that you'll do a big fart in front of an audience). And also the hunger, but they will probably give you a sandwich or biscuits straight after it.

Hope it goes well for you.

I would also bring some food or snacks, I was not offered anything after the procedure and was very hungry afterwards.

Getting nervous now! I'm eating a low residue diet today and tomorrow before starting the prep tomorrow evening. I'm starving and want nothing more than to comfort eat some chocolate to take away my nerves haha

Keep yourself busy tomorrow so you don't think about food, and if you do go out, make sure you can access a loo in seconds!

Good luck, hope it goes well. I promise you afterwards you'll wonder why you got so nervous 😊

I am sure it differs by place but I was told no metal/underwire in bra for my sigmoidoscopy. I wore a soft sports bra which was fine. Good luck with it - the thought of it is honestly worse than reality. Staff will be lovely and supportive and it'll be over before you know it. Enjoy the relief of the massive farts afterwards 😂

Honestly once the prep kicks in proper you will manage (without choc and comfort eating) and to resist the urge to eat anything. Even I did I and no one likes choc and comfort eating more than me. I felt as weak as anything with constant loo visits and worried I would last until until my appointment without passing out but you manage and you will be fine. Just have all the pain relief offered and be adamant you want everything.

Thought I'd post an update now I've had my colonoscopy, thank you again for all your advice it really helped me feel more prepared! :) TMI warning for my experience below:

The first dose of the prep was absolutely fine. I had prepared the prep and put it in the fridge so it was ice cold, and used a straw and pinched my nose following each sip with a sip of squash. I can't even tell you how it tasted as I didn't let myself taste it as I knew it would make me gag if I knew how gross it was lol. I had Plenvu, and it started working within minutes of me finishing the first dose. I just sat on the loo for two hours, painted my nails and went on my phone lol. I put a lot of Sudocreme on and didn't have any pain so would definitely recommend doing that. I was able to get a good night's sleep, and then woke up at 5am to take my second dose.

The second dose was a lot more difficult, I kept gagging and felt really nauseous, so around half-way through I took an hour break to see if the nausea would pass. I then had one sip of squash and it triggered me to throw up pretty much everything I had drank. Luckily though enough had got through for it to start working, and I was passing just yellow liquid so hoped that would be good enough for the procedure.

I went to the hospital and told the nurse that I threw up the second prep and they suggested just using gas and air initially whilst the consultant checked if my prep was adequate enough for the procedure, and then use sedation if I then needed it if the colonoscopy was going ahead. Luckily my prep was good and I was completely clear. I immediately asked for sensation as the feeling of the probe was uncomfortable, it wasn't painful but just a weird pressure feeling. I didn't really notice the sedation working, I didn't feel any different just couldn't feel that weird pressure feeling. With the sedation, the procedure was absolutely fine. I had a long gown on, modesty shorts and blanket covering me so I felt very comfortable.

The thing I found most nerve-wracking was being a 'patient'. I've never been in hospital before so found it weird to be a 'patient', I had never worn a hospital gown before or had a cannula, and I didn't know how to use gas and air lol. I felt quite vulnerable which I wasn't really expecting, I was in recovery with other patients and I had to have the curtain open so the nurses could monitor, I felt quite vulnerable and like I wanted privacy but it wasn't a big deal, the nurses were really lovely and kind.

I got my report and everything looked normal and healthy, thank God. I've had some random biopsies taken to rule out IBD that couldn't be seen.

@Greenny, it's good to hear it went well for you.