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AIBU?

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Original poster

Colonoscopy please help

121 replies

Vomdotcom · 25/04/2023 19:05

I’ve got one tomorrow and I’m attempting to drink the preparation drink (laxative) but it’s making me projectile vomit, anyone got any tips. I’m private but can’t reach anyone and will likely have to pay even if I can’t have the procedure

OP posts:
dailytalk · 25/04/2023 19:07

Hold your nose. Do it over a period of time - eg every 90 seconds take a sip.

dailytalk · 25/04/2023 19:08

Lemonade with the prep (I think).

Original poster
Vomdotcom · 25/04/2023 19:09

dailytalk · 25/04/2023 19:08

Lemonade with the prep (I think).

You can have lemonade?

I’ve been sick twice and it’s taken me 45 mins to drink it will that stop it working?

OP posts:
keiratwiceknightly · 25/04/2023 19:09

A straw can help. And lots of ice cubes. It's grim, and its effects are worse. But worth it for a clear view.

MrsClatterbuck · 25/04/2023 19:11

When I had one I put some elderflower cordial in it also used cold water. I also used a straw to drink it so it kind of bypassed my tongue iyswim. It was a nurse who when I had my barium enema who said to put orange cordial into the mix and keep in fridge. I'm sure you now to keep close to the loo.

Original poster
Vomdotcom · 25/04/2023 19:14

keiratwiceknightly · 25/04/2023 19:09

A straw can help. And lots of ice cubes. It's grim, and its effects are worse. But worth it for a clear view.

Do they hurt?

im really scared for the procedure actually

OP posts:
Sixfaithfulservingfriends · 25/04/2023 19:17

it’s taken me 45 mins to drink it

This is your error. As pp says use a straw and slurp a huge lot back, as much as you can, without stopping. It’s doing it slowly and sipping it that’s a problem, once you taste it that’s the issue.
Good luck.

highlandcoo · 25/04/2023 19:19

Lots of sympathy- it’s revolting.

Ice cubes are a good call and add flavouring but it must be pretty much colourless .

Do not sip it. You have to get it down quickly. I was like you and drank it too slowly as struggling not to throw up. The procedure didn’t work and I had to go through it all again a few weeks later.

My consultant explained that it’s like a blocked drain and if you send trickles of water down a little at a time it won’t wash the leaves away. You need a forceful gush of liquid to do that.

So you have to drink the prescribed quantity in a short period of time. Very cold and flavoured with something you can bear to drink.

The colonoscopy will be a doddle after the horror of the prep. Hth and good luck!

CoraPirbright · 25/04/2023 19:20

They only told me after the fact that you can mix squash or ribena in with it!! I nearly threw up and felt quite tearful at the prospect of the second dose. It’s quite funny how well it works though!!

Loving the euphemistic “lemon and ginger flavour” on the box. “Battery acid and sea water”, more like. Good luck OP!!

highlandcoo · 25/04/2023 19:23

Mine was “vanilla flavour”. Absolutely disgusting.
My consultant said absolutely not Ribera as the colour would affect the result. But maybe that was just her.

neveragain256 · 25/04/2023 19:28

sympathies- its brutal. I had a colonoscopy whilst admitted to hospital last year and had to drink 2 huge jugs of the prep. absolutely revolting. what helped me was setting a timer on my phone and drinking as much as I could through a straw in that time. basically as much as possible before id have to stop to take a breath. its awful and disgusting and whilst straws, lemon etc all help a bit ultimately it still tasted awful and the best thing in my experience was to get it over with and drink as much as possible. small sips were bad for me because then I was able to taste it and think about how disgusting it was.

if its any constellation, the actual colonoscopy was a walk in the park compared to the prep.

hope all goes well for you x

Original poster
Vomdotcom · 25/04/2023 19:30

highlandcoo · 25/04/2023 19:19

Lots of sympathy- it’s revolting.

Ice cubes are a good call and add flavouring but it must be pretty much colourless .

Do not sip it. You have to get it down quickly. I was like you and drank it too slowly as struggling not to throw up. The procedure didn’t work and I had to go through it all again a few weeks later.

My consultant explained that it’s like a blocked drain and if you send trickles of water down a little at a time it won’t wash the leaves away. You need a forceful gush of liquid to do that.

So you have to drink the prescribed quantity in a short period of time. Very cold and flavoured with something you can bear to drink.

The colonoscopy will be a doddle after the horror of the prep. Hth and good luck!

Oh god I hope it works, I can’t bear the thought of it again. I’m not backed up so hopefully it will work!

ill keep drinking water in the interim and chin the second one, which looks even worse as there’s 2 bastard sachets.

how long did it take to work… it’s been 45 mins? Starting to worry I’ve fucked it up

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 25/04/2023 19:35

It took a while to start working but when it does don’t stray far from the loo.
Don’t use anything with blackcurrant to flavour it as the colour can be a problem. Neck it and have something flavoured as a chaser. I used elderflower too.

Eukanuba · 25/04/2023 19:39

It is vile op , worst part of the whole procedure. Hope everything goes well for you Flowers

Original poster
Vomdotcom · 25/04/2023 19:40

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 25/04/2023 19:35

It took a while to start working but when it does don’t stray far from the loo.
Don’t use anything with blackcurrant to flavour it as the colour can be a problem. Neck it and have something flavoured as a chaser. I used elderflower too.

Can I watch tele downstairs, we’ve got a downstairs loo? Or is it a camp out In the bathroom thing?

OP posts:
pudseypie · 25/04/2023 19:41

Which prep have you got? I had Plenvu last year and it was hard to drink it down. I found making sure it was really chilled helped, and alternated sips of ice cold water with each sip of the prep. It started to work about 1 hour or so afterwards. Then I was on the loo for hours, but you have to keep drinking it.

canyon2000 · 25/04/2023 19:42

I still had control of my bowels after drinking the prep! I didn't hang around but I could hold it in.

lkkjhg · 25/04/2023 19:43

Hold you nose and drink through a straw. One sip at a time

RestrictiveCovenant · 25/04/2023 19:45

Get it really cold, add lots of lemon squash (or other pale squash),maybe p add ice, hold your nose, and use a couple of straws. Keep the straws further back in your mouth so you don’t get too much contact of the drink with your tongue. There are a few people who just can’t tolerate it. If that’s the case give them a ring as early as they open to discuss what to do. Good luck.

Original poster
Vomdotcom · 25/04/2023 19:47

pudseypie · 25/04/2023 19:41

Which prep have you got? I had Plenvu last year and it was hard to drink it down. I found making sure it was really chilled helped, and alternated sips of ice cold water with each sip of the prep. It started to work about 1 hour or so afterwards. Then I was on the loo for hours, but you have to keep drinking it.

That’s the one! I forced it down but it took a bit longer than the 30 mins advised, kids bedtime shenanigans and the vile taste interspersed with being sick

OP posts:
pudseypie · 25/04/2023 19:51

Mine took longer than it should too. I was only sick on second sachet though. Be warned, the second sachet is a bit thicker from memory. Slightly different flavour and consistency. Although I struggled with mine and was sick a bit, it still worked on me. When you are 'passing' clear liquid you are pretty much cleared out I think. I had a successful colonoscopy, and actually drinking the prep was the worst part of it all! Good luck!

PriOn1 · 25/04/2023 19:57

Sorry you’re going through it. I kept the first down and threw the whole of the second up. It still worked well enough though, with only the one sachet.

I was hoping for sedation during the procedure, but didn’t get it. It was unpleasant, but not unbearable. I tried to keep breathing deeply throughout to stay relaxed.

Good luck. I hope you can keep enough down for it to work and that your results are clear.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/04/2023 20:03

Cold and through a straw. Just get it done and try not to let it touch your tongue so you can’t taste it!

Have the sedation with the procedure and you’ll be fine. Getting the prep done right is the hardest bit. By the end you should be passing golden fluid with no bits!

AntiHop · 25/04/2023 20:03

I had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago. Drink it with pale squash and very cold water.

FangedFrisbee · 25/04/2023 20:06

CoraPirbright · 25/04/2023 19:20

They only told me after the fact that you can mix squash or ribena in with it!! I nearly threw up and felt quite tearful at the prospect of the second dose. It’s quite funny how well it works though!!

Loving the euphemistic “lemon and ginger flavour” on the box. “Battery acid and sea water”, more like. Good luck OP!!

100% not ribena! It shows up as a blood colour in the bowel and it's hard to distinguish, it also stains the lining of the bowel.