Colonoscopy please help

[Vomdotcom]

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

Hello op. I'm a veteran of colonoscopy. Having had at least 10-15 so far.

Lots of detail about the whole thing in this post. Knowledge can take some of the fear away but feel free to skip this if ignorance is bliss for you

It's a bit late for this one, but use Vaseline or sudocrem on your bun hole to stop it getting sore during prep.

They usually provide paper modesty pants at the hospital (like paper bloomers with a Velcro 'back door) Super sexy 😁 but keep your modesty in tact u til you're sedated.

Process is usually
Go in to cubicle, get fully undressed into gown and dressing gown and sometimes socks.
Do consent forms (they will discuss the small risks and after effects with you, don't be alarmed by this -it's standard protocol). They put in a cannula on your arm or hand (can be a bit sore / awkward but you get used ti it). This is to get drugs into you during the procedure
When it's your turn you wheel or walk into the room. There will be machines and a monitor and about 2-3 people. They hook up heart monitor plus an oxymeter thing on finger
You will lie on you'd side knees towards your chest.
They put a bit of oxygen near your nose (not usually a full mask) and then they inject the sedative stuff via the Canucla. You go woozy and they start. They use plenty of lube gel and the relaxer drugs make camera insertion easy.
If you want to and are aware enough you can ask to see the screen they look at. I find that stuff fascinating ! Some people hate that though, it's a personal thing.
They sometimes pump some air in to give better visibility. It only takes a few minutes and you'll lose track of time.

When they are done you'll be taken back to your cubicle to be Monitored and sleep a bit. You'll probably fart quite a bit and it can be loud 😬. Don't hold it in though. You'll be given tea and a very welcome snack.
They often come and give you results straight away. At some point they will remove the Canula.
You get dressed and leave once your nominated person in there to pick you up. Take a book or your phone to keep occupied whilst you wait.
Do take the 2;hour rest afterwards. You will need it to get the sedative fully out of your system.

Good luck ! And I hope this hood this helps.

That should say take the 24 hour rest !!

If you’re having it done privately you should hopefully have your own room and private toilet so they’ll leave you alone in there for the most part. Both times I had mine done privately I was at the end of the list for some reason so I was waiting for ages - take a book with you. I went in for the morning ones and didn’t get done till about 3.

youll be pumped full of air which I found very uncomfortable so you’ll do lots of farting but I got really crampy too. I wolfed my sandwich they gave me down but I was so full of air it just came straight back up. Just take it slow after! The sedation I had meant I was awake and aware of what was going on but then the memory faded pretty quickly!

you’ve done the worst bit though OP well done!

Please don’t worry. The staff really do look after you. The sedation just made me really relaxed and a bit sleepy. I didn’t really feel much. At times it was a bit uncomfortable but they put me on my back.

you’re not really exposed tbh. Camera takes seconds to put in and there’s a blanket over you as well.

I only had to stay 30 mins after it was done.

it was all so easy! So much better than I was expecting.

Do not use ribena!!!!!
And yes, cold, through a straw is the best way.
Hope it goes ok today.

Mine has taken anywhere from 45 mins to 2 hours to do anything. But you always know when it is working, that I guarantee!!
Fingers crossed for you - PM if you need.

@lightlypoached
What a great post. I'm sure the step-by-step will reassure lots of people nervous about what to expect.

Thanks all!

the procedure itself I did find a bit painful actually, even with sedation, but I had a very mild amount.

everything looked normal which is good but on the other hand no closer to an answer as to why I’m in constant abdominal pain, I regularly gain 10 inches across my tummy bloating wise and I’ve routinely got elevated calprotectin and inflammation markers

Glad it's over and done with! Have they taken biopsies to look for things like microscopic colitis? That wouldn't be visible during a colonoscopy.

Yup he took a few biopsies.

it’s just the large intestine that was viewed today, he did mentioned something maybe for the small intestine because of the symptoms and high calprotectin, but my next appointment isn’t until June.

consultant did say that sometimes the whole colonoscopy procedure can sort of reset the gut

Oh, you must be so relieved it's over and done with now, OP.

Well done for your perseverance last night!

And hopefully the biopsies will throw some light on what sounds like a nasty situation to have to put up with. And thus some treatment can improve/cure it.

Go gently for the rest of today.

@FluffyTrousers, I sent that clip to my elderly Aunt, who thought it was the funniest thing she'd seen in years and that BC had the descriptions bang on, in her experience. 😄

What's this in reference to? I can't find the post haha

@dailytalk, it's a Billy Connolly live stand-up bit about him doing the prep before his colonoscopy. Very funny. (I wouldn't recommend anyone watch it if their of a nervous disposition!)

FluffyTrouser's post at 20.59 yesterday.

I couldn't find the link to this last night, but if anyone wants a laugh, this thread is absolutely epic:

*they're

Anyone’s tummy feel awful after? Still sloshy , gurgly and trapped wind?

Yes. Perfectly normal.

How did you get it to go down? This is basically like one of my symptoms that sent me down the colonoscopy path in the first path

Peppermint tea will help. I had awful cramps after my second one and it really helped. All of a sudden I had a thudding sensation as something shifted (probably air) and I felt much better.

My mother went through this recently and unfortunately it did cause her to vomit so although it had an effect it didn't clear her out enough so she had to have it again 2 weeks later. It was all quite stressful.

At the colonoscopy they told her the first medication she had was well known to cause people to vomit and they had to be rebooked. Why on earth they put people through that twice knowingly I don't know!!