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AIBU?

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Original poster

Colonoscopy tomorrow, starting bowel prep today!

64 replies

widowtwankywashroom · 30/12/2023 12:49

Colonoscopy tomorrow ( on a 2ww pathway, Dr found a lump on a rectal examination )
Bowel prep starts today, I am dreading it

OP posts:
Slitheringheights · 30/12/2023 18:06

God I wish I hadn’t read this. I’m recovering from colon cancer, tumour all removed. But will need to go for regular colonoscopy every 6 months? I think. Iv heard the prep is worse than the actual colonoscopy. My partner and sister have both had them and they said it was all fine.

Slitheringheights · 30/12/2023 18:08

I can remember being constipated in hospital before my operation. The nurse gave me an enima. 5 min later I was running to the toilet.

Investinavest · 30/12/2023 21:26

widowtwankywashroom · 30/12/2023 17:55

It's disgusting

Yes, yes it is! How's it going, are we keeping you company on the throne?!

I thought I'd be clever and simply stay sitting on the loo for the duration, but by christ it's uncomfortable on the thighs, not to mention the extraordinary pressure on the bum. I could feel the piles forming so couldn't stay there!

Redglitter · 30/12/2023 21:29

I had one 5 years ago & the prep was. 4 litres of the most vile drink. I had one a few weeks ago & it was about a litre split in 2 & both flavoured. It was dead easy by comparison

Fynetanksfather · 30/12/2023 21:33

Investinavest · 30/12/2023 21:26

Yes, yes it is! How's it going, are we keeping you company on the throne?!

I thought I'd be clever and simply stay sitting on the loo for the duration, but by christ it's uncomfortable on the thighs, not to mention the extraordinary pressure on the bum. I could feel the piles forming so couldn't stay there!

Show quote history

😄🤣🤣

coldcallerbaiter · 30/12/2023 21:34

OP I had one and it was a relaxing sleepy day. Honestly it is fine.

Op btw, they found a lump, but was it bleeding? Why did the dr do the checkup?

Soubriquet · 30/12/2023 21:36

I had one a few weeks ago and it honestly wasn’t so bad. The worse stuff is the bowel prep. It leaves your bum hole so bloody sore.

You can request gas and air during the exam which I did. I didn’t notice a thing. They also put some numbing cream on my poor bum.

Soubriquet · 30/12/2023 21:37

I can’t stomach the moviprep stuff. Makes me vomit. I had to have the picolax which whilst wasn’t enjoyable as such, it was easy to drink. Also only needed the one cup the night before and the morning of.

helloisitmeyourelookingfor · 30/12/2023 21:47

It didn't work for me, I went 18 hours before I opened my bowel -I was first on the list and they pushed me right to the end but I don't think they believed me that I'd followed the instructions

I then had an MRI and had to drink bowel prep again immediately before and I was told to take a towel to sit on for the journey home 'just incase'

36 hrs before that shifted

Tacotortoise · 30/12/2023 21:47

Slitheringheights · 30/12/2023 18:06

God I wish I hadn’t read this. I’m recovering from colon cancer, tumour all removed. But will need to go for regular colonoscopy every 6 months? I think. Iv heard the prep is worse than the actual colonoscopy. My partner and sister have both had them and they said it was all fine.

Prep is far worse than the actual colonoscopy. But I really doubt either are as bad as surgery for colon cancer, honestly I think you've done the hard bit. It will only be every 6 months initially anyway.

Scarydinosaurs · 30/12/2023 21:49

I’d much rather just fast than do the prep. So gross. Sympathies, OP. Hope the worst is over now.

Original poster
widowtwankywashroom · 30/12/2023 22:02

coldcallerbaiter · 30/12/2023 21:34

OP I had one and it was a relaxing sleepy day. Honestly it is fine.

Op btw, they found a lump, but was it bleeding? Why did the dr do the checkup?

Altered bowel habits
Some PR bleeding
She did a rectal exam and said she could feel a lump

OP posts:
Original poster
widowtwankywashroom · 31/12/2023 08:48

Well I'm here. In my gown!
Apparently I'm here for both ends!

OP posts:
buttercupcake · 31/12/2023 08:53

Good luck, you can do this! Let us know how you get on ❤️

toomanyleggings · 31/12/2023 09:03

Good luck!

Whoopsypoopsy · 31/12/2023 09:08

I found the prep worse than the procedure and I couldn’t finish it. The sheer volume of what I had to drink was ridiculous and it was starting to make me vomit. I couldn’t drink squash for months after as it would make me gag.
I drank about 3/4 of the first dose and about half of the second. It wasn’t ideal but they managed to do the colonoscopy and just sucked away anything remaining.
the procedure itself is fine, don’t be afraid to “fart”, it made it far more comfortable.

Whoopsypoopsy · 31/12/2023 09:09

Just read you’re having both ends. I had both, the gastroscopy was horrific, they couldn’t sedate me as I had no veins due to being dehydrated. Opt for sedation if you can xx

OSU · 31/12/2023 09:13

Good luck OP. I had several colonoscopies a few years ago and also have had an endoscopy. With the latter if you can be sedated that's great but you may feel a moment of panic when they numb the back of your throat. With the former, if you cannot be sedated, deep breathing helps a lot. The sedation for a colonoscopy is not really sedation but a drug that makes you feel very present at the time but then you forget all about it. Strange sensation!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 31/12/2023 09:13

Good luck op.
I always have a bit of sedation for my colonoscopies, hope it’s all straightforward for you. xx

Goatymum · 31/12/2023 09:16

I had one last year - took loads of advice in drinking in cold through a straw etc and it was unpleasant, but ok. I followed the instructions to the letter but there was still some residue on the procedure.
I also had a small bowel mri a couple of weeks later and had to drink the sodding stuff again for contrast - in a hospital waiting area (private). I just about managed one sachet. Then I had diarrhoea for 3 days after!!
I must have a sluggish system as they had to repeat an endoscopy too and fasting for 12 hours was just about ok (as opposed to 6).
They should tell you results there & then, which is good.,

Nonplusultra · 31/12/2023 09:16

Apply Vaseline after every BM, before anything has a chance to get sore. It gets a bit acidic as you empty out, so you need a barrier on your skin.

Original poster
widowtwankywashroom · 31/12/2023 10:32

Well I'm in recovery with a cup of tea and toast
Both ends done with sedation.
Nothing sinister found, just a few polyps which have been removed.
Thank you to all who kept me company last night.

OP posts:
henrysugar12 · 31/12/2023 10:41

The prep is the worst part of the procedure! But last time I did it I made sure to have a liquid diet three days beforehand and took some laxatives too so there wasn't too much to come out...
The prep was a different one and not quite as vile as the old type. Was still gagging drinking it though!

Topofthemountain · 31/12/2023 10:53

Pleased it went ok. My Dad has his third in a few weeks, like a pp said, he went really cold last one.

TheBuggerlugs · 31/12/2023 11:04

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