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Cancer

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Original poster

DH colonoscopy ? Bowel cancer

15 replies

SweetPeaPods · 21/07/2024 19:52

DH has an appointment next week for a colonoscopy after seeing GP last week.
His appt is 9am and he's not sure yet if he'll have the sedative so I said I would drop him off. Hospital is 45mins away without traffic so it will prob take longer.
Am I able to go in with him? I don't expect to or want to be in while they are doing it, but in recovery am I ok to sit with him? It doesn't mention anything on the letter. I will have our 2 year old with me unless I can see if someone can look after her.
Any advice welcome. I'm really worried and trying not to show it. I've seen posts from the patients perspective but not from the other side. TIA

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BulldogMumma · 21/07/2024 19:54

My dd had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago. I was allowed to wait on the ward while she had it done, I'm not sure if they'll allow a 2 year old you would have to check with the hospital.
My dd had a general anaesthetic and the procedure took around an hour if I remember correctly.

BlackStrayCat · 21/07/2024 19:55

I had to be outside waiting, as husband had a sedative and needed taking home. He will be very woozy indeed.

AnnaMagnani · 21/07/2024 19:57

I doubt you are able to sit with him. From a hospital perspective you are there as the transport to drop him off and take him home.

Original poster
SweetPeaPods · 21/07/2024 19:59

I might give them a call. It's a fair distance home and parking is a nightmare. Though not sure little one would be happy sat in the hospital coffee shop for a few hours

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Prinnny · 21/07/2024 19:59

You won’t be able to sit in recovery with a two year old. If you want to stay they’ll probably send you off to the canteen until he’s ready to be collected.

MounjaroUser · 21/07/2024 20:00

I really hope he gets good results.

If I were you I'd drop him off and then have him ask staff when you should come to pick him up. It's not a place for two year olds to be running around.

Mum4MrA · 21/07/2024 20:03

If you need to take your 2 year old, can you find a park or soft play place nearby?

Luminousalumnus · 21/07/2024 20:03

More colonoscopies here than you can shake a stick at! Sorry no, I was never allowed anyone with me or in recovery. Always took about 2-3 hours all in and DH would go away and come back when they phoned him up x wishing you both well.

UpUpUpU · 21/07/2024 20:06

Also a colonoscopy veteran. At my hospital the endoscopy centre is a clinic in its own right. There is a waiting room for relatives to wait but they aren’t allowed in recovery.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 21/07/2024 20:15

At my centre there is a waiting room but relatives don’t go any further than that.

It definitely wouldn’t be appropriate to have 2 year old in the recovery area where patients are being wheeled in, still in their gowns, some quite sleepy etc.

If your DH has sedation (fwiw I had my last one without) you will need to go inside to collect him so it’s worth having a good think about where you’ll park in advance.

Mindymomo · 21/07/2024 20:26

My DH has had a few colonoscopies, the first time I dropped him off, drove home 30 minutes, had cup of coffee, then got phone call to come and get him. You have to physically collect him as they’ve had a sedative and cannot drive or be left alone. DH was told with me present the results, although they took biopsies they didn’t think it was cancer. He fell asleep as soon as we left the car park. Next time I dropped him off, I decided to wait, but it was over 3 hours later. He texted me not to wait as there was a long queue, but the text didn’t come through. There wasn’t anywhere to wait, as he literally was put on a bed after the procedure and when I was there, there were 2 seats in a tiny room, so only one person could be collected at a time. He now has colitis and diverticulitis.

Pastimperfection · 21/07/2024 21:02

I know it was not what you asked but I have a bit advice about the prep. If he starts the prep 5 days before instead of 2 it will be much easier. If he has only very light meals, soup, fish chicken etc then, once the gunk starts to work there will be much less to evacuate. The worst part in my opinion is the prep, the colonoscopy was relatively simple and completely painless.

I have seen people sent home because the bowel is not cleared enough. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than going through all that to be sent home and not seen.

Zwicky · 21/07/2024 21:04

My hospital has a row of waiting chairs in the corridor and you are called through when your person is ready to leave and they are handed over to you. You don’t go in any clinical area or recovery area at all.

Original poster
SweetPeaPods · 21/07/2024 21:34

Thanks all.
Parking really is a nightmare at this hospital, really not sure what to do. Might see if someone can have the little one (though it will mean a very early drop off) then I can always just sit in car if needed.
He really wants me there if they do any results on the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
SweetPeaPods · 21/07/2024 21:58

Pastimperfection · 21/07/2024 21:02

I know it was not what you asked but I have a bit advice about the prep. If he starts the prep 5 days before instead of 2 it will be much easier. If he has only very light meals, soup, fish chicken etc then, once the gunk starts to work there will be much less to evacuate. The worst part in my opinion is the prep, the colonoscopy was relatively simple and completely painless.

I have seen people sent home because the bowel is not cleared enough. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than going through all that to be sent home and not seen.

@Pastimperfection will let him know thanks

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