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Original poster

Oh god I have a colonoscopy on Thursday and just ate curry and minstrels, is it going to be okay?

37 replies

MoreCowbell · 29/05/2012 13:44

Argh ffs - I somehow managed to forget about it and ate leftover curry (pakoras), and a load of minstrels - I am supposed to be on a low-residue diet! Is it going to be okay and will the doctor be able to tell?

OP posts:

Meglet · 29/05/2012 13:47

I would have thought you'd be ok 2 days before if it's a one off. Wouldn't hurt to call the hospital though I suppose.

Have you got Picolax to take tomorrrow?

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 29/05/2012 13:49

I'm a bit worried that if I call the hospital they might cancel the procedure. I mean, not that I am looking forward to it, but I wouldn't want to wait another few weeks if you know what I mean.

And yeah I have two sachets of picolax - judging from the literature tomorrow is not going to be fun

OP posts:

HeathRobinson · 29/05/2012 13:54

Maybe the low-residue diet bit is for your comfort, ie to make the time after taking the picolax easier?

Meglet · 29/05/2012 13:54

Just risk it then. I think the worst would be they wouldn't get a great view and would re-schedule another one.

Which would mean more picolax .

Do you have a huge pile of magazines in the bathroom tomorrow? I splurged on all the glossies and celeb ones to take my mind off my frequent toilet visits. I could only walk from my bedroom to the bathroom all day. I was able to pop down stairs to make up the next sachet but I didn't hang around.

TBH the actual day wasn't too bad as you aren't actually ill with the picolax, it's just a very thorough detox, I was wiped out at bedtime though. And I was sick in the morning. But the colonoscopy really wasn't tooo bad as I was off my head on drugs.

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 29/05/2012 14:01

Heath that is a comforting thought, thankyou :)

Meglet that's a good idea - I might download the sequel to Wolf Hall too... god though, the picolax sounds AWFUL. We only have one loo here, am I going to need to send DH and the DCs elsewhere? Will I have, er, finished by the day of the procedure?

OP posts:

Meglet · 29/05/2012 14:20

When I did it (last Oct) IIRC I had the picolax drink, with the first one nothing happened for a while, possibly an hour. Then I was just on and off the loo for another hour or so. With the second sachet it really cleared me out and by the third one everything was crystal clear.

It was more repetitive than anything. I just pottered about tidying my room inbetween toilet visits. The dc's were out too, I wouldn't have liked it if I couldn't get into the loo within about 20 seconds, it's pretty fast when it kicks in!

wannabestressfree · 29/05/2012 14:24

Oh dear picolax.......... as a crohns sufferer I can reassure you that will well and truly clear you out.......
Stay near the loo :}

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 29/05/2012 14:33

God it's going to be a fun day tomorrow clearly! I only have two sachets to make up though - what if it doesn't do the job properly (bizarrely I seem to be mostly worried that something will be, er, left behind which the doctor will see. Like that's the worst of it!)

If I have buggered it up with the curry and have to do it again, well.

OP posts:

callow · 29/05/2012 21:02

Make sure you have plenty of clear fluids (sugary drinks) to flush everything through.

dontlaugh · 29/05/2012 21:07

There will be nothing left. Trust me. Enjoy the memory of the food though. The reality of it exiting will be grim enough. I had one 2 years ago and am the only person I know where the clearing out continued after the colonoscopy (have IBS though so may have been a factor).

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 30/05/2012 13:31

Well I've had the first sachet this morning and... Nothing has happened! Could I be so nervous it's not working???

OP posts:

slipperandpjsmum · 30/05/2012 13:42

More I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow and am going through the sachet situation today!!!

Had my lunch and the only thing I can have now is fluids and a clear soup later!

How are you feeling tomorrow?

dontlaugh · 30/05/2012 13:59

More, believe me, it will work. Perhaps not the first sachet, but after the second there will be results.
Update us from the loo.
Use baby wipes, btw, loo roll will irritate you, with frequency of usage.

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 30/05/2012 14:00

slipper aha, a colonoscopy buddy! How glamourous are we

has anything... happened for you yet? I had my first sachet at half eight this morning and NOTHING has transpired. I think my anxiety about the doctor seeing poo is stopping it working.

I have some chicken consomme for later. Ergh.

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Original poster

MoreCowbell · 30/05/2012 14:20

dontlaugh babywipes check! Thankyou! This is a bit like waiting to go into labour except not exciting and no baby. So not really like it at all then :)

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piprabbit · 30/05/2012 14:28

I don't think that anxiety will stop the picolax working. I don't think anything could stop it, it is a force of nature beyond the feeble controls of us mere humans. Just keep following the instructions .

Good luck to you both.

slipperandpjsmum · 30/05/2012 14:31

More I have to say I have been about 20 times now and its all getting very sore - the babywipes tip is great. But part of my 'condition', whatever it may be is that everything is very loose all the time.

So tell me why are you facing this tomorrow? What are your symptoms?

Have you been yet?

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 30/05/2012 14:35

pip that's reassuring - I must have guts of steel though!

slipper ahhh well, I am glad(?) it's working for you at least. Do you have any sudocrem or similar you could try out? You poor thing

I'm having a colonoscopy and an endoscopy tomorrow (and a barium swallow too, it's going to be a memorable day!), because they think I might be bleeding internally - I have had a lot of GI surgery and some intestine removed in the past and have uncontrollable anaemia now. How about you?

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slipperandpjsmum · 30/05/2012 14:45

They suspect there is a chance there be something 'sinister' I think the word is in there. Have a lot of pain and as I mentioned previously I don't have solid poohs its gone on for so long now. There is also some problem with my blood cells.

I think we will both be glad come tomorrow evening. I was so grumpy with my dcs this morning.

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 30/05/2012 15:04

Aw slipper that must be so scary for you, I'm so sorry Hope it goes as well as it can tomorrow!

I'm just going to have the second sachet... hopefully something will happen now.

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cambridgeferret · 30/05/2012 16:09

When my DM had to take it we managed with four of us and one loo. It was a case of asking if we were safe to go in there, and being as quick as possible.
She spent the day sitting in the kitchen next to the bathroom.
My advice is to go on the first rumble. DM waited until the fourth rumble. She got as far as the fridge. Thankfully there was a towel within reach.... we didn't even bother trying to wash it.
Keeping spare toilet roll in the fridge may help BTW.

slipperandpjsmum · 30/05/2012 16:46

More any sign of movement?

I am starving!! Do you think I could have Complan?

Cambridge love the loo roll in the fridge idea. Popped one in, my eldest ds opened the door and saw it. I think he may have considered eating it for a moment, such as the appetite of a 16 year old male!!

Original poster

MoreCowbell · 30/05/2012 17:02

Well something is happening, but there is no urgency - I'm not like poor cambridgeferret's mum! No rumbles. There is still um solids in what I am passing not the clear yellow liquid it says on the sheet

slipper I don't know about complan, is it clear? I am starving too! Drinking lemonade as thought the fizz might help me feel full. When are you having your procedure? Mine's not til 4pm tomorrow, I am going to be ravenous!

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slipperandpjsmum · 30/05/2012 17:14

More you are right - its not clear. My hunger is clouding my thoughts processes!!

I have to be there at 8.30am. You are going to have to spend the day sucking on boiled sweets!!

PestoPenguin · 30/05/2012 17:22

Has anyone warned you aboutt the farting afterwards

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