Appointment for colonoscopy

[Le1890]

Just got my appointment for a colonoscopy and it's a week on Saturday. Totally dreading it already. I can feel myself feeling totally panicked about these three things:

• drinking the stuff to clear me out (I'm a wuss and wretch with things like this)

• the procedure. Even though sedated what if it's too sore

• then ofcourse what they find. What poor Lynda Bellingham is going through has really got me in a panic. All I keep thinking is I might find out something terrible is wrong next week.

As you can probably tell I have anxiety particularly about my health and always terrified of the worst case scenario.

Any reassurance or hand holding would be really appreciated and I'm terrified. xx

I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy in July this year.
TBH the thing that worried me most was having some of my dental crowns knocked out but I came through it and had my gallbladder out this week and we still have a full tooth status

The Prep- they'll give you a diet list. The day before you prep you need to be careful what you eat. I had poached eggs and white toast.

On the day, I think I could have bland breakfast (toast and my last cup of milky coffee) at 7am. Then it's fluids (I had black coffee, clear apple juice, lemonade)
The prep I had was two tablets then two drinks (it was a cloudy lemony drink, it goes hot, use cold water to dilute then neck it with a straw. It's not bad really)
My bowel movements started at 12 noon right through to 2am. It's like when you have D&V but withoutout the vomiting. But because there's no underlying illness it's not so bad, less cramping .

The actual procedure: I have had 2 dc with gas and air and all my 4 wisdom teeth out with a local anasethetic but I wan't to be sedated because I really didn't want to be in the room IYSWIM.
I could feel pushing of the endoscope but not gagging.
I could feel a pinching of the colonoscopy but nothing worse.
It's a bit like when you're asleep and someone wants to wake you up, you feel "Naff off and leave me alone"

I took a wind relief prep with me but I didn't need it.
I took spare pants and a sanitary towel but there was no leakage.
We got a taxi there and back, but on the way I felt floaty but not weak as I thought I'd be.
Bland food for a while, lots of fluid. I got a print off to give to my GP (Ulcerative Colitus as well as the gallstone which is now gone)

I did buy some Sudocream to put on my bum, but it stung worse. I'd use plain Vaseline I think if I had to do it again.
I went through a whole roll of soft loo roll, and took over the downstairs loo (no-one else at home, IIRC the DC came home at lunchtime on prep day, it was their last day of school)
Anything else, just ask
They were very efficient, there's no embaressment (except when you need to pass all the gas before you can have coffee. But that cup of coffee was The Best ever

And the worry about what they'll find. Of course it's a huge worry. They didn't tell me much when I was there (the bits they remove take 6 weeks) but they were looking for colitus and that was what they found.
Good Luck.

You'll be fine. Honest! The issue here is probably your health anxiety - and believe me , as a fellow sufferer, I know what this is like.

We can't possibly think ' oh I'll have something like IBS etc ' .. No, we think ' well, it's bound to be bowel cancer. '

This year alone I've had ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, bladder cancer and secondary spine cancer. In my head, of course. That sounds flippant but it is no bloody fun to go through.

I have to have a CT scan today on my kidneys. I had a bladder cystoscopy two weeks ago. This is due to having microscopic blood in my urine all the time - and no infection present. I was convinced I had bladder cancer. Umm, my bladder was perfectly normal. They're expecting the CT scan to be the same and this time , I've tried to remain calm about it .

I know it's hard but the chances of you having something mundane are extremely high

I've had a few of these now and they are fine. The preparation drink can be disgusting, but it's not that bad.

The procedure does not hurt if you are sedated.

The worst bit is the excessive wind afterwards, but everyone else is in the same boat plus you won't see them again.

If it is bad, the earlier you find out the better. I had bowel cancer 3 years ago which had spread to the lymph nodes. I'm fine now. My oncologist is very optimistic that I will continue to be fine.

HTH

Thanks! I'm not sure how I lost this thread but have been searching for it!

Well today is prep day. I have movi prep so I just need to drink 2 litres. I mixed it with lemon and lime water and I hold my nose when drinking it! To be honest it's completely fine. I really was expecting to be gagging and I've not at all. I also bought fanta lemon and take a drink of that after each drink of prep.

So now my greatest fear is the results tomorrow. I'm obv not looking forward to the scope but I did have a flexible sigmoidoscopy 10 years ago and it was fine so I know I can cope with it going further. App at 12.30 tomorrow please hold my hand. I'm very scared .

I am glad you are well now velvet, I can't imagine what you have been through.
X

Had the colonoscopy this afternoon. All was completely normal. No polyps or inflammation. Diagnosed with ibs.

So glad it's over and glad I went through with to give peace of mind.x

Great news.