Colonoscopy and working question.

[cuntyMcCunterson]

I've just got an appointment through for a long awaited colonoscopy and typically it is on a day I'm due to be working. I'll get the day off for the procedure however I'm wondering about the medication I need to take before the procedure and if I can got into work the day before.
I work shifts and there is no way of knowing if I'll be busy or really quiet, there are times it's so busy I don't eat/drink/toilet for 8/10hrs and others where I sit on my bum for huge part of my shift.
I've read the medication is pretty horrible, but can anyone advise if I should take more time off work?
Also the documentation with the letter state that the person carrying out the colonoscopy will decide if sedation is required and it is done in a case by case basis! This concerns me as a MN previously advised it was a pretty grim procedure requiring sedation, any advice?

I had one about a year ago. I took the day before off and would recommend that you do. The bowel prep is pretty unpleasant.
Re sedation - I had it but I don't think it was enough. It was really painful and in top of feeling everything I couldn't drive myself home. However on balance I think I'll not bother with sedation next time - it was very painful but not unbearable. If you don't have a high tolerance for drugs generally though - take the sedation.
Hope yours is stress free! I got the results immediately so that was good.

I wouldn't go to work the day before just in case as you may be glued to the toilet.

When I went for my OGD there were several ladies in the waiting area about to have colonoscopies - they had all had them before and were opting to have no sedation as they thought it was OK! I had previously thought you only had a colonoscopy with sedation but according to them it was alright.

Thanks for the replies. My work are a nightmare at getting time off but I'll pish to get the day off before.
I'll take all the drugs I can get, I'll definately ask if I can get the sedation, just the thought of the procedure makes me tense up and my BIL tells a horror story about one of his colonoscopys that it just fills me with dread!!

The prep is pretty strong and as a result you need to be close to the loo.I'm not sure working is possible. I took the day off, more by luck than a decision and was so glad I did. I was kept awake at night so its the combination of little sleep and no food so ideally you rest.

I had the sedation and found it painful but it doesn't last too long. The nurses I had were lovely so in all it wasn't the worst procedure at all.

I didn't take the day before off. I just started the Clean Prep when I got home from work.

During the procedure, as soon as they inserted the scope I yelped. I was given Medazilam (sp).

Of all the medical procedures I've gone through it doesn't get into my top 10 of awful. You will be fine.

My husband had one on Wednrsday. He went to work the previous day until 4pm as he didn't have to start taking the prep medication until 5pm. He had a morning appt the following day but I believe if he had had an afternoon appt he would have had to take half a dose the night before and the other half on the day of the procedure but I think there are different time scales for different preps. He was having a CT Colonoscopy so no sedation but same prep. He found the second half of the Moviprep solution difficult to take, it's very sweet. Some don't mind it though. He used concentrated lime juice to make if less sweet and used a straw so as to avoid the more sensitive taste buds which are to the front of the mouth. Hope it goes well

i had mine wednesday
i had sedation and pethadine.
day before i was glued to the toilet within 20 minutes of taking sachets for about an hour. then it was every now and again.
i found it fine apart from having to have abdominal pressure 3 times ,that was painfull and they quickly gave me more pethadine.
felt very floaty afterwards and dizzy for most of yesterday.

I was working in the morning the day before my procedure (last December). I rushed home to take the first glass of the purge stuff at 2.00 pm, then more later. You do need to be near a loo for the next 12 hours!

However, by about midnight, nothing left to pass, and I was fine.
I was given mild sedation the next day and procedure was completely ok. I talked to doctor throughout, and remember it all, so was obviously only very lightly sedated. No pain. Mild discomfort but honestly, honestly nothing more than that. I was discharged later that day (day case) and had to be driven home as I had been given the sedation, so you would need a lift or a taxi.
The worst part was swallowing the purge drink - horribly sweet and I tried to disguise it with a sweet drink which was mistake!

You will be fine. Don't fret.

Yes, I agree that the worst part is the Clean Prep.

I actually had a job interview the day after my colonoscopy. I got the job.

It is very much down to the individual as to how painful a colonoscopy is. It is easier or the doctor to do it without sedation.

For my first I was all ready to watch the tv screen to see what they were doing but fell asleep as soon as given the light sedation. For my second, they purposefully knocked me out.

My sister had the same sedation and was awake and uncomfortable throughout.

So for me, the worst part was being cleaned out and I definitely needed to be close to a toilet for that.

There will be an instruction sheet with the medication and I would book time off if you need to take it during your work hours.

Thanks all, good to hear others experiences of this.

I'm having a colonoscopy next Friday at 10 so I cant eat after 9am on Thursday but don't start the Moviprep until 5pm. I had one in 2012 & was diagnosed with Crohns after the colonoscopy & a CT scan & this one is to check there's no active disease after surgery & to have a look at the join site. I'm off sick at the moment recovering from my op but last time my appointment was also on a Friday morning so I took a half day Thursday & the full day Friday. I had sedation but was 'awake' enough to have a good look at the screen so I'm hoping I'm the same next week as I really want to see where they've operated on (yes I'm weird!!!). The bowel prep is horrible but I've been given some tips to make it more bearable. The actual procedure was ok although it was a bit painful going around corners. Hope it goes ok