Dh colonoscopy

[thegreylady]

Some time ago my dh aged 82 visited GP with bowel problems. On examination gp felt nothing amiss but told dh to go back if it didn’t improve. Unknown to me dh let it go on for some weeks before seeing GP last Monday (3/9). He was referred to a specialist and was seen one week later 10/9. The specialist did a sigmoidoscopy (telescope thingy) and said he thought inflammation rather than cancer but neede colonoscopy to be sure.
The hospital rang yesterday 11/9 and appointment is next Monday 17/9. Dh says they are just being efficient but the speed terrifies me.
Does anyone have any experience of such rapid action from NHS with a benign result?

Yes. DH had a cancer scare a few years ago and was seen within days for a colonoscopy.
I hope it all goes ok

I was seen within 2 weeks for mine, all turned out well and I have nearly forgotten the prep. Other people I know have all been seen quickly too.

That’s actually quite brilliant of your trust! There’s national guidelines as to how long certain things should take and trusts get fined if they don’t keep to them. The cancer pathway guidelines are quick.

From referral from GP to appointment with HCP/first diagnostic should be no more than 14 days. Ideally any diagnostics after that should be done within a week. If cancer is diagnosed, he should be treated within 62 days from the date of the referral, 31 days from the day they decided on treatment.

Most trusts have issues keeping to this for varying reasons, the fact your hospital isn’t is encouraging and definitely doesn’t mean cancer is the likely diagnosis.

Thank you all, that is very reassuring. I’ll come back after Monday and let you know what happens.

The procedure is tomorrow and we are into the liquid diet day. The instructions ask take the first Moviprep at 5 and the second at 8. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to work and how long it lasts once it starts. Appointment is at 9am so a very early start for us tomorrow.

Mine was a while ago so I can't remember how long the prep took to work, but, stay close to the loo
, when it starts working it's very effective.

My prep worked very quickly, make sure once he starts to stay near the toilet and to keep hydrated once the prep is finished as I had the most god awful headache after doing it which they said was down to dehydration.
Hope all goes well.

Mine took a few hours to take effect, certainly had started the second lot before things ‘moved’ 😃
Wasnt particularly pleasant and I left a little as I just couldn’t take any more liquid, went on till the early hours but wasn’t as bad as Id expected.
Stay close to the loo, make himself as comfy as possible, cushion to lean against the wall, take in a gadget, book or something. I gave up going back and forth at the busiest stage around 10/11.
I think I had to have nil by mouth after midnight but not sure.
I didn’t take the sedation and it was fine, nursing staff were fab, my hospital put in a canula to add sedation during the procedure if I changed my mind. Was all over in about 15 minutes although I had no biopsies done and was told before discharge nothing sinister had been seen.
Did have slightly dodgy tummy a couple of days later which Ive heard is quite common.
Fingers crossed he’ll get good news.

I have had many colonoscopies and find that how quickly the prep works for me can be different depending on what medicines/powders given. And timing for one person can be different for another.

I think on average though most of mine have started to work two or so hours after the first dose. And then by the time the second dose is taken we're onto liquid stools, eventually just clear liquid.

I'd guess that your DH should find things start easing off by 12 or so tonight. ( He's on quite a late start). But as said it is important to keep drinking clear fluids while the ablutions continue, even if it makes him "go" again if you see what I mean!

He should be OK to travel tomorrow morning, though I have to confess that I am always relieved that i only have a 30 minute or so journey to make myself.

If there is a next time, ask if you can bring forward the timings for the prep doses.

Good luck, I hope everything goes well

He took the first one at 4.30 because he wanted to get it over. He started on the loo about half an hour after finishing it so by about 6.15. He is planning to take the second one starting about 7.30, was meant to be sooner but he hasn’t left the lavatory yet! Nightmare.

Hope the night goes well, and you both get some sleep OP. The advice I was given was to double the extra fluid intake ( 1lt v. 500ml ?) to avoid dehydration. I I actually drank more as I was - quite literally - breastfeeding at the time. All the best for the morning, a worrying time.

Wishing him well. Colposcopy prep is not nice. But the results are very clear which makes it worth it.

Thanks everyone! He has colitis, no sign of cancer so a great relief. Last night wasn’t great, he carried on going to the loo till about 3am and was lying on bath mats in bed! No accidents in bedroom but the dash to the bathroom was a bit dodgy at times.
He has now had a bacon sandwich and is off for a nap

Thanks for the update, glad it went well.

I imagine that a big relief? You take it easy too!

Hope his colitis gets better soon.

Hooray! Good to hear about the outcome greylady. What a relief. Wishing you all well.