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Colonoscopies.....

44 replies

QueenofmyPrinces · 20/11/2018 14:02

Has anyone had one?

I’ve been referred today to have one done and I’m feeling anxious already....

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percheron67 · 20/11/2018 14:05

Hello Queen, I had one in January this year. The preparation isn't fun and I stayed indoors within easy reach of the loo but the procedure is not horrendous. I think the thought of it was much worse than the deed. Good Luck!

QueenofmyPrinces · 20/11/2018 14:10

Do you mean the enema? The surgeon I saw earlier implied they give the enema at the hospital just before the procedure...

I may have misunderstood though?

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cindersrella · 20/11/2018 14:18

I'm was pretty much the same.. to be honest I was just greatful of a good old clear out 🤪

It's not completely horrendous, I have mine with gas and air. Some people prefer to be half knocked out. I watched as the camera went around. Depending on how far they need to go inside (in my case they went all the way to my small bowel) that's when it was really uncomfortable. They took biopsy's too which I can't remember feeling.

I would go through it again if I have to in the same way too

TheGoodEnoughWife · 20/11/2018 14:19

With a colonoscopy you have prep treatment a day before at home. They look at the whole bowel (had one yesterday!)

A sigmoidoscopy they give you an enema just before and they look at the lower end of the bowel.

Not the greatest fun but really not that bad!

cindersrella · 20/11/2018 14:19

They didn't give me an enema, they gave me some medication to start taking the day before to ensure your bowel is clear. Maybe contact the secretary to confirm?

rebelrosie12 · 20/11/2018 14:20

The actual procedure is fine (take the drugs they offer you I had a great time haha) the prep before is gross.

QueenofmyPrinces · 20/11/2018 14:23

He said there was no preparation and they’d just give me an enema to clear the lower part of my bowel out. I asked if the procedure would be painful and he said “only if we got a bend” Hmm

He said they’d need to insert ty camera 30-40cm.

There was no mention of gas and air Sad

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cindersrella · 20/11/2018 14:30

It sounds like they need to go to a different part of your bowel to mine.. I'm sure they will send you a letter to clarify and all relevant info will be on there I would imagine

Dunkling · 20/11/2018 14:32

I had one less than a week ago.

I had the prep called Pirolax, in 2 sachets. I read it was vile and hard to take, but followed instructions to have it chilled and through a straw. I found that bit easier that the copious amounts of clear fluid, but maybe because I hate soft drinks, they make me nauseous. So I drank those through straws too.

A couple of tips... Pre measure and prep your drinks. It makes it so much easier especially if drinking during the night. Find something to do while drinking... I surfed the net to take my mind of it and they went down easier. Then back to bed inbetween. Everyones different to their reaction. I read about long long stints on the loo so was surprised that the 1st sachet did nothing until I drank the next drink, which went through me in minutes like a tap, and that was how it continued, so no long sitting and sitting for me. And also, it is usual to stop drinking 3 hours before. I would say 3, as I was still going to the loo as I waited in my gown. It was clear, so ok, but not relaxing to know you're still going!

As for the procedure, it was so respectful. A nurse settled me on a bed and tucked me under a cosy blanket while the surgeon chatted as he sedated me. I little while later I asked when they were getting on with it to find an oxygen mask on my face and it apparently all done. I do remember pain just at the point that has led to the investigations, they said no. So false memory or them being kind to help I don't know.

But, it really wasn't bad!

QueenofmyPrinces · 20/11/2018 14:35

They’re investigating a possible recto-vaginal fissure but also changes in my bowel habits.

I’m worried about being embarrassed more than anything Sad

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percheron67 · 20/11/2018 17:16

Queen, i didn't have gas and air but was given an injection. I wasn't given an enema but the strange mixture which makes you dive in and out of the loo with increasing speed! Unpleasant but not terrible. Hope all goes well.

SeaViewBliss · 20/11/2018 17:19

I’m so glad for this thread as I’m waiting for a colonoscopy appointment too.

Great to know it doesn’t sound too horrific!

MamaBearThius · 20/11/2018 19:25

I had one a few months back with no sedation or gas/air. The prep was horrendous in my experience - that volume of flat skanky lemon dish water on an empty stomach is hard going! But the actual procedure was fine! It niggled when they went round a bend but other than that it was no where near what I thought it would be! I had a lovely lady who held my hand and chatted utter nonsense with me. The wind pains afterwards were quite savage though. Good luck and hope everything is clear

TheGoodEnoughWife · 21/11/2018 09:08

Sounds like you are having a sigmoidoscopy then.

Please don't feel embarrassed - this is their job, it's what they do. They will have seen lots of bottoms before yours and will see many after!

Like someone said above they tucked me up in a blanket and every effort was made to give me as much privacy as they could considering where they were aiming for!

Natsku · 21/11/2018 09:14

If no prep then I guess they're not going quite as far up as with a colonoscopy which is good, less painful then and not having to do the prep is great because that is really horrid.

I've had two done, prep sucks and I found the actual procedure really painful but I may have a really low pain threshold, I don't know. But after the first one the doctor said I would need to be sedated the next time but they don't offer gas and air for it in my country - I could probably handle it on gas and air, that stuff is amazing! (I wasn't sedated for my second one despite me asking, they gave me drugs supposedly to sedate me but they did sod all and though they topped me up half way through it didn't take affect until afterwards which was a bit pointless)

QueenofmyPrinces · 21/11/2018 09:21

I hope it is a Sigmoidoscopy then. The surgeon said I needed camera investigation and I just assumed he meant a colonoscopy. I’ve never heard of a sigmoidoscopy before this thread.

I don’t like the sound of an enema as I’m guessing the effects can come on quite sudden and unpleasantly and I don’t fancy that happening in front of people Sad

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TheGoodEnoughWife · 21/11/2018 09:38

I hadn't heard of them till recently even though I had had a couple of colonoscopies in the past. The sigmoid is the lower end of the bowel. I was given the choice and decided on a colonoscopy

Your privacy is protected in any way it can be to the extent it felt a bit silly considering what I was having done! For example I wore a bra with no metal in it and I could keep it on - heavens above they caught a glimpse of a boob while up my bottom lol

ChasingGhosts · 21/11/2018 09:40

I had one a couple of months ago. The worst part by far is prepping for it and you'll have to take a day off for that if you have a morning appointment and probably a day off work after too!

You have to drink this awful movieprep and a lot of it, and then you'll be running to the toilet for a while!

Once that's all over with the actual procedure wasn't too bad, you get sedated and recover quite quickly but the sedative effects can last for up to 24 hours and I was very sore the next day (stomach area)

ChasingGhosts · 21/11/2018 09:42

That was for a full colonoscopy though if they're only going 30cm it might not be as bad as that

QueenofmyPrinces · 21/11/2018 10:24

You have to drink this awful movieprep and a lot of it, and then you'll be running to the toilet for a while!

I’m also worried about this seeing as it’s going to take me at least 40 minutes to get from home to the hospital....

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QueenofmyPrinces · 21/11/2018 10:26

thegoodenoughwife - can I ask what your symptoms were or what they were trying to diagnose that led to you choosing a colonoscopy over a sigmoidoscopy?

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DaanSaaf · 21/11/2018 10:31

Sounds like a Sig, I've had both. The camera will only go as for as the sigmoid gland which if you Google you'll see isn't too far.

I wasn't given any pain relief for the Sig but it was uncomfortable rather than painful. They blow air in as they go to help see better so you end up with a bit of a sore stomach which you can pop to the loo to relieve Wink

The enema is a Lottle pipette that a nurse squirted up for me, you hold for as long as you can then go to the toilet. It's not like the bowel prep you have with a colonoscopy, there won't be any urgency to go afterwards. Good luck Flowers

DaanSaaf · 21/11/2018 10:33

Oh and during the actual procedure, there's a lovely nurse who sits and talks to you. Mine was so good and keeping my mind off things and talked about what I was going to have for dinner Smile

Sycamoreleaves · 21/11/2018 12:28

Queen, if you do have moviprep by the time of your appt, the urges to go to the toilet will probably be much less than the day before.
I just had a colonoscopy, and by the day of my appointment, there was nothing left to come out (sorry if tmi). Like you, I had a long journey to hospital (an hour), but it was fine. Moviprep isn't fun, but it wasn't awful - main issue was feeling really hungry. I had entonox for the procedure itself; it was fine.

QueenofmyPrinces · 21/11/2018 13:01

Are you not allowed to eat then?

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