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Original poster

colonoscopy the countdown....hand holding needed.

34 replies

justasking111 · 13/03/2019 13:27

Had my last meal 1pm cut off. 7pm I start drinking a litre of this liquid for two hours. Then again from 6am tomorrow I drink another litre of it. Booked into hospital at 1pm. I am shit scared so to speak. Hand holding needed. Scared...

OP posts:
Doonhame · 13/03/2019 13:30

Oh I’ve got mine next week! I had one 14 years ago but can’t really remember much of it thankfully.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a heavy sedation if you are very nervous, I will be.

Good luck, at least it’s over and done with quite quickly.

Veronicat · 13/03/2019 13:30

I had two recently. I wont lie that it's nice. Handhold here. The shitting is unreal. Just drink lots and lots of water .

Hairynick · 13/03/2019 13:31

Honestly the worst bit is not eating and drinking the vile liquid!!! Are you having sedation? I didn't remember a thing.

cranstonmanor · 13/03/2019 13:37

My DH had one last year. The diarrhea beforehand bothered him more than the procedure itself. The nurse said that if you consciously relax your muscles during the procedure then it will be fine. The problem for many people was that they were scared and tensed up. DH did it wothout painkillers or medication (because he is too stubborn) and just used breathing and visualisation methods to relax. He found that it felt like bad wind. He didn't find it painful, but it was uncomfortable.

So really try to relax. It will help you.

chesterfuckingdraws · 13/03/2019 13:40

I can honestly say the worst bit for me was drinking the prep solution. I detested the taste but managed to gulp it down using a straw. The effects of the prep obviously weren't pleasant but it was ok.

My appointment was delayed by 3hrs when I got to the hospital so when I was finally taken I was ravenous!

The actual procedure was ok....now don't get me wrong it wasn't the best day of my life but it was over fairly quickly. I requested sedation but it was extremely light and not "knocked out" at all.

Good luck.

Original poster
justasking111 · 13/03/2019 13:41

I am sedated for the procedure. Just terrified of drinking all this liquid that makes me poop etc. Am told it tastes vile. I have a bad gag reflex and am scared of barfing it all up.

OP posts:
chesterfuckingdraws · 13/03/2019 14:00

@justasking111 the liquid isn't the best. I found a straw definitely helped as it meant I could gulp it rush without it really touching my tongue.

Definitely a mind over matter thing, I missed one sachet with weak diluting juice which was slightly better. I found having plain water to drink straight after helped too.

Disfordarkchocolate · 13/03/2019 14:05

The prep is worse than the colonoscopy. Stay near the loo and rest. I don't remember much of my procedure but woke up feeling like I had the best sleep ever, then I farted. Give yourself a laugh and find David Sedaris reading about his colonoscopy.

Original poster
justasking111 · 13/03/2019 15:37

Just been to Tesco to buy straws, also bought some chewing gum. And a bucket just in case I throw up whilst pooping.

OP posts:
TheQueef · 13/03/2019 15:42

Clean prep is vile.
I had a colonoscopy last month.
I can't eat or drink too much it makes me vomit so of course I vommed up clean prep.
Despite doing the shite of a thousand drops when I had the procedure he found lentils Blush
God knows how long they'd been there.

Stay near the loo and be prepared to spend an hour each time Smile

Disney2 · 13/03/2019 15:45

Good luck. I've heard that putting lots of ice in the prep can help it not taste quite so strong.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 13/03/2019 15:50

The prep is the worst bit! They don't have to give the Kleanprep or similar huge volume ones. I kept puking them up so now I get Picolax, which is a lot less with the amount of everything. They can give you a Fleet enema if they really need to when you get there. They must be used to people chucking up the solutions by now!

TheQueef · 13/03/2019 15:54

Is picolax sodium picosulphate?
I've had that too and when they say bowel evacuation they mean EVACUATION.
I'm sure I shat a kidney out.

TheFlis12345 · 13/03/2019 16:00

I had to drink 6 litres of the liquid in 24 hours when I had mine! I had the lemon flavour and as recommended on here, drank it ice cold and through a straw so it really wasn’t that bad. The procedure itself was a piece of cake as I was sedated for it. I actually came round slightly half way through. They offered me more sedation straight away but i couldn’t really feel anything so I weirdly enjoyed watching my colon on screen for a bit! Grin They sedated me more for the removal though as I had a gastroscope at the same time and they said that removal is easier if properly out of it as you don’t gag as much. Overall the whole thing was way easier than I expected.

AuntieOxident · 13/03/2019 16:06

Yes, the prep is definitely the worst part. You just have to grin and bear it and stay close to the loo. We have a bidet which also helped a lot as your bum gets quite sore from all the wiping. (TMI but true) I didn't feel sick, though.
I was very anxious before the colonoscopy at the hospital but the team doing my actual procedure were truly excellent, they do a lot of them and have real expertise. It was not nearly as bad as I feared. In fact the consultant who came to get me from the waiting room and walked me to the treatment room said as much. (I was a bit sceptical. But he was absolutely right. )
It really wasn't too bad at all. I had good sedation and if I even so much as shifted uncomfortably during the colonoscopy they topped it up, or asked if I wanted a top up.

I hope it goes well for you too, OP. Flowers

BobbinThreadbare123 · 13/03/2019 16:10

TheQueef hells to the yes. Bang! And the dirt is gone!

Toomuchgoingon · 14/03/2019 22:52

Had mine this week. Prep definitely the worst bit. The procedure itself not nearly as bad as the anticipation of it. I was apparently sedated but was fully with it all the way through and found a watching it all, extremely interesting....... Maybe I'm just odd.Grin

BobbinThreadbare123 · 15/03/2019 06:42

I find it fascinating too. Not often you would get to look inside your own body. They make a DVD of it but apparently you can't have a copy....!

TheQueef · 15/03/2019 11:42

I saw my appendix. Tis like a twirly poo not banana shape like most.

Original poster
justasking111 · 15/03/2019 11:48

Had mine done yesterday, was out for the count. My stomach is sore today, twinges when I move around, so the sofa it is today...

OP posts:
Original poster
justasking111 · 15/03/2019 11:52

The prep, well the first lot was ok. I used two straws, held my nose, chewed on a piece of gum. Then of course the loo many many times, but it does not hurt no nasty spasms. The worst was starting it all again at 6am. It was running clear so I did not take the last pint of the stuff. Just knew it would not stay down. I was very hungry, at the hospital after the car journey, I was dizzy at the hospital, I would not drive if you have not had a good nights sleep and are running on empty.

OP posts:
TheFlis12345 · 15/03/2019 15:26

@Bobbin I have a copy of my DVD somewhere!!! They posted it to me along with loads of annotated photos. Maybe because I had it done privately through the company healthcare plan. I have never watched it though! Grin

Walnutwhipster · 15/03/2019 15:32

I can't drink either of the preps so have virtual colonoscopies.

BusterGonad · 15/03/2019 16:05

How can people not remember a thing? I remember every minute of mine!

TheFlis12345 · 15/03/2019 16:49

We’re you sedated? The stuff they gave me was amazing, the Dr told me it contained opiates!

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