Colonoscopy tomorrow - moviprep not working

[Km151042]

Hi everyone, I’m having a colonoscopy tomorrow afternoon and started the prep this evening as told by the letter I received, I started drinking the first litre at 7pm finishing it at 8.30 and haven’t had any bowel movements yet.

I was wondering if anyone who’s had one done could tell me if this is normal or not, next lot is tomorrow morning, I’m having bad stomach cramps and awful bloating so hopefully it starts working soon.

[fraxion]

Oh heck, I am hoping to be totally oblivious 😂.

[MissingTheMissletoe]

Oh I really feel for you. If you’re struggling with the taste add diluted orange juice btw. It was the only way I could keep it down. I had my first movement about an hour after finishing the first litre, then it continued until around 11pm/12am. Stay extremely close to the toilet after it starts!!

[MissingTheMissletoe]

Obviously I didn’t rtft sorry!

[Egghead68]

Fraxion I think there are large individual differences in how much people respond to midazolam. The amount administered also varies widely (I weigh 73 kg and was given 2mg but other centres would have given me 5mg at that weight). On the whole I think most people are at least semi-conscious though and the stats are that 20% experience severe pain but for 80% it’s only mild or moderate. The odds are definitely on your side.

[Egghead68]

Pain can come from the scope getting looped, pressure from the gas they I use to inflate your colon and when they have to push the scope round corners. The rest of the time there is not much to feel except pulling when they take biopsies or remove polyps.

[fraxion]

I don't know why I'm fretting! Not sure what sedation they'll use as my hospital seems to be in the minority by prescribing Picolax. The nurse said I would also receive a painkiller.

[Egghead68]

I think not all places use Picolax because it is harsher on the kidneys.

The almost universal sedative is midazolam. I think many hospitals will give you a top up if you need one. There is also gas and air in many places. The painkillers are things like pethidine I think and again I think many centres will give you a top up.

I don't know if this helps you but I looked at hypobirthing-type techniques and other techniques for riding out waves of pain (reciting all the kings and queens, counting up to 30, taking yourself to a "safe space") to use if I needed to (I didn't).

It is only natural to fret. I fretted too (not helped by the endoscopist telling me beforehand it would be like the worst stomach cramps ever & like I really really had to go to the loo - it wasn't).

In all likelihood it will not be nearly as bad as you fear and I feared. If nothing else it is a chance to lie down in the day and a fascinating opportunity to see your insides. It is being done to help you, ultimately, and is the best way to diagnose nearly all colon conditions (and to treat many at the same time too). If you have got through childbirth you can definitely get through this.

Best of luck x

[fraxion]

Thank you @Egghead68. I have regular blood tests and they did mention my kidney function was ok during the phone assessment and said I would be okay for Picolax.

My daughter was delivered by high forceps with no pain relief so really this should be a walk in the park for me! I am grateful that I'm actually having the procedure as so many people get fobbed off for ages. My husband's best friend was practically begging for one for months and didn't get it until he was admitted as an emergency and they finally discovered he had ulcerative colitis.

I still have to wait until a week on Tuesday 😬

[Borntobeamum]

I have a colonoscopy tomorrow and struggling so bad with the 2nd litre of Moviprep. I’ve tried cordial in it and it’s chilled but I feel so sick.
Ive had it before In January but they were unable to complete the colonoscopy due to severe pain. They then did a CT colonography and that was much better (!) however it did show I had colon cancer.
This is a follow up procedure so I’m really quite nervous.
I’d rather give birth than feel as sick as this 🤢

[orangeshoebox]

good luck born
I hope all goes well.

[justasking111]

I found holding my nose and taking it through a straw then chewing on extra strong mint gum helped a lot.

[Egghead68]

Good luck Borntobeamum .Do you have any anti-sickness tablets you can take?
Hope it all goes smoothly and the results are what you are hoping for.
Can you ask them to give you a bit more sedative and painkiller than before?

[Egghead68]

How did you get on Borntobeamum ? Hope it all went well.

[Borntobeamum]

Thank you Egg It went well fortunately. They were able to use the regular size scope and could have a good look at my bowel including where I had surgery in March. My consultant was please and saw nothing of any real concern.
X

[fraxion]

Sitting waiting to be called through for my colonoscopy. Prep nurse said to me ‘I’m not going to lie, it won’t be pleasant’ 🤬

[Egghead68]

Glad to hear that Borntobeamum". Good luck Fraxion*. The doctor said the same to me before I went in and said "it will be like the worst cramping you have ever had from the worst curry ever and you will be desperate to go to the loo" BUT it was completely nothing like that and was actually bordering on enjoyable as it was virtually painfree and so interesting to see my insides (plus I was a bit high from the meds). I think experiences vary a lot. Everything crossed that yours will be like mine and Born's. xx

[Egghead68]

Borntobeamum

[Egghead68]

P.S. Fraxion I think 5-10% of people (including me) get pain for a week afterwards. This was completely bearable but you need to make sure it is not getting worse and seek medical advice if it does. I hope you are able to take it easy tomorrow (I had to work the day after and it was a struggle as I was quite uncomfortable).

[Egghead68]

PPS Fraxion Let us know how you get/got on!

[fraxion]

Thanks @Egghead68, just home! Thankfully everything was okay, no polyps or anything else, just some haemorrhoids around the anal margin that have never given me an issue. So relieved as I have been fretting for weeks. The procedure itself was a walk in the park, didn't feel a thing apart from a tiny bit of cramping. The sedation worked wonderfully, I was away with the fairies. I had 2mg Midazolam, 20mg Buscopan and 50mcg of Fentanyl. The only issue they had was getting a cannula into me as I apparently don't have much flesh!

Glad yours went well @Bornetoamum.

[Egghead68]

Glad to hear it Fraxion ! Hope you can rest for a bit now and take it easy tomorrow. Sounds like you had good meds!

[fraxion]

Thank you xx. I'm totally wiped out, been snoozing all afternoon!

[PotterHead1985]

Got my appointment. This day week. Colonoscopy and endoscopy. God help me. Have my script for moviprep. Gack. Big issue tho. They want me off my codeine for 5 days before hand. I can't do that or I won't be able to move or be touched or anything.

[PotterHead1985]

Also meal suggestions for my boring two days prior no veg meals pls?

[Mikeyjl58]

I'm feeling your pain, took it at 7pm and finished by 8, its now going up for 10pm and nothing happening. I'd love to go to bed but..