Flexible sigmoidoscopy (flex-sig) SO many Qs

[AleenaM]

My OH has a flex sig tuesday in the AM, we got Picolax in the post with instructions to stay at home the day before and take the medicine. His work is very inflexible and he cannot work from home. Can he start the prep after work so say after 5pm? Or should he phone in sick? Do you have any rights for taking days off as sick for hospital appointments that are more serious/lengthy?

On the day, will he likely need sedation? Again - can he take a sick day off for this or should he book it as holiday?

Why do they ask you bring a gown and slippers? Can you just wear a longer shirt maybe and undies until the last minute, or how does it work?

Any other tips welcome

Thank you !

As it's a planned procedure, can't he take the day off? He needs to start the picolax at the time said so he's "empty".

The Picolax can take some time to work, so he needs to start it at the time they've specified. And once he's started he won't be able to go anywhere far from the toilet. Top Tip - get him some nice gentle bum wipes, I got some Aloe Vera toilet roll, bit of luxury to help the process!

He might not necessarily need sedation - it depends how bothered he is about the procedure. Many manage without, but it's entirely up to him.

Gown and slippers - because they want him on the bench without his pants, so he can walk to the examination room in his gown. Surprised they don't supply a gown to be honest.

He needs to take the picolax as per the instructions. If he doesn’t it may not work adequately and the sigmoidoscopy will not be helpful in diagnosing/ruling out whatever they’re looking for. He will need to be close to a loo once he starts taking the stuff - it should give quite a dramatic clean-out!

He will need to change into a hospital gown before the procedure. The advice to bring a gown & slippers is that so he won’t be flashing his bum when he walks from the pre-procedure area to the room they do the procedure in.

They should have discussed with him already if he’s having sedation (as it makes a difference to post-procedure care) so if they haven’t mentioned it they’re probably not planning using it (most people don’t need it).

Re time/instructions, leaflet says first Picolax 8am and second betwwn 2-4pm, do you only start going after the second? It's a hospital leaflet, no individual advice and it's a straight referral from the GP

All his annual leave is booked, for this kind of thing are you expected to take two days of A/L or is it sick days?

Sick days for a planned procedure. He'll start going within a couple of hours. Get some lime cordial and loads of ice plus drink it through a straw. It's not amazing stuff but the above helps. Moist tissues and sudocrem as he'll get a bit stingy!

I’ve had several flexible sigmoidoscopies but only ever had an enema, never picolax. I thought that was for colonoscopies?

@OrangeJustice, I am really not sure, this is what came in the post with the confirmation of the appointment

I also only needed an enema for a flex sigmoidoscopy. They sent me the kit and I did it myself on the morning before the apptment. Anyway that is not helpful!
Didn’t need sedation and anyway I was on my own so couldn’t. They offered gas and air. But the procedure was just a bit uncomfortable and v quick
Odd re the gown. I was given a hospital gown and a hysterical pair of large pants with an opening at the back. Very fetching.

I only needed an enema, too. Had more extensive prep for colonoscopy, I had sedation for that.

Re Picolax : he said he liked the taste !? And has only been x 2 after each sachet, I wonder if this worked on him at all as it's nothing like what I've read elsewhere (get a magazine, it will take hours, you ll be sore, you ll he going for hours and hours after ) ?

What time is the procedure? And has he been any more times during the night? If it looks like it’s not worked then I’d give the ward a call before you go in.

However my dm took picolax once (for a barium enema) I think it was and she didn’t think it had worked properly but her bowel was clear, so maybe it just reacts differently on some people.

Hope it all goes well.

Picolax is great to totally empty you out. You do need to stay very close to a toilet though!
I had a colonoscopy a few yrs ago. I just had gas and air and although there were a few uncomfortable moments it was very manageable. I thought it was great being able to see inside my body, a bit surreal. The consultant was pointing out various parts to me on the screen, and I could see him taking biopsies (didn't hurt.)
Gas and air was better than sedation as it meant I could go as soon as I was dressed afterwards.

Gas and air does nothing for me, it makes me nauseated. Sedation was brilliant.

Procedure went fine,no gas and air and no sedation. No commnets about bowel prep so pressumably it all worked

Gas and air was better than sedation as it meant I could go as soon as I was dressed afterwards.

You're not allowed to drive for half an hour after nitrous oxide, but that's still much better than a 12-hour wait after midazolam.

I had a screening sigmoidoscopy a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely fine without nitrous oxide but the carbon dioxide they pumped into me took its own sweet time to re-emerge. It was still coming out three days later, smelling pretty rank by then.