Colonoscopy

[GinWithRosie]

Has anyone had a colonoscopy (maybe even recently, during the current situation that we are in)? I'm due to have one in 3 weeks and feeling a little anxious already.

If so, could you talk me through the procedure gently please??

Also, I've been told that I will need to take a laxative solution the day before (to...erm...clear out 😳) and to 'stay near a toilet'.

I'm a primary school teacher and will be back at school in a 'bubble' by myself with 30 x 6 year olds 😳😳 Toilet is a good 8 minutes walk away in a separate building...I don't get any break from my bubble apart from two timed, scheduled breaks to go to the toilet (we eat with our class now in our rooms!) and that's it 🤷‍♀️

What was your experience of this laxative the day before...would I be able to hold on for my timed toilet breaks?

Thanks 👍

You will not be able to work the day you do the bowel clean. Seriously.

I was upstairs in my house all day and nipping back and forth to the loo. Leaving the house would have been insane.

The prep is the worst part, you should be pretty well sedated for the procedure then one or two days to rest at home afterwards. It's worth it when it's done though.

Oh blimey, really?

I (naively!) assumed I'd just need a quick 'visit' when it took effect 😳 I was just concerned about actually getting there as it is quite a distance, and I'd need to ring for someone to come and cover for me when I needed to go 🤦‍♀️

It partly depends on the time of the procedure (morning or afternoon) what time you will need to start the bowel prep. But you need to be at home when you take it and don’t leave home. Also you cannot work the day after the procedure due to the drugs they give you (assuming you want sedation/painkillers).

You need the day before off. It involves a lot of drinking stuff and much toilet tripping. It isn't a one off solution with a one time toilet trip.
The procedure itself is a walk in the park compared to it. You'll be given what is called conscious sedation so while you won't be asleep you'll be very chilled and unlikely to remember much. You may feel the feeling of air being inside you but it's only a mild discomfort.
You should really consider the next day off too as PP has mentioned.

Hi op. You def need the full day off before.
I have one in a couple of weeks and have been told our whole household needs to shield for 7 days before and I need a covid test two days before. I'm in NI.

Check what time you have to start drinking the solution and from then you need to be at home. Someone will have to take you to the hospital and pick you up as you won't be able to drive. I have been back to normal the day after the procedure.Shielding rules around hospital investigations are being relaxed a bit but you had better clarify what is expected. It's not too bad by the way and as pp said the bowel prep is the worst bit.

Thank you all so much for this information. I literally got an NHS text message yesterday with the date and time etc if the procedure, saying a letter will follow with further information.

I had no idea the prep would be so 'thorough' as to require a day off work 😳 (I don't know what I thought actually to be honest...was focused more on the actual procedure really and hoping it wouldn't hurt 🤞🤞). Glad to hear that it doesn't though, so that's good 👍

Might weigh myself before and after then...silver linings 😂

You'll be given what is called conscious sedation so while you won't be asleep you'll be very chilled and unlikely to remember much. You may feel the feeling of air being inside you but it's only a mild discomfort.

You will have a consent conversation and you might well be offered the choice of entonox or sedation in many places. It will be your choice, but with entonox as soon as the procedure is done and you stop taking it, you will be fine in yourself. With sedation you be coming round from it for the rest of the day.

@Mrsmchammer @Gwynfluff conscious sedation...is this the same thing they use for an endoscopy? (Propofol?) I had that once...actually thought I'd been asleep! Didn't believe the clinical staff who told me that I'd been awake, cooperative and talking throughout! I felt very strange for months afterwards, knowing that actually...couldn't quite get my mind around the facts that I'd been compliant without having any knowledge or memory of this time 😟

It might be, I had midazolam. There are several similar drugs they can choose from, just as there's more than one brand of depth charge laxative.

I found the procedure worse than the prep.

They'll give you the timings when you need to go on a bland diet, when to take the stuff, when to stop eating and when to go nil by mouth.

Once you've taken it, you do need to stay home. It's not just a couple of big urgent poos. It's repeated explosive diarrhoea until you're only expelling clear liquid.

Keep up clear fluids until the last possible time. Black coffee counts as a clear fluid, btw

Yes, more likely to be something like Midazolam. So you aren’t fully under but are relaxed but you won’t remember much about the procedure but you will still be whoozy after.

Entonox is the gas and air used during child birth and has a very short half life so as soon as you stop taking it, it’s out your system and you won’t have the after effects of sedation. Lots of places offer it as the post procedure recovery time is faster and it will also relax you during the procedure.

I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy together (they literally just moved the bed around that I was laid on once the gastroscopy was done).

I was so impressed with the way both were conducted that I sent the unit a card thanking them. Honestly, it was seamless.

The Moviprep solution is not nice, mine was lemon flavoured. I took the first pack the evening before, mixed with the stated amount of water but you must drink more water on its own to keep yourself hydrated, trust me. You are not allowed to eat once you've started the Moviprep and if you don't drink enough plain water on top of the bowel preparation you will have a horrible headache.
It's harsh stuff and you will NOT be able to be at work once you've consumed it.

I took the second pack in the morning mixed with water and kept another large glass of water to drink on top which DH kept replenishing. Moviprep has a rather salty base taste and you'll need extra water to drink to wash away the taste of the mixture. It really was the worst part of the whole thing but necessary so that your bowel and colon are completely clean.

At my hospital we have a suite dedicated to endoscopy procedures and the staff were amazing.

I had the conscious sedation as well as the throat spray (for the gastroscopy) I don't remember any of it, only the bed being gently swung around after they'd finished my gastroscopy and were preparing for the colonoscopy, I just remember hearing the voices of the team but I've no idea what they were talking about. When I came to I could see my bowel on camera

Afterwards I had a lovely nurse with me who gave me biscuits and then I was able to go home with DH.

If I ever need another colonoscopy I will not think twice about having it done.

You will be fine, good luck

Prep dreadful. Was very sick with it. Colonoscopy no problem - had midazolam and very little memory of procedure. After procedure tea and biscuits - felt absolutely fine and went home cooked dinner then went for a walk. No side effects!

You are all fabulous 🥰 (and I was clearly ridiculous thinking I would pop a pill, skip off to teach my Year 1 bubble for the day, do a couple of 'quick loo trips' and be all done 🤣🤦‍♀️😳!!!)

I feel so much more reassured now (and will definitely stay home the day before 👍🤦‍♀️👍)

Thank you all xx

Oh..just to add...I hope that everyone is ok following your procedures and that nothing awful was discovered 💐

The prep day is a day for reading magazines and watching comfort telly. Hope yours goes well .

I had mine last summer with no sedation, the worst bit was the cold gel on insertion after that it was fine.

Get in some lime juice to add to your prep it masks the taste. The colder it is the better too. You will probably be allowed to have clear fluids while on prep. So jelly is good or clear soup. Tea/coffee without milk also ok.

Oh and you may want some wet wipes. You can get a bit sore after you have been on the loo so often.

The other thing that a friend advised was a “white” diet of chicken breast , clear soup ect for the day or so before the prep . It certainly helps the clear-out .
I had gas and air for both of mine as I needed to drive home .
Uncomfortable but not unbearable .
Take pads with you as I leaked gel for a while afterwards .
Good luck .

Definitely need the day off before for the prep as others have said, although check the instructions - mine started at 5pm so in that case you may not need the day off.
Wet wipes instead of loo roll for the prep are a godsend, I found the worst part of the prep being the very sore bottom from going to the loo so much! Also sounds odd but if you apply Vaseline or another sort of barrier cream around the anus before going to the loo it helps. Weird but saves a lot of pain!
Good luck

I had picolax rather than movicol and it was fine. Mixed it with some elderflower cordial. I think the prep process was easier because I started the white diet a day earlier than the notes suggested. Lucozade was helpful too. As was sudocreme.

The procedure itself was unremarkable and I have no recollection of it. I was in recovery for quite a while because my blood pressure was low enough to concern them but it's always low.

I was going to get a taxi to the hospital but didn't feel confident enough so drove myself (Tena incontinence pants were reassuring for the journey).

DH collected me. I was exhausted the next day.

Glad I posted...so many useful tips here!! Thanks all ☺️

One more tip - get Sudocrem (or similar)

You will be going to the loo frequently, and it's good to avoid soreness

I’m surprised at those saying that you need one or two days off after the procedure.

I had it done at 2pm, left the unit shortly after (I was never unconscious), husband pickup daughter from school and Went to Wagamama for dinner (I was starving).

Was totally fine the following day.

Maybe it depends on which drug they use? I was conscious during the procedure, although very relaxed.

Husband has chrons so has these regularly. When you do the bowel prep you won't be able to go to work. You'll be living in that bathroom for a couple of hours. There isn't the time to go anywhere else unfortunately.

Last time he had one though he had one prep to take at home at tea time and one at hospital in the morning.