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 👍

[Bloomburger]

Prep evening it is really, you'll be fine to work the day before, you just have to only have v v bland food.

[Missingthesea]

I thought I felt perfectly well the day after mine, and went to buy some new shoes. Big mistake! I bought two pairs; both were too big (I wanted a size 7.5 but the shop only had size 8 in stock), yet somehow I convinced myself they'd be absolutely fine. I didn't even like one of the styles, I bought them because the sales assistant suggested them

[smartiecake]

I had one 2 weeks ago. I had a letter with the moviprep and the letter told me to self isolate for 14 days before. Only the letter didnt come until after the 14 days should actually have started!
I started my prep at 5pm and then started going to the loo after 2 hours and was going until 2.30am, and again at 5 and again at 8am. I was at hospital for 9. I had sedation and you cant drive for 24 hours and are meant to have someone with you for 24hrs after. I felt fine, just tired on the day but that was probably lack of sleep.
The procedure itself was fine.

[whatwouldjohnmclanedo]

Personally the procedure itself was fine, I didn’t even notice they’d done it as the sedative was great. I was so chilled for the next 24h. Next day I looked after my son as normal. The absolute worst part was the moviprep. Staying near the toilet is bullshit, you have to stay on it! There is no way you can go to work. I wore a sanitary towel positioned towards the back as I feared leakage on the way to the hospital. (Sorry possible tmi)

[CraazyCatLady]

Oh, you'll also be sent info on what you can eat for a day or two before the procedure as well.

[CraazyCatLady]

I had the camera down the throat and then up my bottom too.
Had both done one after the other with no sedation. The throat was the most unpleasant, but was fine. The colonoscopy felt strange but was fine.
I really wouldn't bother with sedation, as it just drags it out and means you have to stay in the hospital for a while after and you need someone to take you etc.
My appointment was in the afternoon I think, I didn't need the day off before to prep, I just prepped when I got home from work the evening before. Maybe I finished slightly early but it would've only been at maybe 3-4pm. I also went to work the day after too.
It's really nothing to worry about at all, the prepping or the procedure.
Good luck,

[GinWithRosie]

Oh no @CashewNut11 that wasn’t the wisest decision 😱. I will definitely do as I’m told 😂👍

[CashewNut11]

I know of someone who held off taking all the Moviprep and then the procedure had to be called off as she hadn't emptied herself sufficiently! It is really important for your examination to drink every last drop.

If you have any kind if diverticula issues make sure you have the sedative. It will be really uncomfortable and painful if not, even with gas and air.

[GinWithRosie]

Good tip about sudocreme/Vaseline thank you!

I’m a primary school teacher (will be on my own with 30 year 2 children in a bubble...no TA). My school is a 45 minute drive from my home, so yes I’d have to drive there the next day.

I’m single (no DH/DP or anyone else at all who could drive me...I only moved here in July so I don’t even know the neighbours 😢)

Ah man! Why are things so hard sometimes? 🤦‍♀️😂

[gamerchick]

The prep is definitely the worst part. I had the camera without sedation and the prep was definitely the worst part.

Use vasiline on your bumhole from the off, don't wait until you're sore.

Tena nappies give you confidence to get to the hospital without messing your clothes. Even though you're pretty much cleared out, the urge is still there.

Definitely take days off work, good luck.

[FaffingForEngland]

Actually that's a really good point about sedation and driving, if you need to drive to get to work, then you won't be able to drive for 24 hours.

[FaffingForEngland]

Agree with some other posters, you'll only need time off before if you have to take the bowel prep during your working day (and it's unlikely that will be the morning, so you might just need the afternoon off).

Definitely get Sudacrem or Vaseline, also some gentle wipes as you might get a bit sore.

In France, you start a low residue diet 3 days before the procedure and I do think that made things easier with the bowel prep when I had mine done, so you might want to eat a very bland diet for a few days. DH had his in the UK and it was low residue for 1 day then nothing at all the day before other than sweets and clear drinks. Assume your regime might be similar to his?

We were both fine afterwards, very hungry and a bit windy! And completely back to normal the next day, so able to work.

[AuntieStella]

If you have sedative, you are cautioned not to drive, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 24 hours following

Or at least, that's what they said to me.

I thought I was being perfectly calm/rational, but now only have partial memory of what happened, particularly in the first 6 hours or so. It's like drunken blackouts without the drunk bit.

You may need to stay at home, depending on nature of your occupation, until sedative has completely cleared you system. You'd be quite unlucky to have any complications that meant you were in actual discomfort and needed time to recuperate (though I suppose if you had an inflammatory condition, the procedure might cause it to flare?)

[thismeansnothing]

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.

[User647647]

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.

[AuntieStella]

One more tip - get Sudocrem (or similar)

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

[GinWithRosie]

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

[OhTheRoses]

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.

[Glitterbubbles]

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

[Trumpton]

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 .

[Torvean32]

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.

[goose1964]

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

[megletthesecond]

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

[GinWithRosie]

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

[GinWithRosie]

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