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Original poster

CT colonography

12 replies

sulee · 10/04/2021 18:29

Have recently had a colonoscopy as a result of a positive FIT test which had to be abandoned near the end due to extreme pain which
I was told was due to my "loopy bowel" but nothing sinister was found. I have been told I am likely to be OK but have been referred for a CT colonography of the bowel to check the bit they missed.
To be honest, I am still traumatised from the colonoscopy and wondered if anyone else has gone through anything similar . I also have a standard abdominal scan planned in a couple of weeks time which doesn't concern me at all.
Any experiences welcome!

OP posts:

ThePontiacBandit · 12/04/2021 23:04

I know a bit about them. It’ll be nothing like the colonoscopy! (That’s my field!). CT colonogram will feel much like a normal scan. The only difference is you will drink a special drink beforehand that shows up on the scan so it highlights the bowel (as you can imagine, it’s pretty busy in the abdomen). Think of it as a picture of filling in the blanks that the colonoscopy missed. You should get an information leaflet when the scan is arranged to explain more but I hope that’s encoruaging!

Smileyoriley · 13/04/2021 07:57

Thank you so much Pontiac, that’s very reassuring!
I felt such a failure after the colonoscopy, having been told it would probably just be uncomfortable- I think I’m one of the unlucky ones!
I’ve had all the information from the hospital-it was the bit about gas being introduced that sounded a bit scary but I’m sure it will be fine.

ThePontiacBandit · 13/04/2021 07:59

I have a loopy bowel and found my own colonoscopy a challenge (I had sedation and gas and air!). It just is for some people unfortunately. I feel you might feel a bit bloated with the CT but it’s not on the same scale as the colonoscopy.

Franksalot · 19/04/2021 13:29

I also need to have this. I’ve been told that I’d need to prepare in he same way as for a colonoscopy, and clear my bowel with laxatives etc. During the CT scan will have a cannula with a dye. Bit worried about it too, but think it’s a quicker procedure than the colonoscopy.

Original poster

sulee · 19/04/2021 16:16

Just to report back on this, I was dreading it but had the CT scan and honestly it was in a different league to the colonoscopy for me. Just a slight feeling of bloating at one point which was quickly over. The laxatives were also not as extreme as those pre the colonoscopy either!

OP posts:

RampantIvy · 19/04/2021 16:19

I hope you don't have to wait too long for results, and it is something easily resolvable.

Franksalot · 19/04/2021 18:32

@sulee that’s good to hear. If you didn’t have such a painful colonoscopy, would you still recommend it the CT colonoscopy as a better experience? I’ve been looking at the information from my Consultant and it looks like I’d still have to have the picolax the day before. And what did the probe feel like, as I’ll have to keep it in while changing position in the scan....

Original poster

sulee · 19/04/2021 19:10

@Franksalot I had gastrogafin not Picolax as before the colonoscopy and it was much less dramatic in its effects!
I would definitely say the colonography was much better for me but I do appreciate the benefits of colonoscopy as they are able to remove any polyps etc straight away. The probe was honestly fine. I had to lie on my front and back but I did not feel anything other than very slight bloating.

OP posts:

Belle82 · 09/08/2022 21:46

Wow, thank you for this old post.
I’ve been booked in for one of these in the next week to rule out anything sinister.
I had a very similar experience to what you did for my colonoscopy, it was horrific and so painful, even with fentanyl (I thought this was illegal in this country?!)

MabelMoo23 · 23/09/2022 09:24

Belle82 · 09/08/2022 21:46

I had a colonoscopy yesterday and it had to be abandoned for the exact same reason - loopy twisted bowel so I’m now booked in for a CT colonoscopy.

I had the fentanyl, but was also sedated so don’t remember anything AT ALL but apparently they had to top up my fentanyl and give me gas and air - none of which I remember - and by sound of it, very relieved not to remember!

but yes I have a CT scan in a couple of weeks now

tomissmymum · 23/09/2022 14:39

Belle82 · 09/08/2022 21:46

I was the same - fentanyl then entonox . I remember most of it, lost a bit of time a couple of times - I was in absolute agony the entire time . Gas and air made no difference at all, just gave me horrendous hallucinations/out of body experiences and hyperventilating . Not pleasant at all .

MabelMoo23 · 05/10/2022 17:52

Just commenting to update on this thread as I had my CT colonography this morning

I can confirm that the gastrografin is definitely less aggressive than moviprep. Also as you only have to drink 2 x 100mls on two separate evenings so much much less liquid to drink. But it does mean that you spend more time sat on the loo - as opposed to a lot in a very small amount of time.

I did find the air going in to me very uncomfortable- but then apparently I have a torturous bowel that is very loopy and twisted, which is the whole reason for needing the CT scan on first place. So where the air is trying to get round the twists and bends made me very crampy, was very very uncomfortable and bordering on painful. They also had to take extra pics of me due to air getting trapped in places, so move me around so the air could get where it needed to get to so they didn’t miss anything. So it was front, back and then on my side for me. Whilst trying not to flash my arse at the nurses, who were amazing. It’s bloody undignified though, as I know a colonoscopy is, but I was sedated for that so I don’t remember it.

also I would really really recommend tena pants on the way home - because the gastrografin still going through your system and all the air inside in you - it’s just ensures you are safe in case you may or may not have a wind related accident…

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