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Original poster

Colonoscopy advice

31 replies

bjjgirl · 06/09/2021 12:45

Hello all
After bleeding with bowl movements for a few weeks I have been referred for a colonoscopy on Thursday.

Does everyone need sedation? I've had 2 kids and I have the coil so my pain threshold is high.

I have the prep stuff and I am eating white foods for now.

I have a competition for my sport (wrestling) on Saturday, but will I be ok to train after the procedure? Will I still be able to compete? It's tough exercise but I am very fit.

Also how does the procedure affect your weight? I have to weigh in before my comp.

Any extra advice

Thanks

OP posts:
Betsybanshee · 06/09/2021 12:48

I had it without sedation and was fine
Only when going around a corner did i feel anything and that was more of a pressure gassy feeling rather than pain.

Felt a bit gassy afterwards but again wasnt painfull

Original poster
bjjgirl · 06/09/2021 13:11

Thanks so you would be fine to run about after without bleeding / injuring yourself?

OP posts:
ThePontiacBandit · 06/09/2021 13:15

I work in this field. I’d say it’s about 50/50 who wants the sedation. If you have a high pain threshold you should be okay. My only caveat to that would be if you’ve had abdominal surgery like appendix, c-sections etc because that can make the procedure more difficult. You could still have the gas and air.

In terms of recovery, it depends what they find and do. If they take off polyps you will need to take it easy for a couple of weeks. Otherwise you’ll be okay. You’re likely to lose weight due to the restricted diet/being dehydrated but once you start eating and rehydrate it’ll come back up.

WhatHaveIFound · 06/09/2021 14:25

My mum (80+) had one recently and she just had gas and air. She was told that to have sedation she needed to have someone with her for the following 24hrs. I was working away so couldn't be there. She coped ok with it.

Can I just ask @ThePontiacBandit why they need a repeat one after just 3 months when they originally told her the follow up would be after 6 months?

GiantKitten · 06/09/2021 14:35

@ThePontiacBandit

If they take off polyps you will need to take it easy for a couple of weeks.

I’m having one specifically to remove polyps tomorrow, following one 3 weeks ago where the person doing it wasn’t qualified (?) to remove a large one - “8-10mm in the caecum”.
There’s also another 8-10, and some 6-7s, lower down which were all left in situ.

I’m going on holiday on Saturday - it won’t be a strenuous trip but I would have been walking 1-2 miles most days - should I not?

GiantKitten · 06/09/2021 14:36

TIA Smile

ThePontiacBandit · 06/09/2021 15:18

They’re not huge (biggest I ever saw was 60mm!) but not tiny, walking should be okay but check with them before you leave. More strenuous activities (like the OP wrestling) and running can increase the likelihood of bleeding. Are you flying to your holiday GiantKitten?

GiantKitten · 06/09/2021 15:29

@ThePontiacBandit thank you! Flowers

60mm sounds impossible Shock Wouldn't that be a total blockage?

Yes, we’re flying, but it’s only Jersey so a short flight (1h gate to gate). I have lung issues atm so the walking I do is at a gentle pace (definitely no running or wrestling!)

Sorry for hijack, @bjjgirl!

Bagelsandbrie · 06/09/2021 15:59

I’m going to be honest… I had the sedation and even with sedation it was quite painful and I was completely out of it for the day or so afterwards (I literally slept on the sofa non stop and couldn’t stay awake). Couldn’t have dreamt of doing anything much really! The prep is by far the worst bit though.

ThePontiacBandit · 06/09/2021 16:37

GiantKitten I would suggest seek advice about flying before you go…

notimagain · 06/09/2021 17:03

@ThePontiacBandit

GiantKitten I would suggest seek advice about flying before you go…
Seconded…the risks may be minor, especially as a passenger, but FWIW UK professional pilot licence holders are forbidden from flying for 48 hours post “lower gastrointestinal tract endoscopy with biopsy or polypectomy” and also have to get clearance from their doctor before returning to work….
GiantKitten · 06/09/2021 17:56

@notimagain @ThePontiacBandit
Thanks, both!
The flight would actually have been close to 96 hours after the procedure, but - happy dance! - it was postponed, a couple of hours before I was due to start taking the kleanprep!
Something came up their end, apparently.
She was very apologetic, but I was delighted Smile
Anyway I won’t be flying or exerting myself in any way for at least a week after the new date. Phew.

gamerchick · 06/09/2021 18:04

The prep is the worst bit imo. No sedation here either. Use Vaseline from the off on your bumhole, don't wait until you get sore. Tena nappies give confidence to and from hospital. The day after my stomach swelled up and I felt a bit battered inside so had a settee day. Was fine the day after that.

Unfortunately there's no way of knowing if you'll be able to compete in your thing on Saturday.

Nordicmom · 06/09/2021 18:09

I had one a few years ago privately on our health insurance and requested sedation after getting sick of putting myself through several medical procedures without it or even pain relief before this . I had had GA several times I thought sedation would probably be ok and I have now come to prefer it if I need something done . I’ve had emcs , ivf , several awful Gynae procedures without anything and have several illnesses so many many medical investigations and procedures . I’m quite traumatised by now and have promised myself that if I can I will use things like sedation and not put myself through any more than I have to . I also had sedation with a recent gynae procedure after enduring horrendous pain previously with a similar procedure I’m Glad I did both times I still felt pain at some point and they upped it and practically knocked me out . I also have had it for one dental procedure . My mum and dad have had it without anything though so depends on a person .
Btw I didn’t have anything when gynae took an endometrial biopsy recently which was quite a large one and it was so awful so I’m at two minds about my next one I’ll have to have in November . Good luck with yours !

Original poster
bjjgirl · 06/09/2021 22:27

Thanks guys and please feel free to hijack away.

So further to the questions, do you give consent for them to remove the polyps? Or do they just
Remove as I would definitely hold off doing that pre comp

OP posts:
gamerchick · 06/09/2021 22:51

Why would you want to wait? They're in there anyway. You don't want to do that shit twice.

legoriakelne · 06/09/2021 23:03

@bjjgirl

Thanks guys and please feel free to hijack away.

So further to the questions, do you give consent for them to remove the polyps? Or do they just
Remove as I would definitely hold off doing that pre comp

You can write on your consent form anything you withhold consent from and discuss with them at start.

Maybe you would be better to postpone?

HGC2 · 06/09/2021 23:24

It might make more sense to post phone, unless you state otherwise they may take biopsies and as it is such an unpleasant procedure why do it twice. Also I am very fit but couldn’t do any sport for about 3 days, I did take sedation due to pain in previous exams but it was still very sore

ThePontiacBandit · 07/09/2021 07:31

Usually you consent with possible polyp retrieval. If you don’t want them removed they can just do a diagnostic (where they just have a look) but if they find polyps and you don’t want them removed on the day as HCG2 says you’ll end up needing to go back with full prep another day to get them removed.

purplesequins · 07/09/2021 07:43

I had one without sedation.
but there was a nurse with me who would have been able to give sedation should I require it.
it was fine without though, for me the worst was noise of the air compression machine.
and the prep of course was very unpleasant.

afterwards I was very farty for a day or so, but otherwise well.

good luck!

purplesequins · 07/09/2021 07:46

and yes, I had a couple of polyps removed and a biopsy.
I could see on the screen when they were taken.

Natsku · 07/09/2021 07:51

I had two without sedation (second was supposedly with sedation but their idea of sedation was a valium that did sod all) and I would strongly recommend against doing it without sedation but its possible I'm a big wuss (I got told off after the first one because my screams were scaring the people in the waiting room!)

RampantIvy · 07/09/2021 07:56

I don't understand why you wouldn't put your health before your sport.

Polyps can turn cancerous so it is best to remove them there and then rather than wait and have to go through all the prep and procedure again. You may have to wait months for them to fit you in again.

ThePontiacBandit · 09/09/2021 18:57

How did you get on OP?

Original poster
bjjgirl · 09/09/2021 20:16

So I had it today and I have the all clear, so happy. It was painful, I was not sedated but would recommend that to be honest as it was nearly unbearable - I found childbirth less painful (but I have fast easy births)

However, so worth getting done, but my advice is to get sedated and follow the dietary advice, I really didn't eat much the 48 hrs before which helped also

OP posts: