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Original poster

Colonoscopy- how bad is it??

108 replies

sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 13:13

Hi there,

I'm booked for a colonoscopy next monday and am literally shitting myself (yeah ironic lol!) I will be literally crapping myself after taking the prep solution Grin
Can anyone who's had it done tell me what it's like? My mum said it wasn't that bad and the bit before hand is worse- will I literally be dashing to the loo like I've got food poisoning?? Sad

The gastro is positive in the fact that he doesn't suspect anything seriously wrong with me - just checking me out after being on long term antibiotics and having seriously messed up guts since November Sad. This is more to rule out any other possibilities. I am a worrier/anxious person though but trying to tell myself there's no need to worry until he's checked it out and hopefully will be all clear.

thanks!

OP posts:
nannybeach · 31/03/2022 13:21

I found a sigmoidoscopy which is done with a hard metal scope like the vaginal speculum painful,but not the colonoscopy. Sometimes you can have a sedative. The toilet thing was fun,2 toilets,5 of us,but the worst thing for me was the consultant looking at my face, says "don't I know you". I was working in the same hospital, different ward. Some people said on here,it was absolute agony, but at the end of the day,pain is relative. I found giving birth agony,my size 4 DD practically coughed out a couple of 7.5 pounders!

2022sucksalready · 31/03/2022 14:04

Have the sedation (I’m a ridiculous worrier too op, and even worked myself up worrying about if I should have sedation or not. I did, and always now do, and it’s fine). I’ve had a few now, and they have been fine. On one it got a bit painful, but I told the Dr and he gave me pain relief straight away. It was fine after that.

The prep can be horrible, some of them taste pretty nasty (moviprep is grim) I find it a bit easier to tolerate with lemon squash in it and really chilled. Also, drink it through a straw, and then you taste it less. Have some baby wipes handy and bepanthen cream (your poor behind will thank you). When things start to go, they really go! Stay near the bathroom. It’s not painful like food poisoning, it’s just fast, frequent and very watery.

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

Thinkingblonde · 31/03/2022 14:19

The first oneI had was ok, no sedation, in fact I was watching the process on the screen as the consultant helpfully pointed out bits of my innards.
The second one, with IV sedation and gas and air wasn’t as painless, but my gut was inflamed so maybe that was why.

When it came to my appendix the consultant carefully examined it as my late sister had developed an exceedingly rare cancer from her appendix. We had the same consultant and he recognised me as my sister and I looked very much alike. He resumed me that it was healthy but said he’d remove it if I needed surgery if anything showed up from the colonoscopy. I didn’t need surgery after all.

Get some Vaseline as your bum will be sore from the prep before hand.

Changednamesorry · 31/03/2022 14:23

The preparation you have to do beforehand is pretty grim, drinking a foul viscous drink and going to the bathroom for ages ! The colonoscopy itself I was put to sleep for so j don't remember it at all and had no pain after (and I have ulcerative colitis which I now take mezavant for and is completely under control).

Am in Spain so maybe different in UK but pretty sure here noone is awake for it.

Floralnomad · 31/03/2022 14:26

The prep was the worst bit , and I mean actually drinking it not the results of it . The actual procedure was fine , I didn’t have sedation and it was just mild discomfort .

abbey44 · 31/03/2022 14:30

The prep is...effective, and you won't want to be far from a bathroom. I didn't have sedation or anything for the colonoscopy itself and it was ok for the most part, except for when the thing went round the corners in the gut. That was a bit ouchy, but nothing unbearable. It was quite interesting watching what was going on on the screen though and seeing what you look like inside Grin

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

seashaken · 31/03/2022 14:31

With mine I started out on gas and air but about halfway through it suddenly got a lot more painful, I was given sedation immediately and don't actually remember the rest of it. When they said it was all done it felt like it was about 10 seconds since the pain relief but they insisted it had been 20 minutes. I didn't find the moviprep too grim and had no problem drinking it all. I thought it tasted a bit like cystitis relief.

Flyingteaspoon · 31/03/2022 14:34

I had one last November and was so scared beforehand. I opted for sedation (advised on MN and friends) and I never felt a thing. I wasn’t even aware of being sedated if that makes sense - just relaxed and calm and no discomfort at any point. I was able to talk to the staff and watch my guts live on screen.

The drink beforehand tasted pretty foul but I found chugging it back as fast as possible the best as it got it done with. I’d take a few big chugs then have a tiny bit of runny honey to take away the bitter taste, then repeat. Tried a straw as that was advised but it was just prolonging the bitter taste. I didn’t have any cramping before each trip to the loo - just needed to go straight away as soon as the urge came on. I thought it would be like having a stomach virus but it was nothing like that. Just lots of trips and lots of poo . If I had to have another I’d not be at all bothered. I also got a big pair of disposable shorts with a hole at the back which were very fetching. The sedation made me not at all embarrassed or bothered about the whole thing. I didn’t have a sore bum from all the loo trips but have heard it’s not uncommon to need a bit of Vaseline to sooth that area.

Createabitofuntruenews · 31/03/2022 14:35

I had sedation,don’t remember a thing about it.Just woke up feeling fine.

I would never have it without sedation.

BattenbergdowntheHatches · 31/03/2022 14:36

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Mindymomo · 31/03/2022 15:09

My DH had a flexible sigmoidoscopy yesterday, he had a sedative but couldn’t be given gas and air to help because he has a perforated ear drum. He had to have a top up of sedation as he was uncomfortable. I dropped him off at 9.10 am. Got home and got a phone call at 10.20 to collect him at 11.10 am. The procedure took no more than 15 minutes. He has diverticulitis so they’ve taken biopsies just to check. He fell asleep in the car straight away and slept all afternoon and is fine today. We were both very stressed before, he had to have an enemia and wasn’t sure he’d done it right, but was told what he managed to do was fine. He couldn’t praise the staff enough and very relieved it’s over. 8 weeks to get results, but consultant said if they had found anything sinister they would have kept him in for further tests.

gamerchick · 31/03/2022 15:16

Prep was the worst bit. Use Vaseline on your ring peice from the off. Dont wait until you're sore.

Tens nappies help give a bit of confidence of getting to the toilet on time and to and from hospital.

I had it without sedation, it was fine. Nice to be able to leave straight away after it was finished.

gamerchick · 31/03/2022 15:17

*tena

JoeMaplin · 31/03/2022 15:24

Have sedation, honestly and the procedure is absolutely fine. The worst bit is drinking the pints and pints of liquid and fasting, not the actually going to the loo.

Silkierabbit · 31/03/2022 15:31

The procedure is fine and was sedated but the prep is really grim, need to live on the toilet, bit like having a really bad stomach bug and it tastes vile too.

BSky · 31/03/2022 15:38

Prep is a bit grim - straw definitely helped. I also ate quite light for a couple of days before the prep which might have helped. My last food was midday and my colonoscopy first thing and I actually managed a reasonable night sleep as I think the prep worked pretty well before midnight!

I also had the sedative and found the procedure pretty innocuous because of it- as much as you can semi naked in a hospital gown with a pipe up your bottom! I do remember being cold though. I tried to watch the scope on screen 'being curious' but don' t really remember much.

The next day I felt washed out and my tummy a bit sore.

LadyJaneHall · 31/03/2022 15:57

Some hospitals give a liquid prep and others an enema. I was unable to give myself an enema and had to have it done at the hospital.
Some hospitals offer sedation and others don't.
I think you have to go with what your local hospital offers. I would have preferred sedation but not offered it and in fact it was not too bad.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 18:10

Thanks for all the replies! They have confirmed I'm having sedation so I guess that's a good thing. It's a 1.45pm appointment - not sure if that's good or bad but I guess that means taking the liquid prep (which I have already) then no food till then :-( won't be a fun day.

Hubby wanted to go look round Ikea before hand (wish there was a laugh emoji) I had to explain I'll be peeing out my arse all morning Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 18:13

Also its a 20 minute drive to the hospital....that seems like a long time if I'm still rushing to the loo. hopefully the worst of it will be over by then. I'm worried I'll still be needing to go when they do the procedure...imagining poo everywhere Shock

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 31/03/2022 18:57

Sedation should be optional -I didn’t have it because all they were offering was Midazolam and that makes me extremely sick for about 3 days afterwards .

Franklin12 · 31/03/2022 19:29

I had it last year. The drink is like sherbet lemons so chilled is more bearable.

Take sedation as it makes a big difference. I didn’t have any cramping. It just all came out. If you can reserve the bathroom for your own use. It makes things more private for you.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 19:50

Floralnomad maybe it is optional but sedation has definitely been offered to me. I've never had sedation so I guess I'll have to risk it as I won't know how it affects me.

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 19:51

JoeMaplin yes I'm dreading that. Especially as I'm the type of person that grazes all day, how will I cope with no food lol! But I suppose all the liquid will stop some of the hunger....

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 19:54

Thanks 2022sucksalready you sound like a pro! I'm not looking forward to the prep stuff - not sure which brand I've got. And thanks for the tips re creams!

OP posts:
Flyingteaspoon · 31/03/2022 19:58

I thought I’d be absolutely starving on just the prep because I’m always hungry and can’t sleep on an empty stomach. I wasn’t at all hungry though. I was really surprised. The sedation at our hospital was really light. I felt completely awake but just very relaxed and unbothered. I did sleep well when I got home and that night. Loving your DHs ikea plan. Perhaps you could reserve your own toilet cubicle before you go 😀