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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:
GrannyBloomers · 31/03/2022 20:05

The prep isn't nice. I didn't enjoy the whole thing and didn't have sedation - probably should have but did ask to see what the scope could see!

Incidently, I have bowel issues and had to take 2 sachets of piccolax every day for 6 months at one stage. It's the thing they use for prep sometimes. It tastes yuck and gets hot when mixed with water. I have never got over the taste.

safefacespace · 31/03/2022 20:06

The worst bit by a million miles was having to drink the stuff beforehand. I wanted to die. After that the actual procedure was a breeze just a little embarrassing

safefacespace · 31/03/2022 20:07

I was mildly sedated but watched it on screen and as I said all that was fine, just the solution I had to drink which I never want to do again

Iseeyoulookingatme · 31/03/2022 20:09

I was advised not to have any sedation and it was very painful almost like contractions when the air was being pumped in. I would highly recommend sedation.

everythingissoexpensivenow · 31/03/2022 20:16

Like others, worse bit was the prep rather than the procedure. I gulped it back in a few seconds rather than sipped it. Then things were fast each loo visit.

I had sedation which felt like being very drunk. I didn't feel the procedure and watched it on screen. Tummy was boated and a little uncomfortable afterwards for about an hour.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 21:22

Iseeyoulookingatme is having air being pumped in normal?? Shock that sounds awful! I'm just wondering if that was specific to your procedure or is it standard for a colonoscopy.

OP posts:
MotherofMigraines · 31/03/2022 21:26

Eat very bland starchy food for a couple of days beforehand - nothing too fibrous. Lots of white bread etc.

Thinkingblonde · 31/03/2022 21:56

They pump air in to expand the bowel to make it easier to see.
Not too bad, felt a little bloated afterwards but it was interesting in the car coming home, trumpet voluntary anyone?

Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 22:02

MotherofMigraines yes I saw that info about bland starchy foods but I'm wondering why? That sort of stuff would bung people up whereas lots of fibre would move through quicker - or is it to do with the fibrous food making it harder for them to see the walls of the bowel? just wondering Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 31/03/2022 22:03

Thinkingblonde oh god that sounds horrendous. But also entertaining afterwards lol!

OP posts:
noblegreenk · 31/03/2022 22:39

I haven't had one but my Dad did. He found the drink beforehand and the following toilet visits the worst part. He said the actual procedure wasn't too bad at all considering how much he'd been dreading it

Plutoisaplanet · 31/03/2022 22:44

Op, do not drive yourself to the appt.

wfrances · 31/03/2022 22:47

I had sedation , as soon as they got to a painful part they just gave me more Smile

Nannyamc · 31/03/2022 22:50

Worst part was the prep. Had a bland diet from 3 days before. Test was easier and sedative. Good luck

Parkmama · 31/03/2022 22:56

I had one recently and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, the prep was definitely trickier than the procedure itself. I had the 'twilight sedation' which is where you're awake throughout but very relaxed and your memories of it all are pretty vague. My advice with prep is this:

  • Assume you will be in the bathroom for about 6 hours with a bit of a break in between
  • Refrigerate the solution ahead of drinking it or mix with ice, the colder it is the more palatable it seems to be
  • have a big bottle of iced water to sip along with the prep drink
  • mix the prep drink with squash (check this is allowed, some solutions are different to others)
  • warn your household that you need entire privacy
  • charge all devices (phone / laptop/ tablet etc) and take with you to the bathroom, you will be grateful for these and possibly a book to read and a podcast to listen to
  • wet wipes, you will need these to keep your nethers clean after a while
  • Vaseline to apply to your nethers and avoid any stinging after prolonged bowel movements
  • prepare to sit on the loo all afternoon, your bowel will open with zero warning and you will have no time to make it
  • there are gaps in between bowel movements
  • I started mine at 2pm and by 11pm it was totally finished and I was ok to go to bed no accidents
  • I had a bath at the very end of the day and slept on a towel just in case

None of it is very dignified but it's not as bad as you're probably imagining Thanks

MotherofMigraines · 31/03/2022 23:14

OP I think it makes it easier for the medication to do its job ie a full evacuation! I had eaten too much fruit/veg in the days prior and the consultant commented along the lines of a bit too much fibre hanging around still

BonusBaller · 31/03/2022 23:26

OP I would imagine Iseeyoulookingatme is talking about some sort of laparoscopy, for that they do pump you full of air. I’ve had a colonoscopy and a laparoscopy (at different times) and the colonoscopy prep is the worst part, just take the sedation and it’ll be fine!

Apileofballyhoo · 31/03/2022 23:27

I had sedation and the procedure itself was totally fine. The drink and the toilet were far worse. I mixed the drink with 7up I think. I can't remember the timings but somebody advised me to start the drink earlier in the evening as they were up very late, and I did and I think I finished with the loo about 1am which wasn't too bad. I can't remember what time I started the drink though.

BSky · 01/04/2022 07:40

I was paranoid about spillage in the bed and the half an hour journey to the hospital so bought some incontinence pads and maternity bed mats. I didn't really need them in the end but it made me feel a bit more secure.

justasmalltownmum · 01/04/2022 07:44

I was really nervous and cried before hand. But when they did it, it was really interesting and I got to watch on screen. I totally forgot how nervous I was.

MrsPnut · 01/04/2022 07:51

The prep is the worst part, drink plenty of water on top of the amount in the medication. Use sudocrem or Vaseline on your bum from the beginning. Whilst you are fasting you can have drinks made from vegetable boullion and also wine gums but nothing red or purple. The low fibre diet is recommended because anything fibrous can stick in your bowel lining and prevent getting clear images. I have ulcerative colitis and have never done a low fibre diet because nothing usually sticks around very long.
I usually have sedation and by the time you are ready to go to the hospital, you should be pretty much cleared out anyway so the journey is fine.

allergictowhat · 01/04/2022 14:46

Take sedation - I had it without (previous serious reaction to IV sedation) - it wasn’t at all pleasant . Was given entonox and fentanyl but even with that was still very, very painful - like the worst period pain I’ve ever had.

Nurses said with sedation you supposedly don’t remember it that much .

I got a bit of a shock the next day bending in the shower, I had ten biopsies taken and didn’t think it would hurt but it did catch a bit. Was fine within 48 hours though .

Re the drink, I had moviprep and mixed with Robinsons lime/mint cordial and drank 7up throughout . You will feel drained/washed out so recommend drinking additional water/clear fluids throughout !! Sudocrem for bum from the start and I slept on a towel too .

nannybeach · 01/04/2022 20:38

This time I was given the prep on the gastro ward. You won't be allowed to drive home after sedation. It's just a bit of air, you're not blown up.

Anna197264 · 01/04/2022 20:40

I had one a few years ago and it was fine. It felt a bit uncomfortable but it certainly wasn’t painful. Good luck op

Spaghag · 01/04/2022 20:46

Have the sedation.

I actually didn't mind the Moveprep! I added orange squash to it & it was fine.

I only had gas & air, but was found to have a lot of diverticulitis which (so the nurse informed me) does make it more painful. If I had another I would have sedation. It really wasn't so bad though.

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