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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:
DoctorMarten · 01/04/2022 20:50

Take the sedative. That is all. It's much easier to have it. My procedure was tricky as my colon is "long and twisty".
You'll be fine.

gunnersgold · 01/04/2022 20:57

I cried throughout mine and they nurse told me to be quiet!! 😱 . I would say take the sedation ( I didn't and I wish I did ) .

Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:37

gunnersgold that's awful1 Shock I'm sorry they weren't nice to you. I've had a cystoscopy (camera into the bladder) and i cried before that - I think it was just not knowing what it would be like, but they were very nice to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:42

Will definitely take the sedative. I've just read the procedure instructions. It says risk of death 1 in 15,000 surely thats wrong??? Shock

I thought as it was an afternoon procedure I'd be taking the prep stuff the morning of it but it says the day before Sad and even worse no food from 3pm Shock how will I survive?? this is someone who eats very often!! I guess things like Lucozade are ok for energy??

OP posts:
ancientgran · 02/04/2022 09:47

All I really remember is that after all the prep and fasting the cup of tea and ham sandwich they gave me when it was over was the most wonderful and memorable meal of my life.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:52

Thanks for the detail Parkmama that might be tricky- to have the entire time to myself but I guess the family will find out. DH has no idea what it involves and initially said lets go to Ikea in the morning before the procedure Hmm. and one son has swimming lessons the night before but I guess I'll let the other two kids do whatever whilst I'm sat on the loo.

I really wish I didn't have to do this Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:54

ancientgran lol, thats like the tea and toast after childbirth- tastes bloody amazing and totally earned Grin

OP posts:
Memyselfandfood · 02/04/2022 09:54

Its fine op! Really. I was chatting the entire time and watching their screen.
The worst bit was actually drinking the liquid!
I never want to repeat that part!

Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:56

MotherofMigraines thanks- it feels wrong not to eat any fruit or veg for so long! I eat healthily (I'm studying to become a nutritional therapist) so I eat all the healthy stuff!

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:57

Plutoisaplanet hubby will drive me there and back so all sorted for that.

OP posts:
chisanunian · 02/04/2022 09:58

I had one, and they gave me a pre-med. I was out for the count and never knew a thing about it.

Drinking the stuff beforehand was the worst bit.

HoppingPavlova · 02/04/2022 09:58

Also its a 20 minute drive to the hospital....that seems like a long time if I'm still rushing to the loo.

Wear adult incontinence pants. Take a few spares. I changed mine when I arrived at hospital and before booking inBlush.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 09:59

Apileofballyhoo the leaflet says stop eating at 3pm and start the solution at 6pm (the day before) so I guess I'll follow those instructions and hope I'm cleared out by a decent time for bed!
My procedure is at 1.45 the next day so I then have all morning with no food and another lot of solution to drink Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 10:01

justasmalltownmum I think this will be me too. I get so anxious- I cried at the dentist the other day Hmm I'm just such a wimp and I worry a lot. But 3 childbirths, 1 with no drugs (only because it was too quick I hasten to add!), 2 with gas and air and not a single tear. I'm weird lol!

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Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 10:03

Anna197264 thanks. I'm trying to stay calm about it and not overthink it.... x

OP posts:
ItsMutinyontheBunty · 02/04/2022 10:04

I had one recently…I also work in a similar field.

Yes most people say the prep is worse than the procedure. It will have you running to the loo to empty your bowels but personally I didn’t have any cramps, just a feeling I needed to go. The diet is food that’s easily digested so you can eat a bit but when you start the prep it’s flushed through quickly. Otherwise there’s still some left behind which affects the view. Personally I opted for sedation (I’d had one before and was told it was wise if I needed another). The sedation made me feel relaxed, like I’d had a few gins! I found the procedure uncomfortable (I have a loopy bowel). To answer the question about gas..yes, they use gas. Your bowel is a tube. When it’s full, the stool holds it open. When you empty it, it sits flat…so they either inflate it with gas or water. It’s uncomfortable but not painful as such. Mine felt like bad period pains - I do have IBS and endometriosis which makes me more sensitive - so I had gas and air as well. With the combo of that and the sedation they got round okay. Some people can do it without any meds though! Afterwards you tend to be a bit gassy but that passes! Most people I speak to say it wasn’t as bad as they feared.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 10:05

Memyselfandfood I'm not looking forward to the prep (they need more emojis- sick emoji here!)

thanks for the reassurance!

OP posts:
BobbinThreadbare123 · 02/04/2022 10:06

I've got Crohn's disease. I think I've had about ten colonscopies. I've never had sedation but once I had a bit of gas and air. Just follow the diet instructions in the leaflet; nothing dark coloured like blackcurrant because it can stain your innards. The prep is the worst. I always vomit Moviprep back up but Picolax is much less volume so just neck it. I would suggest some nice plain biscuits and a cup of tea when it's done ( I've been given them in the hospital usually). I suggest Sudocrem and some nice balsam loo roll to treat your poor backside Grin
Got to keep a sense of humour; all of this is a pain in the arse!

RosesAndHellebores · 02/04/2022 10:06

I had picolax mixed with elderflower cordial. It was fine. I started the "white diet" a day or two before it was recommended and the whole process wasn't too bad at all. Had mine at 2pm and don't remember if I could have breakfast.

Sudocream was helpful, I used it as an opportunity to rest and read in the bedroom. I was worried about getting to the hospital and drove in the end in case I had an emergency in a taxi. DH collected me at about 6ish and drove me home. I bought some tena pants for safety.

I had sedation and have no recollection whatsoever. I threatened to have some of the technicolour pictures of my colon framed for the dc Grin. The only hiccup was that my blood pressure dropped after the procedure and they got a bit worried and I spent longer in recovery than anticipated chatting to a very nice Dr.

The round of sandwiches and pot of tea afterwards were very welcome.

I was much more tired the following day than I expected.

Original poster
sunshine05 · 02/04/2022 10:10

itsMutinyontheBunty thanks for telling me your experience. I guess the cystoscopy I had was uncomfortable but not painful so I'll assume it's similar in that respect.

So it's ok to eat past 3pm on the sunday if I'm having it on the monday? I just worry I'll be weak with hunger or worse- sounds pathetic but I do sometimes get low blood sugar (especially if I'm eating the types of thing they suggest- white bread, low fibre etc- all leads to low blood sugar levels)
I have no idea if I have loopy bowels - I just hope I don't so it's easier!

OP posts:
ItsMutinyontheBunty · 02/04/2022 10:35

No you can’t eat past 3pm because it goes against the prep, otherwise there could still be stool in your system. Then you’ve done all the prep for nothing because they won’t be able to see anything.
Check your leaflet but I could have clear fizzy drinks and sports drinks which kept my blood sugars up. Some say you can have stuff like boullion too as long as there’s no bits in it.

Tadpolesandcress · 02/04/2022 12:50

and even worse no food from 3pm shock how will I survive?? this is someone who eats very often!!!

I thought I’d be really hungry especially in the night but I wasn’t at all for some reason.

allergictowhat · 02/04/2022 13:25

@sunshine05

Apileofballyhoo the leaflet says stop eating at 3pm and start the solution at 6pm (the day before) so I guess I'll follow those instructions and hope I'm cleared out by a decent time for bed! My procedure is at 1.45 the next day so I then have all morning with no food and another lot of solution to drink Sad
They must do it differently for different hospitals. I had to eat a bland diet from Thursday (huge long list of stuff - I lived off white bread, white fish, pancakes and rich tea biscuits) and then no food at all from 9am Sunday - just clear fluids and nothing orange coloured - so just basically clear lucozade, lemonade, water, or lime cordial .

By the time of the actual procedure (9am Monday) I was shattered .

I did get a wonderful plate of toast and hot chocolate afterwards - and then a relative took me to cafe afterwards . Food was incredible .

The report I’ve got says I found the procedure ‘difficult to tolerate’ - no shit Sherlock, there’s a ruddy camera up my arse .

allergictowhat · 02/04/2022 13:27

The one thing nobody warned me about and I remember asking on here, when the laxative does work it eventually feels like you’re peeing - same volume and consistency iyswim 🤢- it’s just liquid . It’s a very, very strange feeling .

allmysons · 02/04/2022 17:57

You might not be hungry on the Sunday and early Monday as you have to drink litres of liquid in the form of the prep.
I was so hungry in recovery though and the lovely nurses at the hospital I went to brought me a sandwich after, it was amazing.
Also, the sedative made me feel really mellow, it was a great feeling! I watched the whole procedure. My sister doesn't remember her colonoscopy even though she only had a sedative.