Has anyone had more than one colonoscopy?

[Silverumbrella]

I’ve had digestive issues on/off for 25 years.
Over the last 6 years or so these issues became worse and in 2019 I had a gastroscope and at the same time a colonoscopy. I opted to stay awake for the procedures and watched my colon on the screen (which was surprisingly fascinating), they said all was normal and no further action needed.
However, my symptoms have been quite bad again this year and I must admit I have got myself in quite a stressed state over it (obviously that doesn’t help the situation at all!). I have symptoms daily and it’s really, really affecting my quality of life right now.
I have been waiting to see my NHS gastroenterologist for a follow up the last 8 months so last month I paid privately to see another, she said she thought my issues were still IBS related and wouldn’t recommend another colonoscopy due to the risk of perforation, she suggested a pill camera colonoscopy instead (she offered to do this via the NHS) but when I looked it up the prep for that is even more full on than with a colonoscopy prep (you have to take laxative boosters after you’ve swallowed the pill).
So, I then received an appointment through with the NHS gastroenterologist for last week. He agreed that my symptoms were most likely IBS but said he would be happy to perform a colonoscopy. When I mentioned what the other gastro had said about the perforation risk he said it was a low risk and pill camera colonoscopies, although good, sometimes miss areas if they turn quickly etc and obviously can not remove any polyps etc, if anything was detected the patient would still have to do through with a colonoscopy so may as well have had that in the first place.
So I’ve just had the colonoscopy appointment through for in a couple of weeks and now so nervous. On one hand I need to know what’s going on with my digestive system but on the other the worry of a perforation, complications and not to mention the god awful prep is stressing me out no end.
It goes without saying I am a very anxious person and worry about every scenario!

Has anyone on here had more than one colonoscopy? Are the risks higher the more you have? How was it second or more times around?

There's a high incidence of bowel cancer in my family,
as part of regular screening I've had five colonoscopies (over a period of 20 years) . No negative consequences whatever.

On the advice of my consultant I ended routine surveillance after 70 because the associated risks increase in old age. I still do regular FIT poo tests .

When I first started colonoscopies 25 years ago, the sedation used then was the highlight of the entire ex[perience. As the stuff went in I got a very enjoyable whole-body rush and knew no more until I woke up back in bed. Sadly my Consultant stopped using the good stuff so I no longer bothered with sedation at all, fully conscious throughout and I got to watch the tour of my innards on the screen. I don't find it painful, very minor discomfort if any.

No I didn't but then I tend to go out like a light with sedations.

I've had 2, both with only gas and air and it was fine - it got a bit much by the end but that was where it finished anyway.
I've always done the 3 day prep course beforehand with a lot of lemonade to get through the prep drink!

Oh god yes I have had dozens of the buggers. Sedation is not effective so I don't bother anymore. Yes I definitely feel the camera being inserted!

If you have as I have extreme diverticulitis, it can be very painful.

The second time i prepared the "drink" into 4 500ml water bottles and stuck them in the fridge. Much easier to gulp down than using the straw which I did the first time round. First time I was sick and didn't finish it all. Second time I was done quickly and shocked myself.

Good luck

SalviaDivinorum Isn’t it just the foulest stuff? Why on earth do they out artificial sweeteners in it when it tastes absolutely disgusting in the first place? I actually couldn’t physically get the last litre in me and thought I’d end up with a failed scope but my colon was surprisingly clear, I think what saved me was simply the fact I’d hardly eaten 3 or 4 days before the procedure because I was too nervous to eat! I hope it goes well for you next time 🤞
NeedleFeltedFox I took Picolax for my pill camera endoscopy last year, it wasn’t half as bad as the Moviprep, that stuff is evil. I’m going to ring the endoscopy department today and see if there is an alternative as I felt so poorly on the Moviprep.
CherryogDog My gastro did tell me that’s why they experience more perforations in the US as they tend to out everyone under a GA for colonoscopies. The prep is definitely the worst bit isn’t it, I found it awful.
That’s good to know 2bazookas thank you.
2bazookas Watching your insides is quite an experience isn’t it?
StormTreader flat ginger beer was my go to, anything to chase that vile taste of the prep, urgh!
Somanycats my friend has it too, says her colonoscopies have always been quite uncomfortable.
lemonyellows I did the same, I imagine it’s absolutely foul at room temperature 🤢

I have my first colonoscopy on Thursday, having had a positive poo test, and high platelets in 2 blood tests.
I have the Moviprep, sounds like the prep day is worse than the colonoscopy!!
I'll be having the sedation, so hopefully I won't feel or remember any pain if there is any

I hate to confirm but yes - the prep is the worst bit. Chill it in the fridge, use a straw and angle it at the back of your throat and have 7up free (strongest tasting lemonade and sugar free so you don’t feel sick from all the sugar!) to chase it down. I had one glass of prep with a straw and one of lemonade with a straw and just went from one to the other. It’s a LOT of liquid so take it easy and drink as much as you can

Oh and you might think it’s not working but it will eventually

DumbledoresWand good luck hope it goes well, as NeedleFeltedFox has suggested, definitely get it as chilled as possible and chase with something which tastes nicer, I drank flat ginger beer, I can’t handle fizzy drinks at the best of times.

NeedleFeltedFox yes, the calm before the storm lol!
DumbledoresWand in the end I found it easier to lay in bed with books, magazines and my iPad as it was nearer to the loo, rather than constantly up and down the stairs.

@Silverumbrella @NeedleFeltedFox
Thanks for the tips!.. I live in a bungalow which will make getting to the loo easier than dashing upstairs... off to buy some 7up and some straws today!!!

Had endo with out sedation, then one with few weeks later, colon without few yrs ago and im going to have another in few weeks times.
( also had polyps removed at same time).

@DumbledoresWand have you been advised to eat a low fibre diet for a few days beforehand? Definitely makes for a cleaner purge.
Re chasing it up with 7up, I physically couldn't fit anything else in, and I've never managed more than half the 2nd litre and have always had a clear scope. I'm not advising anyone that's OK BTW, just my experience.

I've had two, no mention of increased risk of perforation. I asked for sedation but the sedation didn't work, it was hell, I don't know how you could be so calm about having one without sedation!

Also had the pill camera thing, that takes much longer, you have to be in the hospital for ages waiting for it to go through your system, but the prep wasn't so bad. I didn't have a smart phone then so it was boring as hell, kept going for walks to pass the time until I got lost in the forest outside the hospital

I mixed my prep with gatorade powder, made it more drinkable but now I can't drink gatorade because it reminds me of that horrid drink!

I had to to mask the disgusting artificial lemon taste with a nice artificial lemon taste 😂 it’s a delicate balancing act - how much lemonade is useful and how much can I physically fit in my body. I really think it’s time they came up with a proper alternative

@Natsku oh no! That was a great idea at the time... from everyone's replies it seems like Wednesday and the prep isn't going to be a good day....

That’s what I’ve been told I’m having next time. Hopefully it’ll stay down but I’m not hopeful. Saccharin doesn’t agree with me either but it’s not quite as bad as aspartame. I’ll have a killer migraine but provided I can manage the second dose before it hits I should be ok. Going to be a horrible prep though.

Why add sweetener for goodness sake. Leave it plain and let us add our own flavouring. I’ve avoided everything with artificial sweetener for many years and I really resent it being included in medications with no alternative.

Although you cannot do anything about the foul taste of the mixture you can ease the after effects. 4 days before you need to take the first dose start on a strict diet. Clear soups, custard, any thing that is light. Decrease the amount of food you consume daily until the first dose.

This should lead to clearing really light matter before the colonoscopy. I know people who have had a second colonoscopy because the bowels were not completely drained.

CherryogDog I had the same experience, just could not physically get anymore in, luckily I’d hardly eaten for days before, think that was my saving grace, I was convinced they would say my bowel wasn’t clear enough.
Natsku I thinkmy adrenaline must have kept me going, not so sure I’d be a brave this time round! I was allowed home after swallowing the pill camera but it was the endoscopy one not the colonoscopy so maybe that’s a little different.
FLOrenze that’s what I did last time, ate very lightly (mainly through anxiety rather than purposely) but I will do the same again this time.

NeedleFeltedFox I rang the endoscopy department to ask which prep I’ll get and it’s going to be Picolax this time. At least it won’t be the awful vanilla flavoured stuff from last time. That was vile. Although I don’t suppose this will be much better. Dreading it.

The picolax I had was I think lemon flavour. There is a lot less of it to drink so it’s still rank but you aren’t having to chug down litres and litres of it. Good luck!