Colonoscopy worries

[Pebblesandwaves]

My very fit and healthy DH (mid 30s) has been very unwell for the past month and is finally having a colonoscopy tomorrow. It was over a 3 week wait for one on the NHS and even longer when we looked into going private. He's obviously incredibly scared of what they might find as he has quite severe symptoms - bloody diarrhea nearly every hour, lethargic, uncomfortable trapped gas, temperature every evening this past week and weight loss.
Is it possible for me to go in when he's getting his results or do they explain what they can see there and then during the procedure? I really don't want him to be on his own.

I had mine 3 weeks ago and still awaiting results from the biopsies. I was told it can take up to 8 weeks. I was told that there was nothing abnormal detected from the procedure itself.

Good luck - the prep was much worse than the procedure. And the prep wasn't too bad thanks to the advice I got on here.

It might depend on whether they've kept the covid protocols in place or not.

I've had quite a few and they are usually ok with friend /companion coming in for the results and to collect if you've had sedation. Just ask when you get there.

Hope it all goes ok.

I had one a few years ago and they let DH come in for the results. He sat in waiting room while I had the colonoscopy and then after I’d been to recovery ward and dressed again etc they called him in and went over preliminary findings with both of us. As PP said, biopsies took several weeks to come back but they were able to have a fair idea of the issue from the colonoscopy itself and prescribed medicine from that.

Hope it goes well for him

I was told there and then whether anything was untoward. They found a couple of polyps and removed them there and then.
I just had to wait for the biopsy results.

Good luck OP to u both

They tell you if they can see anything like polyps for example, which are then removed and sent away for further examination, so they can’t tell you that result immediately.

I assume that if they spot other issues they would say so at the time, but that would not necessarily amount to a diagnosis, as they would want to review the films and footage , possibly with colleagues.

I don’t think I spoke to the consultant at the time , but saw him in clinic some weeks later for the biopsy results.

Tell your op not to worry about the procedure, he will be starting the prep soon I imagine, and that is the most unpleasant part of it . There are many things that can cause his symptoms, and many of them are dealt with by life style changes , the important thing is that he is being seen and will soon have a diagnosis. Good luck to you both.

Thank you so much for your kind words and reassurance, it helps a lot. I'll speak to the person on reception when I drop him off and see what they advise

My DH 66 had one last week. In our hospital you get a print out of what they’ve found. He had one last year after bleeding stools, it was discovered that he had diverticulitis which they told him afterwards. This last one, they took biopsies and the bowel screening team rang him and he now has irritable bowel disease. His symptoms are blood in stools, diarrhoea, lethargy and loosing weight. He has already got his follow up appointment with consultant but it’s not until late December.

I'm having one in a few weeks. No one is allowed in with me, only allowed in to collect me. No waiting in the hospital whilst I'm having it done. This is different than before covid as I was always allowed someone in the waiting area and then they came into the recovery room.

I've had a colonoscopy a few months ago. ( I waited much longer than 3 weeks for it. Even though my FIT test was over 200).

They could only remove one of the polyps there and then. It took a two months for the histology to come back.

As the other two polyps I have are "mega" polyps over 3 cms they could not be removed at that time. Absolutely crazy.

I have to go back for a sigmoidoscopy which has already been cancelled once ( after the diet prep had begun!).

There is lots of info on here for how to get through the prep.

I hope you get some answers tomorrow.

I know it varies from patient to patient but how long did it take from arriving to leaving for you?

@op

I waited about an hour or more to be seen. After the nurse did the cannula etc I waited a long time again to have it done.

Hi
I am a nurse that works in endoscopy and generally they let you know results on the day of the procedure especially if they think it's something concerning. They obviously can only tell you what they can see and not results of biopsies etc on the day.
Expect to wait up to 4 hours because it depends where he is on the list and emergencies always take priority.
In our unit we allow relatives in to go through the information at the end but not into the recovery bay so you'd need to wait till he's all ready to be discharged.
Try not to worry, there's lots of things (such as chrons etc) it could possibly be and it's good he's getting checked out!

Any top tips on prep @Cazziebo ?

Hi,

They usually give a report of the procedure. A nurse will usually explain/break down the report upon discharge. Sounds like it could possibly be an inflammatory bowel disease. If this is suspected, biopsies will be taken to confirm which can take 2-4 weeks for results. The procedure itself varies in time depending on the colon (and endoscopist), but it's unlikely he will be in the procedure room for more than 40 minutes. The waiting time before the procedure and the recovery process is what takes up most the time!

Hope he gets sorted!

I can only credit people on here for the hints (If I knew how to search for threads I'd link)

Stick to the diet - if your bowel isn't clear they might send you away and you have to do it again.

Get some moist toilet wipes and sudocrem (Best advice I think!)

The moviprep worked for me in about 20 minutes- and it was sudden! Stay near the loo once you take it.

Once it really got under way, I had my ipad, audio book, diffuser in the loo with me and I more or less stayed put.

Some people find the moviprep very unpalatable - it's not very nice but I managed it. Keep drinking water whilst you take it. I was sucking boiled sweets inbetween. (leaflet said barley sugar but I couldn't find that)

I stuck to the times I was given 7-9am and 7-9pm the day before and I actually had a good night's sleep.

It was still working next morning and I was a bit worried about journey to hospital but got there with no "accidents". Hospital is only 15 minutes away.

I was taken right on my appointment time at 9.30, chat with nurse, and the procedure started at 10. I was having a gastroscopy at the same time and had to have double sedation (not sure why- I was woozy from first dose). Out at 11 and they called DH to collect me at 12.20.

The leaflet said to bring slippers and dressing gown but that wasn't needed as they wheeled the bed from the prep room to theatre to recovery.

I did have a couple of accidents after the procedure - just had no idea it was coming - but obviously the nursing staff were well used to it and didn't bat an eyelid.

I felt really well afterwards - no after effects. Had a nap in the afternoon but was back at work next day.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Thanks :). I've had one before (this is check up) but it was maybe 5 years ago. I remember the worst thing was that I really, really struggled to get the stuff down without vomiting.

Thank you all for your help, we've just got home and it is suspected severe colitis - the worse the Dr had seen in a long time. The staff let me stay with him for everything apart from the procedure itself and were everso reassuring. DH is in a pretty bad way but they sent him home telling him to make an urgent gp appointment. So relieved it isn't cancer but it feels like he's still in limbo with his pain and symptoms.

When I had one I was told all looked clear, I have a bowel condition but told no obvious observations and biopsy took 8 weeks.

I had colitis on my colonoscopy and was referred back to my GP. They were as helpful as they could be and phoned the IBD nurses for advice for treatment pending an urgent referral. My urgent referral was made early August and i can see in my NHS app its still waiting to be reviewed so its not going to be anytime soon.

We managed to speak to a GP this evening who prescribed various pills and has told DH to phone a private specialist at our local hospital, which we did and left a message on their answer phone.fingers crossed we get somewhere tomorrow, DH has gone to bed with a temp of 38.2

@op.

How did the colonoscopy go?

You might well have seen this.but lots of good info and support here https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/understanding-crohns-and-colitis/ulcerative-colitis