Colonoscopy and retained poo

[bluepencilstoo]

Hi I wonder if this has happened to you and what you did to resolve it. I had a really embarrassing and frustrating experience of having a colonoscopy in that despite taking the laxative as instructed the day before and keeping to a low fibre diet for two days as instructed there was still faeces in my intestines which hampered the examination.

I was stressed enough before the exam and then having gone through it all I was told that I'd have to come back for another colonoscopy to remove some polyps that the doctor couldn't access because of faeces being in the way and he was worried he'd injure my intestines.

The doc says this can happen if you suffer like me from constipation and poo is retained despite the laxative you have to use before - I've got to have three doses next time instead of two - which was bad enough! .

I was thinking I'd try and sort the constipation out by increasing my fibre intake and reducing white carbs between now and the next colonoscopy. What else can I do?

how frustrating the meds for that are awful as they’re, I couldn’t leave the house.
will they try you on one of the alternatives

Starve for 3 days before
Take laxatives for 3 days before - not their stuff- whatever works for you.

I know, it was really awful, the worst bit of the whole process - I could only leave home by using a pad.

They just say they'll send me 3 doses instead of two

I thought perhaps I could try helping myself by trying to deal with the constip

Sorry if this is TMI and I'm definitely not a poo troll

We ask for a minimum 3 full days low fibre diet, ideally 5 days if you can.
It will really help.
Don’t worry @bluepencilstoo you are not the first and won’t be the last person who needs a repeat colonoscopy because of poor prep. It’s not your fault at all, some people just need the extra laxatives.

I had 3 doses and I was worried this could happen. I swear nothing at all happened for 24 hrs, things only really got going the night before. Constipation is a nigtmare.

Thank you @Fiddlersgreen that's reassuring. I felt so disappointed because I'd done everything right and got myself psyched up for it and did my best to overcome my anxiety about the whole procedure

We were told two days of low fibre.
Can I improve things myself beforehand do you think?

@Iwasafool you're not kidding. It's the bane of my life

The game changer for me was discovering bromelain, it is a pineapple extract and it works a treat for me. Painfree normal bodily functions, it comes to something when a bowel movement is a big achievement.

@Iwasafool Whats bromelain ?

It is an enzyme from the pineapple plant. I buy it in tablet form at Holland and Barrett. I think it is also supposed to be good for inflamation but it is good for the digestion. I started off taking a couple of tablets a day and once everything was working as it should I dropped it gradually and now take a tablet a couple of times a week.

It isn't like a laxative or at least it isn't for me as I find laxatives cause me lots of pain and discomfort. Bromelain just works to keep me normal. I'm sure it won't be the answer for everyone but I wouldn't be without it. I suppose eating pineapple or drinking pineapple juice would have a similar effect, not sure how much you would need though.

I believe it isn't good for people with a bleeding disorder and you have to stop taking it if you are having an operation.

@Iwasafool Thank you - that's really helpful. I've never heard of it, but am willing to try anything at this point !! Thank you. Sorry for derailing OP

I've always been told 5 days of low residual diet.
What prep were you given?

@SwankyPants I was given Moviprep
@Iwasafool thanks, I'll have a look at that

I asked because one I had wasn't so good at clearing me out but it wasn't that one. That one is usually pretty good.
The only other thing I can recommend is drinking more water but that's hard after having the prep