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Original poster

Colonoscopy Prep

45 replies

WritingMum9712 · 11/12/2024 10:47

Hello,

I am due to have my first colonoscopy on Friday at 10am. Eating restricted today can someone tell me if this ok..

breakfast - white bread with two boiled eggs
lunch - potato waffles and some cooked chicken
dinner - white pasta with some cooked chicken

very bland I know but just want to make sure all is ok?

also I have a 9 month old baby who I do not want to be drowsy for so thinking of just trying it with gas and air. I’m telling myself I’ll be ok as during my labour I had a placental abruption which is the most agonising thing I’ve ever been through. Is gas and air manageable?

I am very nervous 🤣

TIA

OP posts:
NestaArcheron · 11/12/2024 11:02

This is all fine op and you will be fine with gas and air! It's really not as bad as you imagine in your mind, the bowel prep is worse than the procedure! Good luck! X

Jellycats4life · 11/12/2024 11:10

I had a colonoscopy with sedation. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about sedation. At no point did I feel drowsy or out of it. I was fully awake and aware the entire time. What the sedation did do is make me forget chunks of time. That’s not what I expected it to be like at all!

So my advice is take the sedation. You don’t need to be a hero and gas and air does sweet FA in my experience. You’ll need to take it easy for the rest of the day anyway, so don’t expect to jump straight into a busy day with your baby when you get home.

Original poster
WritingMum9712 · 11/12/2024 11:42

Jellycats4life · 11/12/2024 11:10

I had a colonoscopy with sedation. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about sedation. At no point did I feel drowsy or out of it. I was fully awake and aware the entire time. What the sedation did do is make me forget chunks of time. That’s not what I expected it to be like at all!

So my advice is take the sedation. You don’t need to be a hero and gas and air does sweet FA in my experience. You’ll need to take it easy for the rest of the day anyway, so don’t expect to jump straight into a busy day with your baby when you get home.

I also have my works night out the next night and technically it will be 24 hours after sedation but worried about drinking close to it. I’ve not had a night out since my baby was born so really want to enjoy it

OP posts:
woffley · 11/12/2024 11:52

I had this done in July.
If you opt for sedation you are told that you must not be soley responsible for a child for 24 hours. I didn't feel remotely sedated or drowsy and had gas as well.

The prep is the hardest part and you will probably need someone to mind the baby while you do that. The diet is rubbish but you must do it or the whole thing may not work.

SalviaDivinorum · 11/12/2024 13:26

I had gas and air and it was fine. A bit uncomfortable at times but that was fleeting.

I didn't want the after effects of sedation (and I'm terrified of needles so a cannula was out of the question).

Original poster
WritingMum9712 · 11/12/2024 13:33

On the day of the fast, are electrolyte drinks suitable? Such as Lucozade sport or an electrolyte tablet dissolved in water?

OP posts:
Jellycats4life · 11/12/2024 14:11

You should have a letter outlining exactly what is and isn’t OK. Different clinics will have different guidelines, and different bowel prep meds.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 11/12/2024 14:17

All units have their own guidelines so have another read and be sure to stick to them.

Once the prep starts working you will need to rush to the loo and stay there for a while, you’ll need support with your lo for this bit.

I had my last one with no sedation or gas and air (not quite my plan but the world was conspiring against me and after doing the prep I wasn’t going to cancel the procedure!) and it was manageable. Definitely uncomfortable at times but doable. I’ve had others with sedation which was easier to do, but I was quite sleepy afterwards and you definitely shouldn’t drive or be in sole charge of a baby.

Hope it all goes well.

teraculum29 · 11/12/2024 14:22

I m not familiar with Lucozade does it have red colouring in the ingredients?? as red dye is not allowed.

I had sedation, but I was fully awake and aware of the procedure. I think i got more dizzy because of the gas and air itself, than the sedation. But everyone response to sedation differently.
I had about 30-45min recovery time post the procedure, but next to me there was a lady that she was quite oozy for some time.

Cattyisbatty · 11/12/2024 14:26

My DH had gas and air and they 'told him off' for not going for sedation incase they had to remove any polyps. He wanted to go back to work afterwards and I couldn't take him.
I was lightly sedated for mine - I was conscious and I suppose had some pain relief from the drugs - I would say it was uncomfortable but not painful. A smear or endomitrial biopsy is much worse to me!

You mustn't have anything with red/purple colouring!!!

GG1986 · 11/12/2024 22:12

I had a colonoscopy without sedation and I really wish I'd had it! Like you I had a 9 month old baby and didn't want to be "out of it" afterwards, I had just gas and air and fainted and found it really painful. Everyone is different though, I know people who have had it with just gas and air and were fine. I recently had endoscopy and chose to have some sedation this time and I was ok afterwards, I felt sleepy for an hour or two so you may want to make sure you have someone there with you to help with baby, but I woke up the next day and felt normal.

GossipQueen41 · 12/12/2024 00:31

I drank lucozade sport - the orange flavoured one. You can't have drinks that are red or purple in colour. I found lucozade really helped as previously I've felt shakey and unwell just drinking water.

viques · 12/12/2024 00:41

I have had several, most with some sedation, the final few minutes as they push round the last bit of your colon can be uncomfortable so I would take the sedation when offered. Ask them to let you see the screen, it is fascinating.

ps, I would swap the waffles for some plain boiled potatoes.

XmasSocks · 12/12/2024 01:53

I dont think you can have waffles as they are greasy

U can have boiled potatoes, no skin and chicken with no skin and no flavourings

XmasSocks · 12/12/2024 01:53

I wouldnt do it without sedation

Kitkat1523 · 12/12/2024 02:04

XmasSocks · 12/12/2024 01:53

I wouldnt do it without sedation

Why? What was your experience?
I was fine with gas and air…..some discomfort….but no actual pain

neilyoungismyhero · 12/12/2024 02:11

With the sedation are you able to move? A friend had sedation for, I think, this procedure and I thought she said she was awake and fully aware but was completely unable to move any part of her body or to speak.
I had sedation with a camera down my throat, endoscopy? but couldn't remember anything after the canula went in.
I'm thinking I may need a colonoscopy but she scared me..isn't ketamine like that?

XmasSocks · 12/12/2024 02:38

Kitkat1523 · 12/12/2024 02:04

Why? What was your experience?
I was fine with gas and air…..some discomfort….but no actual pain

Show quote history

Weird isnt it how experiences differ

I was in agony even with sedation

XmasSocks · 12/12/2024 02:38

neilyoungismyhero · 12/12/2024 02:11

With the sedation are you able to move? A friend had sedation for, I think, this procedure and I thought she said she was awake and fully aware but was completely unable to move any part of her body or to speak.
I had sedation with a camera down my throat, endoscopy? but couldn't remember anything after the canula went in.
I'm thinking I may need a colonoscopy but she scared me..isn't ketamine like that?

I was fully awake and able to move. Sounds like your friend may of had abit to much

Spartak · 12/12/2024 03:06

You might want to ask someone to look after the baby once you start drinking the bowel prep meds - the outpouring of fluid from my arse was rather overwhelming for me. I had to wear a giant tena lady pad to travel to the hospital as it wasn't quite over with by the time by the time I had to leave.

I'm really glad I had the sedation. I was fine within 15 minutes of the procedure ending although still had to have someone pick me up. It wasn't as bad as I expected in the end.

Original poster
WritingMum9712 · 12/12/2024 07:07

Thank you everyone for your responses. My DP will be home from 4pm and I’ve to start taking the prep at 5pm so he can look after baby.

My leaflet about the prep which is specific for a morning appt says I don’t need to fast until 1pm? But everywhere else says 9am? I don’t know what to do

OP posts:
teraculum29 · 12/12/2024 08:26

My appointment was at 13:30, on paperwork said that i could have breakfast, and even light lunch the day before, then liquid diet.
I opt for light breakfast only as I thought that would prepare me better as less waste to remove from colon.

OP drink plenty, after you start your prep as this will help to prepare your colon better.

Kitkat1523 · 12/12/2024 09:36

WritingMum9712 · 12/12/2024 07:07

Thank you everyone for your responses. My DP will be home from 4pm and I’ve to start taking the prep at 5pm so he can look after baby.

My leaflet about the prep which is specific for a morning appt says I don’t need to fast until 1pm? But everywhere else says 9am? I don’t know what to do

obviously you follow your leaflet

woffley · 12/12/2024 13:03

XmasSocks · 12/12/2024 01:53

I wouldnt do it without sedation

No I wouldn't.
It was excrutiating even with sedation and entonox. However they said I had a particularly long and twisty colon so I can see why others would have no problem.

woffley · 12/12/2024 13:06

WritingMum9712 · 12/12/2024 07:07

Thank you everyone for your responses. My DP will be home from 4pm and I’ve to start taking the prep at 5pm so he can look after baby.

My leaflet about the prep which is specific for a morning appt says I don’t need to fast until 1pm? But everywhere else says 9am? I don’t know what to do

Mine was morning.
I had to fast from 3pm and start the prep at 6pm.
If I was doing it again I would shift it forward a couple of hours because I was still confined to the bathroom at midnight.