Colonoscopy prep

[toottootdriver]

I have a colonoscopy booked in 2 weeks time, I've opted for gas and air as I have young children and would struggle looking after them with sedation. I've received the instructions for the preparation and wanted to know if it's feasible to look after young children (dinner, bath, bed) whilst doing the prep or if I'll need to ask my parents to help that night!

Thanks

You’ll need your parents to help. Once the preparation starts to work, you will be tied to the bathroom for a good hour or so. It would be really tricky to look after small children at the same time.

Can you get them to help for the day of the colonoscopy too so that you can have the sedation? I have had it with both sedation and gas and air, and sedation is a lot easier!

I'd ask for help if you can. I'm a colonoscopy veteran - when the prep kicks in, which is usually about an hour/hour and a half after the first drink, you'll have several hours when it's essentially pointless leaving the bathroom.

You will need help. Also mine took 3 hours to start working and another 3+ hours in the bathroom. So you can't really be accurate about how long you need help.

Definitely ask your parents to come to help.

The prep will have you on and off the loo for a few hours and you're better off perching yourself close to the toilet and staying there for when it kicks in. Not massively compatible with parental bedtime duties!

Good luck for the procedure. I always have gas and air too as want to be able to drive myself and not be too groggy. Just remember to relax and take lots of deep breaths throughout.

You'll need help! Can you leave the kids at your parents?

I've helped my mum and nan multiple times. My mum bought herself a commode so she could sit and watch TV- because its unpredictable. Its draining and physically demanding. You might need to sit on the loo for ages, because it can come on very quickly- then you can't get off because more comes out. Imagine the worst diarrhoea you've ever had, which then progresses to a clear liquid- just pouring/dripping out constantly- for hours sometimes!

Drinking the prep cold, can help disguise the flavour apparently too.

You have absolutely no time at all to get to the loo. As I discovered to my cost...

Biggest tip is to drink Lucozade as a chaser with the prep. It really took the taste away which other things didnt, e.g. Apple juice. I didn't have enough Lucozade.

Thank you everyone, looks like I'll be asking my parents to help that night.
Unfortunately they can't help on the day of the procedure as they're going away and my husband is a teacher who is also away that week so it's terrible timing! Hopefully the gas and air will be ok

You'll be fine looking after them following the procedure if you've had gas and air. You might feel a bit bloated and gassy for the few hours afterwards but that's it really.

That's good to know, I'll make sure I stock up on supplies beforehand, and get an easy dinner in for the day of the procedure!
Hoping I won't have to wait too long on the day as I always find the anticipation the worst!