Colonoscopy

[Lillabetty]

Had a last minute appointment with the doctor today to discuss some test results. I've got a positive FIT test and have been referred to the 2 week pathway for a colonoscopy the doctor just kept talking about cancer and seemed flustered when she was speaking to me. Does anyone have experience of this. I have external piles but haven't had a flare up in years. Will this contribute to the positive test?

there can be non-cancer causes of the positive FIT result but it's important to have the colonoscopy to check for cancer or other serious diseases

I had a positive FIT and was referred for a colonoscopy. Nothing at all found. Complete false positive. Hope same for you, OP.

Most of the time it's not going to be cancer, but it's good to check anyway. My friend had the same as you and had a polyp removed. I had the same as you and came away with a IBD diagnosis. Yes, it could be piles, or a fissure or other things, but it's good to check.

My partner had a positive fit test and a 2ww colonoscopy and only 1 normal poylp was found and piles. Try not to spend the next few weeks worrying, it can be a number of other things and not cancer.

Thank you everyone. I booked in the end of April to have a health check done as I've not been feeling very well some symtoms are dizzy feeling sick weight loss exhaustion blurry vision 5 week headache. I've got stage 1 hypertension low folate got meds for that all clear eye test. Last thing I was expecting was a colonoscopy

I had visible blood in stools and it was nothing - an internal hemerroid. Do the colonoscopy to be sure!

Yes have colonoscopy to be sure.

I have had an anal fissure since 18 y.o and really never been able to win the battle with but when my GP threw me into the 2 week queue last year after positive fit the hospital where I had the procedure wanted to argue in advance it was just that.

I had 6 biopsies took which didn’t yield results apart from it’s not cancer.
Neither did the AF come up.

To be fair to the current hospital I am in, on the second ward urgent assessment unit, they kind of showed great concern when they saw blood on bed where it was obvious where it come from. It was at least reassuring to tell them I’ve had a colonoscopy before.

I had similar a year ago. I actually had severe diverticulitis but no polyps and a couple of haemorrhoids. The Diverticulitis really explained the abdominal discomfort and constipation. Funnily enough I believe the protocol before colonoscopy relieved all my constipation and I’ve been fine ever since. Good luck OP, it’s not a nice procedure but manageable and you’ll most likely be told what’s what at the time

Got a phone call this morning I'm scheduled in on Saturday, 12:30 for my colonoscopy i need to pick up the prep tonight.What should I expect on the day?I also have a 3 cm external pile Is that going to cause issue

Hello !

I had this done last Saturday. Nothing like as bad as I was expecting. The laxative prep isn't very pleasant but bearable. I used non scented wipes rather than loo roll after each bowel movement. Reducing/eliminating the amount of roughage you eat from now till after the procedure also helps. Also the fasting of course. Just follow the instructions.

I was asked to get changed and had to wear a pair of glamorous paper shorts. I had a shot of relaxant and a sedative via a cannula.

If you have the sedation you need to stay in recovery until they feel you are ok to leave. For afterwards I have found sudocrem helpful. No piles though so unsure how that might affect things.

All the best.

I had a colonoscopy/endoscopy a few years back after and episode of passing blood. Fit test was raised too.

The prep is horrible - make sure it's cold, I added a bit of squash to it too, and try to drink through a straw! Anusol wipes are better than TP, I found them good anyway.

Nothing was found despite the bleeding and positive FIT, but found out earlier this year that I have endometriosis affecting my bowel so possibly it was that?

Best of luck OP!

Good luck OP. I've got mine booked for next Wed so let us know how it goes. It's reassuring to read how other people's went. I'm absolutely dreading it after a really nasty endoscopy experience about 10 years ago. I've got a polyp and piles that are already known about, and endometriosis but IDK if it's got as far as my bowel, so we'll see what they find.

I had an endoscopy on the same day. I won't sugar coat it, it was utterly horrific.

Colonoscopy very different and much easier.

I'll let you all know. Totally lost my appetite because im an anxious ball of mess the weekend can't come quick enough

I was exactly the same - I find it really hard to deal with health stuff. It really wasn't as bad as I expected x

If it's any consolation OP I had both endoscopy and colonoscopy on the same day. The prep was ok, but my god it worked very fast for the first round! Took me two hours to get through it though.

I'm still laughing now, as I was to take the second round of prep at 6am, so I set alarms all over the shop but would you believe, I slept through the bloody alarms and woke at 8 am! I had visions of me pooping in the car on the way over.... I ran downstairs, made up the prep and chugged it down in about 40 minutes so I'd be off the throne in time 😊. That worked!

Anyway, on with the story..... I have a terror of anything going into my mouth (have sedation for the dentist), so I explained that the mouth guard was going to be an issue for the endoscopy. Honestly they were so brilliant about it, as I lay on the table they tried to insert it, but not happening, so doc said OK we'll do the sedation and then put it in, take some deep breaths there now, and folks, the next thing I knew I was in recovery.

They were checking for nasty stuff both ends, but thankfully all well apart from some inflammation in the oesophagus and a small polyp. You will be fine OP, best of luck.

Take the sedation thats all i can say

So dont drive to the hospital

Me and partner have had positive fit tests. Referred on the two week wait, twice each, all been fine

My prep says I have to have a light lunch before 3pm then first prep at 9pm then the second one at 6am. I'm very awkwardly autistic and I don't hold information very well lol all ive eaten today is two slices of toast and petrified of pooing my pants on the car ride there luckily it's only a 20min drive

You won’t poo your pants if you take it on schedule - you’ll basically be “pooing” clear liquid at that point but you also won’t feel the same urgency as when you first start taking it. You’ll make it to hospital, don’t worry. When you get there you may be waiting around for your turn so take a book.

the prep - drink it through a straw angled to the back of your throat. I had 7up to chase each glug of prep because they were both lemony but 7up much nicer.

they will pump you full of air to get a good look so you may be uncomfortable after the procedure but only like a bad case of trapped wind. If you take the sedation you won’t remember very much of what goes on.

I’ve had a couple of colonoscopies and wouldn’t be worried if I had to have another one - they’re not that bad. Drinking the prep is the worst bit for me.

good luck I hope it’s good news!

The less you eat, the better to be honest, it’s all gotta come out again. I found the prep worse than the procedure itself. I had the sedation and it was really effective for me, and interesting to watch on screen! My 2WW was turned into a referral to gastro for IBD.
All the best.

Sorry for all the questions but if I strain beef and veg soup can I drink the broth? Also is it normal to have a headache and feel sick?

My instructions were that strained soup was fine. Clear broth was all I fancied actually! Check what it says on the leaflet.

Clear broth is fine. You might be feeling rough because of the diet. You actually stop feeling hungry once you start drinking the prep, that can make you feel a bit icky itself though. Have you got wipes, vaseline and some squash or lucozade ready to help wash it down?

Yeah I've got orange squash, pure apple juice lucozade sport the orange one some sprite, extra toilet Wipes and nappy cream 😅 tminus 5hrs until plenvu begins lol. Will I stop pooing long enough tomorrow to have a quick wash before I leave for the hospital, my last drink is at 6am will have to leave my home at 11:45

All the best OP. I had a colonoscopy in November and it was clear (I had the sedation) except for one polyp which was removed and was benign. They also took some samples to check for IBD which were clear as well.

This followed positive FIT and calprotectin tests and erratic bowels for a couple of weeks.