Colonoscopy prep tomorrow - timing advice please

[Greysowhat]

OK so my scope is on monday afternoon, probably around 1.00 or 2.00 and I have to start on my first delicious beverage at 6pm tomorrow. But just wondering how long it takes for it to have an effect. Will I be ok to go to bed at 9.30 or will I still be going to the loo?? I'm wondering if I might start it a bit earlier so that I can safely get a good nights sleep.

Please share your experiences!

I would not count on getting much sleep. Will you have someone with you?

You’ll still be going to the loo.

Hi. My colonoscopy was around the same time as yours, I had a sandwich about 12 then started my prep at 5pm it didn’t start working until 8.30pm I was then up and down to the loo every ten mins until about midnight. Had my next prep at 6am then loo again, for three hours. Thank goodness it stopped in time to set off for the hospital. Good luck.

Prep was Plenvu commencing at 5pm. Took me 47 minutes to drink it all. It didn’t taste too bad to me. Finished my additional 500mls within a further 26 minutes. I was cold during this and was snuggled up to the radiator with a blanket and two jumpers on. Nausea from sheer volume of liquid I think.

Loose stool started at 6:02pm. Slowed down and ‘stopped’ at 7:40pm.

Second lot of prep at 7:58pm. Finished in 47 minutes. Extra 500ml of water turned into more like an extra 2 litres in the end! I was so incredibly thirsty by 8:50pm I couldn’t stop drinking.

Diarrhoea recommenced at 8:09pm.

Starting shivering really badly as the thirst kicked in, around 8:50. Had an extra jumper on and using an electric blanket; still couldn’t warm up. Shivering started to ease around 10pm. Nausea from sheer volume of liquid I think.

Ended up with haemorrhoids during the prep which were bleeding.

Diarrhoea didn’t really stop but slowed down after about 10:30pm. I was still going every 30 minutes or so up to 12:40am when I decided to try and get some sleep. Awoke around 3:30am for water.

Awoke round 5:30am to go to the toilet. Had a few more bowel movements right up to my admission time but quantity was much reduced and was also peeing for the first time (5:30) since starting prep so water being diverted away from the bowel.

procedure was at about 10am.

You may still be on the loo - I would say it can start when you’ve just finished the prep or up to an hour or so after, but it takes a couple of hours to clear. Then after the second prep in the morning it’s much quicker to come out!! I was still going in the waiting area (in the toilet obvs) but was totally cleared out inside for the procedure.

Ohmygod! Thanks everyone for the great info. So I won't expect to get much of a sleep tomorrow night.

I wonder if I skip lunch will it stop sooner?!

Hospital is an hour's drive away. I'm scared !

My husband was going right up to the time we were leaving for the hospital, only ten mins away but he took spare clothes, and wipes just in case, he managed.

Hi Op. massive empathy as mine was yesterday. The drink is unpleasant but not as bad as I thought. Chug it is my advice! I took my first at 6pm and second at 9pm. I genuinely thought it hadn’t worked until 11:45, then wallop. You won’t sleep, because you just dream you’re shitting yourself.

The procedure was OK, I was sedated but they wound up with a very chatty patient wanting to know exactly what was on the screen. I imagine they wished they were sedated.

You will NEVER enjoy a cup of tea and biscuits more than the ones after. Better even than tea and toast after birth.

I was still on the loo as I was being called in 😞

It wasn’t like when you have D&V, I had some control in the later stages. But when you do go it’s like air coming out with yellow water.

😰

Shouldn't they have us start these drinks a bit sooner?? How can they scope your colon if there's still gushing going on??? I'm starting it early!

I had mine two weeks ago, the tea and toast they brought me was like manna from heaven. And the sedated sleep was beautiful

Don’t skip eating. It’s literally water coming out. You will be so thirsty you won’t be able to help but drink, but you won’t be peeing. It’ll feel like you’re peeing out of your bottom.

The more water that goes in, the more that comes out, but you shouldn’t restrict that (and won’t feel like you’ll be able to if I’m honest). The laxative works by drawing all water into your bowel, so food makes no difference.

good luck, you’ll be fine.

I've had many over the years due to UC. It seems to work differently all the time. The last time it didn't work at all, which was completely baffling, as it usually empties you.

I was sedated for mine then awoke to be told my bowel had not cleared, so no pocedure that day. If you can ,certainly worth skipping that extra meal to be on the safe side. I had a repeat two weeks later and all clear. Good luck op

My last meal was breakfast before 9am
Prep started 5pm
Finished and showering around 10:30pm
Cannot recall how many times I went to the toilet and spent absolutely a good chunk of time in there that night.
Bed 11pm

Advice - get soft tissues in/wet wipes and something in for wind afterwards
peppermint tea, windez etc.

Didn’t want to eat straight away and refused biscuits offered post procedure.

I was done on a Tuesday morning about 9am. I took the offer of sedation.

You can stop eating earlier and take it earlier. But you can't eat after taking it. So if you are fine with that, then no issue. I slept after the prep, but am good at sleeping generally.

I do seem to remember it took around twelve hours to work

I think I had miviocol

It was tasted better really cold

Thanks everyone. I'm going to go early with it all. Just opened the plastic bag containing the sachets to get the in order and I can smell the artificial flavour through the packaging. I've never felt so unhealthy!

Yes thanks, will have the husband here. Just hoping I can get a walk in before I start the drink. Lashing rain here all morning.

How’s it going OP?

I'm a colonoscopy veteran (think I've had five now) and I always start the prep two hours before the letter says to. Even doing that, I had to do a very undignified sprint from the car to the loo as we arrived at the hospital last time. I hope it goes well for you tomorrow. The prep is the worst bit.

Ah thanks for asking. I had terrible cramps yesterday from the Mango Plenvu but not too many toilet events. Strangely no real urgency and I had to strain slightly to get rid of it. This of course has me worried. Also I was freezing cold.

Up bright and early having my special drink after 1 mug of tea with an illegal teaspoon of milk. I didn't think anything could taste worse than the mango concoction yesterday but this fruit punch stuff is the worst thing I've ever experienced. Half way through it now. Only good thing is that it's stopping me from feeling hungry.

Leaving the house just after 11, hospital an hour away. Oh god!!!