To ask for your top tips for a full colonoscopy please? especially if you are a migraine sufferer

[mechanicalpencil]

I have a colonoscopy on Sunday 26 October.
Dreading the prep because lack of food, different schedule,stress are all triggers for a migraine.
Any tips to help get through this without inducing one?
Also any other general tips for the procedure itself would be really helpful as I am dreading it.

Thank you 🙏

No tips re migraine but start drinking the prep stuff early and just sit on the loo and read a good book. It isn’t worth trying to get off the loo.
Make sure they give you a sedative.

@Rocknrollstar 😱
do you mean start the prep earlier than the instructions say? My first dose is at 5pm on Saturday, second dose 6am on the Sunday.

I’ve decided to take the sedative 😬

You don't have to sit on the loo while drinking it !!! However you do need to be close. We're all different, a friend went to the loo twice, I went several times. Stick to the plan they give you, I ate a huge last meal and to be honest was fine, although I don't suffer from migraines. Good your having sedation you probably won't remember anything. The staff are lovely, they are more than aware how you're feeling and will put you at ease. Don't worry you'll be fine

Definitely the right choice! Sedation is magical and you’ll barely remember anything afterwards 🤣

Can’t help with the migraine advice though, sympathy on that one. Will it help if you are drinking clear squash or juice, so at least you’re getting some sugar?

Try and put it out of your mind.
Nap a lot before it, if you can. I ended up feeling safer in bed.

Day 1 of the ‘special diet’ I went on a massive walk and really, really drained all my energy, not my cleverest moment as early hours (well middle of the night) of day 2 my bloods started to crash. It was glucose tablets and white toast and rancid marg at the standby (don’t ask!)

Had to get advice when to stop regular medication etc.

Cannot stress enough, get things ready for after procedure to help with flatulence. 😎

Gas And air all the way imo - and start breathing it before it hurts. Benefits are not feeling/caring about any possible pain and after you stop it’s all done - no need to be fetched or watched and get tea/biscuits faster!
Re the prep nothing can improve it really but you can drink fluids - I tried pop, never have it normally, so that helped slightly - can’t abide black coffee but you can have it upto 4 hours before when you move to clear only fluids. I imagine hydration may help with the migraines, not sure re caffeine?
I was very, very sick with 2nd dose that I had to have at 4:30am - the cruelty of getting up for that! But my colon was still clear despite this - from previous dose I expect. I was very cross and sorry for myself mostly at the whole prep so the event with gas and air was not bad at all! Best of luck with it all.

Low blood sugar is a migraine trigger of mine. Are you allowed to suck a few glucose tablets?

There are lots of helpful previous posts here if you search on colonoscopy prepping.

My advice included following a ‘white food’ bland diet for a day or two pre prep as well - chicken etc.

Top tip I saw on here was to slice a lemon and lick it pre drinking the prep through a straw. wasn’t as bad as I thought and with sedation the procedure was not painful in slightest. Good luck.

You can drink sugary drinks such as coke , lemonade or squash. Just as long as there are no “bits” in it.

Thanks for the suggestions/advice everyone, all very helpful.
Just dreading having to go through the prep with a full-blown migraine 😣
The glucose tablets are a good call @Andthatrightsoon and staying hydrated will be essential @MsJinks too, thanks for the reminder.

do you have any medication which works? I take sumatriptan and would be tempted to(if allowed) to pre-emptively take one.

Use some Vaseline or sudocreme when you’re wiping yourself, it can get very sore otherwise!

I’ve had several having just been treated for bowel cancer, now clear

start a low residue first a few days before, and cut down on food. It helps greatly.

if the migraines are triggered by low sugar, keep drinking sugary drinks. They are fine, as another poster said as long as no bits. I drank a LOT of sugary lemonade and peppermint tea with a teaspoon of sugar.

the second time with less food 3 days before hand was so so much easier, I seven went into work for 4 hours between the prep sachets

and I froze the prep liquid until it became a slushy, drank through a straw, and chased it with a glass of sugary lemonade.
with wipes (in the bin) and Vaseline after every toilet visit

I had sedation, it was fine

and am now ok.
I was dreading every part of the colonoscopy and treatment. I told everyone my fears and they were lovely.

FWIW the Migraine didn’t hit for me until 3-4 hours after the procedure.

I think adrenalin driven by stress of the prep and the actual procedure held it in abeyance.

Stupidly I didn’t think to take migraine meds with me to the appointment and by the time I got home I was already experiencing a full aura.

Thank you everyone.

Have been following the diet to the letter and have now begun my fasting period.

I am on the tail end of a migraine now and due to start my first prep at 5pm so expect the pain will return… but I have planned thoroughly and have everything ready.

I will keep posting here as it might help other migraine sufferers in the future going through the same thing.

That’s what happened to me the first time. For the three subsequent colonoscopies I drank lemonade and loads of water and had a bar of chocolate/biscuit/milky coffee as soon afterwards as I could. That seemed to stave off the migraine. I also took my migraine medication with me, just in case!
Good luck!

I didn't get low blood sugar from the clear out and really wouldn't have wanted to eat anything after. You get tea and biccies or toast after the colonoscopy. The sedation did not make me forget anything and I was fine to walk around and make dinner after. It affects everyone differently and you will need someone to drive you home.

I didn't get low blood sugar from the clear out and really wouldn't have wanted to eat anything after. You get tea and biccies or toast after the colonoscopy. The sedation did not make me forget anything and I was fine to walk around and make dinner after. It affects everyone differently and you will need someone to drive you home.

Bit worried as not much happening yet.
Took first dose of Plenvu at 16:10. Not pleasant but made easier with sips of lemonade between Plenvu.
Had trip to the toilet at 18:10 with loose bowels and diarrhoea but not too bad.
Nothing since?

My head is doing ok so far, pain from my last migraine attack has almost gone.

Drink tons of water. I had Plenvu but it didn't really get going until after the second dose for me (which I took at 9pm) and I had to drink liters of water for it to work. Also, don't assume you'll be asleep with sedation. I was very much awake, but it was fine - not painful and I was relaxed.

following as have a colonoscopy on Thursday afternoon 🥴

Went to bed at 23:00 as gave up waiting for anything more to appear.
Managed to sleep til 5am without needing to go.
Got up at 5am and second bout on the toilet.

Now sipping second dose, wow it is truly revolting 🤢 stuff. Not sure if I’m going to be able to get through it all but will do my best.

Migraine is beginning to reawaken, no surprise I’m exhausted, hungry and anxious about today. Cannot take any medication an hour either side of taking Plenvu so just have to wait this out.

The hospital called my yesterday to say my appointment has been moved to 12 noon today.

I agree with this. When the prep stuff started working for me I retired to the loo with a book and a laptop and just didn't move till I was reasonably sure I'd stopped going. It worked well, after that I only had to go once during the night.