Colonoscopy

[endocolonoscopy]

MN hive mind. I have read through the various colonoscopy prep threads as I am due to have the procedure done on Thursday afternoon - started the low residue diet today. I’ve asked for sedation and was wondering if anyone could akin the level of sedation to IVF egg collection sedation (I was out my tree with that!) as I have a lot of trauma with people rummaging around with my undercarriage due to endometriosis (stage 4 with bowel involvement) suspected cervical cancer, difficult pregnancy and birth along with gallbladder removal in the mix too. I know I carry a lot of scar tissue and I’m absolutely beside myself if I think too deeply about the colonoscopy (the prep fluid is freaking me out as I know this should be the worst part!)

Any helpful words of encouragement, advice and wisdom appreciated 💖

I didn't find it painful or embarrassing with the sedation. The prep is a bit hard to drink but you get through it, just keep going. They give you these knee length paper shorts with a slit in the back so it's ok actually.

I can't compare it but with anything else but I've had a couple and the only bits of discomfort are when it feels like there's a bit of wind trapped inside, there's no 'unpleasantness around the undercarriage' so you'll be alright there.

I was just a bit drifty, not out of it, do have the sedation though (I have had people say to me 'oh you're the first person to have it today' etc,

The prep fluid is zero fun, but nothing especially awful - do hand the kids to your partner though, it's gotta be just you, and the loo. From recollection extra orange squash is useful to add to the mix to disguise the flavour a bit more.

I was completely out of it with mine and don't remember anything about it. It could have been a general anaesthetic for all i knew abour it. I dont know if that's because I had it done privately though and they are less stingy with the drugs than the NHS!

I’d liken the sedation to getting through your third alcoholic drink on a Friday when you don’t have anywhere to go. That ‘Ahhh I’m properly relaxed now’. Alert and chilled but not out of it. You’ll probably be offered gas and air too. You’ll be asked about your medical history because it’s important they know, scar tissue can fix things in some places where they’d expect it to be more flexible.
For the prep - chill it in a jug. Draw it through a straw. You can add squash but not blackcurrant (stains the bowel!). Get some super soft loo roll and cream in. It’s not pleasant but it’s manageable.

The worst for me was the prep (moviprep) I won’t lie, it was awful
I had sedation and hardly remember anything. It felt like I was only in there for a minute
i briefly remember having a conversation with the nurse sat with me but that’s all I can remember

I had sedation for my colonoscopy and have no memory of the procedure.

I've had several and the worst part for me is drinking the prep, the first litre goes down easy, the 2nd is hard work!
The sedation is great.
However I've had a fair bit of abdominal surgery and now have a lot of adhesions and the last one hurt. The staff were great, removed the camera immediately and rebooked me to have it under GA.
Much nicer experience than I had at gynae!

I didn’t have sedation as no one to come and collect me. So it was pretty uncomfortable. So it must be totally fine with sedation!

don’t worry OP, you can do it and the prep isn’t even that bad.

Hi OP, I’m not sure I can compare the sedation. I had egg collection with sedation and found the process horrendous, mainly because I overstimulated and had over 30 eggs collected. It was a long and uncomfortable procedure. I hated feeling knocked out of it. I had a colonoscopy without sedation and it was absolutely fine, the prep which is annoying was by far the worst part. I had the option of gas and air in the procedure if I needed it.

Thank you everyone this really reassuring me for Thursday, trying to keep busy and not think about it too much as well 🥴 hoping they aren’t stingy with the sedation and if g&a is on offer I’ll be having that too! 💖

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5396189-does-anyone-know-about-colonoscopy-prep-posting-here-for-traffic

I had one a few months ago I could only have gas and air because I was alone.
It was a bit uncomfortable but no more than that.
Like pp have said the prep is bloody horrible!
Make sure you have sole access to the toilet esp after the 2nd dose.

I am on this thread ( under a different I think ) it has some useful information.

I’ve always had mine under GA. Brilliant. I love them, best ‘sleeps’ ever and pretty much the only time I wake feeling refreshed/like I’ve had a decent sleep.

ETA - the prep is just pants though. You will be plastered to the loo. I recommend sudocrem also.

i loved the prep and had no sedation and no painkiller during my colonoscopy. I have a super high pain tolerance though. Just go in with a clear mind. I loved actually the idea of a clean colon while doing the prep (yep I’m weird). Can’t wait to do it again !

Sorry, I thought about not posting this but I think it’s more important to be honest than positive. I have been through trauma as well and hadn’t really thought through the colonoscopy. It was not a good experience. I was sedated enough to seem compliant and not really protest, but not sedated enough to not be aware. As a result, it felt like being violated while drunk, which was pretty triggering. I have avoided having another colonoscopy since, which is unfortunate because I am high risk and need it. My GP finally chased it up with me and i confessed why I couldn’t go through with it. She explained they can request a trauma informed colonoscopy. Slightly mortifying, but they will take a variety of steps to work with me to try to make sure I feel safer. I would strongly suggest asking about this. People saying their experience was fine mean well, but if you don’t have the trauma in the first place, it’s not going to get triggered.

I had one just a week ago. I was very nervous about it but really I needn't have been. Once they gave me the sedation I felt a bit woozy but was kind of awake and aware for the whole thing. The main thing was that I stopped stressing about what they might find in there and just got interested in watching. It was NHS so I think sedation was minimal but it was fine. I was up on my fee after a cup of tea and some toast, dressed and out of there around 35 minutes after the procedure finished.

The prep was definitely the worst bit but really it wasn't all that bad. I had Plenvu and drank it with a straw and lots of ice as the mango flavour was too much for me. Also had peppermints to hand to take away the taste. The first dose gave me cramps but not for long. The second dose the following morning flew through me! No cramps at all with that. All in all the whole thing wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

Good luck OP, you'll be fine.

I had one with sedation not long ago. I just felt very relaxed, wasn't out of it so to speak.

I found it all fine, I wouldn't worry about it if I had to have it done again.

I don't know how some of you can even remember being woozy. I go out like a light and then I wake up and it's done. One of the drugs, midazolam has amnesiac qualities, so that helps I suppose! The other is fentanyl, so it's pain free too.

I have them once a year. I'm not too particular about the low residue diet, I just eat white bread, eggs, yogurt, cheese, tuna and bananas. It's not for long. I chug the prep as quickly as I can, I don't follow the timing rules of x mls per hour etc. it goes down the hatch as quickly as possible, the end result is the same!. Add lemon and lime cordial and keep jug in the fridge.

I use adult pull on incontinence pants, which are an absolute godsend and prevent me from worrying about leaks overnight etc. But not essential.

Thank you for this insight I will definitely ask about a trauma informed approach as I want to avoid trauma being triggered then it would be game over and a waste of the prep for it too 💖

It’s a mango flavour one here too according the packaging. I’ve bought a jug to chill it down in the fridge - will grab a bag of ice as well thank you. Cramps are something I’m not keen on as it freaks me out that I can’t then do my buscopan to stop them.

sudocream and moist wipes are ready to go here thank you ❤️

Monday update

Been distracting myself with things to do around the house and also stop myself from snacking. Got the dull headache feeling from starting with eating the low residue diet but tanking in the fluids and keeping up with paracetamol doses

Thank you everyone so far for your insight, support and top tips it’s really helping me 💖 I’m more phased by the prep that’s coming up than the actual procedure just now 🥴

I read a lot about how awful the prep was and was expecting it to be disgusting but I thought it was fine. My main issues were that I was absolutely freezing after drinking 2 litres of cold drink and couldn't warm up ao make sure yoy have blankets/jumpers etc around. Also definitely recommend vaseline and wipes. I didnt have any cramping whatsoever. It was just like weeing out of my bum! Sorry TMI!

Thank you for your insight and not TMI at all! Will make sure I’m cosy as once I get cold I find it really difficult to warm up again

The cramps didn't last for long.

Tuesday update

Again distraction has been key to stop me thinking about it and also had a good nap this afternoon too. Work tomorrow and then the loverly prep part 1