Tips for colonoscopy prep

[foreverchangingnappies]

Ive got one booked next week (finally) and I’m honestly terrified about it! More so the prep than actually having it done..

Any top tips to do in the days leading up to it to make it better? Luckily I can be home all afternoon!

also the actual procedure… does it hurt? I’m having sedation but still a little worried it will hurt.

Also, I have given some tips a couple of posts above yours as I had one last week.

@Ifeellikechickentonightchickentonight
before my most recent one I found some Itsu ready made chicken broth in Sainsbury’s. Added plain white noodles to it and it felt like a proper meal.

I had to prep for two last year. Second time went better. I did as someone suggested and alternated prep drink with another diluted drink, and made myself drink them far more quickly. Also had cups of hot chicken stock to help with hunger/ feeling cold. I had a few of those clear/translucent boiled sweeties too.

Sedation meant I seemed to be in for the procedure then out again really quickly. Had great sleep the night after!

Ooh I'll have to look for that

The prep also put me off the smell of L’Occitane Vervaine shower gel…..

There should be two separate bouts of prep - if she has a morning appointment then most likely she'll be told to start one in the afternoon and one in the evening before so she should be ok by morning - perhaps wear a TENA pad or similar just in case, but it'll be more for security than actually needing it.

I'm another vote for the prep being worse than the procedure. My view after having done three lots of prep (two for colonoscopies, one for surgery) is that you have to have small sips of the prep and alternate with water or other allowed clear fluids. Don't try to take too big a sip each time or you might be sick - have something to hand in case you are. I had several two litre bottles of water readily to hand, both for making up the prep solution and for drinking between prep sips. Don't get too far away from the toilet - if there are others in the house then warn them that the toilet could be out of bounds for several hours at a time. Use wet wipes to wipe gently.

Thank you all for the tips. I have just downed the first lot, yeay!

I drank it in 5 x 100ml glasses, downed each glass while holding my breath then had sparkling water to rinse out any residual taste. I think without holding my breath it would be horribly sickly but I couldn't taste a thing. Highly recommend this technique!

@P00hsticksyes sorry one at 2pm and then another at 8pm I think she said - not sure if she will get much sleep!

I used an apple juice chaser and, like others have said, chill the prep first and drink through a straw. I didn't find it as bad as I'd feared. The effects do come on very quickly once they start, though (mine took about 2.5 hours to work) so warn others to keep the bathroom free! (I threatened to shit on their beds, which guaranteed I had a clear run to the bathroom :-) )

The colonoscopy itself was ok - staff are very careful to maintain your dignity. I had gas and air. The architecture of the large bowel is surprisingly beautiful (well, the healthy bits are, anyway!).

I didn't have any soreness afterwards, but my bowels were slow to restart after the shock of having a camera up there (not slow in a worried way, just took a couple of days to pass poo again), although I know that's not always the case.

I’ve had one as a female - last year relatively easy despite lack of communication after they made me wait 10/12 weeks which answered nothing.

the hospital was critical of the gp who never examined me nor my brother.

my paraplegic brother struggled on prep alone so he went through CT scanner on second attempt.
Found out a week or 2 later lymph nodes were causing problems. We both suffer from lymphoedema not that the GP gets it in any way shape or form.

@MouldyFears5 Hope you got on alright yesterday ?

Thanks for checking in! Yes, all good and nothing was found. Quite glad it is behind me! Prep went well, though I think I tried to get rid of the morning dose way too quickly and ended up feeling pretty nauseous for about an hour after.

Procedure was fine and the whole process very efficient, I was out within a couple of hours of my appointment time. I did go with sedation which I was glad about as it was a little uncomfortable with it as it is.

Good luck to all who still have theirs coming up.

@MouldyFears5glad your procedure went ok!

Just thought I’d update everyone (or anyone in future that comes across this post)

I had the prep yesterday at 3pm and 6pm - tasted horrible and I followed it with apple juice. Struggled more with the second one. Effects started within about half hour. I was in and out bathroom a lot (and also stayed in there a long while at times). Also had a throbbing headache throughout but think it was due to stress. Was finished at about 10.30/11pm and wasn’t up in the night at all.

Went to the hospital this moring (was fine in car) and had it done about 9am with sedation. Pleased to say it didn’t hurt although was a little uncomfortable at times. If you’ve had children you’ll be fine as it’s nothing in comparison! They found a few ulcers but didn’t seem concerned. Now awaiting results from biopsies.

So like everyone says - the prep is the worst part! My best advice is to just sit on the toilet for a while without moving (especially after the second dose) as then you don’t need to worry about getting there in time. Good luck to anyone that has them in the future. And thank you to everyone that gave me advice it really helped!

I find the inflation with gas is the worst bit, that's really uncomfortable. I wishe they aad told me that's what was going to happen. I didn't know what the pain was and thought was the whole scope going to feel like that. But after that bit it was fine.

The prep is far worse than the procedure. You need to take the prep as directed as the idea is to completely clear the bowel. If that doesnt happen the results may not be clear and they might have to do it again! You should continue with the prep until the water runs clear from your bowel. That means all the gunk has been washed away.

Its not really painful but you can feel the tube inside you so its more uncomfortable. I saw mine on a screen. You can see one on U Tube. Fascinating and I recommend you watch as it will take away any mystery. I also had an endoscopy in the same procedure and that was far less pleasant than the colonoscopy.

If you have the sedative and dont have anyone to meet you I recommend a taxi. I was told that someone should stay with me for 12 hours but I sent my relative away after a couple and went off to bed.

how was the farting afterwards 🤣

@Whatsthatsheilai thought I’d got away with it as had none until about 2 hours ago 😂

🤣🤣🤣 you may have a bit of crampy feeling I think I was quite uncomfortable for a couple of days whilst everything settled back down from what I recall