Colonoscopy tips

[bananaapplepears]

I had a positive FIT test with a result of 13. I'd had one episode of bright red bleeding earlier in the year (following constipation) and one other episode of constipation. I'm early 40s. Now I've been referred for a colonoscopy. I've heard people vomit with the prep. I have emetophobia so need to know how common this is. Did you vomit during colonoscopy prep?
Any other tips except cooling the liquid and drinking through a straw?

I didn’t vomit. It wasn’t the nicest thing I’ve ever drank but it wasn’t that awful either.

My main tip is to put a little smear of Vaseline on with toilet paper every time when your bowels start moving. It can get a bit acidic in the later stages and the Vaseline helps protect your skin if you use it before you realise you need it.

I’ve done prep twice and have never felt like vomiting. It’s definitely better to drink it cold and try a straw to get the liquid to the back of your throat. Don’t rush or panic, you don’t have to gulp it down in a couple of minutes. Also have a strong flavoured drink like lemon squash to hand so you can take a mouthful straight after to take the taste away.

You might be able to get a lower volume prep prescribed. I’ve done Plenvu and Moviprep and I think Plenvu was less to drink.

My son has done many as he has crohns. He has never vomited.
I have had one, and again didn't vomit. The prep isn't pleasant, but it is necessary to get a proper clear out of your bowel.

As pp said, drink it cold , possibly through a straw if you find it easier.

Use wet toilet wipes as they are softer. I also used sudocreme and this helped with dryness from going so often.

I've never vomited with it. It doesn't taste particularly nice but it's never made me vomit

Drink it ice cold and suck a slice of lemon straight after each mouthful then drink some water. I wasn’t sick although felt a little nauseous.

Use icy cold water for the prep. That helps a bit. Try and think of something else whilst your drinking it down.

Also, take the sedative if offered - I've done it both with and without - with is better!

I didn't find the prep drink (I had Picolax) nearly as bad as I thought it would be from reading horror stories on here! It just tasted like any other powdered fruit drink...not something I'd choose to drink but not awful and definitely didn't make me feel sick

My top tip would be to have Lucozade or full sugar lemonade etc to drink while you are fasting. I only realised after I started that the only drinks we had in the house were diet options and had to do a dash to the supermarket for Lucozade. I think that something fizzy and sugary stopped me feeling too hungry when I couldn't eat anything.
I hope it all goes well for you

Thanks all. This is quite reassuring that not everyone vomits.

Start your low residue diet a couple of days before the prep

Have the drink cold, through a straw. Don’t rush it and don’t fret if things take a while to get moving. A sip of lemonade after can be nice.

sudocreme on your bum after every toilet trip.

Keep warm, I seem to get cold while doing the prep - all the cold drinks I think.

i’ve had 3, never vomited and those are my top tips.

I think the best way to avoid vomiting is to take it slowly . I did Moviprep , which is horrid. But the straw , the alternate drink for sipping is all good. I did throw some up (it was just liquid by then ) and it was just because I thought I'm nearly there I'll just glug the last bit down. & I was just too full. So take your time , sips of something else to take the taste away , straw and making sure the drink is cold - I reckon you'll be grand.

All the best with it.

Found the prep really awful. Sorry OP. Have been for 2 and when said that the first lot horrendous they gave a slightly better one. Was surprised the formula hardly changed for c50 years so assuming it’s cheapest they have knowing NHS. Tell them about your condition and see if there’s anything better?

Sorry but I did vomit, but it was the quantity of water I had to drink after the second lot of prep. As someone said the quantities are made for a man not a small woman and I probably didn’t need to drink as much as suggested.
Good luck with it.

I received my prep through the post today. Plenvu. Not sure if that's a good one or not but am starting to get nervous now. My appointment isnt until next week.

I have to have both an endoscopy and colonoscopy on Thursday. Dreading it. I’ve got Plenvu as well.

It’s not too bad, particularly when ice cold through a straw and a chaser something nice and sugary like lemonade.

I did find following the low residue, and low intake diet for a couple of days before, made it so so much easier. Less in for a few days meant less needed to come out

I've had five colonoscopies and never vomited from the prep. My top tip is to start the prep a good couple of hours earlier than it says on the letter to make sure it's all finished before you have to leave home, especially if you have a morning appointment. I've had a few 'interesting' journeys to the hospital and nearly broke the world land-speed record last time getting from the car park to the loo on the way in!! I will be starting my next round three hours early.

I hope all is well for you.

My appointment is 9.30am Thursday. They’ve told me to start fasting at 3pm Weds, have the first dose at 7pm and then have the second dose at 5am Thursday. Don’t think I can do it much earlier 🙈

My letter says I can eat white toast the morning of my appointment (3.45pm). I was under the impression I couldn't eat that day.

I can’t have any food at all from 3pm the day before for a morning appointment 😩 Water
only after the second dose at 5am 👎 I hope I don’t pass out!

That's what I was expecting. Not sure why they said i can eat at 7am that morning. I'm a bit worried its wrong.

I would follow the timeline in the Plenvu box instructions 👍

I didn't vomit and didn't really feel like vomiting either. But the prep is a bit yuk, very sweet and a bit salty. I had Plenvu too! Fruit punch flavour and something else. I made it up in a jug and put lots of ice in a small glass and used a straw to take slugs. I also kept a strong mint beside me to suck each time I finished a glass, just to take away the taste. I'm very sensitive to smells and tastes as I'm autistic but I managed to get it down without vomiting. Take it slow and you'll be fine.

As it started to work in my large intestine I had cramps. Like very bad period pain but it didn't last for long. First visit to the loo and they were gone. But I was so cold so have a hot water bottle ready in case you need it.

I was fine with the fasting, I didn't feel hungry at all. But I couldn't face black tea so I cheated and had a teaspoon of milk in mine! The doc said the prep was excellent ! Under the influence of sedation I piped up " oooh really? I cheated!" But he hadn't even been talking to me, it was for the notes!!

Best of luck with it all, you'll be fine.

😅
I had a morning appointment so went early with the prep too. Also brought wet wipes with me for any last minute loo visits. I was glad I did, at that stage loo roll was feeling a bit abrasive.

Plenvu is half the volume of the other one Movi Prep, which is a big help, not so much to drink!

During the fasting period (no food at all) I lived on full sugar Sprite. No problems.

I had movi prep, and the volume looked a lot, but I was one of those mad women who chugged it down in three or four goes to get it done. I know, I know but that's what worked for me.

A tip for early morning appointments is to start earlier than instructed. So what if you have to get up in the middle of the night to start it, the next day is gone anyway, and you get a great sleep with the sedation! it helps with "accidents" on the way to hospital.

Or alternatively, what I do either way, is to buy a pack of the pull up incontinence pants (Aldi) and use them all the time I'm on the prep, and on the way to hospital in case of accidents. Bring a spare pair of knickers ha ha! Gives great reassurance. Just a suggestion.

Interesting that not one post prior to yours mentioned vomiting yet your reaction is muted. Emetophobia can be resolved.