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?

It was flavoured still water I had. Really not sure I can do the second dose 🤢

Yes you can, you have to! Flavoured water won't keep your blood sugar up, the sugar in Sprite or similar really does help. You've done the first lot, don't waste that achievement, you can do it....

I chugged the second lot down in three goes, that's because I was late taking it and needed to finish it by a certain time. I found chugging it down quickly like that worked great. Followed by the Sprite. I survived, and you will too. Millions are getting these tests every day. It will be all done tomorrow. Don't give up and have to do it all over again. 😢

I've done the first lot. I'm panicking that I'm going to be sick even though I've taken antibiotics sickness medication. No idea how I'll do it again tomorrow.

Mix it up and put it in the fridge. Drink with a straw 10huge gulps at a time. I couldn’t space it out. Had to down it or I’d have gipped. Defo drank worse though. And the colonoscopy its self was bareable. Managed without sedation just a few toe curling bends but wasn’t as bad as I’d heard. Good luck op. I’m sure you’ll be fine

I’ve got to take the next dose in less than a hour. Still no movement down there. Nausea has subsided but I’m just so hungry I cannot see me getting and sleep tonight.

7up was magic for me when I was finding the prep particularly difficult, also just treating it as medecine, and not drinking in front of other people. Be an island for the day x

I used full sugar lemonade and bovril to help as I wanted something savoury
mine was for an operation so I had breakfast then nothing else except the prep that day
the next day was the operation and I ate 1 biscuit after it at 6pm
they forgot my breakfast the next day so 48hrs on a biscuit and they were complaining my BP was low. No shit!

I had mine last week. 1st dose at 7pm made me go twice in about 4 hours, thought I would be up all night but I slept right through. Up at 5am to have the second dose which then kicked in…. Not horrendous though. Managed to walk the kids to school and get to the hospital without any panic. No sore bum or accidents. Went once at the hospital beforehand the procedure and then had gastroscopy first, followed by colonoscopy. It was fine, I had sedation (my first gastroscopy many years ago did NOT go well 🙈). It was actually fascinating to watch it on the screen. Unfortunately due to a slow moving digestive system and previous bariatric surgery, I have to go back next week for another gastroscopy after an extended fast of 48 hours! 😩

No movement yet. Thought I'd be on the toilet by now.

It took a couple of hours to work when I had the first dose. I was surprised. When I googled it in the morning, it says the first dose is loosen it up and the second dose is to purge…..

Me either. Started taking the second dose but feel so nauseous

I've got movement now. Back in the toilet for the second time. Hope you get some soon.

I've never vomited and I've had it twice. Neither time was particularly onerous. It wasn't pleasant but it really is nothing to worry about

The only thing I’m guaranteed not to have is sleep. Just want it to start working now. So fed up hungry feel sick anxious and for what could be nothing if I can’t have poo!

I think the liquid you have to drink during the preparation must vary between hospitals, because I only had to take a laxative tablet (might have been two) and drink two large glasses of citrus-flavoured liquid. It wasn’t unpleasant at all.

I second the tip of applying Vaseline to your bum - you’ll be doing a lot of wiping!

Also - and sorry if this is tmi - I took the precaution of wearing incontinence pads for the last day and night of prep, and was glad that I had. By the time there’s just liquid in your bowel you don’t have much warning to get to the loo pretty quickly! But I followed the advice not to drink anything at all for the few hours before my appointment, and had no problem on the journey.

I found the whole thing not nearly as bad as I’d expected.

The prep is not nearly so bad as I was expecting. For me the resulting diarrhoea was much milder and less acidic and burny as I had been accustomed to. It didn’t hurt or burn and I was expecting it, so was all ok.
i had sedative but remember everything, the gas and air was helpful, I found it very painful.
unfortunately the staff were very dismissive of my attempts to communicate, especially after the sedative “she’s off her head, she won’t remember”
they talked over my questions and attempts at conversation. Laughing at my observing the rainbows onscreen when they took the samples and ignored me crying when they turned the heavy metal Music back on after I had been shocked at having it blaring when I was wheeled in and asked if it could be turned off.
I am sure the sedation made it all much easier but the staff need to realise that it’s possible to be conscious and in pain and remember in horrendous detail the entire process.
i hope you have a much easier experience

It will work. I was convinced it wouldn’t at one point!
I swapped drinks when I felt a bit bleugh and had the bovril then lemonade

Slowing starting to work although nothing spectacular. I do have a slow digestive system and constipation that isn’t helping I feel awful still feel nauseous 🤢

How did you get on through the night? I've made up my second dose and its chilling in the fridge ready to take at 9am.

Not great. Had my second dose around 9 only managed half of it and think I threw up most of it. I’ve had some sleep and some vowel movements but it’s just very soft I’d say. No cramping but headache feel rubbish and still feel nauseous. Gona ring the hospital when they open at 8. I have a feeling this would have all been for nothing

Oh no! That doesnt sound great. This isn't the nicest process is it.

I’ve rang the hospital. They’ve said to go in and they will see if it can go ahead. I’m not expecting it to though. I wasn’t expecting to feel so nauseous, but if I’m hungry which I obviously am, I can feel nauseous then drinking that vile stuff on top I’m not surprised. There’s no way I can go through that again. I did all the tips from drinking it chilled and having chasers, slowing down but just couldnt help being sick.

For anyone struggling with Moviprep/Plenvu. If you can’t manage with this then ask for Picolax next time which is only 150ml at a time, you have to have a kidney function blood test first which I guess is why they start with the other stuff. But DS couldn’t keep Plenvu down at all and they told him it’s quite common and they’ve sent him Picolax for a rearranged appointment.

If you have to do it again then ask the doctor to prescribe anti sickness medication. I've taken an anti sickness pill before my doses and don't feel sick at all. I do feel really tired and drained though.

Thats helpful thanks.