Any colonoscopy company around? Prep starts on the 10th September 🤮

[rivalsbinge]

So I have some pretty awful random and painful symptoms that have flared for 5 weeks, and finally got an appointment for a colonoscopy and a throat one at the same time.

Ive just scared myself silly about the procedure and prep is what’s worrying me the most, I have a tiny home and no en-suite and I’m thinking I may have to set up a bed on the bathroom floor.

any tips, anyone having the same procedure at the same dates? I’m normally ok I’ve had generals and 2 surgery’s but for some reason this is worrying me way more.

Also is it true I’ll be fine in a day? I have a super important meeting on the Monday and this procedure is on the Friday morning.

Thanks and any tips advice or solidarity appreciated.

The prep is definitely the worse part of the procedure it tastes like sea water definitely mix it with cordial if you can but as colourless as you can find as the staining from cordial can impact the screening apparently.

I cannot look at Lucozade again.
I got through by mixing it , putting in the fridge to chill then necking a glass of it followed by water or whatever cordial I was on.
The being near the loo seems never ending and you fear if you're every going to leave the house again.
But it makes you empty and floaty.
The procedure, yes have sedation.
And it doesn't knock you right out , you can hear things and still feel a pinch or cramp . But after you get biscuits and tea . Heaven .,

It’s soapy…weird….and by far worse part..nope no alternatives. The masking taste through flavouring is difficult to achieve…speaking as ex formulation chemist! it as much a texture thing
done it a few time now

i make it up first ( one “dose”), mixing well, then I decant immediately into 4 largish glasses evenly. I put them in the fridge. Chill very well. about an hour ahead of starting. I set a timer for 10-20 mins between each glass ( depends on instructions). I have a wash cloth ready, and a glass of clean water, as taste around your mouth after is vile!

then I pretty much gulp down in one glassful …if I stop or sip I can taste the stuff…straws prolong it frankly andhave no idea who came up with that idea 🤦🏼‍♀️. I don’t think adding flavour helps it for me either.

Keep it very very cold. When timer goes, don’t pause. Don’t think. Just grab glass from fridge and down/drain in one go. Swallow well. Then Rinse mouth with water, wipe mouth well to remove from lips. Then walk about to let it settle in your tummy…don’t lie or sit for a good 5 mins. Repeat with remaining glasses based on timer. Having glasses there means I know I have just got to do one glass at a time quick, and I only have to repeat it 3 more times.

The rest for me is easy..but then my condition symptoms were frequent diarrhea and vomiting so used to that. Generally first dose doesn’t do anything for me, just noise and wind. (Usually night before). Wear pants and a couple of big pads to bed just in case…but you will wake up if it kicks off and make it to loo. Second dose kicks off in 30-60 mins or so after last glass full. On loo about 3-4 times over an hour and half or so. Then done. Frankly I’d be telling folks in house to clear the bathroom for me during that time. They can go to a supermarket loo or something. But I’ve never been caught short, and jeez no you don’t need to sleep in there. It’s 3-4 bouts with time between to lie on bed in bedroom. Put an old towel under you if you are scared of accident..but honestly it’ll be fine.

remember to drink as per instructions to stay hydrated once it kicks it. And absolutely stick to diet 2-3 days before as it really helps. Sudo or plain Vaseline help on bum as other readers say. But also take a bidet bottle of warm water to loo…often it’s the loo paper making any soreness worse. And water neutralises the acid ph from bile. Can buy online as I have anyway for attacks of diarrhea. And some air freshener 😯🥴. Using phone or tablet or book? I’m not in bathroom long enough or in a state to read..sort of focusing on deed frankly!

I do get very faint and hot/cold with my condition symptoms but have never had that with the enema, so don’t fret over it ….

and yep, take sedation…and gas and air…I find the bowel one very painful but that’s more unusual I think…but don’t try to be a hero. Sedation doesn’t help much for me on its own. But most people I’ve met say it didn’t hurt. I have sensitive bowels clearly 🙄😳

I was scared at idea of camera down throat and have only had it once, but it wasn’t too bad, better then bum one, and very very quick, and with sedation I don’t remember it much frankly. Staff know it freaks most people so are very good. They did throat, then bum, for me when I had both. In and out in 20 mins.

I am usually a bit all over the place with bowel movement next day…but keep to same pre enema diet for first 36 hours after as well, and eat a little, often. I used to take next day off work as a precaution, but not in pain - more to deal with the irregularity!

good luck! You’ll be fine. Everyone hates moviprep ( or equivalent) but we all get it mostly down, so you’ll be part of that club! You’ll be surprised at how many people you meet are part of the colonoscopy club!

Keep the prep in the fridge the colder the better and don't go to far from the toilet and don't sneeze.

You've got my sympathy @rivalsbinge, I've got one tomorrow. Took first lot of prep at 6pm tonight and (apologies for tmi) just had my 3rd 20 minute loo stint.

This is the 3rd one I've had and the 3rd different prep. I've had Picolax this time which is a much smaller volume than the Klean Prep and Plenvu I've had before. Doesn't taste too horrific either. Still need to drink a crap ton of water/other clear fluids but better than drinking litres of prep.

Get some soft/lotioned loo roll, moist wipes and Sudocrem or Vaseline. And your own bathroom if feasible!

As an aside, and an ex pharma formulation scientist, for those saying “why can’t they make it taste better?”

not that easy I’m afraid…and believe me a lot of work will have gone in to making it taste as “good” as that. Shockingly🤯

part of issue is we had to remove sugar, artificial flavourings and colourings in 80-90s from all registered medicines, and old sugar syrups have a better viscosity. For these preps it would have been better to cover the vile soapiness/viscosity of the main constituent, PEG. The Artificial sweeteners then combine with salts in prep needed to conserve electrolyte balance, to generate that metallic salty taste to make it worse.

Flavours generally are used to “trick” the brain into expecting the smell and taste of something unpleasant…but it’s a hard stunt to trick brains into accepting smell/taste of something that’ll flush out our bowels…we tend to avoid such things naturally…

Added sugar would be better probably…But thems the regulations!

🫣😲🤣

It’s not that bad OP. I didn’t find the drinks bad flavour wise. The worst part for me was I got really cold after the second prep and couldn’t warm up, and was sooooooo thirsty. I’ve never drank so much in my life.

at no point did I feel like I’d have an accident and I managed to sleep after about midnight (last prep was at 6pm I think, I’d need to check my notes).

best of luck!

OMG this thread is already cracking me up, I’m loving the different approaches. I’m kind of on board with the glasses on the fridge and down it approach… but don’t sneeze. 😂

That’s reassuring thank you!

Oh good luck tomorrow as well.

Also apologies, I posted without reading the health thread and there is tons of advice on there already.

@Limehawkmothwow love the science, thank you! That’s actually really helpful for me as I’m always wanting a reason for things and now I can be “tastes shit” because…

I've got both on Sat 12th.

here’s a diary of my experience

Prep was Plenvu commencing at 5pm. Took me 47 minutes to drink it all. It didn’t taste too bad to me. Finished my additional 500mls within a further 26 minutes. I was cold during this and was snuggled up to the radiator with a blanket and two jumpers on. Nausea from sheer volume of liquid I think.

Loose stool started at 6:02pm. Slowed down and ‘stopped’ at 7:40pm.

Second lot of prep at 7:58pm. Finished in 47 minutes. Extra 500ml of water turned into more like an extra 2 litres in the end! I was so incredibly thirsty by 8:50pm I couldn’t stop drinking.

Diarrhoea recommenced at 8:09pm.

Starting shivering really badly as the thirst kicked in, around 8:50. Had an extra jumper on and using an electric blanket; still couldn’t warm up. Shivering started to ease around 10pm. Nausea from sheer volume of liquid I think.

Ended up with haemorrhoids during the prep which were bleeding.

Diarrhoea didn’t really stop but slowed down after about 10:30pm. I was still going every 30 minutes or so up to 12:40am when I decided to try and get some sleep. Awoke around 3:30am for water.

Awoke round 5:30am to go to the toilet. Had a few more bowel movements right up to my admission time but quantity was much reduced and was also peeing for the first time (5:30) since starting prep so water being diverted away from the bowel.

I actually lost 3lbs from the prep.

I went in around 10:05am Tuesday 11th feb. I was given 2mg of Midazolam and 50mcg of fentanyl. My head swam a little and I felt all heavy and relaxed. I closed my eyes for a bit and when I opened them again I saw them going through the bowel. I knew they’d started obviously because I felt it. I had local anaesthetic for my anus due to the haemorrhoids and then I felt some pressure of the gas but didn’t feel like I needed to pass wind. At some point they turned me onto my back, I don’t really remember this happening but do remember lying on my back. At a couple of points I felt brief discomfort but it was over before I could even tell anyone.

Then we were at the ileum! Amazing to see, looked like something on a coral reef. Lots of yellow I could see which I was told afterwards was bile. I had my gallbladder removed years ago so one of my potential diagnoses is bile acid malabsorption.

2 biopsies taken from there, 2 from the caecum and then back through the bowel. 2 biopsies from the rectum. All taken to rule out microscopic colitis.

Diagnosed with 2 grade 2 haemorrhoids.

Not sure how long the procedure took but it didn’t feel long at all. Taken to recovery where I had a nice drink of cold water. After around half an hour I had some biscuits and a coffee then discharged home. I had no trapped gas (they used co2, apparently it gets absorbed by the body) and had some transient discomfort that evening where my body was producing its own gas once I started eating. I didn’t eat much that day as I didn’t have much of an appetite. So the biscuits, poached egg on toast, cottage pie then I was ravenous at 10pm so some more biscuits and a glass of milk! Appetite back to normal the next day.

First bowel movement was on Wednesday 12th feb, I didn’t expect that. Loose. Had a second one later on, firmer but still loose. I didn’t notice any blood.

Thursday 13th feb first formed stool.

I was extremely anxious about everything from the prep to the sedation to the procedure to the risks. I’m pleased to say it wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. The worst part for me was the shivering during the prep, nobody had warned me about it and it scared me that something was seriously wrong. I didn’t think it was ever going to stop.

The other hard part was being so tired from being up using the loo so late. I’m pleased I prepped earlier than scheduled (I was told 6&9pm, I did 5&8pm).

The unrelenting thirst was unexpected too, it was a relief when that calmed down.

good luck!

I am given Moviprep and that's got a bit of volume, but doesn't taste too bad as I add lemon and lime cordial. I just accept it as a process and not a lot can be done about it! I'm the type that just chugs it down in several large gulps and ignores all the instructions about taking it over two hours. Nope I am the living proof that getting it in asap works for me with no residual effects! I eat a crappy residual diet (which I love as it's not on anyone's healthy eating list ha ha!) for three days before. God I love those soft white pillow like bread rolls, I live on them for that duration!

Anyhow, I am going to impart my biggest tip -

Go to Aldi or wherever, buy a pack of adult "pull up" incontinence knickers, not the pads. Wear them. They are brilliant at those times you might fear leakage, such as sitting down or in bed etc. and are handy on the way to the hospital, just in case there is a bit of last minute "follow through". 😊

Thanks so much what a day!! I’m in for gall bladder related issues, well I also have mine removed and have started suffering with right sided pain, so what was the outcome and diagnosis after that? Are you feeling any better?

@paomarathey are on my list, so I can relax on the way to the procedure and sleep!

Hope this thread is helping as well, have you had one before?

@rivalsbinge i was told it was likely splenic flexure syndrome and IBS. I am usually constipated but had months of loose plus left sided pain.

I didn’t follow up on the bile acid malabsorption because it wasn’t covered by my insurance and I wouldn’t take meds anyway.

im back to constipation atm!

You poor thing, I better check what my insurance covers!

No. Never. Tmhad the bladder camera- was pretty to look at and easy peasy. I'm dreading this one.

Had mine yesterday. The worst bit was the waiting around. My appointment was 2:45 and they didn't see me until nearly 4. By that point it had been over 26 hours since I'd eaten anything (white bread cheese sandwich), and 3+ hours since I'd drunk even water - I was desperate for a cup of tea!

Mind you, there's a kind of solidarity in the waiting room, you all know what you've been through to get there!

I had the sedation, they offered gas and air on top of i needed it but I don't know if the chap doing it was much more experienced or I was more relaxed but even getting round the corners where it's hurt before was fine - when he said they'd already got to where my appendix should be (had it removed 30 years ago) I thought he'd only just started!

I didn't need any biopsies, my issue was identified as just internal haemorrhoids. Was in recovery for about an hour then dh picked me up. Was so knackered I went to bed around half 8 and slept for 10 hours straight! Feel ok this morning though still a bit tired (though no different to my normal - I have long covid/chronic fatigue).

If you have the sedation you're told you need someone with you for 24 hours and advised not to drive or look after small children alone. Assume some people can be more affected.

@MassiveOvaryactionim due to go in at 8am so I hope not too much waiting but then I’ve had 5-6 weeks of issues that means I’ve barely eaten so hunger should be ok!! I love the stories about that first cup of tea after, I didn’t drink tea but I’m tempted as it sounds like the best part!!

The tips were amazing I’m in the trenches, this is gross but the actual taste of the prep wasn’t much worse than the power stuff for UITIs, it’s just the sheer volume!!