Anyone had a colonoscopy and can share what to expect?

[Todayishatmyself]

Anyone had a colonoscopy? I’m dreading it but I think it’s the unknown that’s bothering me. Any tips? Is a sedative better than gas & air? How did you feel afterwards?

I had one recently. I was sedated and have very little memory of the actual procedure bar a little pressure and discomfort. The bowel preparation is the worst bit. I'd highly recommend staying close to the bathroom for that and having lots of water to drink and something good to watch to take your mind off it. It's not nice. But the actual procedure was fine for me (with sedation). Good luck. Edited to add, I was a bit sleepy and chilled out afterwards. I didn't do anything other than doze and rest until the next day.

Totally agree with EmBeEmBe, the prep is the worst part. If you're sedated, the actual procedure is not that bad. I had an endoscopy and was talked out of sedation, that was horrendous, so 100% was going to have sedation for colonoscopy and I'm so happy I did. Felt okay quite quickly afterwards, just very hungry!
I'm pretty sure you're allowed black coffee (double check your notes though) along with with the prep, so for the morning prep, I set up three cups, I had a drink of the prep (as much as I could tolerate) followed by water then a sip of black coffee, made it much more bearable.

I think your right it is the unknown thats worse. The procedure isn't as bad as the thought.
I had gas and air and was fine afterwards. I was breastfeeding so had no choice but if I was to do it again I'd have gas and air as I was able to look after my dc and drive within an hour.
The prep was by far the worst bit for me. I did the prep over a longer period of time as I had a bit of a drive to hospital and was a single parent of 5 month old twins and a toddler so wanted to make sure I managed to complete it while looking after them. The staff were very good at advising how to do it over a longer period safely and to make sure it worked. Make sure you stick to the diet beforehand. Also keep hydrated as much as possible. I was able to eat sugar free jelly (only certain flavours though) throughout which helped.
The actual procedure wasn't too bad. Few issues getting through the bowels as the discharge letter said 'has saggy bowels postpartum'! But the staff were excellent and talked me through it and made sure i was comfortable.
Good luck.

I had sedation and gas and air as it was a bit uncomfortable. Not excrutiating but when the went round a corner it hurt.
The prep was the worst by far.
A few threads on this if you have a search.

I've never had one, but helped my mum and nan multiple times. They live abroad and I thought they'd had generals. I've never heard of them having just gas and air there, but maybe it was sedation?

Prep liquid tastes marginally better if kept the fridge once made up and use a straw to drink it. My mum had them so often, she bought a commode from a charity shop and thoroughly cleaned it. She'd set it up in the lounge so she could watch TV. This was safer for her than trying to run to the bathroom and risk slipping over. You need everything to come out clear by the end, like passing water! Best of luck.

I had one last year. I didn't have sedation or gas and air. I wanted to drive afterwards and get on with my day. But I was fitted with a cannula just in case I changed my mind once they started. The staff were kind, gentle and amazing and the procedure itself took maybe 30 minutes. I didn't feel anything except for a very, very mild sensation (not pain) around half way through and that only lasted for around a minute. You are given a hospital gown and special "modesty shorts" to wear and you lie on your side. You can watch the whole procedure on a screen if you want to. I personally didn't. It's more dignified than you might think. I felt more or less fine afterwards and drove myself off to do some food shopping. The worst part is the stuff you have to drink the day before (the prep). I'm not going to lie, it's absolutely horrible.

I have mine without any sedation.

follow the low residue diet exactly as instructed

cool the prep and drink it through a straw

vaseline on your rear end every time after the prep starts working.

it’s not as bad as you expect, the staff are always very kind

I’ve had 5. Agreed with everyone that the prep is the worst part, and even that wasn’t awful the last time as I just had to take pills and a lot of water (prior colonoscopies, I had to drink the nasty stuff). For me, not being able to eat real food the day before was hard, it was liquid diet.

I had propofol every time for sedation, out like a light! I did need another bit of a snooze when I got home.

I'm having one tomorrow first thing. I've had one before so know what to expect. I've not long finished my 3pm bowel prep drink - 1 litre of water with the powder mixed in. I keep reading how revolting the drink is but I don't find it terrible at all.

Next prep drink is at 7pm. I can't remember when the "action starts" but expect it might be a late night for me and an early morning to get to the hospital. The procedure is not painful (for me) but I ask for sedative. It wears off quickly after but you need someone to drive you home.

I had one on the 8th. With an endoscopy. Definitely have the sedation. Everyone who’s had one told me to have it. The laxatives were brutal but I felt cleansed after 🤣 With the sedation it went so quickly and a bit of a blur.

My ‘action’ started an hour after the first prep drink!

It’s fine! Prep isn’t pleasant - I didn’t find it too bad through a straw and chilled. Stay on the loo while the action is happening- at least when it’s really flowing, so you don’t have to wipe inbetween bouts of it! No pain - it’s like weeing out your poo.

Last time I had one it kicked off before I finished the second round of prep.

Make sure you stick to the low residue diet strictly.

Take sedation - I have awkward bowels so I had to get them to top it up mid-procedure - if I have one again I will ask for max sedation. When it’s over you recover on the ward until you’re ok to have a drink and your person comes to get you.

There's different types of prep, some aren't as bad as others, I had sodium picosulphate last time (picoprep/picolax) and it tasted pretty much like lemonade and was only two small drinks, then just had to drink lots of other clear fluids after it.

Sedation doesn't work for me, if they offered gas and air where I am I'd take that but it works for most people and makes it easier. Definitely better than doing it without anything, like I did with my first one.

I don’t have anyone to take me or pick me up so I’ll have t have gas & air. Thank you for sharing your experiences, it’s made me feel a bit better about it.

I've had about ten colonoscopies (Crohn's disease) and the prep is the worst part. It does vary across hospitals too. I always ask for the smaller amount version ie Picolax and not the Moviprep as it's too much. Never been sedated but it's discomfort rather than pain so I've never been bothered about it. Make sure you get yourself a treat for after it, and some posh loo roll and probably some Sudocrem for the old bumhole. It'll thank you.

It’s Plenvu I’ve been given

Oh I’m taking Plenvu right now! It’s not very nice 😩

Picolax was much easier to take

But I know the actual procedure will be fine, last time they gave me a biscuit and a cup of tea after 😊

If there's time you could try calling and asking for a different prep, that's what I did when I was told to take one that was 4 litres of horrid drink!

Agree with all PP regarding prep being worse than the procedure. Only things I’d add would be to use a barrier cream like Sudacrem, be prepared for the mid prep chills when you just can’t get warm and I find that I always seem to develop a banging headache ( I think from dehydration so I’d drink as much water as well as the prep)

I had one last month. I was absolutely petrified, the prep was its ok not pleasant to drink but does what you expect it to do. Make it up and chill in the fridge before drinking it, use a straw to get it down.
The procedure itself isn't pleasant, I couldn't have sedation due to my anxiety, they told me it would make me worse so I had gas and air. It isn't painful as such more of a weird sensation, I found them going up and round the bend under my left rib was uncomfortable, I did get the gas and air taken off me at one point as I felt a little bit l dizzy from over using it! I found the last part of getting the camera out the worst part as they had to turn it around 360.

I’ve had 2. I didn’t rare drinking through a straw personally. Struggled to get enough down and was sick

second time I made 4 water bottles up and stuck in fridge. Then I downed as much as possible in one gulp at a time. Finished it better and kept it down.

Procedure was fine as was sedated. I remember nothing of it.

Prep day today. Haven’t started it yet but went for a blood test this morning & the nurse told me that Plenvu is horrific & she struggled to drink even half of it & then was sick. Dreading it even more now!!

Yes plenvu is unpleasant but I was determined not to be sick and risk having to get the procedure re booked. If I was doing it again I'd start a little earlier than told.