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Original poster

On laxatives today (picolax) not sure what to expect

96 replies

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 08:22

And nobody else is home.

Anyone care to join me?

Slightly worried that it's going to be awful. Took them 20 mins ago. Nothing yet.

How long should they take to work?

OP posts:

CandleQueen · 28/01/2009 10:22

Well you have anyone going with you to the hospital tomorrow?
You'll need someone there if you need sedation. And even after a flexi you may feel a bit shaky to drive home.

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 10:35

DP is picking me up, my old uncle (bless him, you really need to see this!) is dropping me off.

I read on the letter than sedation might not be required, would you suggest that I do or don't have it?

Do you think I could have my cup a soup now? I'm starving! Maybe I could shut my eyes for half an hour first.

Had a bath and it appears to have subsided. For the time being anyway!

OP posts:

CandleQueen · 28/01/2009 10:49

DH didn't need sedation for flexi, and he's a real wuss, so I doubt you'll need it/ be offered it.
It's up to you, do you think you'll be nervous enough to need it?

Sidge · 28/01/2009 10:50

I am going to be honest with you.

I had 2 doses of Picolax and thought I was going to die. I honestly thought I was going to turn myself inside out. I expected to see my teeth in the toilet bowl.

But once you're empty, you're empty, and it will stop. Compared to the Picolax the procedure is a doddle.

Don't eat anything substantial or you'll just prolong the pooing. Clear fluids only ie black tea and coffee, clear soup (not cup a soup) or jelly if your sugars drop and you feel a bit wobbly.

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 10:52

Not sure? I am pretty wussy.

No cup a soup???? Why not???

OP posts:

CandleQueen · 28/01/2009 10:56

You can have a clear cup a soup (minestone) but not creamy one. Also strain bits out of soup.

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 10:59

ok.... can i have home made potato soup if i strain the bits out??

OP posts:

OhYouBadBadKitten · 28/01/2009 11:01

no - sorry. Its honestly not worth it.

CandleQueen · 28/01/2009 11:02

Don't think potato counts as low residue.

Sidge · 28/01/2009 11:04

Minestrone is not clear soup. It has veg and thickeners.

When we used to bowel prep people they weren't allowed ANYTHING at all except black tea, black coffee, Bovril, water or diluted squash.

You can have whatever soup you like but it prolongs the process as there will still be residue in the gut. However if your procedure isn't till tomorrow and you are having more Picolax later then you could have soup if you are starving!

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 11:08

well ive to have something light for lunch, the nurse said chicken or egg. i'll hold off til then.

altho... if i dont eat anything could i skip the 2nd picolax????

OP posts:

CandleQueen · 28/01/2009 11:12

When DH had his, hospital said minestrone cup a soup was ok. Plain chicken or egg sounds ok, but don't skip the 2nd dose. If you're not clear enough they won't see much and you'll have to do it all again another time.

ThingOne · 28/01/2009 11:46

How are things now SimpleAsABC?

I didn't think picolax was that bad, tbh. I don't remember it hurting paticularly - maybe brief cramps before the poo came. I didn't have any leakages but I did wear a pad just in case. And I did have someone else looking after the boys.

The worst thing was definitely the hunger. I remember going into hospital the day before my surgery with a litre box of clear apple juice, thinking it would keep me going. It had all gone by about eight pm!

I did have a really horrible one before a colonoscopy as I'd had iron supplements in the previous two weeks. Even viler than picolax and far, far more to drink. Bleurgh.

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 12:09

Just woke up. Thankfully no tummy cramps, its just actually doing the loo which is sore.

I'm absolutely starving.

Still seem to be pooing tons. Is eating really advisable??

OP posts:

jojo43 · 28/01/2009 13:04

Think the eating is just so you aren't too hungry. If you have cosomme (beef is the most readily available) there will not be anything produced to poo out. You could google low residue and see if you have anything listed in the house. I can't remember what I ate-consomme I think. You are going to take your 2nd dose so there will be more poo-if there's any left. You probabaly won't leak. I did, but I was going to have sphincter reconstruction surgery-as mine was damaged.
Did you have lunch?

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 14:09

Yes,

Just realised I had a leaflet in the laxatives box which had a list of foods which were low residue which I could have.

I COULD HAVE HAD BREAKFAST!!!

Anyway, not that i'm hungry or anything .

Had 2 poached eggs and toast for lunch and it tasted delicious.

Haven't leaked yet, luckily, but im trying to be super careful and get to loo asap at all times.

Thankfully have managed to swallow second lot of picolax, so it should be working shortly.

I'll be really glad when this is all over. I truely hope I never ever have to have it done again.

Sphincter reconstrucation? That sounds really sore.

OP posts:

jojo43 · 28/01/2009 14:23

Yes. I got a 4th degree tear when I had my 2nd child. Sphincter reconstruction was 2nd repair as the one immediately after birth failed. The surgery was major. I had to have an ileostomy for a while so that it could all heal properly. That all went fine. 6 years down the line and I'm almost as good as new! Main problem was lack of bowel control, so you can imaging the effect after a laxative! I had a few years of "leakage" which I just learnt to deal with. Fine now unless I eat the wrong thing. I was on low residue diet for a long time!

I feel for you. Hope everything works out well and you don't have to do it again.

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 16:08

my bottom hurts...

OP posts:

jojo43 · 28/01/2009 17:58

Poor you. Do you think it's finished yet?
Can you put some sudocreme on it?

ThingOne · 28/01/2009 18:11

I hope you don't think this is too yuck but have you thought about using some wet cloth wipes? I had terrible problems pooing for months before my surgery and I often used my son's clot wipes when things were bad. They are softer than loo roll. I was using cloth nappies at the time so it wasn't too strange a thing for me.

Other than that, do try a barrier cream. It will help a little.

Sidge · 28/01/2009 20:22

Oh poor you, I can sympathise.

Try putting a little Vaseline around your bum, it stops the soreness from so much wiping.

Hope it all goes well for you.

wiggleit · 28/01/2009 20:49

hi ABC..I have to have a colonoscopy every 3 years due to bowel cancer running in the family so i totally sympathise with what you are going through! Yuk!

As you say the worst thing is the hunger (and the sore bum! ) I've had picolax and the other one that i think Thingone is referring to which is the one where you have to drink LOADS! It's the hardest bit i find.The stuff you have to drink is vile and you have to drink so many pints of it in so many hours,awful.I'm due for my next colonoscopy this year, dreading it.

Good luck with your procedure! xx

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 28/01/2009 22:24

thanks everybody. the pooing seemed to have stopped by about half four which was ok.

have had a few "moments" since but i went out for an hour, just to dp's.

i'm really hungry now, but thankfully my aunt brought me over aloe vera wipes for my bottom, these are really great.

fingers crossed for tomorrow, thanks for all of your great advice and the support. I definately needed it.

OP posts:

wiggleit · 28/01/2009 22:28

You'll be fine! The worst bit is today, emptying your bowels! I hate that bit. Let us know how you get on. Be thinking of you.xx

Original poster

SimpleAsABC · 29/01/2009 15:43

Well i'm home.

Went ok. Declined sedation but then when the lady nurse, who was lovely, gave me a finger examination - I burst into tears.

Next step is to have a ba enema? Might be spelt wrong.

Please tell me gently, what is this? Does it involve picolax?

I know I could google but you guys will be much kinder, I'm sure.

OP posts:

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