Having scanned the internet to find out about other people's advice and experience, I want to let anyone facing a colonoscopy know what was like for me. It was absolutely okay. People say the prep is the worst part and it was a bit tiresome. I did a two and a half day special diet followed by clear fluids only and Picolax. It was nearly 48hrs without food but the Picolax wasn't as bad as I expected. In fact, I kept thinking it couldn't be working as I wasn't glued to the loo. I think the main thing is to prepare and plan for the prep and the procedure - making sure of having all the things needed for the prep diet and for during the clear fluids and then prep. Barrier cream (Sudocream) and moist loo paper were helpful, and having done 2.5 days of the low fibre, high carb diet must have helped as well. The only real problem I had was that I worried that the Picolax wasn't being effective enough so I went for my appt in dread that my bowel wasn't clear. But the nurse explained that as long as you go through the stage where you're passing just watery stuff, it's okay. And it was.
Re the procedure itself - I had a good consultant and the nurses on the Unit were very nice. Only problem was a mix up with the time of my appointment which left me waiting longer than anticipated. I felt sick with anxiety, little sleep and the after - effects of the prep on arrival. However, I asked to be given as much sedation and pain relief as possible and told them I was anxious. The sedation took the edge of things as did the analgesic but I could grab the Entonox when needed for the times when the doctor was steering the tube around the bends. It was over quickly and there was no point where it felt really awful at all. I watched progress on the screen and felt absolutely fine afterwards, although a little out of it from the sedation of course. So my advice to anyone facing this procedure is to carefully read all the info the hospital send you, contact the Unit if you're concerned about any aspect of the procedure or prep, and follow the instructions to the finest detail. And to plan ahead and get everything in house that you need and that will help you through the prep. And don't be afraid to let them know you're anxious - if you are. I hope this helps you if you are worried about having this procedure done - the whole thing really was okay and nothing like what I'd built up in my mind and from reading one or two horror stories on the web.
I had my colonoscopy 3 weeks back, and my experince is quite good as well, it was straight forward, and was lucky that i did not have to waite long, as its very fustrating to waite after having nothing much to eat, so i was lucky. So there is nothing to worry about.
Thank you both for writing on here, I have to go for an colonoscopy on Wednesday and am terrified, like you
itsokay I will be about 48 hours without food and I think I have to have a day before that on the special diet, I haven't received my full directions yet just had a phone call so far so I hope it comes tomorrow, fingers crossed mine will go as smoothly as your did.
hi,
please dont worry, its very simple and quck as well, i know 48 hrs without food is bit hard, but, its for the best result to come out. i had my coloscopy so far 3 times..but i was also worried 1st time..but now i am not and very confident, if i have to go again
all the best
nisha patel
Hi.
Thanks for letting me know that, it makes me feel a lot better, I'm just afraid of the unknown I suppose, I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks again
Christine
Just to let you know that I had my colonoscopy today and it was fine, the prep day is the worst but even that wasn't as bad as I thought, the number of times I was tempted to cancel the test, I'm so glad I didn't, and it was found that I have diverticulitis and IBS so now I know what was causing my problems.
Thank u very much for u r feedback..well its always good to find out wats wrong in the body...
hope u r fine now.
all the best
nisha patel
just got m appointment through for November and am glad I read these comments, have heard so many negative posts that I was getting really scared, I live on my own and have no family/friends nearby, all I kept thinking was 'how am i gonna cope alone. Reading these comments I feel a bit better about it all , thank you
I hope all goes well for you Brom, I'm sure it will, I had put it off for months as the GP wanted me to have one last Christmas but I put it off till March, but glad I had it done in the end.
Hi brom,
please dont worry at all, its very straight forward colonscopy, even i live alone and have no help, but always think positive and u will be there.
all the best.
nisha patel
hi all thanks for the positive views as i am due to have a colonoscopy on Tuesday and very nervous so feeling better about the procedure - just the results to worry about now!
Thanks to everyone on this forum for helping with all of the worries surrounding colonoscopy,i hope you dont mind but my concerns are about my wife,she is waiting for the phone to ring for a colonoscopy,but she is very sore down there at the moment after an examination last week + going to the toilet 8 or 9 times a day, she is saying it will hurt too much and i am upset and worried about her,i have read that there is a vertual scan that she could have instead but i know that if they see anything she may still have to have the colonoscopy,has anyone done it this way?,
Best wishes, fred.
Hi Fred,
I did think about having a virtual scan but when the appointment came from the hospital to have the colonoscopy I went with that, I think it is about £600 for the scan, not sure, but you still have to go through the prep which wasn't as bad as I was expecting neither was the colonoscopy, the times I put it off, for months the doctors were on at me to have it done, I wish I had gone for it in the beginning, it is uncomfortable but it doesn't hurt to that extent,I just had a brief moment went it felt a bit uncomfortable and the doctor did something and it was OK,. I was diagnosed with post infection IBS as I had had food poisoning a few months before,I hope you can persuade your wife to go, I am the worlds worst worrier and believe I did worry about having it done but so glad I did in the end. Good Luck
Christine
Hi Fred,
Well, so far i had my colonoscopy 3 times, and its nothing to worry, i know one gets uptight, in the begining or the thought of it, i had mild sedative, and yes its a bit uncomoftbale, but it gets over in 20 mints. Its better to have it and find out wats the problem and deal with it.
All the best.
Nisha Patel
thanks all had colonoscopy today - without sedation and was fine and all is fine
Glad to hear that all went well welshsheep and everything was fine, at least your mind is at rest now.
I had a colonoscopy this morning, really it's nothing, to the point where if I needed another one I probably wouldn't even bother with a sedative, enjoyed watching then snip off some polyps on screen and the inside of my colon was fascinating.
Prep day with the vast quantity of moviprep was by far the worst, and even that was nowhere near as bad as expected, including being awake half the night with the noise my colon was making, followed by extreme diahorrea at 6am. (lots of people say moviprep tastes foul, but I didn't really think it had much tast at all - however do not drink sweet things with it or saltiness will be accentuated, stick to bitter drinks like lemon squash) Colonoscopy done about 10.30am, home on the sofa 2 hours later
Well done, Red 42, glad it all went well for you, there are a lot of horror stories about having a colonoscopy and as you say it really isn't that bad, I certainly hope your post will help a lot of people.
Hi
I'm currently sat at home preparing for my colonoscopy tomorrow! I'm a little nervous...
I've taken my ten senna and nothing has happened! Waiting to take citramag.
To be honest I've been in pain for about four months so I'm just eager to get it done. They think it inflammatory bowel disease!
All these posts have calmed my nerves and I'm not even reading the negative ones!
Hi Lauranew1982,
I had a different laxative to you and that didn't work as quickly as I was expecting but it did and the second dose worked a lot quicker.
I hope all goes well for you tomorrow and like me I expect you will be glad when it is out of the way so you know exactly what is wrong, in my case it was post infection IBS and diverticulitis.
I don't blame you not reading the negative posts, I did and nearly cancelled and I would still be worrying because it certainly wasn't as bad as some people say.