HellIo I am having a colonoscopy on Thursday afternoon of this week. I am due to take my moviprep first lot 7pm Wednesday evening and 2nd lot 6am Thursday morning. On the leaflet is says to eat nothing after a light lunch before 1pm on the wednesday eating white bread rice chicken etc obviously nothing high fibre. It says with moviprep there is no need to start low fibre diet a few days before as in the past. I suffer from IBS C and having been taking fybogel/mebeverine for around 8 weeks. only in the morning. I go everymorning fairly easily but sometimes the stools are still either1 or 2 on the bristol scale but sometimes 3 or 4 although they are easy to pass. I did wonder if it is the fybogel clearing old stool from the body. I am having the scope because I have had blood in the stools for a few weeks. I am 69 years of age. The hospital doctor said I will probably having stomach cramps when I start the prep as I have IBS. My husband had a scope in February and had no pain whilst doing the prep just the usual flatulence after the scope. Any IBS sufferer who has had a colonoscopy offer any advice. I also suffer from anxiety so you can imagine my state at the moment. I have convinced my self that it is colon cancer and I can't get it out of my mind. Any advice appreciated.
Hi. I have ibs type issues though I have autoimmune disease. I am quite well at the moment and did not expect the procedure to show anything. I felt ill whike taking the prep. Horrid. I was fine afterwards after a good sleep. I also had gastroscopy. It turned out I had h pylori infection. Unpleasant but very treatable. It had been there for over 2 years causing abdo pain. Please don't worry. There are many things non cancerous which could make you feel unwell. Have they tested you for h pylori?
Hello Thanks for your reply. I had an H pylori test in 2012 which was negative. I did ask about upper endoscopy because of the blood in stools and the doctor said that they only do them if blood tests show you are anaemic. My recent blood tests showed no anaemia haemoglobin 14.6 no infection or inflammation.
Ok well that is very puzzling. I had a b12 issue yes this time. But I previously had h pylori test done by gp and it was positive. Don't believe I was anemic then. And 2012 is a long time ago. Can you ask again about that? There is a breath test which can be performed.
Do you have another gp at practice you can see.
Anyway focus on getting your endoscopy done. Try not to worry about that
I felt truly awful snd my blood pressure went a bit high. But they were great at hospital and all was fine there. So many things can be wrong in the bowel area. Try not to let your fears take over as it will just make you feel more uncomfortable. Are you being referred to a gastro?? They might check h pylori for you.
Just looked at symptoms of h pylori and anemia isn't mentioned. If I were you I'd insist on it.
My H pylori test in 2012 was done by the gp and as I said was negative. It was the hospital where I am having the endoscopy done which said they don't do upper ones unless your blood tests shows anaemia. My husband had both test dones as he was very anaemic athough no abdominal symptoms or blood in stool. They were looking for a source of unknown bleeding to account for the anaemia. His lower one they removed 8 benign polyps and he will have another follow up one done in 1 year which is the guidelines I believe. His upper one showed stomach and osoephagus normal but inflammation in the dudodeum. He is now being treated with iron tablets and acid reducing tablets Omeprazole to heal the inflammation.
Forgot to say his H pylori test was negative. They think the inflammation may have been caused by long term ibuprofen for arthritis which he no longer takes.
Colonoscopy prep isn't as bad as you fear. Yes you will be going to the loo A LOT so don't stray too far! I didn't have cramps or pain. I had picolax and my mum had moviprep. The only down side of moviprep is that there is so much of it! But it's fine really and you can mix it with squash I've you like.
Make sure you drink lots- and by lots I mean litres. You can easily get through 4 litres on prep as you get dehydrated so quickly. It might be an idea to get some rehydration drinks from the chemist. I did this the second time and I didn't get the headache and dizziness I got first time round.
Oh and you need to stop the fybolgel.
Excellent advice leenie as l myself have been through it several times and will again in a few months sadly.
Thank you for your reply. I was planning to take the last fybogel on Tuesday morning do you think this would be ok. I am worried about stopping it too quickly and getting constipated on the wednesday morning cramps etc. I usually drink about 6 to 8 glasses of water a day plus around 3 cups of tea. I know with moviprep you need to take 500ml more liquid with each dose. I cannot drink anything 4 hours before. I asked them about taking my diurectic (for blood pressure) as it takes the water from your body and the nurse I spoke to asked the doctor and they said yes as its for blood pressure take it.
I meant to say I was planning to mix some orange squash with the moviprep as I believe it tastes awful. I am afraid I might be sick. Do you know if this happens very often. I am planning to camp out rightout side the bathroom with laptop chair hotwater bottle magazines etc. Do you think I should be at the bathroom as soon as I start drinking the moviprep. I know this is my anxiety taking over but I am petrified of the prep the procedure and bad news. To be honest I feel like running away not sure I will be able to cope especially if when I get to the hospital they keep me waiting. The funny think is that needles blood tests etc even the dentist don't worry me. I know some people won't look if they are having the blood test but I will not mind having the cannula put in. Probably because my son was diabetic from age 2 so I am used to needles and injections He is 45 now. I am going to find the next few days very hard. I feel such a baby but I can't help it. We have had so much family ill health over the last couple of years it seems never ending. I wake up every morning at 5am thinking about it all. Will let you know how it goes. I am praying it is not bad news,
Libralady
Follow all the instructions given to you, you know what the test includes so you are eduated enough to understand you may need some sedation before the tests.
Ask your GP or Hospital Clinic if you can be given Sedation because of your Anxiety. You will need someone to take you to hospital and return you home. If your Husband is unable to help the Doctor or Hospital can arrange a car or ambulance for outward and return.
Good Luck on Thursday
BOB
Hello Thank you for your reply and kind words. Will report here again after the scope. My husband will be collecting me from the hospital on the day.
Keep a hold.
Have the Sedation it does help
BOB
There's no problem with mixing squash in with it. That a what my mum did. You won't be sick, it's just a lot of fluid. Why can't you drink 4 hrs before? I could drink pretty much right up to it.
There's no need to go to the loo right away but stay near. You won't know how quick it will affect you. But I would say go as soon as you get gurgles or if you feel you need to pass wind! It took 20mins ish for me to have the first bowel movement then in the loo about every 10min after that for 2-3 hrs or so. But you just have to see how you go.
On the leaflet from the hospital it says please note only clear fluids allowed whilst taking prep and you need to step drinking any fluids for 4 hours before your appointment. I also remember my husband when he had his done had to stop drinking 3 hours before. There is nothing on the prep instructions though. This means I can't drink after 10 am as my appointment is 2pm. I am worried about getting dehydrated during this time.
That is odd. Mine said I could drink clear liquids before. I had to stop drinking 2 hours before but that was for a gastroscopy. Can you double check that woth the hospital?
Hi
I am 67 and also take Fybogel and Mebeverine. I had a colonoscopy prepped by Moviprep last October. I had previously had one prepped by Picalax so I know what happens with both.
First, you must stop taking the Fybogel - it is a fibre supplement - when you start your fibre free eating. The Moviprep will take care of anything inside you!! Your instructions differ from mine, as I was on the no fibre white food only diet for 3 days, then clear fluid only for 2 days before the prep. But you must follow the instructions you were given. Second, based on my experience, Moviprep is a lot stronger than Picalax in its effects. I had to take mine at 6pm then 6am for a 2pm appointment.
You are advised to stay near a toilet and I would go further than that. I would advise anyone to prepare in advance in your bathroom, with a good book/kindle/tablet, music, spare toilet rolls, some sort of barrier cream (I used Vaseline and Drapolene), some wet wipes, plenty of old towels and flannels for washing yourself, old pants, and get a supply of incontinence pads or old fashioned thick stick to your pants sanitary towels. Your bottom may get very sore otherwise.
My first movement was just 20 minutes after starting the drink and very sudden. I finally got to bed at midnight, with a hot water bottle for my cramping stomach, and I was glad of the pads which prevented soiling my bed and me!
The 2nd prep was harder to get down (I have a hiatus hernia and it had triggered my acid reflux) but I was better prepared. I was supposed to get the bus to the hospital at 12pm but I realised there was no way I could travel by public transport. A neighbour kindly agreed to take me the 30 mile journey, via public toilets en route. So I strongly suggest you have someone take you. Also if they offer sedation take it! Some people say they experience no pain, but everyone is different. Also as you are anxious it should help you relax.
I was being tested for colon cancer which turned out to be negative. In fact I have severe Diverticular Disease (over half the population over 60 have it). It is one of the many conditions which can cause bleeding, which also include polyps or a small tear. Like you I was very anxious - it is only natural. I was told immediately after the procedure what the problem was, and given a typed report to take home.
Afterwards I had no appetite for a couple of days, and when I started eating it just fell through me. In fact it was about a week to get back to normal. I took it slowly, with small meals and limited fibre, giving the bowels a rest. The clearing out actually helped me heal inside and I felt better for it.
I wish you all the best.
Hello Thank you for your reply. I took my last dose of fybogel this morning. I start my low fibre day tomorrow. Like you an afternoon appointment 2pm. Prep at 7pm Tomorrow eve and 6am Thursday. You say you have diverticulitis do you get diarreah or constipation. As you will know from the posts I have IBS manly constipation which has got worse last few months I think mainly due to my awful anxiety (I am shaking as I type this). I was also changed to a diuretic for blood pressure and calcium tablets for osteopenia. I don't think either of these help where constipation is concerned. I moved house 9 months ago for good reason to be near daughter and family 200 miles away. I found the whole think so stressful after a couple of years of family health problems I was looking forward to some peace and quiet. I had to have heart scan tests in January to see whether I had Angina. They kept me waiting around 6 weeks for the results so you can imagine how I was. Turned out everything was ok. Then my husband with his colonoscopy I was more worried than him. He has asthma/copd so I worry about that as well. Then there was a prostate cancer scare (turned out just inflammation) and my Diabetic son had a stroke 2015. I felt like I can't tak any more. My husband did not find the prep too bad and he was back to normal stools within a couple of days but these he does not have IBS or anything. When did you restart you fybgel after the scope can I ask? Sorry to go on but I have no one really to talk to about all of this. I don't like to worry my daughter too much as she has a stressful job and a family to see to. My other daughter and son live down south so don't want to worry them on the phone. My husband does not really understand how I feel and never worries about anything until he has too. Down South I had good neighbours and friends who I could talk to but the neighbours here are mostly at work and have not made any new friends. Another blow was my new neighbour died last week at 51. Everything seems so sad and gloomy. There is a lot I would like to do in the future arthritis permitting but I just can't seem to see beyond illness. Thank you for reading this. I was awake at 4.30 this morning in fact every morning I am awake around 5-5.30. I can never go back to sleep and just try to do deep breathing etc but nothing seems to work. I will report again once I have had the scope but am sure it will be bad news. I can't see how I could have blood in stools for 8 weeks with out it being serious although I only go once a day now in the moring which is better than constipation. How it first happened was on a Friday end of Jan had really bad back and lower stomach ache (had been constipated) the next morning I had a leak of brown/red diarreah about a table spoon ful followed by lumpy bloody stool. I too wondered about diverticulitis as at the same time I also had pain when passing urine and blood in the urine. I went to emergency doctor as it was the weekend and they urine test was not positive but they did give me a 3 day course of antibiotics. I saw my gp on the Monday and fibre supplements were started rectal exam ok and blood tests showed no anaemia,infection or inflammation. I know I need help with anxiety have had it before but it had never been this bad.
I have sent you a long private message.