how long?

I am due to have a colonoscopy soon and will let my work know but I would like to know what sort of time period to tell them I will be off work for.I am having my scope on a wednesday and obviously the day before is a prep day and from what I gather will be on the toilet for most of it,but what about afterwards?? I am due to do a night shift on the saturday night, should I be alright to go in then or wait until my next shift which is on the following monday?
I don't want to go to work and feel rough as I am dealing with a patient with challenging behaviour and if I don't feel right it would not be safe for the patient or myself!

I think it depends what sort of work that you do. If you are having your procedure in the morning on Wednesday you should be fine to go back to work on Thursday, and certainly by Saturday. The only problem will be your reaction to the sedation. You don't want to make any decisions within 24 hours of the sedation, because it takes a bit to get out of your system. The prep should only be bad the night before. You should be able to work on Tuesday during the day. All of this is dependent on the condition of your Crohn's also. If you are flaring badly it may take Thursday to feel better too. You know your body, and should see how you feel. I am sure that your doctor will write a
note if you need one.

This is the first colonoscopy I have had in the 5 years of being diagnosed with Crohns.I only had a flexible sigmoidoscopy a couple of months back as well, they diagnosed my Crohns through CT scan,then had a resection about 6 months after being diagnosed.I am in the UK, they dont like doing scopes and things if they can get away with it as it costs the NHS money!!!!! I am glad in some ways I have avoided them but as my crohns isn't really settling down any more they deem it necessary now to all these tests. It's the same as medications here too, the go by the cheapest ones first, if you are lucky they will help but if they don't you end up fighting to get put on what does actually help!

I'm not sure what prep I will be using yet,still waiting for it to come in the post,but it's a while til I have it,only having it June,thats another thing about the NHS they don't speed things up at all!! I have asked to be 'knocked' out so to speak and the GI has said they will sedate me and give me pain killers at the same time, He did say its not the same as a general anaesthetic where you are a sleep properly, its a sedation that you are still able to know whats going on so if they have to move your position it is easier for them to do it,and you can respond to them. I asked for this as when i had my sigmoidoscopy I was very uncomfortable as I had no sedation at all for that and only just about beared it!
I have hemorrhoids on the outside but think I might have some internally as well so when they put the tube in ,is not very comfortable at all and very tender! even after the sigmoidoscopy I was very sore afterwards for the whole day and as the enema didnt work was also going to the bathroom a lot with a lot of cramping too. So not sure what the colonoscopy will be like after wards as I know I should have an empty bowel and probably will still have a lot of gas and I know will feel uncomfortable the day I have it done. Hopefully they will be able to get a full picture this time though, and the doctor has said he would recommend I did a liquid diet for atleast 2 days before and then the prep day too, to make sure my bowel is completely empty. I'm glad I haven't had to go through so many scopes etc, just the thought of them gets me all worked up!! I am a terribly nervous person when it comes to hospital procedures!