My first colonoscopy

You didn't say why you were having a colonoscopy. I'm hoping it is a routine check-up type. The worst part of the procedure is the prep before hand. Flushing the intestinal tract requires a lot of toilet time and drinking lots of fluids. Generally one is placed on clear liquids only the day BEFORE the colonoscopy. I make lots of jello [no red coloed drinks or food], drink vegetable or chicken broth, and eat popscicles. I do get somewhat hungry.

Yes, they have you put on a gown. I am short so the gown actually is quite long on me. While you might be more comfortable without a gown, the nurses and physician might not be. Also, it is kept rather cool in the colonoscopy procedure rooms because the GI and assistants wear so many layers [scrubs gowns, and other protective gear.] They will also cover you with a sheet and possibly a blanket depending how cool it is. Generally only your hind end is exposed during the procedure.

Hoping for a clean scope!

Dear Purtitan
You are probably lucky...my wife works in the GI field and she sent me to a specialist who said he would not do the colonoscopy at my wife`s hospital but at another nearby hospital...anyway they wheeled me in to the theatre...got me to roll over with bum in air and then it was announced to all and sundry that I was XXX`s husband.
Upon coming out of the procedure I regained consciousness and found myself farting at force 10. The nurse came over and said it is "important to do that.....and I know your wife and you are going to so and so`s party next week and I will be there". There is no privacy!!!!
Having the prep I got very hungry and of course had a raging case of the runs but felt OK.
I benefited from the scope as it gave me a good clean out.
Port Mac

oceanz. You may want to think about starting another thread. That way you'll have a better chance of someone answering you.

In an actual colonoscopy the doctor can see a lot more, also
Port Mac

You might ant to read this page.

What is an Advance Directive?
An advance directive is a legal paper that tells doctors and health care providers how you want them to carry out medical decisions you have made for future crisis care, even if you cannot communicate these decisions for yourself. If you have an advance directive in your medical records, your doctor and other health care providers can take care of you based on your wishes as stated in the advance directive.

There are two basic kinds of advance directives:

A living will, the more common type, tells your doctor or health care provider in writing what type of medical care you want or do not want if you should become unable to make these decisions for yourself.
A durable power of attorney for health care decisions, or a health care proxy allows you to name someone, such as a husband, wife, daughter, son or close friend, to act on your behalf if you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself. It is important to ask this person if he or she is willing to act as your "agent" and to talk about what treatments you would want and those you would not want, as well as your short- and long-term goals and values.

http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/AdvanceDirectives.cfm

You will rest in a recovery area until you are able to get out of bed and get yourself dressed. You will need someone to drive you home since you will have been under sedation. You might feel nauseated by the sedation, you might not. You might be super hungry afterwards, but they will give you juice and ice to make sure you don't over do things. Some people go out for a big meal after a scope; I just eat lightly because blech, that sedation really bothers me. You might need a nap later in the day, but by evening you will be fine.

I prefer pants with elastic and pull over T's. You want to avoid belts, shirts with buttons, etc. Why? You are groggy from the procedure and the easier your clothing goes on, the better. Also slip on shoes are best, skip shoes that tie. I also pack a chilled water bottle and Club Crackers for the ride home. I leave them in the car (so the staff doesn't think I'm eating them before the procedure). I have found that if I sip water, not drink an entire glass when offered, and eat one or two crackers on the ride home, it helps keep nausea away and I can ease back into eating/drinking easier this way. By the time I get home I am ready to drink more and I usually prefer a tall glass of Pepsi with ice. I keep it next to my bed and a bowl full of more crackers (with salt also). I doze off and on for an hour or more until it's time for lunch. My husband carries out subs for us and I prefer a plain turkey sub on white sub bread, with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. There's something about this lunch that really gets me back on the road to eating again, quite well. I then nap much longer in the afternoon and by dinner I am back to eating again.

After my first colonoscopy the post-op nurse said we could go out to eat breakfast. My husband was looking forward to this meal out but the 30 minute car ride home coupled with bright sun and winding roads and sharp turns made me feel so car sick. All I wanted was my bed. Now I have to laugh and imagine myself in a restaurant right after the procedure - not! I've had if I am counting correctly 11 of these procedures by now. The prep is by far the worst part of it, they will sedate you and you will do just fine. Trust us on this.

Finally the reason why I sip water after it's over, is because a nurse offered me a glass of Coke. It looked so good when she was pouring it and I downed the entire cup. Then after I changed to go home I didn't feel so well. She said come back, sit on my bed, which hadn't been changed yet and all of a sudden the Coke came right back up, all over my clothes, shoes, what a mess. She also said - what's your hurry? Why rush out of here? I said - well my husband wants to go back to work after he takes me home. She said - you ignore him and make sure you're ready to leave. She suggested I allow one full bag of IV fluids to empty, and now I do that. I feign sleep. Truly I do. I look up and if I see that bag is only half empty, I close my eyes. They think I'm not ready to get dressed yet and I let them think this. She said a full bag of fluids also helps re-hydrate and return to eating/drinking without vomiting.

I also bring an old beat up Tupperware bowl our family has used if we feel sick. We keep it by our bedside overnight and I make sure that is in the car. I've never needed it but it's nice to see it sitting there should I feel sick.

I don't feel so well the prep day and the morning before the procedure. But once I return to eating/drinking very, very slowly then I am fine. My system seems to need a gentle return to intake.

Good luck!

Have I fasted before? No.
Am I older than 40? Yes, I'm 50.
Fasting is the only part that concerns me since I've never done it before and I wonder if I'll have the will power to see it through. The instructions that the clinic mailed me stated that I can drink Diet Coke and a couple of other soft drinks and Gatorade would be preferred, as long as you can see through it. There's other restrictions on what I can and cannot drink and to be honest they sound a bit confusing so I think it best that I go without just to be safe.

Thanks for the advice and please forgive my ignorance but what does "front load" mean?

I'm going in for my 10th colonoscopy next Tuesday (yay me). I find that fasting is a bit tough but as long as you continue to pump fluid in, it helps keep the hunger at bay. I prefer chicken or beef broth over jello. After having so many scopes, just the thought of jello makes me sick. I am thinking about eating some Italian ice this time around. But you can also eat popsicles. But definately no grape(blue or purple) or cherry (red).

Which prep did they give you?

I'm going to see if I can tough it out and drink just water and Diet Coke and whatever other liquids I'm allowed and stay away from food altogether. I'll be fasting on Thursday and my appointment is at 10:45 am the next day with the procedure beginning at 11:30. Hopefully I'll endure it without too much whining!

Red_34 said...
Puritan, I'm sure you will do fine. The first scope is the scariest because it's a new experience.

Thanks for the encouraging words! What's going to be difficult when I fast tomorrow is that my desk sits right next to the cafeteria! This should be interesting.