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What is it like to have a colonoscopy

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 1/21/2012 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have to have a colonoscopy Im a bit nervous what is it like??

Ben.

Posted 1/21/2012 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
You will be sedated for the procedure and if you can tolerate receiving an IV without trouble, that's it for the extent of your discomfort for the actual colonoscopy.

However, if you've heard people complain about colonoscopies and are concerned this will be bad or painful, don't be. 9 out of 10 times, or as high as 99.9% of patients having colonoscopies realize the actual procedure is nothing to worry about. What they usually complain about is the laxative prep you must take the day before, to completely clean out your colon. Your colon needs to be completely empty so your GI doctor can view the colon walls. So be sure to follow his/her prep instructions and if on a liquid diet, don't cheat and eat even the smallest solid. They'll know.

When you begin the prep, be sure you are home and not at work, for example. Some people have tried that, bad idea.

Once you begin the clean out, it's not extremely comfortable but it must be done. Expect lots of gut rumbling, then cramping and stay close to your bathroom. In fact set aside the day before prep schedule with nothing to do (caring for small children or pets), you will be unable to do so when the bm's begin. Have a stack of newspapers/magazines or a good book to read. A few times I've brought a small TV in with me, some people bring in their laptops. I prefer to just sit on the throne and keep flushing (when they start), so I get quite comfy. I must add this too - keep a small bowl or garbage can with liner nearby, occasionally I've felt nauseous, that's not always a common symptom.

Keep track of your liquid intake, make sure you drink the amount (or more) your doctor recommends.

Once you reach the point of nothing past midnight (for example), obey it. Don't even chew gum. They will know and scold you!

I like to wear simple slip on shoes, pants with elastic, long sleeved T's the day of - belts, zippers, shirts with buttons are just too complicated to mess with after the procedure, you will be groggy from the sedative and want to nap. You must have a driver, but you probably already know this.

Finally, I returned to eating and drinking much too quickly one time (I've had 11 colonoscopies by now), so now I keep a bottle of water chilled in the car, along with a zip lock baggie of club crackers with salt. I only sip water for the first hour or two post procedure and eat just a few crackers. After about 2 hours, I can eat a light lunch - half a turkey sub, cup of soup, for examples - and then a regular sized dinner. By then I'm doing very well and back to normal.

I hope this eases any concerns you may have. Remember, you will be sedated for the procedure, not to worry there but the prep is the worst part. Get thru that and you're home free.

Good luck.
Posted 1/21/2012 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
I also recommend eatting light a couple of days before your prep.  I just recently went through this and aside from the prep which really wasn't terrible.  It was just bad enough to make you complain about it, but by about bed time I was completely cleaned out.  I didn't sleep good that night probably cause of all the medicine intake.  I was told to drink at least half and when I started to notice things running clear I could taper off the liquid or stop if I felt I had drank enough.  I was thankful I didn't have to drink the whole jug.  It was a big 4 litter jug.  I downed the first four or five pretty quickly just so I could make a dint in the thing.  Once things started flowing so to speak I started going to half glasses and then when I started to notice I was nearing the cleaning out process completely I was basically just taking a few more gulps here and there.  I lived on green jello and popscicles white ones. 

The procedure itself is the easy part.  I had a little trouble with the IV because of my viens.  They had to poke me a couple of times.  Once that got started I just laid there and relaxed as best I could.  I had a horrible headache.  They turned the lights off for me.  Then about 15 minutes later I guess they wheeled me into another room and I remember talking to the doctor briefly as he came in, the nurse told me to roll over as she started the medicine.  The next thing I know I'm slowly coming to in a recliner.  Once I realized where I was I made myself wake up long enough to hear the nurse tell me where my clothes were and that my husband was waiting with the car.  When I heard that I was dressed and ready to go.  I wish I had worn slip on shoes.  I'll remember that next time.  I didn't even tie my shoes though.  Fourtunately I live pretty close to the office so it didn't take us long to get home.  I sat up had two crackers and laid down for a hard two hour nap.  I woke back up to have another bite to eat and sat up for about an hour then fell asleep the rest of the afternoon.  I bet I slept till 4.  I was still pretty out of it that evening, but not to bad. 

If you can get a Friday appointment I highly suggest that and 7:30 or earlier if you can get it is best.  Mine was at 7:30 on a friday morning.  I had the whole weekend to recope.  I don't work at the moment, but it was still nice to have the weekend to chill.  By monday I'd say I was pretty much feeling a lot better.  Drink lots of water to flush that stuff out. 

That's about it in a nutshell.  They only found a small polp with me and I have to go back in a year for another one.  I'm not totally dreading it espically now that i know what to expect.  I didn't get sick with the liquid diet.  There were a couple of times I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep it down.  That was after the fifth glass of it that's when I started cutting to half a glass.  It takes me all day to drink a bottle of water some times, so that was a lot of liquid for me to drink in a days time, but done right it does the trick.  Good luck and don't worry about it so much.  Oh i did have a can of chicken broth around lunch time before I started the prep.  It wasn't bad with a little salt and pepper.  Once you start the liquid med you won't be thinking about food at all.  White Grape Juice is really refreshing after that stuff too.  It killed water for me for the evening.

Posted 1/23/2012 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
about the prep: my OBGYN, a Navy trained, successful practicing MD for over 35 years in Annapolis, told me pearls of wisdom. He said that when he had to go for his colonoscopy, he sat down with the liquid prep and analyzed it for the easiest way to take it. He took the powdered ingredients and mixed them well, but with only 1 cup of water. Then he poured the mixture into a glass measuring cup. He poured 1/4 cup of the mixture into a shot glass and chugged it like a shot of liquor and immediately followed it with a glass of water.
I had tried to drink that slop before, shaking and gagging the whole way through. Tonight I used the Movi Prep and used Dr. James H's shot glass method. Nothing short of brilliant. Same medication, same water intake, same result without having to drink all of that disgusting liquid.
I tried to tell my gastro's office receptionist about Dr. H's method, but they would hear nothing of it. They are not allowed to tell patients any variance of their "normal office procedures" - too bad.
Worked perfectly and I intend to tell the gastro doctor tomorrow so that she can save her other patients all of that unpleasant liquid. I'm certain that she is smart enough to realize it's a far superior delivery method.
Posted 1/23/2012 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah you definitely have to chug the prep, no matter which one it is (there are several). Do not sip it, don't smell it, etc. I just hold my breath, and down it as far as possible. I have a glass of juice ready, my toothbrush ready too and I down the solution, down the juice, brush my teeth and for good measure, chew gum (although if I swallowed it, they'd know so I'm careful to chew it only for a short time and spit it out). Even after all this, I still do a whole body shudder.

I wish someone would come up with a good prep that doesn't taste bad. There's one available in Canada that tastes like Tang I heard but it's not approved in the US yet.
Posted 1/23/2012 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
I will definately try Dr H's method. I have to go again in a year. That liquid was nearly to much for me. I was pretty much doing shot like gulps when I got past the half way point. I used 7up to chase it with. I had my gulp and downed swig of 7up. Definately will remember that trick though thanks for the advice. Anything to make it less revolting to take.
Posted 2/4/2012 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I have had a number of colonoscopies they normally give you sedation and you will remember nothing about the procedure

Good luck hope everything goes well 

Posted 2/12/2012 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I just had a colonoscopy the other day. I'm 82 and had no problem. The information above is great. Good Luck! Dee
Posted 2/17/2012 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
After having my first one, I highly recommed to anyone that has had their Dr. recommend it for diagnosis. The worst part was the prep, and even that wasn't that bad. I used the 'gallon jug' of Go lytely. As others have said, you're sedated, and more than likely when you come out of it, you'll wonder if they've started it yet, and they're already done with it! LOL I suggest soothing baby wipes instead of TP while the prep is doing it's job...that and a good book to read. If you have short legs like me, a foot stool will also help your feet/legs from falling asleep while spending all that time 'sitting'. Good luck.
Posted 2/22/2012 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
I've had three colonoscopies over the past 13 years, and the preparation has gotten easier each time. My most recent one (2009), I only had to drink 1/2 gallon of Gatorade mixed with a container of Miralax, plus take some small pills. Refrigerating the Gatorade makes it more palatable, and I only had to drink about 8 cups of the stuff, one every 15 minutes, so the prep was fairly quick. Orange (not red) gelatin and (any flavor but red) popsicles are good. You can take small sips of beef boullion (not consomme) to get rid of any taste of the prep fluid, and make your taste buds happy. Stay home for your prep- you'll be on the john for a bit, and perhaps urgently. DO NOT eat or drink anything, even water, after 10pm the night before.

Most people are completely sedated (conscious sedation with liquid Valium) during the procedure, and do not remember a thing. Once they add the Valium to your I-V (usually in the back of your hand), the next thing you will be aware of will be the recovery room. Loose-fitting clothing and slip-on shoes are a great idea. You may be farting like a Gatling Gun when you wake up- they sometimes pump air into your colon when trying to get a better look inside. Depending on your own physiology, and the skill of the anesthetist, you will likely be groggy for 1-2 hours, sometimes a little more. This wears off quickly, but you cannot drive home. If the doctor wants to discuss results immediately after the procedure, make sure you have someone with you to take notes- you probably won't remember a thing the doctor says.

Seriously, this can be a life-saving test. Polyps can turn into cancers, but often do NOT when they are caught and removed early. Colonoscopy is not painful in any way, just a bit inconvenient and a tad icky the day before. A small price to pay for something so important to your health.
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