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Colonoscopy first timer!

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 9/4/2015 8:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum and I have my first colonoscopy tomorrow! I've been given picolax prep and I drunk my first dose at 8am - it doesn't even taste that bad, just citrusy sweet and slightly salty. I followed it with cinnamon tea and then a glass of Shloer (elderflower and white grape) I've got lucozade, water and sprite for later, as well as herbal tea which I drink every day anyway.

For some background, I've suffered with 'IBS' for 7 years - since I was about 14. I've tried every medication possible (buscopan, mebeverine, fybogel etc) plus gluten free diet, sugar free diet and fodmaps diet. Over the past year my symptoms have worsened: lower left abdominal pain every day, gas, a feeling of fullness, back pain, fatigue and blood in stool. At the moment the doctor thinks Crohn's or colitis, but as you all know, it could be a number of things, or just 'IBS.' I've seen a nutritionist who said I've got a yeast overgrowth, but after months of a miserable sugar free diet and swallowing 15 supplements a day, I haven't had any improvement.

Anyway, back to the prep. Whilst drinking the picolax, I needed the loo but an hour later I've only been once. I can feel a lot of gurgling and pressure low down but not much is happening yet. I'm anxious about what's to come and also that it won't work at all! I'm tempted to go to sleep and I'm really hungry already, the whole day and tomorrow morning without food is torture! My colonoscopy is at 9.30am.

I just want it over and done with, and a diagnosis that'll be treatable. Anyway, this forum has been really helpful leading up to prep day so I wanted to share my story and put anyone's mind at rest about the taste of picolax. It's fine, just chill it before and use a straw. I've got a candle and baby wipes in the bathroom for later too. I've got a tablet so I'm watching TV in bed until I start running to the loo!

Any tips or questions will keep me busy and it'd be great to have some like minded people to chat to. Thanks
:-) :-)

Post Edited (UndiagnosedGirlxo) : 9/4/2015 2:24:57 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/9/2015 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
So how did it go? Hopefully all is well with you :)

I'm having my first colonoscopy/endoscopy on Friday and I'm terrified of the prep! I occasionally get horrible, curl-up-in-a-ball stomach pain before I have to go to the bathroom and I'm terrified the prep is going to cause that!
Posted 9/9/2015 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, thanks for replying, I was starting to feel a bit lonely!

It went as well as it could in the circumstances, I probably went to the loo about 40 times by the end of the day and I still went a couple more times in the morning. I had no pain though, so I don't think you have to worry about that! Just lots of gurgling and pressure, as well as hunger of course. It just becomes draining more than anything and make sure you have sudocrem handy too...

Which prep have they given you?
Posted 9/9/2015 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info, glad it went well!

Gavilyte? I have to drink a bottle of mag citrate tonight, and then the actual 8 oz every 10 min giant jug tomorrow night/Friday morning. Ugh!
Posted 9/9/2015 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! They said everything looks 'normal' but have sent biopsies off for testing, so frustrating!

Good luck! Does it say if you're allowed to mix it with another drink? Mixing it or having something ready to take the taste away is helpful.

I'm sure it'll be okay, it helped me to just focus on the fact that it'll all be over soon. Why are you having yours done if you don't mind me asking?

The best advice I could give is to not force yourself to go back to work/uni/school etc too quickly afterwards. I underestimated how much it takes it out of you, it's best to recover at home for at least 3 days in my opinion, even though they only say one. It's probably different for everyone though :)
Posted 9/11/2015 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Every once in awhile I'll get these horrible stomach pains that make me curl up into a ball, I get cold sweats and my extremities go numb they are so bad. A few months ago I had one that wouldn't end like it normally does (usually I eventually throw up and go to the bathroom and it's over) so I went to the ER.

They found a slight thickening of my colon so they want me tested for Chrohns. Celiac test came back negative and they said it could be IBS but want to do the endo/colonoscopy to rule it out.

I just finished the first half of my prep and it actually wasn't terrible! I've been doing a liquid diet since Tues though so I think that helped.
Posted 9/11/2015 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
what is the cause of ibs?
Or causes?
Posted 9/11/2015 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad your prep is going okay! Sorry to hear about your pains, but it's good they're investigating. They tell you what they see straight away so you'll hopefully get some kind of relief. Let us know how it goes :)

Magoo2: Hi :) Many things can cause IBS, I don't believe anyone experiences horrible bowel symptoms for no reason or should have to 'live with it' as I've been told many times! It can be caused by yeast infections, endometriosis, stomach bugs or it isn't IBS at all but something more serious like crohns or colitis. I think IBS is the diagnosis handed out by doctors when they don't know what's causing the symptoms and they can't be bothered to find out. I'm not giving up until I get a different diagnosis because everyday pain isn't normal!
Posted 9/11/2015 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I agree its kind of a catch all phrase-ibs
I had it for years
M experience is that most docs will simply not look hard for parasite or dental as causes.
Best of luck there is a cause or causes-keep looking
Posted 9/12/2015 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
You're right, the NHS like to just hand out prescriptions or tell us to go away. I'd like to see how they'd feel if they were in the same situation.

Thanks, have you found the cause of yours yet?
Posted 9/13/2015 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
there are doctors that look for causes-for some reason people see the drug doctors who really don't even look for causes.
My secret of how to cure ibs-find a doc who looks for causes not one who uses drugs to block symptoms,
My ibs- dental-parasites-did you doctor check either?
Posted 9/15/2015 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
It's amazing reading your reply, that's what I've been trying to do and it's so important for finding out what's wrong. I think I've found a doctor who is looking for the cause, I've got an appointment on Friday so fingers crossed.

Wow really?! I've never heard of that before, how did yours check for it?
Posted Yesterday 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
The instructions said NOT TO USE WITH ICE. Just keep it cold in the refrigerator. I USED A LARGE STRAW, placed at the back of my throat and just blogged it down.... made it quicker and off-set the awful taste. 'This, too, shall pass..."! I kept reminding myself that it was temporary. The prep is the worst. The actual procedure will be over before you know it and you most likely will be 'out' for it. Good luck! My 3rd one is on Tues.
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