Colonoscopy.. Any tips?

I'm only 24 but getting my first colonoscopy in a couple days. Any tips?

I've had tons of GI tract issues (thank you China) and now that I'm back in the USA, I've been on the SCD Diet for 2+ months. I've been successful minus a couple of setbacks so I'm not too concerned about the results... I'm more concerned about the actual procedure. Are there any down sides or risks?

I developed UC after living in China for 3 months... not that I blame the country but I just found it interesting you mentioned China.

As for the colonoscopy, I've been through 5 in 2 years. Easy peasy. Risks are very small with colonoscopy's. Most procedures will have you sedated so you don't feel a thing.

The worst bit is the bowel prep... lots of watery D. Make sure you don't have any commitments during the bowel prep and just sit yourself on the toilet. I find that sitting on the toilet for 6 hours without wiping your bum makes the process easier (less friction from the TP).

Keep up with your probiotics as the colonoscopy may upset the balance a bit.

I like to use flushable wipes instead of tissue. Also get the prep really cold and try drinking it through a straw. Tends to make it taste not as bad. What prep are you doing?

i've had 8 colonoscopies since i was 17 and the number one thing i have learned is to NOT eat a big meal afterward. you'll be really hungry from not eating and you'll be tempted, but really, eat something small and not gassy. your gut will already be angry with gas so have something easy to digest like soup or a smoothie.

i remember one time i went to the whole foods buffet after my test to splurge on good stuff. i ate a bunch of cauliflower and literally felt like i wanted to die the next two days.

You'll learn what works best for you. Try to take it easy the first time around. I've had a bakers dozen since I was a teenager. With my first I was so nervous that I stayed up all night watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer VHS tapes. It was that long ago. After it was over, I was so hungry I wanted to eat my own arm, so I went for something almost as bad -a burger king sausage egg and cheese croissantwich. believe it or not, it made me happy and not miserable. I haven't been able to eat them since then, but I had no immediate consequences for filling my empty stomach with a greasy sandwich, tater tots, and a dr pepper. As an older and wiser woman, I'd never recommend it whether it's post c-scopy or not! Oh to be young and dumb again.

When they say don't drink or sip anything after whatever cutoff time. listen. If you have never had anesthesia, propofol, whatever, and don't know how it effects you (it's gooood stuff, I don't even mind having the procedure done anymore because propofol does it's job very well) you'd best not chance it. I know that this year I had one (lucky #13!) I didn't have anything to drink after midnight (prep included) but managed to aspirate my own vomit (came out of nowhere) at my 10am colonoscopy and got pneumonia from that. ugh. it really sucked and had never happened to me before. Then again, I also vomited during my csection this year after nothing to eat/drink for a day, no anesthesia involved. just crappy luck I guess.

Good luck with your scoping and pooping and whatnot. It's not so bad. It's actually not bad at all, don't worry one tiny bit. You may even giggle at the stupid stuff you remember saying afterward, if you actually remember.

I think you have already gotten good tips. I never liked this prep but with the help of prior food planning, you can make it easier. Make sure that you are keeping up your mineral levels with something. I used Gatorade (but started hating it since then)

If your bum gets sore as a result of repeated trips, use local anesthetic like Lidocaine or something. My condition gets so bad that I stand WHOLE day but this option is a blessing. Not too sure if its OTC but get Rx otherwise. I have 5% cream, a small pearl size does a job.

Agree, the actual procedure is nothing to stress out about. I always ask people who haven't had one, can you tolerate receiving an IV? They usually nod their heads yes, of course. I just smile and say - well that's it then, that will be the worst of the procedure.

9 out of 10 times when you hear people go on and on about the horrors of a colonoscopy they are usually referring to the prep the day before.

After my gas and air I had a headache like a hangover all day.
Glad it went well. Hope you got good results

the prep is the worst part, drink the stuff over ice with a straw and buy some wet wipes for your bum.  Best of luck!

Also since gatorade makes my abd unhappy, I stuck with watered down coconut water! And like Max, only had half the prep. Grr at wasted money though =P @Max...oh China.