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Meds before Colonoscopy?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/13/2009 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hey folks,
I have a colonoscopy coming up next month. Does anyone know if I take my meds (Salofalk oral and enema ) before the procedure?
It doesn't make sense - how can they see any inflammation if I'm on anti-inflams? I guess it's obvious to the GI doc.

If I don't take my meds the day before and the day of then I'll be bleeding. Ugh.

thanks,
Universe girl
Posted 11/13/2009 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
I've always taken my meds up to the night I start the prep since my system is voiding everything so quickly during the prep, and then start them again right afterward but please check with your GI doc for his/her's recommendations. Colitis in most people leaves tell tale signs behind even if in remission but in some cases it does not, like mine. I think your doc wants to see if the meds are actually working as well.
Posted 11/13/2009 6:11 AM (GMT 0)
I take my meds in the morning of the purge (becasue the one I do starts between 4 & 5 PM. I eat in the morning, so I take my pills.

I don't take them the night before the scope or the morning of the scope until I have breakfast afterward.

There are some pills you might need to take regarding blood pressure, etc....it's no biggie if you're bleeding...the doc will see what's going on.

Well, you can watch it too with light sedation..it's actually a good show!

What purge are you doing UniG?


quincy
Posted 11/13/2009 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
With my scopes, I would take my meds up until it was time to do the prep. Once I started the prep, I would stop my pills because it would stay in me anyway with the prep. On the morning of the scope, the only med I take is my Prilosec so the acid reflux won't trigger from the anesthesia.
Posted 11/13/2009 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Quincy,

For my first 'scope back in 2008, when I was first diagnosed, I had to drink 4 litres of the most vile, salty "vanilla" tasting stuff imaginable.

A year later was "just" a sigmoid and i did two phosphate enemas to prepare.

Next month I'm to prep with Pico Salax. Pico Salax sounds like it will be easier to take since I can wash it back with water and there is less fluid involved all together.

The inflammation in my colon had near doubled in length from year1 to year 2. I'm really needing to know how things are now as I approach year 3. The thing I like about 'scopes is that you find out the results right away and yes, you can watch for yourself.

With my first scope I remember be very uncomfortable as they "rounded the corners" so to speak. I remember crying out and I felt so ashamed. Even tho I was sedated I was still very scared and very embarrassed. I'm getting teared up just thinking about it. The good thing is, is that unlike my first 'scope in 2008, I am going in to the procedure feeling good - in remission ( on meds). The first time I knew nothing about my health and was in full flare - *very* sick.

Thanks - please let me know your experience with Pico Salax,
xo,
Uni-g
Posted 11/13/2009 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I take the gallon preps, but one without any flavouring. I'd surely be nauseated.

My GI's past assistant suggested Pico Salex...she sung its praises because she needed to use it for her tests, so it wasn't from patients' experiences.

Yeah, going around the bends is bad, but relaxing helps a lot, yes, even under sedation.

Hope you continue to feel well.

quincy
Posted 11/13/2009 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Quincy,
I wonder how they go around the "bends"? Can they make the scope curve at the right time or do they just thrust it into the bends of the colon - surely not. I remember the nurse pushing on my abdomen - guiding the scope from the outside. I'm going to try really hard not to be so scared this time.
:)
Posted 11/14/2009 3:06 AM (GMT 0)

I will never have a scope unless I am completely "OUT"! For one thing I would panic.

ElaineNY

Posted 11/14/2009 8:44 AM (GMT 0)
It's the amount of air that's pumped into the colon so that the scope can go around the bends that causes most of the pain.

I would think that the nurse was helping to relax or stretch or help straighten the area a bit....but some colons' bends are maybe a bit sharper.

I think if you watch the monitor, you'll feel you have more control....but still nicely "stoned"...lol.

One nice thing...if you are wanting to have conscious sedation and you're in a bit too much pain, the doc can always request the nurse give you a bit more.

But, if you consciously relax that area while the pumping of the air and the scope is going upward, it's a bit easier . The pain is only temporary....once the doc reaches the cecum, the rest is all biopsies on the way back.

If this experience is better for you, the rest will not be as scary.

quincy
Posted 11/14/2009 9:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi UniG

My experience with Colonoscopy wasn't too bad at all.. it was the prep that I didn't like.. I had to do the Fleets Prep where you drink 3 ounces of stuff and then lots of water or clear liquids.... They pulled that product and don't use it anymore because of possible kidney damage I think.. But it was a pretty violent prep for me and made me pretty nauseaus although I didn't throw up.. But sure felt like I could.. As far as the colonscopy itself.. I was lightly sedated with Versed and Demerol.. woo hoo... and I mean WOO HOO.. I remember telling my GI as I was laying on the table " MAN, I haven't felt THIS good.....EVER"... LOL.. everyone was cracking up because I was really enjoying those meds.. lol.. But I do remember feeling a bit crampy as he rounded the corners, but all I had to do was grunt a little and he'd give me more meds and before I knew it.. he was on his way back out which didn't hurt at all... And like Quincy says, if you try and concentrate on relaxing the area.. I was doing a bit of breathing like when I was in labor, but not as dramatic..."In through the nose and out through the mouth"... that helped too..

Also, if you aren't as inflammed this time as you were for the first C-Scope, it should be less painful.. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!!

:)
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