What can I expect when I get a Colonoscopy??

[Laz]

The doctor said it was time for a colonoscopy. Can anyone with experience or in the medical profession tell me what to expect? Don't worry I won't be eating when I read the respones

 

[Boo'sMom]

the prep is much worse than the procedure.

 

[Trish5768]

I agree, the prep is awful. You won't even be aware the procedure is being done. When you're done - go eat, you'll be starving.

 

[minniecarousel]

I just picked up the prep for my Mom - she remembers the prep being worse than the exam also. So, I guess knowing that "the worse" is in the privacy of your own bathroom, that helps?

 

[nativetxn]

If you have the procedure with IV sedation, there's nothing to it. I didn't even think the prep was that bad.

If you have the procedure done in the office, it will be very uncomfortable and not as thorough.

 

[Laz]

Sounds like I will need lots of reading material the night before

 

[monkeyboy]

Originally posted by Laz
Sounds like I will need lots of reading material the night before

get a gameboy

 

[Laz]

Thanks, I will borrow my daughter's!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Prep is horrid, procedure itself is a piece of cake.

Be sure and do all the prep, since if its not completely cleaned out, they sometimes can't perform it all.

Are you getting IV sedation? It's usually a twilight sleep, only lasts about 45 minutes or so. I woke up during my last one, because it took them so long (LOTS of biopsies and such to do). Even with waking up, it's not a big deal.

I have a friend that does hers without sedation and she makes it through =)

When you're done, you'll likely go home and crash - oh, and eat on the way home since you'll be starving! I never remember what I do during this period between waking from the hospital and leaving and waking up after my nap at home later. It's so funny =) DH swears I act coherant!

Good luck! Bring your laptop to the bathroom, or some mags, or something. I hooked up a small tv one time in the bathroom...

 

[always quiet]

One word of advice............since you will be using the bathroom frequently during your "prep", I suggest getting those Cottonelle wipes.....much gentler on sensitive skin!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Have had a couple in the past five years, the anticipation factor of the first was much more than the actual procedure. Prep was not anything awful, just have to be cleaned out. Sedation was easy, 45 minutes later you wake up (never truly 'out') and after about another hour, you leave, go out for breakfast, go home, take a nap. By nightime, you'll have no recollection of the procedure itself. Second exam was easy, knowing how easy the exam really was. Good wishes.

 

[poohbear1029]

Originally posted by Aimeedyan
Good luck! Bring your laptop to the bathroom, or some mags, or something. I hooked up a small tv one time in the bathroom...

....but if you DIS while you 'prep', please dont tell us!

Seriously, the prep is the worst part. I would second the recommendation for some care for sensitive skin. I actually used some Desitin Diaper ointment and that was helpful.

The twilight sleep was great. I did wake up during mine, and felt no more than a gas pain and they upped the meds and the next thing I new I was in recovery.

I can tell you I am a HUGE WIMP, I have only been under anesthetics twice, once for Colonoscopy and once for wisdom teeth...never anything more serious done to me, not even a tooth drilled. This test was a cake-walk...and for me that is saying something!

Good Luck! I hope the test comes out good!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

just had one done today actually..i was nervous as anything..i did the pills as the prep, since i cant stand drinking all that stuff...
now this may be tmi than what u wanted, but i threw up all night from the time i started taking the pills (they are HUGE ).....once i got there and got my IV, i was happy LOL...didnt know what was going on...now im just exhausted and my stomach is hurting a bit , i jsut cant eat still..okay, sorry its so long Good luck

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by always quiet
One word of advice............since you will be using the bathroom frequently during your "prep", I suggest getting those Cottonelle wipes.....much gentler on sensitive skin!!

Yes, I was going to say what you could expect is a sore bum so I highly recommend soft wipes!

 

[rascalmom]

Be aware (and "Prepared"!) that any hemorrhoids you have may get irratated from the prep.

 

[travelbug]

I thought the procedure itself was pretty much a piece of cake. But like many others, I hated the prep. The many trips to the bathroom didn't really bother me, but I had the worst time drinking down that slimy stuff . I too was repeatedly sick to my stomach, and was concerned that they wouldn't be able to actually do the colonoscopy because maybe I didn't keep down enough of the slimy stuff to get "cleaned out" enough. But that wan't a problem.

Next time I'm thinking of requesting the pills instead (didn't know they were even an option until AFTER my colonoscopy ). Tell me, Blueeyes101817, just how huge are they??

Good luck, Laz. We're all with ya!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I had it done and I was terrified being only 19 but like people have said the prep is the worst part. I was under general anestehia so I didnt feel anything.
The same thing that happened to Blueeyes happened to me. I had the pills which were so big that i had to cut them off which you are not suppossed to do as it affects the cleanising process. It takes a lot of water to get them down and that is what caused me to throw up ALL NIGHT as well as the many trips to the bathroom for the prep.
I was told by a nurse to take it with sparkling water or tonic water because the bubbles make it easier to take the pills with less liquid.

 

[Laurabearz]

My husband felt being the butt of all my jokes for a week was the worst part....

 

[jbthi]

I just had my second colonoscopy last week. First one was 5 years ago.

With this one I took the prep where you drink one glass at 4:00 and the other one at midnight. I drank it in lemonade, holding my nose and it wasn't too bad.

The one five years ago I took the prep where you had to drink a whole gallon.

Doctor cautioned me if I took the 2 glass prep, to drink a lot of gatorade because it would dehydrate me.

Procedure itself was a breeze.

 

[catsrule]

My mom said the worse part was the stuff you drank, it was nasty tasting.