Colonoscopy
I'm having a colonoscopy on Thursday week. Basically, all they've told me is that I'll be given pethidine and midazolam for sedation. Oh, and the gastroenterologist said there's an 80% chance I'll remember nothing, 10% chance I'll feel slight discomfort and 10% chance I'll end up hating him forever! Although he was very reassuring, I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I could please hear from someone who's had the procedure themselves. Exactly how disgusting is the pre-colonoscopy bowel cleansing powder? Is it VERY effective (i.e. will I be sitting on the toilet all night long)? How much did you feel/do you remember? Afterwards, was there any discomfort? How long did you feel sedated/zombified for? Approximately how many needles can I expect to be poked into me?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
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First 2 - Had sedation and cant remember a thing about them. My only memory is throwing up on the way home due to the sedation.
Last one - Surgeon insisted that I had it without sedation and it was awful.
But you should be fine as you are getting sedation
The Fleet/Picolax or other laxative they give you is very powerful. Dont plan to go anywhere when you are taking it. Follow the diet and drink lots of water. Buy some baby wipes and keep them in the fridge - takes the edge of the sting of frequenting the loo!!
I had a colonoscopy a month ago and I was so worried about it, so firstly don't be -it wasn't as bad as I had feared.
The stuff I had to drink was called moviprep and it was foul, I really struggled getting it all down.
I was given the sedation but remembered everything that happened but I wasn't traumatic at all, I was chatting away to the Dr and the Nurses (not sure how much sense I was making though)
I didn't feel too zombified at all at the time and I did take it easy for the next 24 hours but I didn't feel much different from normal.
During the procedure there was only one bit I felt any sort of discomfort and it was when they were going round a corner but they did forewarn me and it wasn't bad at all.
I was full of wind afterwards for a few hours and it was a bit sore but it didn't last.
So try not to worry it's not as bad as I anticipated it to be - not at all - the procedure was totally painless and over really quick. I got a couple of biopsy things - didn't feel a thing.
Worst thing about it was trying to drink the manky preparation stuff and skooting to the toilet every 15 mins or so.
Oh, I just got one needle into the inside of my elbow - they put the sedation and painkillers in that.
ETA I made good use of some sudocreme the night before you know for the numerous trips to the toilet:o - helped loads no discomfort afterwards at all:o
All the best anyway:)
The prep is all a bit weird, the drink is not that nice, but bearable. The first time I was on the loo a lot, the second time just three or four times - err, get some vaseline in, though, your botty might get a bit sore
It won't be the easiest couple of days of your life, but it's not that bad. After the sedation I came home and had about two hours' sleep and was fine after that.
Good luck!
She was in a real state worrying about it, crying and everything all the time, it was such a shame
But it was fine, the picolax didn't work at first, she said, but by the afternoon of her starting taking it, it really took effect!
She said the staff were lovely, she had it without sedation and although she left her dignity at the door, she said it wasn't painful and she regretted being so upset and worried about it as the stress just wasn't worth it. It was all clear as well.
Good luck! Don't worry about it, you're having it done and that's that, no use stressing and I'm sure with the sedation it won't be half as bad as you imagine.
I had sedation for the procedure and didn't feel overly drugged up or drowsy throughout or very much afterwards; guess it affects different people in different ways.
But yeah, don't worry about it at all, you'll be fine.
I took the Picolax at home and was convinced at first it wasn't working.....then it did and went on working for a while. It is controllable though not like having a horrid upset tummy.
The Picolax isn't really that bad, it took a few hours to work on me and as hobbes said it is controllable, you aren't constantly on the toilet with with horrendous diarrhea, well I wasn't. I had to fast from 12.00pm the day before my procedure, and I was only allowed to drink water.
While getting the colonoscopy I remember waking up twice but I think it was only for a few seconds at a time, I did feel an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, I wouldn't say it was agony though, then I fell back under sedation. One IV drip in the arm to administer the sedation was all I had, no other jags.
The most embarrassing bit was waking up from the sedation and laughing hysterically and talking nonsense to myself while my bed was getting wheeled back to my ward. Also the air they inflate you with starts to escape to it sounds like you are farting... a lot.
Good luck.
Use petroleum jelly in that area and you will not get sore.