Anyone had a colonoscopy?????

LillyJ

Horace wrote: »

Never had a colonoscopy but have had a laproscopy where you swallow the camera - I was the only person who refused to be sedated because the trip to the hospital coincided with a christmas shopping trip:rotfl: I went shopping immediately after.

A laparoscopy is a look with a camera through small cuts in the abdomen. It is like key hole surgery. It is done nearly always via general anaesthetic. I seriously doubt this is what you had done as you don't swallow a camera, and you wouldn't just go shopping afterwards.
You are likely thinking of upper GI endoscopy which you could have without sedation.

LillyJ

tuggy wrote: »

Got one booked for this thurday (3 days time) for Crohn's. will be my 3rd one but first without sedation (other 2 were private, at £2k each and i finally made it onto NHS. now free, but seem to sacrifice the sedation as anethetists are expensive)

the consultant said they may actually do a rigid sigmoidoscopy not a colonoscopy. the worst part when they stick that tube up is the URGE TO POO!! it really feels like you're actually pooing, its very unnverving. wonder if anyone has ever poo'd on the doctor?! well i've had 2 flexible sigmoidoscopys (as well as 2 colonoscopys) and felt like i was pooing so i guess a rigid sigmoidoscopy feels the same.

a rigid sigmoidoscopy will be better than a colonoscopy. You will still be offered sedaiton on the NHS, you don't need an anesthetist to sedate you! But if it is a sigmoidoscopy, you might not be offered (or need) it.

Rikki

I will be having a colonoscopy in the next few week. Waiting for the appointment and pre-med to arrive. Have been told I will be given sedation medicine for the procedure.

Anyone had this procedure recently and can offer some tips or advice? I'm a little nervous to say the least.

jenniewb

Rikki wrote: »

I will be having a colonoscopy in the next few week. Waiting for the appointment and pre-med to arrive. Have been told I will be given sedation medicine for the procedure.

Anyone had this procedure recently and can offer some tips or advice? I'm a little nervous to say the least.

I had one of these not so long ago. (Stomach issues, swollen looking belly and going on for years progressivly getting worse and cancer runs in my family).

They told me to not eat 24 hours before the op. It also meant having to take a lot of laxatives which they supplied. For me, the laxatives had no effect! I had to buy my own on top and only then did they work a few (2) hours before the op. I would ask lots of questions as I had a good nurse I could call, she gave me her mobile number if I had any issues but if I had not had this option I would not have known to buy what she suggested and wouldn't have been ready for the op.

Not eating all day is not the easiest of things so plan your day wisely. Not eating includes not sucking on boiled sweets: even if they are sugar free and also no fruit juices. Just plain water if anything diet lemonade and sugar free jelly. No food means no food.

The sedation was just an injection. Actually just felt tierd. I was able to hear everything in the op and let them get on with it, it was not stressful, they were slow and it did not hurt. I felt very little tbh and did remember everything.

My main concern had been that I'd be asleep but able to communicate, have some wierd psycho or random dream and verbilise the entire thing then forget everything I'd said when waking but get glimpses of it as I sobered up...this did not happen! I remembered the whole thing and it was not bad at all. I also spoke to someone I met later that year who had also had this done, she experienced pretty much what I did.

Nothing bad, nothing to worry about, no pain, infact the worst of it IMO is the having to take laxatives (even if they didn't work!) shortly followed by not being able to eat anything for an entire day whilst planning normal life around that. But its only 1 day. I was a nutter, I was adament not to take the day off or not go to the gym, I was still able to do all those things but they are not recommended, just wanted to illustrate that its not that life changing, its not that painful.

Oh- and to also bring something to eat after the op. I was offered a glass or water. What I wanted was a huge fresh fruit salad!!

Rikki

They are supplying a powder laxative and I have a breakfast meal and lunch meal menu to stick to, then nothing to eat after that as you said just water and drinks suggested by them. I think that is going to be the worst part.

The hospital have a good charity run cafe so this will be my first port of call afterwards.

Sheri_P

Rikki wrote: »

I will be having a colonoscopy in the next few week. Waiting for the appointment and pre-med to arrive. Have been told I will be given sedation medicine for the procedure.

Anyone had this procedure recently and can offer some tips or advice? I'm a little nervous to say the least.

I've had two now, one on the NHS and one done privately (thank goodness for company insurance!) due to Crohns.

As everyone says, the prep stuff is the worst. I was sedated for the procedure, but awake enough to move when needed. More uncomfortable than painful.

Tips/advise - I have a large drink of ribena ready to drink after taking the 'stuff' the day before hand as it takes the taste away.

Oh, and I was told I could eat jelly the day before - I wouldn't again, as my consultant was worried about 'red lumps', until I said that I'd eaten jelly!

dangers

Rikki - not sure whether you are having KleenPrep - breakfast the day before the procedure, no milk. 2 litres (twice) of solution which is vanilla flavour - I normally mix mine with orange squash. Nothing else to eat until after the procedure.

Yes, you will be sedated - I can remember shouting during one of mine - they have since upped the amount of sedation for me!!!! I've had a colonoscopy every two years for the past 15 or so years due to a family history of bowel cancer (and I'm not yet 40). I now see them as an inconvenience for 24 hours or so.

I've read the whole thread and am surprised by the posters who have a similar history but have been told that they do not need the procedure until they are 40, and then only every 5 years or so. I hope that they are still all clear nearly three years on from when this thread first started.

Rebob

Had around 20 colonoscopies now and a couple of sygmoidoscopies and one down the throat for good measure. I have very active ulcerative colitis so have a lot of check ups (Consultant wants to do one now). In some cases I have been heavily sedatate, some lightly and some without. I must say I prefer to be knocked out. I have problems taking the prep solutions (pikalax/kleenprep/etc) as they make me feel sick. They are a lot better now than what they were years ago and the skill of the Dr has to be high nowdays for them to be allowed to do a full colonoscopy. Even with all the discomfort it is worth doing it for peace of mind.

motherofstudents

Try not to worry about it, I know that's easy to say but I've had a sigmoidoscopy, gastroscopy, and barium enema (which is a kind of x ray where they move you around and fill you full of air). I didn't have sedation with any of them as the hospital said it wasn't necessary but you could ask for it if you wanted. For me, the gastroscopy was the worst one as I really gagged all through it. I had previously had one with sedation which was fine. It's a personal thing, if you want sedation have it, if not the procedures are pretty quick, so uncomfortable but soon over. The laxatives are not too bad but I had to give myself an enema which was not the easiest or most pleasant thing to have to do !

janthemum

I have a family history like others on here and have had one every year since I was 25. Now 43. Like others said have the sedation having said that it never knocks me out, just feel nicely light headed and no discomfort.