Wellness

[lovescats]

Sending prayers.   Taking the prep stuff before is the worst. Then afterwards when you wake up they don't let you go home till you pass gas

[June222]

@CherryHugs    I just had my first one a month ago. Drinking the prep the day before and the horrible runs is the worst part. The actual scope part was easy when you are under twilight sleep.   Oh, as long as you do not wear makeup on your butt, make up on your face is fine  

[DoxieMomma]

A everyone else has already mentioned, the prep is the worst part. I have Crohn's disease, so I'm all too familiar with this procedure. 

Here are a few hints that I don't believe anyone else has mentioned yet:

Some of the prep mixtures are disgusting (very salty), but they're a bit more palatable if they're ice cold and if you use a straw to drink them. (I had one that was so terrible tasting that it made me throw up, the doctor has noted in my file not to prescribe that one for future tests.) I use a straw to drink them and place it on the side of my tongue, as far back as I can. That way, it bypasses most of my taste buds. 

Get comfortable before things get "moving", no buttons or zippers to deal with 😄

This is not the time to have cheap TP, make sure you have the good stuff......baby wipes are also nice to have on hand. 

Might be a good idea to take an extra set of undies and pants with you on the way to doctors office/hospital. My grandmother had an unpleasant experience with "aftershocks" on the way to her colonoscopy (her word, not mine). 😳

[seaBreeze]

Just remember that once it's over and you get good news, then any prep issues will soon be forgotten.   I instructed my doctor to wake me up before the camera was "removed" so I could watch on the monitor .... the sedation was so "light" that I had no worries about any side effects from being "put under."   

[itsmagic]

I was like the OP and never wanted to get one. But then a friend was diagnosed with colon cancer and I watched his suffering and I said to myself - you have to get a colonoscopy!  And yes the prep is yucky but the test itself isn't bad at all. 

[violann]

Best wishes to you! I had one 9 years ago, and another about three weeks ago.

NO MORE FOR 10 YEARS!

You will enjoy the best feeling in the world when you hear the "all clear", or "we've caught it very early!".

The prep is annoying and unpleasant- the rewards?? PRICELESS!!

Good luck!!

[Puppy Lips]

I had one a year or so ago.  The prep was bad -- not going to lie to you.  The stuff did not taste too bad to drink, but I had a hard time getting it all down.  My son drank something along side me to encourage me.  My best advice is to stay near a bathroom.  The urge to go can come on quick.

My procedure wasn't until 3:00 pm in the afternoon, so I was very thirsty and hungry by that time of the day.  When I do it again, I will be sure to get an appointment first thing in the morning.

Once you are out, you swear you wake up seconds later -- very strange how that works.  Good Luck - you can do it!

[hckynutjohn]

 Yes, I have had many.

I have had 13 Colonoscopies and 5 similar, but more extensive procedures, called Double Balloon Enterosscopies. All since 2008. Forgot, had my 1st one at age 50, back in 1990.

[icezeus]

I just had one done last week. Although, it's nothing that I wish to do again anytime soon, it was not as horrible as people made it out to be. 

Here are my tips that were passed to me that seemed to work well.  My procedure was scheduled for the afternoon so I needed to start drinking the 4 liter solution that morning. The pharmacist gave me two tips. One was to purchase crystal light individual packets and pour one into the dry solution. Then add your water and make sure to chill it the night before. I was drinking 8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes and towards the end you are just sick of the solution but I was able to get it down.

The solution will empty you out, and I must emphasize it empties you out. It took about 2 1/2 hours to kick in for me. However when it did, you need to be at home close to the restroom.  

The procedure itself was nothing. They give you  a sedative that knocks some people out and others just very comfortable. I do not remember anything after being wheeled into the room. The next thing I knew it was over.

My results were good and I have  a clean bill of health for the next 10 years.

Good Luck!

[GinaV24]

@CherryHugs I just had my 3rd colonoscopy.  the worst part is the prep, the rest of it is a very routine deal and the facility where I've gone are very nice to deal with.

Ask your doctor to give you the low volume prep - it is less of the yuck to drink and works just as well.  The prep is always the worst part.

Good luck!