Colonoscopy

[Anxiousanni]

Having colonoscopy tomoorw

Getting ready to take the laxative and so stressed 😫 I see people here have had it and would like any advice also about the picolax

Heard horror stories what’s the best way to take

[road2ruin]

Follow the instructions on the packet and never be more than 30 seconds away from a toilet from then on.When I took it you had two sachets mixed with 1L of water and had about an hour apart. It wasn't long after then. I felt a slight rumble and then was on and off the loo for about 2 hours after. No real big deal though. My only grip was the lemon flavour sachets were disgusting...

[Peony4575 in reply to road2ruin]

Sounds like you had the same stuff I had. 30 seconds can seem like a long time ! Lol

[Baloo123 in reply to Peony4575]

yes I have a colonoscopy tomorrow and have taken the 2 sachets today first one worked after an hour then I was up and down 9 times then after 2nd dose at 4pm wasn’t too bad until around 8pm then all of a sudden I’m rushing up the stairs every 15m god when will it end there cant be much left to come out but my tummy is making lots of noise still don’t know if I will be safe to go to bed tonight .,hoped it would be all finished by now !

[bantam12]

You can mix it with a bit of squash to make it taste better although to be honest nothing really helps 🤢 and sip slowly through a straw, if you swig it down it's to much in one go ! Vasoline or nappy rash cream for the sore bits !! Drink lots so you don't get dehydrated. Today will be the worst part, tomorrow is much easier.

Good luck !

[080311]

Hi, have had it twice, as had been said taking is much worse than the colonoscopy 😂 afraid there’s no easy way of drinking it . But you need to stay close to the loo!

Best wishes Pauline

[graemeparsons in reply to 080311]

I agree it is most definitely worse than the procedure.

[Sasha222 in reply to 080311]

How long does picolax last for? I took mine at 5 pm yesterday and then 10 pm. Its almost 3 am and I am still on the loo.

[080311 in reply to Sasha222]

Until your colon /bowel is cleaned out. I remember thinking my colon must be very shiny! 😂

[Sasha222 in reply to 080311]

Shouldn't it be done at 3 am my time? 6 hours?!

[080311 in reply to Sasha222]

It depends on how much there is to move! You have to make sure there is nothing left or they aren’t able to see the walls of the colon, and that could mean you having to have it done again. None of us want that. I took my first half at 4pm and the second about 8pm and was still going the next morning.

[Sasha222 in reply to 080311]

Its just clear fluids now

[080311 in reply to Sasha222]

Sounds good. When is you colonoscopy?

[Sasha222 in reply to 080311]

7 am

[Sasha222 in reply to 080311]

Hiii!!! My colonoscopy went well, but my stomach is still hurting badly. And my stomach is still removing the food. I am only eating rice. And bananas. Any other foods to help my tummy settle down?

[080311 in reply to Sasha222]

It will take a little while but it will be ok.

[Hidden]

Close your eyes & pretend you’re in the jungle with Ant & Dec, then just neck it 🤢

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

Oh that made me laugh out loud. Wish I had thought of that when I had to drink mine😂

[road2ruin in reply to Hidden]

That's exactly what I did....all in one go....blehhhhThe only thing I have ever had that tasted worse were the tablets I took in the hospotal to help the heart, can't remember if it was potasium or magnesium...but so so salty ..even squash didn't help.

[Bazmack48]

My hubby was booked in for colonoscopy Friday 15 Jan. because of COVID it has now been cancelled. This was being done under the two week referral process.

[mingsbeard]

I had the procedure 2 weeks ago. I was very anxious about the whole process from fasting to getting the results.

As others have said here. Today will be the worse day for you, but, it is not painful and it is not uncomfortable. I related the taste of my solutions to that of "Andrews liver salts" so not bad at all. Drink plenty of water during and after the solution. I stayed upstairs near the loo and had my tv and pc up there. Visits to loo will be often but nothing painful or different to what you have experienced at some point within your lifespan ( deli bellly etc )

The camera procedure is fine, not painful but a little uncomfortable a few seconds at a time when camera goes around corners or they fill colon with gas. Take some big intakes of gas and air when they tell you to. I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth the day went and good the nurses and other staff went about their work. Good luck and try not to stress. Remember the scan is a must and is there to help you not harm.

[P4u10]

I used Movicol for my Colonoscopy, didn't work properly first time so had to do it all over again but was put on low fibre diet and also prescribed Senokot herbal laxative, did the trick. The Colonoscopy wasn't bad, just uncomfortable at times, only used gas and air and was fine. The be hones the clear out that the laxatives give makes you feel good afterwards.

[BC10]

Horrible stuff yes but there are far worse things to take. Take plenty of fluids on board or your colon still won't clear fully. Colonoscopy itself isn't pleasant IF your fully awake - my advice is to get conscious sedation if able. Best wishes.

[Janma123]

I had a colonoscopy in July 2019. I had no issues with the picolax, just mixed it and drank it. The after effects weren’t too bad either, as everyone says don’t be far from the toilet. I drank a mix of herb tea, fresh orange with lemonade and a couple of energy drinks. I drove myself to hospital, about 50 miles away, for the procedure and was fine.A few good gulps of gas during the procedure and it was fine.

My problem came resetting my bowel afterwards. Having cleared everything out - good and bad - it took several months to get rid of the gassiness and back to normal!

The whole thought is worse than the actual thing!

[Qualipop]

Colonoscopy an absolute doddle. A bit embarrassing but they do it every day; doesn't hurt. Picolax horrific. Had my last one while in hospital and often found the loo engaged. You can NOT wait even for a second. The one before that , again in hospital, fire alarm went off just as it started to work. NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING was getting me out of that loo. A nurse shouted "Stay put- if it's real I'll come for you". Someone here said it takes a couple of hours; afraid mine went on working all day. I managed to sleep but had to dash the second I woke up. The advice to use vaseline as a barrier is a very good one.

[Alison_L in reply to Qualipop]

All this brings back memories of the opposite problem I had when in hospital for 18 days - I only went to the loo 3 times (and 2 of those were within 6 hours of each other). The Lactulose they kept giving me had no effect whatsoever. It was such a relief to get home, and my bowels immediately got back to normal

[Qualipop in reply to Alison_L]

It's the hospital food lacking fibre plus the mental thing of using communal toilets; will it be free, will it be clean, can anyone hear etc and of course the lack of exercise.

[Arty56]

Hi, don't worry, iv had one and the meds, just be close to a toilet and at home with plenty of loo roll, u may need cream or vaseline if it goes abit sore, maybe take pain meds if tummy ache, but seriously nothing to worry about, they are very nice to you at hospital and are really gentle, good luck 😊

[DofEer]

I had a colonoscopy last year during the very early stages of the pandemic. You may recall that, at that time, the supermarkets were experiencing a run - please forgive the unintentional pun - on toilet rolls; I have to admit that I was the culprit but I would advise you to attend the procedure armed with a roll or two, just in case there is another run. You will be fine particularly if, like me, you are able to see the whole procedure on a tv screen. It passes quickly and, in no time at all, the whole thing will be behind you.Best Wishes.

[scentedgardener]

I won't go into details of my experience except to say the doctor's opinion was that it is unlikely that a colonoscopy could be performed on me but I jumped in to pass on the advice I was given which was to use something like nappy cream every time you go whether or not you're sore. If you use the cream meticulously you probably won't get problems with soreness.