Experience of colonoscopy and moviflo

[Zanne1]

Hi can anyone give me any tips/advice. Worried about the procedure and from looking online the prep sounds awful. Thanks

[FRreedman]

Like you, I always check with Dr Google. The worst thing I could do. Okay, Movicol is not pleasant, but it does what is needed. The alternative, is they can’t see anything because your colon is full. So, yes you will have the runs, or, at least, be looser than usual, but you know it is going to happen, so plan for it. Unfortunately while the colonoscopy is not pleasant, with the drugs they give you, you will not remember it afterwards. It is unpleasant rather than painful. Good luck.

[SORRELHIPPO]

I agree with FReedman, not pleasant, but needs must. I will admit, not as bad as a full blown flare, with all those probs/pain etc. I do take a good sized pad, which I wear inside thick absorbent Tena Lady Pants, this is because I have to go to/from hospital in a cab, so get paranoid about a problem in someone elses car!!

[Valbaty54]

I'm having my sixth colonoscopy next Wednesday so it's something you get used to! The first one was quite daunting of course, but it's actually quite interesting to see your insides on the screen. The Moviprep is not exactly tasty stuff but you could chill it and add a little orange or lemon squash. It helps a little! Hope it goes ok for you.

[Zanne1]

Thankyou.. im more worried about the prep at the mo mainly cause i have skin tags and piles so gonna be so bad after being on the toilet for hours..

[Trudy2410]

Ive had 9 colonoscopy’s and they last longer than normal as I am difficult to scope. The moveiprep is ok, dont add squash as it is not clear, you can only add lime cordial if you must but I find the movie prep much better than the old cleanprep which was disgusting. Ask for everything at full dose, so painkillers, sedation and gas and air at the maximum, i have them all and it can be a bit painful at the end as the sedation wears off, but I am usually 1hour and 20 mins which is unusual, you should be fine.

[Zanne1 in reply to Trudy2410]

Thankyou for letting me know your experience doc said be around 20 mins fingers crossed

[Howlinwolf999]

Sadly the pre-colonoscopy prep is not the most pleasant concoction, I have not used Movicol. In my area the prescribed concoction was Picolax, I normally had two sachets which had to be dissolved in water then loads of the solution to drink over several hours. The recommendation was to stay close to the toilet as it starts to work within 30 minutes and can last for several hours. Boy does it work! The taste is not great and drinking all that fluid over several hours is a necessary nuisance. I had suffered with ulcerative colitis since 1977 and have lost count of the number colonoscopy's in that time, generally every two years and latterly every year. Really no big deal or anything to get wound up about, I have normally had them with sedation on the odd occasion (at my choice) without sedation. Without sedation can be quite uncomfortable, when I had sedation it was a light injection of sedative so fully awake but very relaxed during the procedure. I am inclined to say the bowel prep is worse that the actual colonoscopy which you do get quite used to. I agree with Valbaty54 it is fascinating watching on the screen as the scope passes round the colon, slightly weird if you look down at your belly during the procedure as you can see the bright light coming through the wall of your belly. Rest assured our health practitioners are brilliant, they will put you at ease and it will over before you know it. Best of luck.

[Zanne1 in reply to Howlinwolf999]

Thank you for your experience.. nice to know ppl who been there and done it x