? To old for a Colonoscopy

[Woodsey1]

Hi I am a 74 year old very anxious lady who has been referred for my first colonoscopy due to inflammation. I am due to have it this week , but am getting in a right state . Would love to know what to expect and wether I am to old for this . Thank you in advance for any help

[bones-bones]

No certainly not too old. I had it done when I was 77 ! Don’t worry about it I found it very easy and I’m sure the staff will reassure you. You can have sedation but it’s not really necessary. And then with luck you will get a cup of tea. Don’t get in a flap !

[Woodsey1 in reply to bones-bones]

Thanks so much for replying feel much better now . Thanks again x

[Howlinwolf999]

A colonoscopy is not something to get too worried about, over the years I have probably had around a dozen or more without any problems. Staff are normaly very good and put you at ease. I have had several without sedation, which can be a little uncomfortable, and many more with sedation. In my view having the sedation is better, you become quite relaxed and it makes it easier for both the people doing colonoscopy and the person its done to. If I am honest the very worst part is the prep as you need a clean colon for them to get a clear view. My last one was around late 2015 so I don't know if they still prescibe it, the prep I have always had as far as I can remember is Picolax. Boy is that a powerful laxative and it really does clear you out, I never strayed too far from the bathroom after I had taken that. In some respect the colonoscopy was a fascinating procedure, I was able to watch on a monitor during the procedure. The very best of luck to you.

[Woodsey1 in reply to Howlinwolf999]

Thanks for your reply I have got picolax to take at 7pm am I likely to be up all night ha ha

[Susiiscute]

I had a colonoscopy in 2018. I’m 63 now. I opted for sedation, which personally I found made the time go very quickly. I even made a joke for them to make me high as a kite! It wore off very quickly afterwards and at least you find out what the problem is. I have Ulcerative Colitis. I opted for a morning appointment. As I remember, I started the prep a bit earlier than the instructions. It tastes very sweet, so make sure you refrigerate it before drinking. Also, I had some electrolyte powder handy, because the clear out caused a bit of foot cramp.

[Woodsey1 in reply to Susiiscute]

Thank you for the advice . I have a pm appointment . But feel much better now x

[Frasina]

I am mid sixties and have had 2 a year apart in 2021 and 2022. The last one I had the lady before me who I spoke to was 87 years old having hers so clearly you are never too old!!

Please follow instructions for the prep and make it cold by putting it in the fridge. I was given Moviprep both times and it is a lot to drink plus also having to drink water.. it does not taste nice so I added lemon squash to the prep and kept it in the fridge to get very cold before I drank it. I also had a bottle of Lucozade that I had a mouthful of after every few mouthfuls of the prep drink - it made it more palatable...

Do have sedation - it is much better than just gas and air as it is uncomfortable when the scope goes round the bends otherwise. Staff are great wherever you have it done and they will put you at ease.

Good luck - you will be fine.

[Mitch48]

Hi there,

I’m a couple of decades younger than you but I don’t think that matters.

I would definitely opt for sedation as I’ve had two colonoscopies, the first one wasn’t too bad, the staff put me off of sedation as I take Fentanyl (the drug they use via a cannula) for severe chronic pain from spinal injuries & they said it wouldn’t be as effective for the procedure as those who don’t take it, which is true. I used gas & air for both but as I say the first one wasn’t too bad going up the large bowel except for a few areas where I had patches of inflammation. The second one that I had six months afterwards was very painful indeed as there was a large amount of inflammation, etc. I'm not having anymore done without sedation, it means a pain clinician will have to calculate how much Fentanyl extra I need to give the same sedative effect as those who do not take the drug. It was the same when I had a knee replacement & I was only given the same amount of morphine that I take for breakthrough pain.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis after the first test, so I know I’ll be having more of them.

To allay any concerns about being exposed during the colonoscopy, you’re given a pair of disposable shorts with an open part for your bottom and have a sheet or blanket over you too as it’s cold in the room with the air con. I have Raynauds Primary too in both my hands & feet, I wore a couple of pairs of thermal socks & my feet were ok, I kept my hands under the blanket except the finger that had the pulse monitor placed on it.

The staff I had both times were very caring, supportive & professional and we laughed & joked about many things. I was fascinated looking at my insides on the screen!

All the best for your procedure & try not to worry.

Kind Regards

Mitch.

[Woodsey1 in reply to Mitch48]

Thank you Mitch for all the advice & for taking the time to reply . It’s so kind of you x

[Mitch48 in reply to Woodsey1]

You are welcome my darling, I’m sure everything will be ok for the procedure and the medics can discover what is ailing you.

Kind Regards,

Mitch xx

[Woodsey1 in reply to Mitch48]

All done Mitch thanks again for your kindness

[Woodsey1 in reply to Mitch48]

All done Mitch thanks again for your kindness

[Boxroad]

You will be fine and let’s all hope it gives them some clue to what is causing your issues

[Woodsey1 in reply to Boxroad]

You are right the worrying about what it may be is bad . Thank you x

[Sooty712]

Hi hope you are all well. Just wondering how you got on as I may need to have a colonoscopy but am going to ask for a sigmoidoscopy first as am so scared and anxious about it all.

I have never been sedated either so even that worries me greatly.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

All the very best to you.