My GP has put me on the 2 week fast track for a colonoscopy, so I had to Uber myself to the hospital for a blood test to check on my kidney function because of the dye they use.
I’ve had two endoscopies.
Now the lower end of my innards has played up far to much they are being investigated.
I know the worst part can be the concoction to clear you out the day before. How weak does that make you feel? I need to know in advance so I have someone to prop me up.
I didn't feel too bad - but then, I was starting from a reasonable state of health otherwise. OH drove me there to get bloods done beforehand and I coped with that and the subsequent wait OK.
OH was pretty wobbly but he'd been in bed in hospital for over a week and not eaten much at all - but the clear-out didn't work very well first time round! (Must have been a partial blockage I suspect that was a bit unwilling...)
DYE? In a colonoscopy? That's a new one on me...
Yes...might be a virtual colonoscopy: CT colonography....which looks at the large intestine link below
Somewhat similar to the MRI enterography i had last summer, which looks at the small intestine...but i am allergic to contrast so had this without. I think there is also a CT enterography, but these must be with contrast agent, where as the MRI version can be without
Ah.... Interesting!
Sorry: i kept adding more while you were replying...am taking longer & longer to finish my replies here, partly cause keep messing up spelling etc & forgetting things....can’t blame lupus cog imp cause my meds ARE still helping loads to damp that down...i really think this is AGE RELATED in some way 🤣🤣🤣🤣...feeling 👵🏼 ultra creaky in all depts these days....hope you guys are doing better than me! XOXO
Is it a “virtual colonoscopy”:
cancerresearchuk.org/about-...
Cause these are CT with contrast that study your large intestine...and yes: bowel cleanse as prep. I don’t ‘think’ endoscopy is involved
I hyperreact to bowel cleanses...as i’ve aged, my allergy is more severe...i follow all the instructions inc vaseline at the exit, but OH DEAR do i swell up & go flaming burning red...lots of projectile you know what for many many hours. But otherwise i’m just exhausted by the ordeal. I do get a driver on the day for sure
Good luck LK: I think you are a TRUE TROOPER‼️
🍀❤️🍀❤️ Coco
Sounds like it might be a “virtual” one, but the GP wasn’t sure which method they’d use, apart from camara up the bum. I think the method may vary according to which of the two hospitals take me.
With the endoscopies, the first one was so brutal I demanded the second hospital for the second one. Then the consultant shouted in my face that I didn’t have cancer. Never thought I did! My GP should have been the one to be shouted at!
Oh Man 😾 shouting at you GRRRRRR: let me at ‘em‼️ WISH I could come with you 🧟♀️...
Yes, you’ve reminded me: my endo clinic colonoscopy reports always mention my “pronounced sigmoid loop” through which they force that horrid endoscope tube like rodding a drain...hurts like hell, takes ages etc - but am always extra well sedated due to hEDS and that helps both me + the consultant doing the rodding 😏
For goodness sake!!! Our colonoscopy guy is superb, talks you through the entire process, explains what he finds and doesn't find, encourages you to watch the screen and is a generally nice bloke. The nurses who provide the hand to squeeze are equally nice. They are quite necessary as here there is no sedation unless you really need it and even OH said it was OK without. And the imparting of the info that he didn't have any cancer anywhere was very kindly done - "No cancer anywhere, which is nice as you've had enough, don't want any more!!!"
I could never drink the stuff it made me sick after one mouthful, it's very salty. Insist on pain relief, my hospital refuses to give it now because of cutbacks, they use air with the scope to inflate your colon and in my case because of colitis that was very painful. only takes about 20 mins to do. If you are unable to to drink the bowel cleanser phone them and they can give you an enema when you get there.
Surely depends how far up they need to go? OH has had a colonoscopy and the repeat session for cautery only requires to go lower and an enema is enough.
Thanks for all the comments chaps. Gosh, I’ll have to see what happens. One advantage of the fast track is they tend to ring first, and that’ll give me a chance to ask questions. I hope. Otherwise, once I find out where it’s to be, I’ll ask questions.
I know you can't certain procedures that rely on dye with poor kidney function as if there is ever a procedure that requires it, it's ruled out for me. I can't remember dye being mentioned in relation to colonoscopies but it's a while since I have had one.
I have always needed sedation. Some do manage ok without though and I think they prefer to do the procedure without sedation if they can as it means a bit less for them to manage and a quicker discharge.
I was kept overnight in hospital before one of my colonoscopies as I do have poor kidney function and they were a bit anxious about how I might react during the clean out stage.
If you are having the bowel prep drink and full works up to the caecum I recommend an injection of painkillers during the procedure. They also changed my position from my side to my back as there is often less pain on your back apparently. I didn't need sedation but the scope going round corners was eye watering until I had the injection. With the prep, I set up a makeshift bed in the loo and had my laptop with films on it to keep me company. I'm also really small so never take the full dose as they don't take into account your size (one size fits all bowel prep if you're twenty stone or seven stone-gah!!) I don't recommend messing with the dose but I know I get a good result taking half. Good luck and hope it goes well. It isn't half as bad as I thought it would be. Xx
Yikes! I hadn’t realised one size fits all. It’ll turn me inside out.
Hi Lupiknits..
I had both procedures under the 2 week referal..the prep for the colonosophy is pretty foul and I did struggle to drink that amount of fluid in the said amount of time..but trust me it is doable..oh also vasaline for your bum..☺..you will be spending a lot of time on the loo and it really helps..make sure you have a large jug to mix the prep in..I was understanaly very nervous but I couldnt of asked for lovelier nursing staff..explained everything to me..they give you a relaxant prior and also offer gas and air..the later if they need to scan the whole bowel..it was unpleasant and around 20 minutes in all..they then decided they needed to do the CT scan possibly due to the fact I have had an abdominal hysterectomy and that made it difficult to see..I was in recovery for about 30 minutes had tea and biscuits (Bourbons my fav which cheered me up)..then after about another 30 minutes someone can take you home and must stay with you for 12 hrs..I was fine after a good kip..
The CT was again uncomfortable however soon over..the prep much easier too..just drink half a bottle of prep twice..no mixing had contrast too for my procedure...I had to wait for half an hour had the canular taken out and went to a Christmas party so no lasting after effects..well not from the procedure anyway 😂..hope all goes well..take care 😀😀
My hospital does a full colonoscopy under heavy sedation. If it is a sigmoidoscopy which just looks at the lower bit of your bowel then sedation isn't usually offered. I struggled with the bowel prep but found if I downed the bowel prep and then lemonade it was a bit more palatable. It was fairly grim but I managed. The actual procedure was a piece of cake, I was asleep...I woke up during it but the aneasthetist was very quick to grab my wrist and squirt some more sedative in, he was very kind and I was pain free. Hope it goes well for you
Thanks. Here’s hoping I get someone kind!
I agree with the Vaseline idea!
Here is my advice for the prep-- Start drinking extra water 3 to 4 days before your procedure. You will lose a LOT of fluid after drinking the prep solution, so the more hydrated you are, the better. I put the prep solution (magnesium citrate for me) in the fridge to chill beforehand as it seems to reduce the unpleasant taste. Because I suffered from sickening dehydration the first time i prepped--for the 2nd time, I decided to weigh myself before sitting down (if you know what I mean) and then again after. Then I would drink the equivalent amount of fluids after each "sit". The prep before is probably worse than the procedure itself, but still is tolerable. And....I had vaseline handy for my bum as it can get a little raw! 😏😆
Hope this helps and all goes well!
Thanks to everyone for the tips!
The forum is really such a helpful place to come and get help and ideas. You are all ⭐️s x
Best of luck lupiknits for your colonoscopy. Not a nice test to go thru. Do hope you get good help from it for your symptoms. Keep us posted how you get on. X
I have had several sigmoidoscopies/colonoscopies now. They aren’t pleasant and I now insist upon sedation. The bowel prep is tough going but it’s only one day. If you can’t tolerate the prep they can give you an enema. I was very sick the first time but found that drinking lots of water helped the subsequent times. I hope you get on fine xxxx
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