colonoscopy prep

[Stills]

hello, I am scheduled to have a colonoscopy and wondered if the preparation medication causes nausea? I have migraine and vertigo which cause nausea already and guess I won’t be able to take medicine for either or the PPI ? Hunger and stress trigger my migraines so I’m concerned the Prep med will make me feel sick snd the hunger will cause migraine and debilitating vertigo resulting in me not being physically able to help myself at/during the procedure. Also after the promise of a painless endoscopy which was a total lie , I’m opting for all the sedation I can get. 😟

Update: surgery called saying previous abdominal /womb u/s scan has revealed some thing and I’m to speak with Dr Monday. The good news is that means I may avoid the colonoscopy the bad news is it’s a womb issue but at least a step nearer diagnosis . Thanks again for all your support x

[medway-lady]

it didn’t for me and was painless. I have BPPV vertigo and they can raise the pilllow to stop an attack. It’s nowhere near as bad as you might think. Good luck. Xx

[Stills in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks for the tip, I’ll remember to ask them to raise the bed for me.

[stiff19]

I am always sedated because of the way of my anatomy is so they deemed I need sedating but ive never had nausea from the preparation or any problems. hope it goes well

[Jackie1947 in reply to stiff19]

They gave me sedation plus gas and air but neither even took the edge off. They managed the biopsies before stopping. That's why I went anyway to see if I have microscopic colitis associated with RA. Yet to hear

[Stills in reply to Jackie1947]

Perhaps I’ll give it a miss 😟

[Stills in reply to stiff19]

Good to know thank you.

[Amnesiac3637]

Hi. Sorry you’re going to have to have a colonoscopy though it’s always better than drinking all that gloop before it………😆😝

I have had three and can’t say that the prep solution has ever caused nausea. I also took all my meds with water on the day it was scheduled as advised by the endoscopy unit - I’m on Prednisolone so unable to stop it - and I think you will probably be able to do the same but do find out either from your GP or by ringing the Endoscopy Suite if you’ve had no instructions.

Depending on what time your colonoscopy is scheduled for you should find if you make clear broth, eat jelly, a hard boiled egg and the other things you’re allowed you shouldn’t be too hungry prior to drinking the prep. I asked for the first appointment in the morning so that I slept after the last glug of prep and then wasn’t waiting for hours to have the procedure. The whole thing ruins a couple of days and is not anything I’d ever look forward to but if you keep your hydration levels up it should go a long way to keeping you feeling less miserable. All the very best!

[Stills in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thank you for sharing your experience and advice, I’ll try for an early appointment, drink plenty and rest up afterwards. Wishing you good days.

[medway-lady in reply to Stills]

I had one and it took minutes, and choose no sedation as very funny doctor said that he’d had one and the thought is far worse than the event and went off for a cup of tea. I had the preparation and toddled into theatre. He was right and afterwards I went shopping in Bluewater. Please don’t overthink it the BBC don’t provide the camera it’s about the size of a pencil. You can have gas and air if needed and honestly I’m not brave but it was nowhere near as bad as having joint steroid injection done. I hope that helps. X

[Stills in reply to medway-lady]

Made laugh out loud 🎥 thank you. Glad your experience was ok snd wish you good days x

[medway-lady in reply to Stills]

The preparation was so never going to be so bad with the thought of a fried breakfast afterwards in the Cote restaurant. I just thought of all the calories that needed replacing. I honestly think it was the lovely doctor who made me laugh and it was his gag really. He said that the camera was really small, not like one used by the bbc. He also said did I mind waiting while he had a cup of tea, as he was running a bit late. It does make such a difference when medics are human. lol xxx

[Jackie1947]

Have you read the instructions re eating and prep day before and the day of the examination? The first prep was okay. I drank separately special drinkk to ratio of separate water. The next day the second dose was harder. I didn't feel nauseous or vertigo. You have to sip not gulp. Tension will not help so try . It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My examination wasn't until 4pm and I felt fine and not hungry. If you are worried you should have a contact number. I opted for sedation by cannula/gas and air hope it works for you!

[Stills in reply to Jackie1947]

I haven’t received my letter yet as it was only requested yesterday by GP. I’ll take everything they offer to make it easier tbh. Sorry to hear yours was such a bad experience and wish you well .

[Haz58 in reply to Stills]

I was worried too but it took 8 months for my appointment to come through. So don't worry yourself too much about it yet. I hope you get it over and done with sooner than that.

[Stills in reply to Haz58]

Thanks, I’m in the two month cancer referral so I’m thinking it will be January earliest

[Haz58 in reply to Stills]

You will get it sooner then sorry. I just didn't want you worrying for a long time. I pray it goes well for you. My 84 year old aunt had this done and she was fine if that helps. The worse thing is staying near a toilet after the pre meds. X

[Stills in reply to Haz58]

Than you, luckily we have two loos 🤣

[AnnieJ123]

I have had several colonoscopies and biopsies and polyps removed. The prep gave me chronic cramps which I get periodically anyway.It is sweet and sicklyand unpleasant tasting. I found the colonscopies painful and I was told that my bowel is difficult to scope as it is long, twisted and loopy. I had to keep changing positions under direction of the doctors so although sedated I needed to respond to their instructions. It also took 3 times as long as normal. I needed gas and air. I took buscopan for several days later to get rid of trapped gas. Some do not have this problem. Good luck. Hope it is easier for you.

[Stills in reply to AnnieJ123]

Thanks for sharing, I’ll get some buscopan just in case. I remember burping for Britain after the endoscopy 😜Hope you’re well now in that regard .

[Downtime in reply to AnnieJ123]

Me too. I wasn’t allowed any sedation as I had to respond to them, letting them know when there was pain as I have a very long and twisty bowel and they were worried about perforating the bowel wall. The prep for the procedure wasn’t nice but it does its job. The doctor said it was the hardest one he’d ever done and he hoped he never had to do it again!

[AnnieJ123 in reply to Downtime]

Same here, but due to the type of polyps I had I need them every 3 years. Good luck.

[Downtime in reply to AnnieJ123]

Sorry to hear that. Best wishes .

[Stills in reply to Downtime]

😖 that sounds grim and sorry to hear it

[Bails67]

I am due my second next week. The bowel prep isn’t nice but I was told you can drink water up to 2 hours before the procedure.I didn’t bother with the sedative,I only had a small adenoma removed You should receive a prep pack which has all the information about the procedure and what you can/ can’t eat and at what time etc. I was also given a number to call at time of booking so if I had concerns( re medication ) I could check. My nurse also phoned me a few days before to see if I needed to ask anything and go over the procedure. There will be plenty of people there during the procedure. They are happy to help if you have to turn over etc. I opted for a first appointment of the morning.I have another next week, just to check they have removed all mine. Fortunately I only have the prep for lower bowel this time . I didn’t find it too bad, it was really interesting. For me the worse part was the prep.Hope it goes ok for you.

[Stills in reply to Bails67]

Thank you and wishing you good days

[Gilliancheche]

I have had this procedure several times and I also get migraines triggered by skipping meals. I mentioned this when booking and found it was better for me to have morning procedure and do the prep before going to bed. I took water and a snack with me to eat straight after. Wasn't ideal but best solution. I had sedation, wasn't allowed gas and air due to medication. It's not a fun procedure but presumably they are doing for a good reason. I had several large polyps which had to be removed and biopsied. So far all ok 🤞 Good luck 👍

[Stills in reply to Gilliancheche]

Thank for the tip snd glad you’re ok

[kittypebbles]

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy 4 weeks ago and like you suffer from severe migraines with nausea/vomiting, also really bad reflux so was dreading trying to keep the bowel prep down. I did manage however by taking my usual migraine meds (sumatriptan and buccastem for nausea). I made up the bowel prep as per the instructions given and added some diluting juice too and cooled in fridge, taking it slowly through a straw. Fasting on the morning of the procedure caused very painful reflux and in addition to all my usual medication I had to take extra Lansoprazole. I told them that I had done this and just used a small sip of water to swallow the tablets and it was fine. I had sedation but was aware of everything that was going on and found the procedure painless in my case - they did the usual biopsies and removed polyps. I was referred under 'urgent' category as my ferritin levels had dropped and had a positive FIT test, however it was nearly a year after that I had the procedure.

I do hope that all goes well with yours and you manage to control the nausea and vertigo. I found the endoscopy unit very helpful prior to the procedure and felt at ease asking them questions. They were so kind and helpful on the day too.

[Stills in reply to kittypebbles]

Many thanks for sharing your reassuring experience and it seems most people have reasonable experiences with just the odd one with difficulty so I hope I’m not an odd one 😉. I hope you’re fully recovered with a good outlook.

[kittypebbles in reply to Stills]

All is well and I am fine thanks. I hope you hear soon regarding your procedure and you have a good outcome. Take care.