Thought I would share my experience with having my first ever colonoscopy on Saturday. I hope this helps others that may be in the same situation as me. I'm a 32 year old guy so I'm writing this from a blokes perspective.
Well after years of having IBS-d I was finally put forward for having a full colonoscopy! To say I was anxious is an understatement.
I was sent 2 packets of Picolax (a strong laxitive) to take 6pm the evening before and 6 am the morning of. This stuff basically cleans you out completely, by the time you are basically having the procedure you are just passing water. I read many reviews online about how this stuff makes you feel and in all honesty it did not hurt one bit! You just have a feeling of urgently needing to go but if like me you have had d for years its fairly easy to control. I had a 45 minute drive to get to the hospital which made me feel uneasy but as long as you go before you travel you'll be fine. Like some people have said this Picolax stuff can really get a hold on you and make you do lots and lots but I did not find this at all.
Waiting around in the waiting room isn't great as you know what is going on the other side of the door but try and relax. Once the nurse came to get me she asked me numerous questions. Things like how did I find the preparation, did I follow the diet instructions etc (you have a bland diet to follow for 48 hours). She also takes your blood pressure, mine was sky high but that's White Coat Syndrome for you!! You have 2 options with having the procedure. 1 is that you have Gas and Air during it or 2 you get given a sedative. I went for 1 as you are allowed to eat immediately after the procedure and trust me you'll be hungry!!!
You are then asked to get changed into the lovely gown and then just sit around waiting for your name to be called. After waiting for around half an hour (they were extremely busy) I got taken to another waiting room. This is where you meet the consultant that is carrying out the procedure. They are very reassuring and make you relax from the moment you say hello! I got onto the bed in the consultation room and was given the Gas and Air. Now the initial inserting of the camera is a little odd to say the least. Once the camera is in he proceeds to blow air into you to allow room for the camera to move. It's not pleasant as when you get the urge to pass wind it is pretty loud as there is so much air inside you. Do not feel afraid to fart as they don't care at all about the noise! I will happily admit that I think I passed out as at one point the camera has to turn 90 degrees and I did not cope well with that at all! If I ever have to have one again I will definitely have the sedative put it that way! The nurse did say that I basically gulped down too much gas as I was anxious and passed out because of this. I did wake up as the procedure was coming to an end and was able to watch as they took 4 small biopsies. They always take biopsies as a matter of course so do not panic if this happens to you! It only took about 10-15 minutes altogether.
The nurse in the consultation room said the pain I experienced is pretty much the same sort of pain women go through during child birth! I take my hat off to any woman that has had kids cause wow you do go through some pain!!
Once finished and the camera was out the consultant told me there was nothing there that he could see in the way of inflammation or polyps/lumps and bumps. This is great news for me as it pretty much means I have IBS (tosses eyes). I now have to find ways of coping with it, from changing diet to relaxing etc. I will find a way to make this uncomfortable thing stop.
That's pretty much it! Afterwards you are able to go straight to get some food! Bare in mind your not allowed to drive yourself home.
I hope this helps anyone that may be going through the same as me.
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