You will be wearing a hospital gown all the time you are in the theatre. No, not that kind of theatre, it's an operating theatre. They will insert a cannula into your arm and pump through various medication, so that you are awake but quite out of it (mindwise). They normally tell you the results, if they know them, straight away. You are then wheeled back to the day ward, where you will receive a cup of tea and a sandwich, when you come round. You can then go home, but because of the medication, they prefer you to go home with somebody in a car. You will receive your results, officially, in a couple of weeks at an o.p. appointment.
I had a colonoscopy last week. The day before taking the prep is really the worst bit, in the end I had to camp out in the bathroom ! But everyone’s experience is different. The worst part on the day of the colonoscopy was waiting to go to the hospital as I had an afternoon appointment. I kept reminding myself this person giving m the colonoscopy was doing their job and I was just one of many! Having said that I was wearing a hospital gown and they did their best to preserve my dignity. The sedition kicks in quickly, I was awake not very alert tho. I was so relaxed in the recovery ward, a mix of sedative and relief, and I had the best tea and toast ever. I had someone take me home as driving would as dangerous as drink driving. Like you I have 2 children, I reminded myself if I can have a baby I can do this! When this is done its back to normal next day !
I'm about to have my second colonoscopy tomorrow (starting the prep tonight- yay) I honestly found the prep to be more mither than the procedure itself. By the time you get everything out of your system you'll be eager to just get it over with.
Personally I wasn't embarrassed with the doctors and nurses etc- I was tired, nervous and felt abit bla but honestly they've seen everything. I had my first colonoscopy at 19 so this is mortifying for a girl my age (only 20 now). But everyones really chatty. My nurse held my hand and the doctors were all very reassuring and calm. They've seen everything before, and yeah I personally didn't care much after the prep haha.
For my colonoscopy I was a little out of it with the drugs. It made it go by a little quicker. But I just felt sort of tired. You won't be knocked out, it just makes you abit calmer. I didn't even remember all of my colonoscopy. I was back to normal within 15-30 mins after the procedure. Maybe a little tired but nothing severe.
I've also had two endoscopes with another coming up. It was uncomfortable but it didn't last long and the fact there was no prep made it much easier. The drug didn't really do anything that time and I was present of mind and ready to leave straight away. Its different for everyone but you'll be fine with the sedative. They aren't pleasant but honestly its such a small period of time that 30 minutes later I was laughing and joking and back to my old self. You'll probably be cursing everyone in the room in your head whilst its happening but honestly it goes fast.
I've had my appendix out before so I was completely under and don't worry you won't be anything close to that kind of 'knocked out'. For the colonoscopy I felt abit drunk honestly and I felt nothing for the endoscopy.
Without knowing the details of your situation they're doing these tests as a precaution. Be glad they're ruling everything out and they should find anything that isn't right. Its scary for sure but its worth peace of mind. Alot of my family suffer from crohns etc... so alot of people in my family have had colonoscopies too just to make sure really. And theirs have been clear.
I'm literally the most anxious, squeamish person in existence and somehow even I manage. You'll get through it for sure. My 30 year old brother who has to lie down for a blood test (he was a butcher ironically aha) got through it and went for a carvery straight after.
I'd advise making sure they do biopsies for microscopic colitis etc... even if everything looks fine because somethings can only be detected this way. Drink plenty of water up to 2 hours before the procedure and probably get netflix on your laptop because you might be on the loo a lot.
Abit gross but something I wish I'd known before my first colonoscopy is that you'll go to the loo until its literally like water coming out of your bum. And it'll be like a tap that you have no control over at all- but its literally just clear water. I was alarmed at first but its totally normally. The prep can cause sort of like a trapped wind feeling and that's normal too.
I have a morning appointment on a Saturday so I’ve got to start prep at 7am on the Friday, realistically am I going to be able to take my daughter to school at 8.30am?
I doubt you'd be 'done' by then. For me it takes around half an hour to an hour to start and once is starts there isn't any stopping it. I'd be on the loo for long after 8:30 am. It starts without much warning too but its meant to start before 2 hours after taking it. So realistically I don't think you should risk it even if it hasn't started by 8:30 because it won't be far off. But it'll probably start sooner and for me it lasted hours and hours. Its not like an upset stomach you have very little control over it so I would make alternative arrangements for your daughter if possible.
Good luck it'll be fine. If its any reassurance I've just drank my first lot of prep and its not as awful as I remembered. Its still pretty grim but being calm helps. Get a hot water bottle, a cold glass of water and a pillow. If you have Moviprep its lemon flavoured. Its not that bad but it make you gag abit at the end (well it does me but I'm rubbish with this type of thing).
I started at 6pm yesterday. Had some bowel motion before 8 but it started pretty much constantly from 8. It was constant until well after 12. And then after 12 it was once every half an hour but I had to lie literally by the toilet because it was so bad aha. I managed to get less than 2 hours sleep split throughout the night. I've just started the second dose now. I much preferred doing it in one dosage. I started at 12pm and finished by around 12am and had a good night sleep. Everyones different though. My Mum did the same prep as mine currently. She was fine to go to bed and have a full night sleep and had little BM the next day. For me its like a trickly little tap and then randomly you have a full blast. I don't really want to leave the toilet because its so gurgly. But from other peoples experience I don't think this is the most common. Sorry aha xx
I get very anxious etc so there are probably times I could leave the loo. But there are definitely times you can't. My parents have literally had to go to my Grandads. But when my Mum did we could use the loo pretty often so he'll probably just have to time it pretty well. By the end its literally just water and it goes to clear. Worst case he needs to go get some really thick pads and old underwear and leave the loo. It'll just be water. I wouldn't advise leaving the loo if its still BM but mine mostly turned to pretty much water within 2 hours. Don't stress too much it can't be helped xx
I had the endoscopy without being put out, it`s quick and fairly straight forward and the thought is worse than the actual act, at least if you are awake you can see what the camera is seeing via the coloured screen in front of you which is very interesting and you get up and walk away right away.
You'll be fine. You'll be given a sedative to relax you. Lift home needed cos of sedative. At least you'll be finding out more info, then you can move forward. Best of luck.xx
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Nervous about gastroenterologist appointment.
Another day, another hospital appointment!
Worried Sick
Functional Gastro Disorder- possibly IBS
