Colonoscopy

[NoodlePip]

I know this is last minute but I’ve got an colonoscopy tomorrow afternoon, I’ve just done my first bowel prep (not fun!) and started thinking about things to take. I’ve got my info pack and paperwork filled out, but flicking through the info given there’s nothing about what (if any) I need to bring with me. Is there anything I should take with me? I’m being sedated for the procedure. Thanks in advance!

[Echoblue]

My husband had one just over a week ago and he didn’t need to take anything with him. He did take a sandwich with him as they do like you to be able to eat something before you leave afterwards. The hospital said they do provide a drink and something to eat, but if you have specific dietary needs then you may be safer taking a little something that you know won’t upset you. You could take a dressing gown if you have one - for a smidge of dignity 😉.

Good luck and hope you get some answers or reassurance.

[NoodlePip in reply to Echoblue]

Thank you so much for your help! Hope your husband is ok! 🙂

[Smiley23 in reply to Echoblue]

I had one yesterday I took dressingown slippers and warm socks2 packets of crisps and small bar black chocolate to get blood sugar up a bit and of course a bottle of water (fodmap safe)

It will be over before you know it make sure you get some form of sedation I know each hospital is different on this but it is very important especially for women

[amanda6168 in reply to Smiley23]

Hi Smiley23. I have mine tomorrow. I’m dreading it! Question though. I have been following the instructions on lo fibre for 2 days before. White bread/rice, no milk, fish/chicken. I have had the.most terrible bright yellow diarrhoea. Is this normal?

[Smiley23 in reply to amanda6168]

Hi AmandaGood luck for tomorrow sorry I can’t offer much response to your question

Except any major change in diet will effect you. mine was yellowish though

Especially after the evacuation preparation. Perhaps ask the consultant before your colonoscopy

What I do interesting is how different peeps experience of this procedure is depending on where your having it done. Please don’t worry I found the build up to it worse than the event itself

Good luck

[amanda6168 in reply to Smiley23]

Thanks. 🤞🤞🙏

[amanda6168 in reply to Smiley23]

Hi Smiley23. Consultant was grumpy at 3.00pm on a Saturday. Probably done 10 colonoscopies. Felt like a conveyor belt. No question of any discussion with him. Told me I was emotional due to the gas & air when I was crying due to the pain. Procedure aborted......

[Smiley23 in reply to amanda6168]

Perhaps change your consultant?

[NoodlePip in reply to amanda6168]

Mine was also bright yellow too! 🤞🏼 Just waiting for it now. Hope you’re goes ok x

[amanda6168 in reply to NoodlePip]

Good luck. Let me know how it goes! X

[NoodlePip in reply to amanda6168]

All looked absolutely fine. They’ve taken biopsies so have to wait for those results, the sedation was great and I had gas and air too! Felt like it was over really fast! Xxx

[amanda6168 in reply to NoodlePip]

Glad you were clear. Thanks for the reassurance that it’s all ok. Did you have sedation/pain killers too?

[NoodlePip in reply to amanda6168]

Yes I was given pain killers & sedation but also used gas & Air too. Feeling very tired & a bit uncomfortable now on my bottom where the scope entered, hopefully it’ll be better tomorrow 🙈

[amanda6168]

My pack says dressing gown, slippers. No jewellery. Change of clothes ( in case you have an accident before you get there???) Hoid luck and let me know how it goes! 🤞

[Gardenlover2020]

Hi ,I just took a bottle of water , I was given a cup of tea & toast after the colonoscopy, but if I were you I’d take a snack & a drink , they gave me one of their robes to put on as I wasn’t in there very long afterwards .

Good luck , I had sedation too & I didn’t feel a thing x

[bburzycki]

Whatever you do the do the prep right as you do not want to have to do it all again when they dive in there to find a mess and then no accurate results. Prep sucks but things need to be clean as a whistle to eliminate the need for a return trip. Don't ask me how I know 🤣

[NoodlePip]

Thanks everyone. Currently sat waiting, got my change of clothes, dressing gown, water and snack for after! 🤞🏼 Fingers crossed that it goes ok! X

[Oxygen_guy]

I had it last year and you don't need to take anything with you. Being sedated is a good thing because it can be abit uncomfortable,I had the Gas n air and I was on cloud nine until it wore off and I was disappointed because I was floating. But anyway you will be fine. Just be calm. And don't look at the screen.

[Rice333]

Have mine last year ,I was told if your driving you must bring someone to drive you home .I wasn't serdeated but my wife told to drive me home .my procedure only lasted 15 min ..clear .

They gave coffee & sandwich in recovery..they were brilliant.

You will fine .

[Viklou]

I just took my phone, the appointment letter and a form they ask you to fill in and the clothes I went in. Don't bother bringing slippers or dressing gown you won't need them.

[Purplewoman]

I just took water and wore some tenna pants hahha the sedation didn’t work I had told them they had missed the vein ! They couldn’t complete the procedure as I was in too much pain and I had to go through the prep again for a colongraphy . I willNever again have a colonoscopy ( which is worrying )

[amanda6168 in reply to Purplewoman]

Hi Purplewoman. This happened to me on Saturday. It was excrutiatingly painful. Had to stop the procedure. They are going to refer me for a CT scan. The prep is the same as for a colonoscopy and they still have to put a thing up your bottom and fill it with air. I have seen some comments online that suggest if you have pain in a colonoscopy then you're likely to be the same for a CT scan. What are you proposing to do regarding your symptoms? I honestly feel that I've been railroaded into these invasive procedures without actually having discussed the alternatives, without a discussion with an expert who could maybe discuss my symptoms knowledgeably and come up with some other tests that could be done. I haven't even had a blood test yet as they are short of vials. I also haven't had the results from my stool test. I understand there are stool tests that can detect possible cancerous growths in the colon and also a host of other issues. Does the NHS do all these or should I try and go private? If private - who do I see - a gastroenterologist? It seems that we are immediately referred to surgical units.

[Purplewoman in reply to amanda6168]

Sorry you had the same as me 😞 it was the ct one I had next colongraphy they called it , the ladies were lovely said it was a different sort of air that dosnt build up and if it got painful tell them and they would stop and let air disperse. I didn’t have the same prep but it had a similar effect and I wore my tenna pants again in case ! She said lots do! The probe only went in an inch I was on side , back and stomach. It didn’t take long as was bareable . They can’t take biopsy doing that

[amanda6168 in reply to Purplewoman]

So you didn't have any pain with the Colongraphy?

[Purplewoman in reply to amanda6168]

Hi, after so much pain they had to stop the colonoscopy I was prepared for the worst but it was about 50% less pain on the worse bits ( with the most air ) and less when not so much air . No feeling of something forcing itself round your insides ! Just the air