My Colonoscopy experience! A 26 year olds account!

Colonscopy:

I was terrified, none of my friends my age had undergone the procedure or could offer any useful advice, so I turned to the internet for comfort, endlessly researching night after night, only to be left worked up and a nervous wreck by the time the colonscopy day came around... So here's my account, hope anyone searching and trying to relate can find some use in this post. I'm a 26 year old female who's suffered severe, almost instant, diarrhoea over the last 5 years, mis-diagnosed a number of times and exhausted with test after test. The colonoscopy was the most accurate and beneficial test where my diagnosis was concerned and I recommend it to anyone suffering with GI issues.

Prior to the actual Colonscopy, you'll be called in for a pre-op meeting where you will be given laxatives (I was given Moviprep) and told to follow a strict diet starting 3 days before the procedure.

My Colonscopy was scheduled for a Friday, so my prep began Tuesday. The diet for Tuesday and Wednesday consisted of a high carb-low fibre diet, eg. White bread, rice, lean meats. (Generally bland colourless foods). This was difficult at first as everything was bland but it's paramount you keep your meals simple.

When Thursday approached, following breakfast at 8am, I began a liquid fast for the remaining day. Again colourless liquids such as water, clear soup, fizzy drinks etc. That evening I took my first dose of Moviprep. I decided to add hot water to the mixture and let it cool enough to drink it. The hot water made it tastes a little like lemsip lemon flavour at first which wasn't so bad. It's a salty lemony taste. But as you make your way through the 1st litre the taste becomes unbearable. I found as it cooled down it made me gag with every sip. Try to drink it in half glasses followed by a half glass of water to wash the taste away.

Shortly after I finished my first litre an hour later, the tummy rumblings began followed by quick dashes to the bathroom. If you live in a busy household I suggest you cordon off the bathroom for your prep or there are bound to be a few accidents. Or if you can't do so, perhaps finding a vacant toilet in a less crowded relative's/friend's house, or a hotel would be best. Moviprep literally has you glued to the toilet.

After 3 hours I prepared my second litre of Moviprep and gulped it down half glass at a time. I tried to mix 7up fizzy drink into one of my half glasses which tasted a little better but there was so much more to drink so i just left the rest of the moviprep as it was. By this stage my bum was sore. I suggest being well prepared with sudocream after every bowel movement if possible. By the end of the second litre my bowel movements were yellow and watery. You should be able to see the bottom of the toilet bowl through the substance. Don't worry the yellow colour is bile. My bum was so sore at this point but I could not stop going. My diarrhoea last 2 hours after the second litre of Moviprep. When I thought I was done, I had a warm shower and applied sudocream to my bottom before trying to get some rest. The sudocream really helps to heal overnight, which is essential as you don't want a camera going up an already sore bottom.

After 5 hours sleep I awoke at 5am to have a final glass of water, followed by a few more dashes to the bathroom. My procedure was scheduled for 8.30am but I was extremely worried I would soil myself if I left my bathroom. It seems the last of the moviprep was somewhere in my bowels still and the glass of water had aggravated it in the morning.

I eventually called a taxi and reached the hospital at 8am and rushed straight to the toilet on the ward. Don't worry about having diarrhoea at the hospital, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, you've just had 2 litres of laxatives forced down you its expected!! Just be prepared with wet wipes to clean yourself as it will stop any further soreness. The doctor performing the Colonscopy was running late so for the next two hours I dashed to the bathroom while I waited. I was secretly glad he was late as I feared I wouldn't be able to control my bowels when he was examining me. So the extra time allowed me to clear out the remaining moviprep from my bowels. If you want to avoid this perhaps have your last drink of water more than 3 hours before your appointment time.

Once I was prepped I was escorted into the theatre, where two nurses put the catheter on the back of my hand and tubed me up ready for oxygen. The sedatives and painkillers started kicking in fairly quickly and I felt relaxed. Next thing I know I'm rolled over on to my side and the procedure has begun. The camera is inserted in your bottom which can be alarming and painful at first but then the sedative really kicks in and it all becomes hazy. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep at one point and was awoken when there was a sharp pain in my bowels as it was filled with air. The air helps to inflate the bowel so the camera can see better, it causes momentary discomfort. If you are having biopsies taken that can be painful, I had a few and I was able to watch it being done on the screen, which made everything seem more real to me. If you're an anxious person I do not advise this! As quickly as it started the procedure was over and I was trolley off into the resting room. Biopsies caused a lot of bleeding and the paper underwear were soaked with my blood which can be scary at first but it's expected when they've just removed parts of your bowel.

All in all it wasn't half as painful as I had thought it would be. It was manageable discomfort and the part that caused the most discomfort was the MOVIPREP. However it's important to take the full dosage no matter how vile the taste, as this means a clear bowel for a successful colonoscopy the FIRST time around. You do not want to be sent away on the day and told to reschedule as you'd have to go through the special diet followed by moviprep all over again. Good luck to anyone preparing for a Colonscopy, it's really not as scary as it seems.

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