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Colonoscopy feedback

Posted , 10 users are following.

emma05534
emma05534

Hello I thought I would provide some feedback on my colonoscopy as I read through a lot of forums before my colonoscopy which had a lot of mixed reviews and left me feeling nervous. I was extremely anxious and worried about every aspect from the preparation, to being sedated to wondering how painful it was going to be! Honestly I would say that all that worrying was silly and irrational and the whole process was absolutely fine and pain free. I would happily have the procedure again although not eating was the hardest part!

Firstly the Senna pills we're absolutely fine. I took these at 4pm after having a very restricted diet for 2 days before. The 10 Senna tablets seemed a lot to be taking and as a person who doesn't like taking lots of pills this was fine and I felt nothing after just a bit hungry.

Then at 5pm I took my first sachet of citramag which after hearing all the reviews about how horrible it was to drink I thought it was actually quite tasty! It was lemon / line flavour and I drank it very slowly. All I experienced after drinking the mixture was my stomach making funny noises! I then took my second 1/2 sachet at 6pm which again was fine. I then needed the loo and went a few times. I didn't feel uncomfortable the only thing that was sore was my bottom which I kept putting vasaline on and that helped a lot. Then throughtout the night I needed the loo and then it stopped but I felt absolutely fine throughout the preparation

and kept telling myself this is all necessary.

In the morning I took another 1/2 sachet at 9am and then needed the loo up until I was due to have my colonoscopy at 3pm. Once I arrived at hospital I was empty and hungry! The hospital were very welcoming and when I got into the room I said to the nurses that I was nervous about the sedation they said that they would stay with me the whole way through. As soon as I was given the sedation I was aware of everything going on. I had a mask with some oxygen which I just breathed deeply into and I looked at the screen so I could see the procedure and found it fascinating. I honestly had been so nervous before and I didn't feel anything during the whole procedure. It took 15 mins and when they finished I said is that it?! I just felt sleepy afterwards but couldn't believe how easy it had all been. I would definitely recommend having a sedation if you're contemplating it. I didn't need to be put to sleep as it was such a quick procedure.

For those of you that are worried about this it is honestly fine and it's necessary. I had a small biopsy taken as well which was good and came back clear but I would definitely advise having it. Good luck you will be absolutely fine smile

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • lady67208
    lady67208 emma05534

    Posted

    Glad you had a good experience Emma and it is good to post it for those who may be put off of the procedure altogether. Your experience mirrors mine - except I didn't opt for sedation. I too read enough to make me really apprehensive and posted my experience on another of these 'painful colonoscopy' threads for the same reason smile

    I also read discussion threads on painful sigmoidoscopys - but thankfully didn't have to have one of those. I was interested to hear women's experience of Colorectal outpatients though - so started a discussion on that here. Haven't received much feedback yet though - since they found nothing in the colonoscopy - they may refer me there next!

  • ella18145
    ella18145 emma05534

    Posted

    Thanks for this ... I need it As I'm soooo anxious. So so scared. Not about the sedation but about the procedure and worst of all what they are going to find. Actually I'm more scared about the latter as I know the procedure shouldn't last too long. Just hope il have the same good news as u!
    • emma05534
      emma05534 ella18145

      Posted

      Hey it's totally normal to feel scared and I was but just follow all the preparation beforehand so that its in the best possible conditions to work with. They took a biopsy for colitis and IBS but it came back clear so I was really pleased I had the procedure. The way I viewed it was do I want to spend the rest of my life worrying about it or do I want to be proactive and do something about it. You're doing all the right steps to getting answer smile good luck you'll be fine. It will be over very quickly and it will put your mind at ease smile
    • ella18145
      ella18145 emma05534

      Posted

      Did u opt for it? I have loose stools and constipation with occasional mucus and a pain in my right side also. My gp thinks it's ibs and surgeon decided it wud b safer to to do colonoscopy. Stool test came back clear and gp was happy with that but surgeon wasn't. I'm so confused and worried
    • emma05534
      emma05534 ella18145

      Posted

      Hi yes I did opt for it as I had blood in my stools and was worried. They advised me to have a colonoscopy then the blood stopped and they said don't worry but I pushed to have it just to be on the safe side and I'm glad I did. Seriously if they've advised it just do it. I feel so happy now knowing that I've had it and they've checked everything. Now if I get stomach aches or blood in my stool I'm not going to worry about it! If I was told I needed another in my life I would do it without a second thought. Bite the bullet and do it!
    • ella18145
      ella18145 emma05534

      Posted

      Tks so much for your encouragement.... I'm a mess and keep thinking these are the last few days of normal life 😟 Hope I'm just over reacting
    • emma05534
      emma05534 ella18145

      Posted

      Don't worry you're not alone I felt like that as well. I know you're nervous and as you've never had one of these procedures before it is nerving as you don't know what to expect. The nurses will be with you all the time and you will just be a bit drowsy and before you know it it will be over and you will find out your results as soon as the procedure is done. Just think it will be peace of mind. I was back playing tennis the next day! Trust me you'll be fine 😀
    • lady67208
      lady67208 emma05534

      Posted

      I had the same symptoms of blood in stools and anaemia, no pain though, and the colonoscopy found nothing - did they refer you for more testing?

       

    • ella18145
      ella18145 emma05534

      Posted

      Wow that's great u were playing tennis so fast 😄 Just wish it was over
    • opalfruit
      opalfruit lady67208

      Posted

      Hi Lady,

      Hope you don't mind me piggybacking on to your reply. I was given a 2 week referal to the Gastroenterologist as I am severely anaemic (post menopause). At the time I had no other symptoms. The Gastroenterologist saw me and downgraded my referal from urgent to routine. My gastroscopy and colonoscopy are on 7th July. Have they found the cause of your anaemia? I have googled everything to do with anaemia and it all seems to point in the same direction - bowel cancer

       

    • lady67208
      lady67208 opalfruit

      Posted

      Hi Opalfruit,

      I am still anaemic and they have not found the cause.  Have had a colonoscopy and a capsule endoscopy and still nothing indicated. I chose not to have the upper GI so far and don't think I will. I am sure there are other causes of anaemia, I am pre-menopausal, but don't have heavy periods. So far they have given me a kidney scan and abdominal scan and all came back clear.

      At this point I feel that I have done due diligence and want a break from all the testing. My bloods show some interesting results but sometimes I feel like getting into a medical spin can cause more harm then good - especially if the testing is intrusive. I don't want to do any more bowel preps or fasting for a while to let things settle down.

      Tbh I have been anaemic most of my adult life but the symptom that made me present to the doctor was visible blood. This is still there and still they can't find the cause. 

      Don't know if this helps at all - I hope they find the cause for your anaemia, but I think it is surprisingly common and that alone would not have concerned me as much.

    • opalfruit
      opalfruit lady67208

      Posted

      Hi Lady,

      I am having a gastroscopy and colonoscopy this coming Thursday and the capsule endoscopy on 29th July. All my other blood tests are fine apart from Thassallemia A which is borderline. I do not have any mediterannean ancestry, so I am not sure what that is all about! 

      The gastroenterologist implied that she thinks this latest severe anaemia is linked to my previous diagnosis in 2009 (pre menopause).

      I have had no bleeding, diarrhoea. 

      Just can't wait for Thursday to be over and done with. Being in limbo is its own kind of hell! x

       

    • lady67208
      lady67208 opalfruit

      Posted

      I do hope they find something with all those tests - that is exactly the route when they start checking your digestive tract for signs of malabsorbtion etc (reasons for anaemia). I too have Alpha Thalessemia which is not supposed to cause anaemia so it does not explain the iron deficiency. 

      Not knowing is the worst part - so you do the tests and hope for the best. If there is something, you hope they find it. 

      I saw that you are to have the laughing gas - I missed out on that for my births, and again for the colonoscopy. I chose the pain killer (fentonyl) and bowel relaxant (boscopan) so was not sedated, but it was fine.

      It is really good that they have already booked you for the capsule too - I had to fight for that, because I declined the upper GI (gastrocopy).

      Once all results are in, you can have an informed chat about the anaemia. You are ahead in the battle, by having these checks scheduled. So well done and best of luck.

  • joe95619
    joe95619 emma05534

    Posted

    That's the way mine was. I had mine done on April 7. No pain liquid i took was lemon & lime. I'm glad you got through it O.K.
  • cathy_94688
    cathy_94688 emma05534

    Posted

    Wow such a brave person you are. Its been two years now that I am postponing my colonoscopy due to the sedation fear. Beacuse they told me that they'll knock me out completely since they only use Propofol and not anything else. So the ansthesiogiyst should only performs it.

    I've called many different GI specialists offices and hospitals and unfortunately they all use this drug now. No luck for me

    • lady67208
      lady67208 cathy_94688

      Posted

      Cathy I was able to have fentanyl (painkiller) and Boscopan (Bowel relaxant) without any sedative, not even gas and air and it was fine. I am a small woman. 5ft & 9 stone. I specifically requested no sedative and the colonoscopist agreed to it - in a major London hospital. That was just last week. 
    • cathy_94688
      cathy_94688 lady67208

      Posted

      You were lucky to get one dr to listen to your concerns and work with you beacuse here in America it's only thier way or highway. It's been two years that I am changing doctors and calling around hoping to find a dr that will listen to me and my concerns but I could find none. But I'm sure if I was a celebrity then the doctors would call me and ask me how they could work with mesad
    • lady67208
      lady67208 cathy_94688

      Posted

      I didn't realise you were not in the UK - I wonder if the way Dr are responding out there has something to do with insurance?

      I was reluctant to have sedation because many relay having had really painful procedures with flashbacks of being out of control to stop anything whilst pleading wih the medics to stop. Furthermore the sedation means that anything they say isn't 'taken seriously' after the event, because they were technically 'out of it'

      I hope you can find a Dr who is prepared to work with you - if indeed you are displaying worrying symptoms. If you aren't, I would be reluctant to just have one for screening, especially if Dr's aren't prepared to negotiate important aspects of how it is performed.

    • emma05534
      emma05534 lady67208

      Posted

      Yes I agree. I seemed to have such pleasant experience and was so worried about being 'out of it' or 'out of control' when I was sedated but but it wasn't like that at all. When I was sedated I knew exactly what was going on and remembered everything about the procedure as just felt very relaxed and took deep calm breaths. I saw them do the biopsy and was asking them questions! When they did the biopsy I saw it on the screen and saw them do it but I didn't feel anything but I did have a very skilled gastroentologist which I think makes a BIG difference and I felt absolutely nothing. I think preparation is key as I made sure I was completely empty and fasted for a day and a half. I honestly think the worrying before was much worse than any part of the procedure.
    • Mike1300
      Mike1300 emma05534

      Posted

      Hi, Emma

      It's nice to see that some of the procedures on this site actually go on without a hitch or problems. I was sedated, as the last thing I remember was the sedative going into the IV. I then woke up in the recovery room with a splitting headache and nauseous.

      Here in the states it's pretty much the same procedure across the board, but with any procedure complications can happen.

      My doctors/nurses were aware of the modesty part and that was one of their priorities that made my procedure so easy and relaxed.

      I do know what to expect in 5 years, but still not looking for to the prep it still was the worst part.

      We can put this behind us for right now.

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