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Worried sick about Colonoscopy

Posted , 2 users are following.

Very_apprehensive_Sue
Very_apprehensive_Sue

Hi all,

Could you please help alleviate my fears! I am a 56 yrs old (dont feel it!) and have been recommended a colonoscopy. My father died of bowel cancer and I have been having intermittent bleeding off and on for years. My consultant thinks it might be piles but wants to be sure. All sounds straight forward I know, but I am claustrophobic and always like to be in control of the situation. I think I would fight the sedation and want to get up and walk away in the middle of this proceedure! My consultant has offered me a general anaesthetic and I am seriously thinking of going down this route. I am also worried about the prep as I have heard it is particularly unpleasant. I think a lot of my problem is that I am divorced and live alone and I am scared incase I feel faint etc during the prep. I might add I have had four children so am familiar with pain but as I have become older I seem to be more worried about things. Could anyone here elaborate further on the liquid diet and how many days before they followed it? I have been told to take my sachets at 5pm and 8pm on the night before the proceedure (booked for Dec 4th)

Thanks in advance if you reply,

Sue

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Probably the most pain is encountered when they inflate your colon or if they encounter a tight spot or stricture, its crampy pain but dont worry about that smile

    I was on free fluids, that is, just water :shock: for a day and half before (it depends, are you usually regular or constipated), ask your GP or assess yourself, Im not sure what speciel diet they meant. Anyway you will be a little hungry :D

    As for the laxative the best advice is not to stray too far away from a toilet :D I guess you may feel faint with relief but other than that you should be OK, perhaps you might experience a little gut ache smile

  • Very_apprehensive_Sue
    Very_apprehensive_Sue

    Posted

    Thank you - at least it puts it into perspective. I am usually constipated so I guess I should be following the totally liquid diet for a day or two before. Does that include a white wine or two do you think? (Half joking there!)

    Have you just had this proceedure once?

    Thanks for taking the trouble to reply,

    Sue

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Yes Ive only had it once before but Im due another smile Not a liquid diet, water, only water, not apple juice or pop, water, but please ask your GP to make sure thats what they meant smile
  • Miss-Mo
    Miss-Mo

    Posted

    Hi Sue

    I read your posts about the colonoscopy you are due to have next week. I had my first colonoscopy, at the Murryfield in Edinburgh, on Friday (23rd Nov) and can say that it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.

    My advice - based on my experience - would be not to worry about it. I felt the worst bit was taking the medication (which tasted of lemon and ginger) but it really wasn't as bad as I had been expecting.

    The procedure itself was fine. I had a sedative and was aware of what was going on but did not feel anything at all. I watched the procedure on the monitor which was in front of me but looking back I think I probably drifted in and out because I didnt feel like I had been there that long when the doctor told me it was all over.

    If you want to talk more about it please send me a message (private or on the forum) and I will be happy to answer what I can. I am surprised at the level of negative comments on this website but would suggest this may be due to more people looking for similar experiences when things go wrong. From what I understand this is a very common procedure which is carried out on a daily basis around the country.

    Regards. Miss-Mo

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