Tips for first colonoscopy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things I learned:

If you do the liquid prep, it’s more tolerable if very cold and mixed with apple or white grape juice vs water.

I (female) was asked for a urine sample when I arrived at the procedure and was not prepared for that (stopped drinking hours before, had spent the morning on the toilet voiding, etc). They let me move forward anyway but there was some drama and if you are not menopausal, you will likely be asked for the same.

I am female and my doctor lets you give your urine sample before you start prep (2 to 3 days before the procedure)

My guess is it’s for a pregnancy test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's no big deal. prep correctly following doc's instructions. what do you mean by "stuck" at home? i was up and back to normal the same day. just don't drive home from the facility right after the procedure.

I meant during prep - wanting to be near toilet.

you HAVE TO be near toilet. on the prep day, you shouldn't go out. it happens with very little warning (multiple times).

I took the pills and nothing started happening until after dinner. The diet that week sucks. So bland and boring. I did not feel great afterwards and didn’t think the sleep was good. I definitely could not have driven home. I went to a child’s game that evening, and I was still out of it to the point that people noticed. Could have been that I was exhausted from being up a lot of the night too. I was fine the next day. I couldn’t feel any lingering pain in my butt. I was concerned about that. Bring baby wipes to the procedure as you’ll still be going before you wait unless you don’t care about having fecal matter where the son don’t shine. I’d bring a towel to sit on in the car just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that if your procedure is scheduled for the morning you will have to wake up pre-dawn to finish the prep. I choose late morning/early afternoon procedure appointments and get a regular night's sleep the night before.

In my experience the prep is not bad, aside from the sheer volume of liquid you have to drink. I opt for the miralax/gatorade prep because I can stomach the taste better than the prescription stuff.

How do you sleep when you need to use the bathroom so frequently?

I've done this several times and never had that issue, the prep starts at 6 or 7pm and all cleaned out within 4-5 hours.

The second half of the prep is best prevents you from sleeping all night. I woke up at 2am to do the second half.

Which is why I schedule afternoon procedures, I can wake up at a reasonable hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get some disposable underwear (i.e. adult diapers). If you lay down to try to get some rest the night before and your toilet is more than about 10 steps from your bed, accidents can happen. I also wore them the day of on the drive to the procedure -- I didn't end up needing them but I was so nervous about a leak in the car. Pack regular underwear in your purse. Throw out the disposables when they have you change into the gown.

I always wonder about this. I haven't had one yet but was told the last drink has to be taken 4 hours before. That seems like too little time. I'd want to be absolutely sure I'm done before I leave. In my normal life I'd never take a laxative a few hours before leaving for work in the morning.

I have never had an issue with leakage before or after a colonoscopy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get some disposable underwear (i.e. adult diapers). If you lay down to try to get some rest the night before and your toilet is more than about 10 steps from your bed, accidents can happen. I also wore them the day of on the drive to the procedure -- I didn't end up needing them but I was so nervous about a leak in the car. Pack regular underwear in your purse. Throw out the disposables when they have you change into the gown.

I always wonder about this. I haven't had one yet but was told the last drink has to be taken 4 hours before. That seems like too little time. I'd want to be absolutely sure I'm done before I leave. In my normal life I'd never take a laxative a few hours before leaving for work in the morning.

I have never had an issue with leakage before or after a colonoscopy.

Neither have I, and I’ve been through several.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get some disposable underwear (i.e. adult diapers). If you lay down to try to get some rest the night before and your toilet is more than about 10 steps from your bed, accidents can happen. I also wore them the day of on the drive to the procedure -- I didn't end up needing them but I was so nervous about a leak in the car. Pack regular underwear in your purse. Throw out the disposables when they have you change into the gown.

I always wonder about this. I haven't had one yet but was told the last drink has to be taken 4 hours before. That seems like too little time. I'd want to be absolutely sure I'm done before I leave. In my normal life I'd never take a laxative a few hours before leaving for work in the morning.

I have never had an issue with leakage before or after a colonoscopy.

By the second dose, you are most of the way cleaned out if you follow the diet.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one whose doctor doesn't have them do a morning dose? I'm supposed to be done by midnight.

I cant lie, I'm very nervous about liquid diet for 24 hours. Like, feeling very anxious about it. Very. Don't know why. More anxious about that than prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one whose doctor doesn't have them do a morning dose? I'm supposed to be done by midnight.

I cant lie, I'm very nervous about liquid diet for 24 hours. Like, feeling very anxious about it. Very. Don't know why. More anxious about that than prep.

DH was also anxious about liquids only. That was mentally the toughest part for him.FWIW we both took off the day of prep to do something fun to keep his mind off it and then we sat at Wendy’s for a while so he could try all the different kinds of drinks at the coke free style machine. Just sharing in case any of that helps you, good luck!

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the liquid diet especially the lemon Italian ices. Yummy.

[Anonymous]

Do the pills and also ask for zofran in case of nausea. I did mine at 10 am but in the future may try for early afternoon in order to get more sleep the night before. Definitely do low residue diet!

[Anonymous]

My Japanese toilet was very helpful during prep, highly recommend

[Anonymous]

Don't schedule on a Friday.

If you need a redo you can do it the next day but you can't if the first try is on a Friday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one whose doctor doesn't have them do a morning dose? I'm supposed to be done by midnight.

I cant lie, I'm very nervous about liquid diet for 24 hours. Like, feeling very anxious about it. Very. Don't know why. More anxious about that than prep.

DH was also anxious about liquids only. That was mentally the toughest part for him.FWIW we both took off the day of prep to do something fun to keep his mind off it and then we sat at Wendy’s for a while so he could try all the different kinds of drinks at the coke free style machine. Just sharing in case any of that helps you, good luck!

PP this is such a cute / hilarious “date” - you are a kind spouse!

FWIW - I have UC so need to do colonoscopies frequently (every year) - this time my provider allowed a “low residue” diet the day prior and it was SUCH a game changer. It allows for really simple food (scrambled eggs, toast with PB, roasted chicken or turkey) until 4p the day before procedure. She told me research shows no big difference between low residue and liquid only the day before. Might be worth asking your provider next time.

[Anonymous]

Collecting anecdotal info just out of interest. How many of you who have had preventive colonoscopies (not people who have had one because of bowel issues/obvious symptoms; just people who go because they are 45 with nothing else going on) have gotten negative news/a diagnosis following the procedure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one whose doctor doesn't have them do a morning dose? I'm supposed to be done by midnight.

I cant lie, I'm very nervous about liquid diet for 24 hours. Like, feeling very anxious about it. Very. Don't know why. More anxious about that than prep.

So do you still do two doses, just earlier? Or skip one?