Tell me the truth- How bad is a colonoscopy?

[KSH]

I'm getting on Wednesday. I keep hearing how bad it is. How bad is it? Am I going to be completely miserable or what?

I'm really dreading this more and more. :(

[sbctwin]

It depends on what you have to take to 'clean you out'. I had to drink a gallon of this elixer.:( ..It was the worst part of the whole thing. I was gagging that stuff down by the end. They said they could keep me awake and let me know what they were doing and I said, no way!!! If I had the choice, I didn't want to have any memory of the procedure. They obliged. I woke up and my DH drove me home. I was a little sleepy when I got home, but all in all, I was ok.

[KSH]

Well, I got these pills that work like the stuff you drink. I have to take about 20 pills in one hour with about 40 oz of Sprite or sports drink... but I only have to take the pills. It sounded a lot better than having to drink that nasty stuff.

And yes, I will be KNOCKED out for the entire thing.

Ok, I might be Ok.

[Geonz]

My two co-workers who've had it done said it wasn't exaclty fun but worth doing. (One of 'em had it done as a "birthday present" on her fiftieth. NOt sure what that says about her sense of humor )

[sandra]

I had one just last Monday and have a post on it called "dread, Dread, DREAD".

I had to drink the EZ Prep. It is not so bad. Only one 12 oz glass and it worked. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. I had a tv table with laptop, books, etc set up and ready. I was afraid I would be hungry, but you are so focused, you don't really think about it.

The procedure itself was a BREEZE. Nothing to it.

In 52 years, I've never been put to sleep. I did have a problem with nausea and throwing up after my procedure that was caused by the anesthetic. If you don't have problems being put to sleep, you should be fine.

[sandra]

Two more things: baby wipes and vaseline. Use the vaseline before your rear starts to sting.

[Aint Doody]

Yep, the prep is the worst part, but bearable. I kept a tally--15 trips to the bathroom!:eek: I rather liked the procedure--sorta the twilight drugs. I remember right before I went out saying--Oooh! I'm floatin' to the ceiling. I've had 2. They are way more preferable to the sigmoid or the barium enema. Lotsa luck!

[michelem]

Well, for me, the after-effects were the worst. I did the prep to a "t" and did not "go" much at all - just a few squirts the morning of, so they ended up having to give me an enema beforehand. Then afterward, I swelled up like a stuffed sausage - all the prep stuff stayed inside and got absorbed. It lasted almost two weeks - could barely wear shoes and my eyes were little slits I was so swollen. I am VERY sensitive to sodium, so that's what my problem was . . .

The procedure itself was no big deal as I was knocked out the whole time. I don't remember getting dressed or my hubby driving me home or anything. My brain didn't work for at least a day after, so working was out of the question. :eek:

[HillSlugger]

I'm only 46 and I'm already a veteran of about 5 colonoscopies. The prep pills are much better than that horrible liquid stuff. The clear liquid diet and the prep are far worse than the procedure. The actual "cleaning out" for me is less uncomfortable than a bad case of cramps. The procedure is really no big deal and you'll probably feel all better later the same day.

[KSH]

Thanks for all the tips ladies!

As it is... I kind of live in the bathroom, so I suppose it won't be too much different tomorrow night.

I just dread not eating for that long. I'm use to eating every 2 hours and when I don't eat, I get lightheaded, dizzy and I get headache. If my blood sugar gets low I start to shake really bad and sweat. If that happens I'll down a Sprite.

Vaseline... got it.

MDhillSlug... 5 of them! :eek: WOW!

[sandra]

I dreaded not eating for that long too and like you I start to shake and get a headache.

The only think I hated was the chicken broth. yuck. decided I couldn't drink that.

I drank lots of juice ~ Pineapple Orange Banana and White Grape Peach juice. I drank diet Sprite. I hate hard candy (Jolly Ranchers but not red or purple).

I made it just fine. That part was not nearly as bad as I was afraid it would be. I did schedule my test early (8 a.m.) so I could go get it over with early. Do you have someone to drive you and stay with you that day?

[bike4ever]

I watched a movie on my laptop while doing my prep. I just positioned the computer on a tv stand. Made the time pass a little faster.

[KSH]

I dreaded not eating for that long too and like you I start to shake and get a headache.

The only think I hated was the chicken broth. yuck. decided I couldn't drink that.

I drank lots of juice ~ Pineapple Orange Banana and White Grape Peach juice. I drank diet Sprite. I hate hard candy (Jolly Ranchers but not red or purple).

I made it just fine. That part was not nearly as bad as I was afraid it would be. I did schedule my test early (8 a.m.) so I could go get it over with early. Do you have someone to drive you and stay with you that day?

Well, I have all my Jello ready (although I hate eating the stuff due to what it's made from)... and I have some vegetarian broth I can heat up. I also have sports drinks ready to go as well. No candy though. Not really sure that will help any.

My test is a 10:45 AM and I have a friend who is off work and willing to drive my butt around.

[KSH]

I watched a movie on my laptop while doing my prep. I just positioned the computer on a tv stand. Made the time pass a little faster.

Took me a moment... but I got it! ;)

No TV stand here, but I do have a lap desk that can hold my computer. :cool:

[uk elephant]

good luck with your test! I've had it done numerous times, and most of the time it's not that bad. The prep is worst, but with the pill-preps even that's not too bad. Just make sure to drink lots and lots both to keep your blood sugar going and to keep somewhat hydrated. And another thing I've found very useful is to make sure to eat live yogurt for a few days after to replace the lost good bacteria from your guts after such a thorough cleaning. As for the procedure itself, in the US they tend to drug you up so you won't be very alert or remember much. In Norway they give you no drugs. The first time I had it done, I was in no pain so I just amused myself by watching the screen. As a biologist I found it really cool to see what a real instestine looks like rather than just diagrams in a text book.

[li10up]

Not as bad as cancer!!!

I'm sure it's not a pleasant experience but I saw a show on tv recently that showed a man who didn't have a colonoscopy done because his "friends" told him how bad it was. He later developed colon cancer.

Good luck to you. I hope the results come back all clear.

[Crankin]

The test was not bad. I was sedated (mildly) with valium like stuff, but was awake and watched the whole thing. I drank that entire jug of awful stuff and seemed to go plenty, but the doctor said I was definitely not all cleaned out???? Just wondered how that could happen.

[Aggie_Ama]

I haven't had one but sending you good vibes for the prep, test and results. DH had one and said it wasn't that bad, he has trouble sleeping so a day sedated was nice. He had to have it to diagnose his crohn's.

My dad put his off and at 52 was determined to have Stage 3 Colon Cancer. After having a piece of his colon removed and six months of chemo he will be the first to tell you it is worth it. He will also tell you the prep sucks. I have to have one at 40 thanks to dear old dad but I will be doing it shortly after my birthday.

[IFjane]

Good luck, KSH! You should be well into your no-food day now. I have had one and have to have another in two years. I had to drink the stuff and it was miserable. The procedure was fine.

Question - where can I get the pills next time? Do I have to have a prescription or are they over the counter like the liquid?

[HillSlugger]

Question - where can I get the pills next time? Do I have to have a prescription or are they over the counter like the liquid?

Yeah, they're prescription. The stuff I took was called Visicol.

[KSH]

OK, so I got the pills. I took 20 of them... took the last 4, 45 minutes ago... and nothing.

Hhhuuummmm... I hope there isn't an explosion of sorts! :eek:

Otherwise... these pills aren't doing the job. Of course, I probably spoke too soon.

I take my last batch of pills at 10:00 PM... and I have 12 left.

I guess we will see.

Honestly, I have more "bathroom" action on days that I eat and don't take silly pills.

[HillSlugger]

You can't rush this sort of fun :eek:

[sandra]

Uh oh. I hope they work. I asked my doctor for pills and he said "no pills". He said he didn't think they worked as well. Maybe this is normal for the pills? I don't know.

Did you drink a lot with them? (or are you supposed to?)

[sandra]

I just realized...you take the last batch at 10 P.M.? I hope they don't kick in too much then! By that time I was ready for bed. What time is your test?

[HillSlugger]

I had to get up in the middle of the night to take the last 4 pills.

I'm going to bed. I hope it all comes out in the end :eek:

[Starfish]

Hey, I've had a colonoscopy, plus I grow polyps so have had some surgeries...so have done this prep lots of times. It will be OK. Never fun...but, if you've got a doc who will give you all the drugs you could ever want, you won't know it's happening. It is a good thing to do for yourself.

edited to add: I never did the pills...always the liquid. But, I remember that it can take a little longer than you think for it all to start acting. You might be up a lot later.

[sandra]

I'm wondering how you are and how the test went today. :)

[carpaltunnel]

Just thinking of you & wondering how it went.

[sandra]

I hope you are OK. I see you haven't signed in since you last posted before your test. Please check in.

[HillSlugger]

Karen posted this on Beginner Triathlete:


I'm Alive!

I was out of it after the procedure due to getting general anesthesia (? spelling). I ate one meal all day yesterday.

Now it's 7:30 AM and I'm watching my recording of the Biggest Loser and eating breakfast. I hope to be on the road by 10:00 AM.

[KSH]

Thanks MDHillSlug for posting that update! Thanks for checking to see how I was ladies.

They took out a polyp... and otherwise that was all I was told.

I drove down South here in Texas and I am on vacation down here for a few days. Yesterday my insides were sore, but today I'm fine. I got up and ran for 30 minutes.

So all it good... and it's over. And I can't say I want to do it ever again. :o

Have a wonderful Christmas ladies!

[HillSlugger]

I'm glad that you are OK. Unfortunately, colonoscopy is not a one-time thing. You'll have to do repeats at some frequency. I've had polyps removed, so I've been on 1 year and 3 year repeats. If my next one is good I get to go to 5 year repeats. :rolleyes:

[KSH]

I'm glad that you are OK. Unfortunately, colonoscopy is not a one-time thing. You'll have to do repeats at some frequency. I've had polyps removed, so I've been on 1 year and 3 year repeats. If my next one is good I get to go to 5 year repeats. :rolleyes:

Yea... uuummm... in another 5 years... MAYBE. They got their shot.

When I checked in, it was great because the nurse said I might need an enima to get out any remaining stuff and I told her that was where I drew the line and it was NOT going to happen. She saw that I was "cleaned out" and said I wouldn't have to do it. Thank goodness, because I was about to walk out the door.

[teigyr]

I am so glad you are ok! I had been thinking about you too. It doesn't sound like too much fun....but at least it's over.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Yea... uuummm... in another 5 years... MAYBE. They got their shot.
KSH -
I'm glad to hear that you're OK. But - I highly recommend that you change your attitude towards colonoscopies. The test saves lives because it allows docs to remove polyps before they turn into cancer.

My younger brother died of colon cancer this year. He was 51 years old. Yes, we already had a warning because our dad had colon cancer (and is still alive!). With 1 person in the family with this awful disease, my own colonoscopy cycle was every 5 years, but with 2 (and yes, my brother's cancer appeared inside of that reccommended 5-year colonoscopy window)? Because of the family history I will always be on a 1 to 2 year colonoscopy cycle, 1 year for now because I had a polyp removed in my own colonoscopy this week.

I wasn't going to jump in here because you were asking for help / information about your own test, but I just can't let it go because I know there are many women reading this thread who are scared of this test and who are hearing from you that it is pretty awful (and that you seem to be thinking that you won't go for another one). It's true that the prep is not pleasant, but in my experience (I've had 3 colonscopies so far), the test is nothing to be afraid of.

For my first test, I had the all-liquid prep. I almost threw up, and the next time I asked for something else. That time my prep was half pills, half liquid. Better, but that still made me gag. When I made my appointment this year, I again asked about a different prep. This time the all pills prep (Osmoprep) was much better. At least I didn't feel like I was going to vomit! The nurses told me that in order for it to work properly I needed to continue drinking all day long - 8 ounces of water with each set of 4 pills, plus additional liquid for the rest of the day. They told me Gatorade (not red!) was good, so that's what I drank most of the day. Toward the end I switched to Ginger Ale. How much did I drink? There was the required 8 glasses of water, then probably 2 quarts of Gatorade, then I don't know how many cans of soda, a few. Lots of liquid.

My message to those of you who are putting off this test (assuming that your doc has recommended it) is that the test isn't that bad. The prep is not pleasant but hey - it's only part of a day. Taking that time, and having the test as recommended by your doc can be important to your life.

--- Denise

[Tuckervill]

Denise, I'm sorry to hear about your brother.

My father-in-law is a 14 year survivor of colon cancer. You bet my husband gets his scopes at proper intervals. Thankfully, they've never found a polyp, and my husband is not a smoker, so his risk is somewhat less. Better safe than sorry.

Karen

[Thorn]

Thank you, Denise, for putting things in perspective.

Yep, the colonoscopy prep sucks and mammograms hurt, but cancer kills. Today we have the tests for early detection. We're fools if we don't make use of them because of a little inconvenience.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Karen -
Thank you. I'm glad to hear that your father-in-law is OK and that your husband is going for his colonoscopy on a regular basis.

Honestly, the reason I added to this thread is that it scared me that people were getting the message that it was OK not to go for this test. I hope that the folks who needed to hear that the test isn't bad are listening...

--- Denise

[Aggie_Ama]

Denise-

Thank you for sharing. As I stated my own father is in remission from colon cancer. His adoptive father also had it as well. My husbands step-mother saddened and angered me when she told me "I had one colonoscopy and would rather take my chances not having another one." This was while my father was in chemo. The statement was over a year ago but I am still a bit upset.

I sat through my husband's prep and I know it is uncomfortable but I couldn't believe her attitude. Sorry to jump on a soap box but I think it is important for people who have been touched by colon cancer and other disease to remind others that this isn't a test to be taken blown off. My husband is on a five (or is it three?) year plan for his Crohn's and he just takes it as the hand he was dealt. No dread, no whining.

[bambu101]

My mother died from colon cancer at the age of 66, and I still miss her every single day. She was dignosed at age 59, and it had already spread. She was fortunate to outlive the doctors prognosis of one more year, and survived another 7 years.

My sister, brothers, and I all remind each other when we feel like letting those colonoscopy appointments slide for just a little longer. No, it is not pleasant, but it is far better than what our mother went through. You do what you have to do.

[KSH]

Karen -
Thank you. I'm glad to hear that your father-in-law is OK and that your husband is going for his colonoscopy on a regular basis.

Honestly, the reason I added to this thread is that it scared me that people were getting the message that it was OK not to go for this test. I hope that the folks who needed to hear that the test isn't bad are listening...

--- Denise

Well you are right Denise... and I'm sure I'm just over dramatic. If I had a history of colon cancer, the prep wouldn't seem all that bad. I'm very sorry to hear about your family. It's very sad.

For each person... one's tolerance is difference. Where I may suffer... another may not. Where I might be annoyed... another may not.

I certainly won't say anything else negative towards it.

If someone should get it done... then get it done. And TAKE THE PILLS.

From everything I have read, the pills make the prep much less miserable. I also learned that you need to take the pills early to clean you out... since they take so long to work. I wish I had taken them at 4:00 PM as I was told... since they weren't going to work for another 2-3 hours. I was so scared they would work immediately, I refused to take them until I got home from work.

[DeniseGoldberg]

If I had a history of colon cancer, the prep wouldn't seem all that bad.

For each person... one's tolerance is difference. Where I may suffer... another may not. Where I might be annoyed... another may not.

...From everything I have read, the pills make the prep much less miserable. I also learned that you need to take the pills early to clean you out... since they take so long to work. I wish I had taken them at 4:00 PM as I was told... since they weren't going to work for another 2-3 hours. I was so scared they would work immediately, I refused to take them until I got home from work.
You're certainly right about everyone's tolerance being different. And I'm sorry if I came across too strongly, but your post after your test indicating that you might ignore the doc's instructions about repeating the test in 5 years was giving people the message that this test is not important. And it really is.

Even without a history of colon cancer - I highly recommend that everyone follows their doc's recommendation for this test. I knew two people without a family history who died of colon cancer.

I find it very interesting that the doc I go to says to start the prep at 1 PM. Every other person I've talked to has been told to start at 4.

Funny, my doc's office always calls the day before the procedure to make sure I don't have any questions. The first time I had a colonoscopy, they called in the morning. When I indicated I was going to wait until 1 to start the prep, they advised me to start earlier. The comment "you can't eat anyway, so you might as well get started" really hit home for me. This time I started my prep at noon. I was quite happy to be finished and in bed for a good night's sleep by 10.

--- Denise

[Aggie_Ama]

Well you are right Denise... and I'm sure I'm just over dramatic. If I had a history of colon cancer, the prep wouldn't seem all that bad. I'm very sorry to hear about your family. It's very sad.

For each person... one's tolerance is difference. Where I may suffer... another may not. Where I might be annoyed... another may not.

I certainly won't say anything else negative towards it.

If someone should get it done... then get it done. And TAKE THE PILLS.




KSH- Didn't mean to be snippy about your feelings after the test. I haven't even had the test, just seen what it can help people beat. I am pretty sure I will whine, dread and complain about it when my time comes. That is just how I am. :rolleyes:

Hope everything is okay with the polyps and you have a Merry Christmas.