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! 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.

[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!

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

[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?)