Colonoscopy Prep, Experiences and Tips

I do mine without anesthesia. I experience no pain at all. It has the added advantage of being able to do what you like when the exam is over ie: drive a vehicle.

All I felt was the instrument going in and the sensation of it being worked by the doctor. He explained where we were and what I was seeing on the screen.

I had propofol as well.... 100% out! I was also having an endoscopy done, so they decided to put me all the way out.

My first colonoscopy was with an anesthetic, and I liked being able to watch the inside on TV with the doctor. I now believe, however, that after inserting the instrument, they usually knock you completely out for a few seconds while the push it far in (see below). In my first one, done very quickly, the doctor accidentally punctured my left-hand side of transverse colon -- which can be fatal. Fortunately, the puncture was very small, and the swelling from the growing infection caused it to seal itself, and gradually healed.

Because of this, my second one was with Propofol (?), which is supposed to put you completely under. Unfortunately, because I was lying there very still, the doctor assumed I was asleep. After inserting it slowly & carefully, he then RAMMED it in with one quick motion. I thought he was just putting it in to wait while I was asleep. I think he put it in at least a foot. If you've never been awake thru this, you have NO IDEA how VIOLENTLY this is done. WHOA! was my reaction to this entirely unexpected event.

Bratwurst, sounds almost exactly like the one I had.

When you reach a certain age. . .

A colon scope becomes a really good idea. Mine was last fall and I will have another this fall to check for polyp size increase, HOPE not! My female and somewhat younger gastroenterologist doc was same as prior appointment about 10 years ago when it was a flexible sigmoid in her office. Prior day and same day enema was only prep for that and no anesthetic of course. There was a nurse or office clerical assistant who was in room at same time and I'm sure she watched closely. I remember her asking why I wanted a female doc and I said that this particular doc was well recommended. I suppose she might have imagined that I wanted to be an exhibitionist but really, it is a procedure and I wanted a good through exam and if the doc and attendants saw me, it would be no different from any other men they might have seen getting a scope check.

The scope at end of the tube had a camera for recording. I wanted the same doc for the colon scope this past time.

This took place in clinical setting and followed two days of prep drinking nourishment, eating very little and very soft foods only, and taking a laxative regimen

some kind of liquid with a powder fruit flavoring, went down with kind of s slimy feeling. Not my favorite kool aid.

Doctor had a 30 something female assistant and I was out for almost all of it. Last thing I remember was being flat on back nude from waist down under a sheet.

No pain or after effects at all, no bleeding, I think a female doc is more gentle when that tube is pushed in, just based on this one experience.

Greg

My doc has asked that I have a colonscopy (I'm a bit older). I had one years ago, and was stone sober; it wasn't that bad, but it was 20+ years ago. So I am asking them to do it with no sedation. I also have an issue with IV's, in that they just don't work well in my veins. In any case, the experience of ManyOoohs4U (#8 above) sounds a bit scary. Has anyone else had that kind of experience, that is having it rammed in? And actually puncturing the intestinal wall? (Which can, indeed, be fatal). Scary, scary, scary. After reading this I'm getting cold feet, and wondered if anyone else has a comment on being "stone sober" during the procedure, good or bad experiences, and how much it hurt for them if they had no sedation. Any comments are appreciated.

E2e2, I had a colonoscopy last month, and went without sedation. The Nurse Anethetist uses the same anesthetic that Michael J. used to kill himself. That wasn't the issue for me. With a small percentage of the population, there can be a problem with any anesthetic. Now, I trust my Gastroenterologist, he is an acquaintance of mine.

However, too, I wanted to watch the monitor and experience the colonoscopy 'live'. So, I did. There was no ramming of any sort. The biggest discomfort was pumping air into my colon to allow for the easier passage of the scope, coupled with the visualization of the colon.

They found 4 polyps, 2 pre-cancerous, and that's why we get 'it' done. I would have had colon cancer sometime. And, now, I will not for the time being. He'll take another look in 3 years.

Good luck,

Hermann

I've had several 'scopes without sedatives/drugs over the course of the last 10 years. There are moments of discomfort as the 'scope "rounds" the various bends in the colon. In the main, not a big deal. Please note, I've had a hemicolonectomy, so that could make a difference. As most people would probably say, the prep is by far the worst part of the whole thing.

Just had my 8th colonoscopy this week. This is the first time they told me to do a "split-prep." Usually, you start drinking the PEG solution in the morning until it's gone. With the split prep. you begin drinking it at 5 PM and consume half of it and stop. Early the next morning you drink the rest and go in for the procedure. After drinking half of the PEG solution, I was awake most of the night, leaking all over the clothes, bed covers, floor, everything.

I attempted to finish the solution in the morning, but still had pieces expelling, with my procedure set for a couple hours away. I took 2.5 liters of tap water and got the particles washed out. I was still leaking PEG solution while on the gurney. The Gastro. was cool about it and said he'd just suction everything out. As usual, he found 5 new polyps all over the colon and removed them. These had appeared since the last scoping 3 years ago.

This was the worst prep. I've ever had. I will never do a split prep. again. In my past colonoscopies I'd drink all the PEG solution the day before and take one or two 2 quart tap water enemas the morning of the procedure (this was my decision). I am going back to this method.

I'm sorry your prep was so yucky, for lack of a better word. I agree, do it all at once and get it over with. There is no reason to prolong the agony. You probably know this given your experience, but to ensure a "one time" prep, schedule your appointment for the butt-crack of dawn, that way you'll do it all the day before. Sometimes, it pays to be diabetic.

Two months ago, I had a colonoscopy with the split prep. I had a 7:00 am procedure and like @jimmy44, I was up all night, without leaking. On the positive side, however, it was the easiest and most gentle prep of the five I have endured.

I had my first one earlier in the year. I had the single stage prep/cleanout. The actual procedure, all I remember is talking the anestolgist and while I was talking, feeling the Dr. opening the gown. Next thing I remember is waking up back in the recovery room and the Dr. stopping by and saying that I was good and would not need another for 10 years.

Well today is going to be my second colonoscopy and of course endured the dreaded prep. My prep started last night at 4pm by taking two Dulcolax pills, then at 5pm, 10 oz of Mag Citrate, then at 6pm, drank four - 8 oz glasses of Miralax every 15 minutes. I started to go about 6:30pm, and continued until about 11 pm, when it finally slowed down. I then woke up at 3am have to "go" again. And when I would go, it just kind of drizzled out of me. I had a few good blasts, but by 11pm, the returns were not very clear. The instructions said that was okay, and that when I finished the prep the this morning starting at 5:30 am, and again had to drink four to five 8 oz glasses until the Miralax was gone. I was going some, but the returns were still not clear. I was getting worried, that is going to be a problem.

When my wife got up at 7:30, she asked "Why do I not hear the toilet flushing?" I was going some, but the returns were not clear. I left the toilet unflushed to get her opinion as to whether or not she thought it was clear enough. (My wife has had a colonoscopy twice before). My wife suggested I call the doctor per the instructions. I told them what was going on, and they said "we might have to reschedule your appointment". I told them that I did not want to do that, so they contacted the advice nurse and she called me back. I was really hoping to do an enema, as that is what we all like to do here. The advice nurse calls me back and I explain what is going on. My wife standing next to me while I am on the phone, says "ask the nurse if you can take an enema"! Now you have to understand that my wife has never had one, hates it when I do one, and wants nothing to do with them. I was floored when she suggested it.

The advice nurse says, do you have a Fleets enema at home? I said no, but I have an enema kit that I could do a tap water enema. She says that she will ask the doctor and will call me back. So she calls back, and says the doctor said it was okay to do a tap water enema. Ya-Hoo!! Of course my wife says, "that will make you happy!!" and she is right. She knows about my enemas, but does not want anything to do with them. She is taking full credit for getting me my enema today!

So I just finished taking 2 tap water enemas. The returns on first enema had a sizeable plug of crap come out. I am so glad I took that enema! I thought, I better be sure as the first was only about one quart. The second was a full 2 quarts and the returns were clear!!!

So I am going to wait a little while and take a shower before we head out for the procedure. The next time I have to do a colon prep, you can bet it is going to include enemas. I will probably do a enema-till-clear before I start the prep. and of course, follow up with another enema after the prep is complete. Hey, this was doctor approved!

I had one last winter...hated the prep. Was told no enemas by the staff prior to the appointment...what a bummer!

Had one done today without sedation. The doctor was surprised I did not want to sleep. It was not painful at all, maybe slightly uncomfortable at certain points. It was very intersting to see my bowels from the inside.

I've never (thankfully!) had one but I know someone who did. He said the prep was the worst part. He was under for the main event and doesn't remember anything.

I had colonscopy without sedation and analgesic because I had a work appointment immediately after and definitely it was not a big deal, a little disconfort for a few seconds, you cannot really call it pain, definitely better than a normal dentist appointment. In fact the worst part was preparation: laxatives, diet etc. I think for most of people sedation is really useless, even if some people with a special anatomical configuration can have much more pain than average, for 95 % of people sedation is not necessary at all.

. . . . 95 % of people sedation is not necessary at all.

NOT TRUE!

The reason is because most people are wimps and they expect everything to be easy and completely without discomfort.

The increased length of time and complaining of discomfort by patients would ruin an otherwise well arranged doctor's schedule.

The increased length of time and complaining of discomfort by patients would ruin an otherwise well arranged doctor's schedule.

While I'm not saying people should give up analgesia if they want it, I am agreeing that drugs are unnecessary for most people getting a colonoscopy. The doctor's schedule and profitability is not my concern. With just a bit of time, caring and skill, drugs aren't needed. My doc uses a pediatric scope and doesn't require drugs. She says that the smaller scope is easier to maneuver but takes a bit of finesse. .

I do the procedure without sedation and have no problem. Start to finish is about 20 minutes maybe a little more. The doctor I use is very skilled and there never has been any discomfort.........guess I am just lucky.

I have done this four times..........the fifth will be next year.

NOT TRUE!

The reason is because most people are wimps and they expect everything to be easy and completely without discomfort.

The increased length of time and complaining of discomfort by patients would ruin an otherwise well arranged doctor's schedule.

Now THAT's the truth! Most people are bloody wimps and whiners. Methinks Susie will have a field day with most folks and hav'em squirming without much difficulty... 😁

Yes they are wimps, but the doctors have bought into that nonsense.

My last colonoscopy was without drugs. It was incomplete because the doctor couldn't navigate my hepatic flexure. I'll put odds that if I wasn't there to witness, he would have just called it complete. No, I'll never go back to that quack.

BTW, the common drug used for sedation is Versed. It causes amnesia. You still feel everything, you just don't remember. It is also known to cause long term memory issues, it did for me, and a strong possibility of adverse emotional reactions to the fragmented traumatic memories it leaves behind.

As one who requires sedation due to my kinky bowel, yes pun intended, I couldn't disagree more. Susie and I usually see eye to eye on most medical things, but not on this one I'm afraid, with all due respect Sue.

Versed is a very nasty drug, propofol is a much better choice of meds in this case with seldom there ever being any side effects, and absolutely no memory issues.

Mashie

As someone who is suffering from the after effects of Versed for the last 3 years, NEVER AGAIN. I'll go with either nothing, a light narcotic like fentanyl or propofol. There is no negotiation.

All I remember of mine was the feeling of the bowel inflation, which I found quite uncomfortable, even with pethidine and midozolam, That, and seeing my appendix on camera.

Painkillers? Yes Please.

This is not a big deal. About sixteen hours before you appointment, you start taking some pills that will clean you out. That's the most disgusting part. Once you arrive for your "procedure", you will be given a gown, ask to undress completely, and taken into a very cold room. At that point, you should be partially sedated; the doc will turn you on your side, lift up your gown, do a DRE ... and by this point, you're completely out. Do take a friend along, so when the doc explains the results, at least one of you can remember what he said (you'll be a bit disorientated). Again, it's a non event.

I had a colonoscopy a few years ago and without a doubt the worst part of the experience was drinking the vile fluid the day before that cleaned you out. I swear to God I wasn't the first person that had that stuff go through me. When I went to the pharmacy to have it filled I was given a 4 liter jug with powder in it. The Pharmacist suggested that I mix it with water the night before and let it get very cold. I had to drink all of it, 1 liter an hour. It was disgusting but wow was I cleaned out. The following day I showed up and the hospital, was taken to the room and allowed to undress. After a nurse started an IV in the back of my hand. A few minutes later the doctor came in and the nurse injected sedative. The next thing I remember is waking up to another nurse encouraging me to pass gas and get the air that had inflated my colon out.

I try to translate my post from French to encourage to make this exam, even if you have no symptoms.

I made the preparation, the two "super-enemas", at 4 p.m. the day before and in the morning at 5 a.m., the product in 1 liter of water and another liter of water. The first time, the effect was not immediate, I had to wait an hour and a half after starting drinking. After this about 45 minutes in the bathroom. It was not necessary to force me to drink, no nausea.

And now the story of the colonoscopy:

I arrive at the doctor's office in advance, at 11 p.m. I go to the bathroom to also empty the bladder. The doctor meet me at the waiting room, we go to his office and he explains me the conduct of the examination. He asks me a few questions: if I have problems with the intestines, what medications I take. He asks me if I came by car, and, as this is not the case, he offers me to take a sedative, "so I do not keep a bad memory and I come regularly do a colonoscopy."

Then we go in another room with the devices to make the exam. I have to remove my shoes, my pants and underwear and put disposable shorts, obviously with a hole in the rear. The nurse then asks me to lie on my back and inserts me a cannula in the arm. She asks me to turn on the side and gives me a finger sensor (for the pulse control). When the doctor returns, the nurse injects the sedative and I fell asleep instantly.

I wake up without realizing that I fell asleep. The exam comes to the end as I think that it is only the beginning. I see the inside of my intestines on the screen, it's pretty fascinating. The doctor shows me the rectum and then upwards. He shows me a diverticulum in which there is still fecal matter that has not been eliminated by the preparation. These diverticula, due to age, can ignite like the appendix, so I have to go see a doctor immediately in case of abdominal pain. He then shows me two polyps, fortunately not malignant, but he decides to remove it anyway, because of my family history. He asks the nurse for a tube with a clamp at the end and I can see the resection of these polyps. I then realized that the examination is over. I have to wait on the side to expel the gas, then the nurse led me into another room to rest a few minutes. She has already carried my clothes. The doctor comes back, offers me a drink and advises me to come again in 5 years.

In summary, it was not painful and not as bad as it is often said. The presence of two polyps, even not malignant, makes me think that I have not been wrong to do this colonoscopy.

The last two colonoscopies I had were performed with sedation. My first one was performed without sedation and I was able to watch the TV monitor while the procedure was carried out. The only discomfort I remember was from the air injected to allow the doctor to snake that device inside my intestines. I had a benign polyp which was removed during the procedure and I don't remember feeling any pain from that either.

The worst part of the procedure was the prep. I wish I could have been sedated during the prep portion rather than the actual colonoscopy. Drinking a gallon of that awful drink was absolutely horrendous. OK, call me a wimp. but I think a majority of people that have to undergo colonoscopies would agree that the "cleansing" part is something they could do without. My last colonoscopy required drinking a smaller amount of fluid (Gatorade) mixed with a huge dose of Miralax. This was a definite improvement compared to the amount of liquid I had to consume during the previous two colonocopies.

I had my 5th colonoscopy this week, this time without sedation. This one was done because of a positive result for a fecal hemocult blood test during my annual workup with my primary care physician. I also have had a polyp removed in the past and have a family history of colon cancer. Primarily, I did it that way because I take a longer than normal time to come out of anesthesia. I've always come out of it, of course, else I wouldn't be writing this.

However, it freaks my wife out and freaks me out too, after the fact. Beyond that too, I wanted to be fully aware of what was going on, what the doc was seeing/not seeing, and be able to ask questions as the procedure progressed. It took a while to get that idea through the staff at the hospital where the procedure was done but they agreed to it; the doc had already agreed to it when I went in for the consult.

Anyway, I did get to see what the inside of my colon looks like and was able to talk to the doc and staff during the procedure. I cannot say, however, that this went down without discomfort. I found out that I have a longer colon than most folks and, for that reason, it was difficult for the doc to get to the end where it joins the small intestine and to identify the appendix opening. This caused the procedure to last maybe 15 minutes longer than it would have otherwise and was quite uncomfortable at times. I had to roll to my back, my right side and my abdomen until the appendix opening was finally located. Overall, it was tolerable and when I have it done again in 3 years, I am likely to not have sedation then.

Several have commented on using enemas as prep for a colonoscopy. While you can take enough enemas to clean out your colon, the problem is that your small intestine continues to pump stuff into your colon. Thus there is no way around taking some form of bowel prep. My doc did allow me to take enemas the day before and my colon was well cleaned out. Nonetheless, the bowel prep produced a whole lot more as it emptied my small intestines.

Even so, while I thought there could not possibly be anything else anywhere inside me after it was done, there was a surprising amount of fecal matter still in my colon when the procedure was done (or so it seemed to me). The doc was not concerned tho and when I asked, he indicated that the prep was good. During the procedure he washed out whatever was in his way and was able to see everything and everywhere he needed to.

The prep I used was something called Suprep, one of the "split prep" varieties. It has two 8 oz. bottles of stuff with sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate (epsom salts). You mix each with an equal amount of water or some other non-red clear liquid; I used yellow Gatorade and follow that with two 16 oz. cups of water. I took one at 5 PM the day before (after I had taken several enemas) and one the next day 5 hours before arriving at the hospital.

Trust me when I tell you that the effects were swift and dramatic. The advise to "stay close to a toilet" was a severe understatement. I have to say, though, that in terms of palatability, this stuff was the easiest to take of anything I've had in the past. It's not something I'd go out and buy just to have a bottle around to make margaritas with but everything else I've ever taken made me gag. This stuff did not. At 4 o'clock in the morning when I took the second batch, that's an important consideration.

Lastly, for anyone thinking that having a colonoscopy done is somehow hot or erotic, forget it. I get off on the sexual side of enemas and having my ass played with using toys. While I couldn't help but feel the instrument sliding in and out of my anus into my rectum, it was definitely NOT erotic in any way, shape, or form. 😢