Colonoscopy Prep, Experiences and Tips

Course, I'm with you. No drugs means I get to breakfast a lot sooner.

My last one was in Dec 2014. Only challenge was getting around the last big turn, from the transverse to the ascending. That took a lot of external brute force. Can't say it was painful, but I was a bit sore the rest of the day.

I am scheduled for my second colonoscopy in August when my medicare will pay for it. Like the first one I will not have the sleep medicine because The colon does not feel pain and I generally don't like the feeling of being in control. My doctor was glad to have someone who did not take the medicine and talked to me about what he was seeing while I watched on the television. He took out one polyp which was benign which I could not feel at all, in fact it could have been anyone's polyp. The doctor even joked that his wife was a gynecologist and they had both holes covered. Surprisingly even though I hate Painkillers i was in a bad accident and am on Embeda ER which is a morphine drug with anti drug effect additives. Look it up it is wonderful. The pictures I got back from my first colonoscopy looke d a littlt dirty to me so that I will take an extra cleansing enema before my next one.

I had my first poo on Tuesday, four days after the colonoscopy, and it was a weak poo. I did another this morning. I think I need some enemas to clean all that medical stuff out of my system.

I recover more quickly from a series of enemas.

Guzzleguzzle Kid

I had my first poo on Tuesday, four days after the colonoscopy, and it was a weak poo. I did another this morning. I think I need some enemas to clean all that medical stuff out of my system.

I recover more quickly from a series of enemas.

Guzzleguzzle Kid

There IS NO medical stuff left after a colonoscopy.

You're completely clean inside.

It just takes time for there to be enough bulk in there to defecate.

You recover more quickly after enemas because your small intestine still has chyme in it, which is minimal to none after a colonoscopy clean-out.

Guzzle, Susie is right; nothing left in the large bowel. The prep. with laxatives and PEG solution is so hard on your colon, you may not have a BM for awhile. Eating a goodly amount of food may hasten the return of BM's.

Sounds like you are thinking what they did years ago, following a BaE. You were given enemas to wash out the barium, so you didn't get a Ba impaction. That also fell by the wayside. Wife had a BaE and asked if she should take tap water enemas at home. She was told NO, drink Mag. Citrate, or another strong laxative to push remaining Ba out.

The most embarrassing part of colonoscopy is afterward in recovery, when they tell you to pass gas freely. You're "tooting" away, with other patients doing the same with curtains separating each patient. There is little odor, cause you were filled with CO2 during the procedure. (Room air causes much more cramping than CO2).

2 coloscopies and my spouse 3 and we never stay more than 24 hours without BM.

You and your wife must eat a lot of roughage/vegetables and fruits to have bowel movements so quickly after a colonoscopy clean-out..

In our house our family lives mostly on the paleo/Atkins type diets where you basically eat, as they say, what you can kill with a sharp stick.

Yes we do, and every day, because she have a genetic problem (Lynch syndrom - Muyr - Torre) we eat fruit, vegetables, yoghurts, cheeze every day

After mine last month I had a BM the very next morning. Was kinda loose but not watery.

Jimmyt44, Now that a lot of hospitals/clinics use carbon dioxide to inflate the colon instead of ambient air, there is much less gas to pass. It seems much of the carbon dioxide is absorbed through the lining of the colon.

Switchablesusie: Guess I should have looked for your reply earlier. Friday morning I was feeling bad and did a 4qrt, 5qrt and two 6 quart enemas to clean everything out. The first two had a little White Rain shampoo to make a frothy header on my enema jug.

I was left exhausted all day by stumbled through my dog walks.

This morning I am sweating, but my house is only 68°F. My temperature is 97.9°F.

Another thing I learned from this experience:

White grape juice is a powerful, natural laxative.

My notes for things to do was to drink clear liquids ginger ale, apple juice or white grape juice.

At one point I drank two 32 ounce glasses of white grape juice and two hours latter my intestines were bubbling and gurgling like lab equipment in a mad scientists lab. And I got squirting diarrhea.

I think I would feel better if I bought a pretty new sun dress!

Just had my second colonoscopy on Friday - I'm 50 now and had the first one 5 years ago due to family history. Decided to try the first one unsedated - they put in an IV just in case, and for me at least, the IV and the gallon of prep the night before were worse than the colonoscopy. For the second one, I knew I would again do it drug-free.

As everyone else says, the prep is the worst part. I'm lucky enough to live close to one of the few clinics that offers Colon Hydrotherapy as a prep before the procedure. After having the hydro prep, I cannot imagine ever doing it any other way again. Why this is not the standard prep is beyond me! Maybe the drug companies make too much money from all the bowel preps.

A few days before the procedure, I had to stop eating seeds, nuts, corn, popcorn etc. The day before was the standard clear liquid diet, though I cheated with some milk in my coffee. As a long time enema enthusiast, I took a 2.5 qt enema in the morning, and another one when I got home at about 3 pm. The instructions were to take 4 standard doses of miralax and some dulcolax tabs in the afternoon which I did. After going a few hours later I was done with the prep at home. No gallon of horrible tasting stuff, no discomfort from hours of diarrhea and wiping, no dehydration from so much osmotic laxative, and I was able to get a good night sleep. I didn't have to get up at 2 in the morning to complete a split prep.

Friday morning, I went in. A nurse administered the Colon Hydrotherapy for about 45 minutes. Was a very interesting feeling - quite different from an enema. Felt very good and relaxed afterwards. Immediately following the hydrotherapy, I went in for the colonoscopy. This time I told then I was definitely doing it unsedated, and didn't even get an IV placed. My doctor was awesome, and for me at least it was a fascinating experience to watch the entire process on the screen and get a tour of my colon. He removed 2 tiny polyps which he was not concerned about and took a bunch of biopsies to check for inflammation due to ongoing IBS issues. He also said the prep results were excellent, and there was no residue or anything blocking the view.

The most uncomfortable part for me was definitely the air they use to inflate the colon so they can see. I wouldn't even call it pain, but moderate discomfort for a few seconds at a time. Honestly, I found the gas pains for the couple hours after the procedure to be more painful than the unsedated colonoscopy itself.

For anyone needing to have this done, I would strongly suggest using the Hydrotherapy prep and I will never prep any other way again. Also I would recommend trying it unsedated. If you are worried about the pain they can start an IV and administer the drugs mid procedure if you request it. Although everyone is different, for me at least, the pain was nonexistent. In fact the nurse was surprised that I was chatting with the doctor and asking questions throughout the entire process.

Please do not put off having this test done for fear of the prep or pain! Colon Cancer is very preventable if caught early and prevention is much better than cure!

If anyone wants any more information, I'd be happy to post, or you can send me a message.

I just had my latest EGD/colonoscopy which is every 5 years due to strong family history of cancers including colon. My mother also had multiple premalignant polyps removed. I usually have polyps, but none this time to biopsy, just colonic diverticuli, gastritis and esophagitis without Barrett's esophagus (I was + for Barrett's 5 years ago). A surgeon friend did it under sedation which was perfect. He did note that my preparation, which he wrote for me, was less than perfect. This time he/we did 3 bottles of MgCitrate orally the day before. I was still expelling brown fluid in the AM, so given his comment, next time I think I'll take an enema or two the morning of the procedure. My surgeon and I have been friends a long time but no sense in pissing off (or is this poo-ing off?) your doctor. And the less colon gunk, the better he or she can tell you the truth about what was found.

Eric

I'm getting one this Thursday. I have two of those icky bottles to drink. They found blood in stool test so I have to go and get it done. I'm letting them put me to sleep. I had one in the hospital once and no amount of drugs put me out. The pain from the insertion and the entire process was unbearable. Then I had to change positions while the dr pressed on my abdomen with my legs wide open. It hurt, I was humiliated and I'll not forget it either. And no I was not wearing any clothes. Hospitals have you undress on a table with a sheet and that's it.

Now I have a different dr and he'll do it in his office. But I've read a lot of your tips online so I'm glad I did.

Wish me luck. Even tho I'm not looking forward to it.

So I'm not the only one that suffered, I feel for you Nikki.

I had one Thursday just gone . I've had some issues left from the Steven Johnson Syndrome that needed investigating . As the nurses are visiting me at home and I had clinic on Tuesday my prep was easy . I was put on IV fluids from 7am on Wednesday morning . I could have clear fluids but nothing to eat . My nurse gave me a fleet enema on Wednesday evening . Then they would give me another on arrival on Thursday morning .

As this had been planned with the Gastro consultants for a few weeks I already told them I wanted it done with no sedation . I've had a few colonoscopies and I find them bearable with just a little discomfort. They tried to change my mind as recently I collapsed at home , injuring myself quite badly . I dislocated and broke my left shoulder and fractured my elbow . I have a very heavy cast from my hand , up and over my shoulder and under my arm . It's on for 8 weeks . As I was becoming quite poorly they couldn't wait any longer to do the colonoscopy . So they said I'd have to lie on my right side . They also said it would be more painful , but I still wanted to be awake and alert . So I refused the sedation .

I'm not going to lie now . Insertion was slightly uncomfortable . But after that it hurt like hell . I felt every twist, turn , scrape and biopsy they took . At one point I needed some oxygen to stabilise my levels again . In all it lasted about 15-20 minutes but it felt a lot longer . I was so relieved when it was over and hope I don't have to have another in a while .

I received the initial diagnosis there and then . We already had an idea what was happening . It just needed confirming . I will receive the results from the biopsies etc in about a week . But at least I can start treatment to get me well again .

Nikki

I had one with no sedation , it want unbearable just uncomfortable

I went without any sedation both times; had no problem getting through the procedure. There is some cramping when they inflate with the CO2, but I didn't feel anything else. I made that choice because almost all the warnings concerning hazards associated with a colonoscopy are about the sedation! There are moments that approach the boundary between discomfort and pain, but they were few, and were over quickly. I also didn't want to lose an entire day to "sleeping it off".

There are no nerves inside the colon. After all, if you could feel things moving, the constant process of digestion would drive you nuts! There are nerves that feel pressure when things expand, which all of us enema lovers know all too well.

With a low residue diet for a day before the prep, that wasn't nearly as difficult as expected. I was able to go to my job immediately afterwards, and felt no ill effects. The staff thought it was hilarious when I asked for directions to the nearest frat house when it was time to expel the gas - there are few times in adult life when fart humor is so appropriate!

My prep sucked, but I don't remember a thing about the procedure...I was out like a light. Not sore afterwards and no blood during my next bowel movement. I was cancer and polyp free, thank God. Don't have to go again for 10 years.

Firstly my appologies to mods for not checking this thread and starting a new one.

As some of you may have read in the endoscopy experience thread that my endoscopy only borught to light, a polyp. Medicines were prescribed for that but the pain continued so a colonoscopy was advised 12 days later. Here I describe my experience of colonoscopy. This was my first experience. Through this colonoscopy only, Chrons was diaganosed.

I feel like many others that in colonoscopy, prep is the worst part, remaining can be handled specially if you have it under sedation, like me.

My colonoscopy was fixed in the morning slot. After we got back from the hospital the previous day, the first thing I did was shave myself down there, as I had read that it is a good practice to shave pubic and rectal area before the procedure.

In the evening I had a light dinner and started on the prep solution. Having that solution was the most difficult part as it made me very pukish. In fact I puked after the second bottle. Still I could do many trips to the loo.

On the day of the procedure I reached the hospital ahead of time, around 7.30. Around 8.30 I taken to pre procedure area. There a nurse helped me change into a hospital gown. After she left the cubicle I drew curtains and undressed below waist, underneath the gown as instructed and waited for my turn.

Around 9 a nurse walked in and asked me to lie down. She inserted the canula in my left hand and left the cubicle. I was told that the procdure was delayed as anesthetists were busy in an emergency case. So I just relaxed.

Fifteen minutes later the anesthetist walked in. He checked my pulse and took my brief medical history including the procedures I had undergone under anesthesia if any. He then asked me to wait for the call, tilll the OR was ready. Another 15 minutes later a nurse came in to acompany me to the OR.

When I reached there I saw that apart from my doctor and the anesthetist there were 4 female nurses, maybe two each to assist the doctor and the anesthetist.

I was asked to lie down on my left side on the bed. Then one of the nurses raised my gown till my chest to attach the ECG electrodes and attachd vitals meter on my left index finger. I was asked to straighten my left leg and bend my right to position myself properly.

Then the anesthetist informed me that he is about to give me the sedation. Soon I began to feel sleepy. The last thing I remember was my gown being raosed from behind, as I could feel the chill of the AC on my back.

When I regained my senses a little I was lying in the post procedure area, hooked to an IV line. I was told, this was done as during the procedure my BP had dropped considerably. The effect of the anesthesia was so strong that i dont even know til date that who changed my clothes from hospital gown to normal clothes. Infact I dont remember anything till the till I was fully concious and found myself in my car with my dad.

I am scheduled for my first colonoscopy. I am a bisexual male, who is into all kinds of ass play and heavy anal penetration. Every time I think about it, I get wet.

Can anyone tell me what I can expect? I've already met my Dr, and when I did, my gaydar went wild. He's fem, keeps his nails long and manicured like me, I know he's gay or bi. He is also good looking too!

Anyway, what can I expect?

Kisses,

Jaeme

If they give you "Versed" you won't be awake for any of it. That stuff knocks you right out. My former Gastro doctor used something weaker and I was awake for the start. The lube is a bit cold but nothing you can't handle. I was able to watch the screen for a few seconds too. I never knew the inside of my ass was so interesting lol ?!

As you emerge from unconsciousness you'll feel like you're dreaming. You may also experience a fart so long and thick you'll swear it's a bowl movement.

Nothing is sore but you will be starving because of the fasting. ?

Seriously, the worst part is the fasting and the nasty taste of the Fleet enema liquid. I have mixed it with Vodka before because it's clear liquid and it's still nasty - so ask for the pills instead. You'll have to take them the night before and then another round about 3-5 am. The pills are much easier to deal with.

I suppose you could also ask for no sedative as I think it's optional. Ask the doc and have fun!

My Doctor has nagged me to get this done, but its impossible for me to do it, I cant get free from work, appointments need to be made well in advance, and I cant get a person to go with me, as they wish, so has to be shelved. Also cant get my insurance to comment on whether they will cover it.

Jaeme said

I am scheduled for my first colonoscopy. I am a bisexual male, who is into all kinds of ass play and heavy anal penetration. Every time I think about it, I get wet.

Can anyone tell me what I can expect? I've already met my Dr, and when I did, my gaydar went wild. He's fem, keeps his nails long and manicured like me, I know he's gay or bi. He is also good looking too!

Anyway, what can I expect?

READ THIS THREAD. It will tell you what to expect in colonoscopies. There are more answers here than the number of questions you have.

Being bisexual is MEANINGLESS. A presumably gay doctor is also meaningless in this context. He will be professional. It's not as if you are going to date the guy.

Big Easy, you'd better MAKE TIME to get this done! You are in that age group where colon cancer shows up often, or polyps are found that will become malignant in due time.

I was lucky at age 52. I had stools coated with blood, so my Dr. wanted to check this out. I had NO pain at all, but the stools were pencil thin. (They were squeezed by the tumor).

You can drive yourself, if you don't have sedation. The discomfort isn't that bad; like gas cramps. How about using UBER?

I have never heard of ANY health insurance that would not cover a colonoscopy in a person your age. It's a lot cheaper than what they'd pay for a bowel resection and other cancer treatments.

It sounds like you are making excuses to not have this done.

GET IT DONE! IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

All kidding aside, Big E, you need to find a way - switchable is right. This will save your life if there is a problem. My colon was fucked and they weren't sure if they could remove the "anomaly." They were recommending a colostomy for me until my new doc went in meaning business. He removed everything on the radar and burned the piece he couldn't get.

Nothing will ever prepare you for the two weeks you have to wait while they tell you it looks like it's cancerous.

I've had 2 in 10 years and except for recovering from the general anæsthesia, the procedure was never an issue at all. Prepping for it the day before, i.e, cleaning out "squeaky clean" isn't much fun, but nothing unendurable. And you wind up with your colon getting a complete "reset" like it had the most thorough colonic/enema cleanout ever.

And besides, the potentially life-saving screening is worth putting up with it anyways. You don't want to wind up with a colostomy, or worse, dead.

On my first one, years ago, they found some polyps so I have been on a frequent re-check schedule since then. Luckily, all subsequent ones have been negative. I've had the procedure done by colon surgeons and GI docs both. The used to just give Valium in an IV and now most of mine are done with anesthesia.

For me, and I think most people, the prep is the worst part. I've done at least 3 different prep procedures starting with the one gallon Go-Lytely to the last one which is now 1/2 gallon of prep to drink and some additional liquids to drink. I've never found any of these preps to be a good time at the beach, but you just put your mind to it and get it done.

The peace of mind of knowing that all is as it should be overrides the inconvenience of the prep and the procedure. Millions of other people have gone through it...so you can too. This is one case where what you don't know CAN kill you.

I have them every three years. They tell me it is because the type of polyps I have. The prep is terrible, but endurable.

The procedure is easy and I do it without drugs. The only pain I have felt was some cramping due the air used to a better view.

Course