General Chat

:-(

Who has had one?

Is the preparation as "violent" as I'm thinking it might be?

:-(

depends on what you are expecting and what you are like...

From our house..

him (had one several times)... hates the preparation and has difficulty handling it even starts gagging on all the liquid, is up till 3am or thereabouts. Tells me when the actual colonoscopy happens "piece of cake" they give you a calming down med and you fall asleep and are quite oblivious to it all and you stay there sleeping till they wake you up.. and yes I have been there when they wake him up after.

Me.. had it once.. preparation "piece of cake" followed diet, started the flushing out early, all over and ready for bed by 11pm.. no worries. Colonoscopy - relaxant given, ready for sleep, no such luck painful as, with nurse also pushing on my stomach. Wake throughout wheeled back to recovery room.. just want to go get a proper coffee and have a lie down at home.

Go figure Scozzie..

It's just as Persephone describes, LadyScozz.
There are a few preparation methods, and doctors / hospitals differ which they prefer patients to use.
Drink it and sit on your throne ... and you'll be queen for a day!
Everything comes to pass, as they say.
Unfortunately, when it's over and you wake up there's no cup of tea and a bikky to welcome you back to the land of the living.
Let us know how everything 'goes'.
Your mission ...!

Good luck, Scozz

Lizxx

Last year DH & I did the poo test..... I think it was sent to most Aussies over 50.

Both our tests were clear.

A couple of weeks ago I received another test, randomly chosen, for the Australian Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

My test came back positive :-(

Appointment for 14th August, I have to pick up a preparation kit from the Pathology place just down the road from us. I know the nurses there, hopefully they will give me some tips.

I think I'll get myself set up near a loo, and I'm NOT going to answer the 'phone!

For the test, I have to go to a hospital about 40 minutes drive away....... should I take a cushion for the drive home? ;-) I won't be driving, DH will have to find something to do for a couple of hours.

Well!!!
I I had the drug to relax me, but wasn't asleep for either of mine - though was very dopey during the first one - I think, through boredom.
The second one, I watched it on the monitor. :-)
The pre-probe stuff you have to drink is a bit 'gaggy' - I managed to bring quite a bit up, but as I hadn't eaten for (I think) 8 hours, that was no problem.
Entry was a bit toe curling - but then, so would someone putting a probe in any orifice - us girls have to put up with cervical smears - don't forget to 'relax' :-S but the rest - no problem . :-D
I would take a pad put in your knickers. It's not sore, but I felt like I was having a bit of 'leakage' - I wasn't, but felt more secure with that little 'extra', as they use a lubricant.

I'm due for another one soon - and was due a bladder probe in July.
As there was nothing wrong with my bladder last time, (agonising pains that were stress related) - definitely need padding after that one!!
I'm deferring all probing until September.

I've just had a horrible thought.

Last week we got a letter from the council (dated 25 June!) advising us that there would be a disruption to the water supply, because they're replacing a water pipe near us.

So far, we haven't seen any work being done, and there's nothing on the council website.

Wouldn't it be just my luck to have the water turned off on the day I have to sit on the throne!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh.

We have three toilets, but I don't think that's gonna be enough :-( :-(

Get the buckets of water in!!! :-D :-D :-D

When I pick up the preparation kit, I'll go shopping for more buckets.

:-D

Stop off and get baby wipes whilst bucket shopping.
Much kinder on a 'busy day'.

;-) ;-)

Last year I had two, a month apart. Different prep for each of them. Had the same food (or lack of it) for 2 days before but had tablets the first time and a drink the second time. Drink wasn't too bad. Immediately before I was given a painkiller and a relaxant/sedative but had to be awake throughout to respond to instructions, such as turn on your back, or take a deep breath and hold it. All the staff were lovely. A nurse sat by my head and chatted with me throughout.

You were hard done by Barry if you didn't get tea and bikkies. I got a choice of sandwiches and two cups of tea. :-D

Good luck Scozz

I had one the preparation wasn't as bad as i thought , but they would not let me have a sedative or painkiller.. it was so bad they had to hold me down... never again!

Make sure they are going to sedate or relax you first.

Barry, I got offered tea or instant coffee and a biscuit, I opted for a glass of water to keep them quiet.. I don't do instant. What did they do BC (before coffee)? Mine was in the public hospital.

His was at a private clinic and he gets a decent cup of tea, club sandwiches and two ginger biscuits. They even offered me sandwiches and cake while I was waiting for him.

Scozzie you better buy water as well as you are probably going to need it to make up the prep stuff which is powdered and then you drink lots of it.

Good luck Catherine and I expect a written report and hope they don't pull the tube out whilst watching it on the monitor (he did not have a screen to look at) and you think it is over and they say we are going to get a longer tube. aarggh.

My S-I-L has had two. she says you need to be relaxed ask for sedative she watched second one .also oh has had two .he was in hospital half a day 8am -start has been on meds 12years .hope all is alright with you Take Care Barbra

When I made the appointment, I was told I would be sedated (they must have heard about me lol)..... and I would be in the recovery area for up to two hours.

I'll have to stop taking aspirin about a week before....... I think the other medications are OK. Probably shouldn't take any pain-killers (for my wonky hip) either.

Gee It's fun getting older........... but the alternative is much less fun. :-(

I definitely don't want to watch the procedure on the monitor! I was given the chance to watch when they put a stent in my heart, and declined! Just do it and hurry up!

Just lie back & think of something wonderful x you will be fine .what`s getting older you are just maturing :-D like a fine wine x

I was declined a sedative because i had no-one at home to look after me for the next 24 hours.

You are not allowed to stay in the hospital overnight apparently,

They saw that i had diverticular disease and no sign of cancer but they take biopsies anyway as a precaution.

Afterwards i was allowed to go straight home.

Lady Scozz, I hope we are not scaring the life out of you. It is not a pleasant procedure but you will be fine - after all we've all lived to tell the tale!

I had mine in our nearest NHS hospital and I can't fault the care I received. I watched most of mine on the monitor but I had a nurse sitting at my level and during some particularly tricky bits she just chatted to me which kept my eyes and my mind focused on her. Everyone was friendly and reassuring.

In fact the worst part was waiting for the results. It was a great relief when I heard that I hadn't got cancer but even if the results had been negative I was reassured enough to feel I would have got good, immediate treatment.

I've been put on a surveillance programme and I will have to go through it again in 3 years time but I won't be nearly so worried next time. Don't listen to the horror stories and I am sure you will be fine.

I had mine done in a Spanish NHS hospital.
The prep was the worst bit. How I got so much liquid down me I will never know.
Was given a light general anaesthetic, taken to the recovery room afterwards & asked what I would like for breakfast.
Don´t know if that was normal procedure, but it beats going to the dentist any day.
Whole thing took about 3 hours including breakfast.

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy done on the same
day, if I was to have the latter done again I would ask for
a sedative.