Anyone had a colonoscopy? I've got one soon. Is it a pain in the arse?

Posted by eastkent@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 10 comments

Do I want sedation, or gas, or just brave it out? Edit: All done! The worst bit, as many said, was the Plenvu; the second part tastes very salty. Not nice. Plenvu is very efficient though, (tip: use lots of vaseline and don't keep wiping, just sit there until it stops for a while then wipe) but the effects are fairly controllable and I did get some sleep that night. The colonoscopy itself was sometimes uncomfortable but not painful. I had just gas and air. Outcome - had a benign polyp removed. All in all not a terrible experience. The staff were brilliant. Cost me £3.90 in all, just for parking. Thanks for all the tips and advice!

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10 Comments

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Retail_itch@reddit

Pasting my comment from a previous colonoscopy thread: Stock up on toilet paper and moist towelettes. Add an extra blanket to your bed, you’ll have no fuel in your body to keep you warm. I had light sedation for anxiety, as well as gas and air for the pain, and I was still quite uncomfortable but everyone is different. After your procedure and you are back home - I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH - do NOT trust a fart until you have been passing solid waste.

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Outrageous_Height_98@reddit

Can you elaborate on your do not trust a fart comment? Not sure what u mean

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Hot-Communication-92@reddit

Hey man, I have my colonoscopy this Sunday at 2:30PM! I have to take Plenvu on the same-day, which is nice ig, with the first dose at 5am and 9am, adjusted from 6am and 10am as permitted by the Endoscopy reception team. Wondering whether i'd be fine on the second dose, hoping the effects don't last too close to around 1pm, being the hospital is around 38miles away from where i live. I'll definitely be ticking the sedation box in the document i was sent, alongside the Plenvu and appointment letter. I'm with NHS Wales btw. Nervous as fuck, but i've wanted this for a while now, been suffering from poor abdominal health since last Dec, despite FIT and blood tests being all normal.

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eastkent@reddit (OP)

Hey! The effect of the second dose isn't as bad as the first, as long as you've been following the instructions properly beforehand. I found that the medicine worked very well and although you don't want to stray far from the toilet to begin with it did seem that when it had finished it had finished. It didn't start attacking me again hours later. When I get the letter to have another colonoscopy I'm going to eat very little for the three days before it, just so there's less to clear out. Sedation does sound the best option for you if you've been having problems anyway because they can have a good root around :) Hope it all goes well for you. Pob lwc.

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morris_man@reddit

Sedation every time. The bit you haven't asked about is the worst part of a colonoscopy and that is the bowel preparation, I've had Moviprep both times and it is unpleasant to drink and the effect is horrid, the first time I took it I thought nothing was happening then all of a sudden **OMG**, don't be far from a toilet or you will regret it.

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eastkent@reddit (OP)

Ah yes. The nurse who phoned me told me all about it. Not really looking forward to it!

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SerpensPorcus@reddit

If it's plenvu (the one I've had) then it's really not bad at all. I prefer afternoon colonoscopies because then you've got a 12hr gap between your two bowel preps (6pm for part 1 and 6am for part 2) so always ask for an afternoon appt now, otherwise end up feeling nauseous from it, esp drinking 1 litre of fluid in an hour in quick succession found it a bit much! Tasted fine though. One thing to add would def stock up on sugar-full lemonade (clear liquid so allowed) - I get weird and light-headed when I don't eat and that def kept my blood sugar levels reasonably up so I was able to function And when they say 'stay near a toilet' - stay near a toilet! You'll regret it if you don't Good luck

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Hot-Communication-92@reddit

Bit late, but i have to take same-day Plenvu this Sunday at 5am and 9am, with my appointment taking place (let's be honest, it will be half an hour later) at 2:30PM. Seems a bit of a tight schedule, but ig it's nice to go through hell on one day only!

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Few_Resolution958@reddit

I was awake during mine.. did the prep exactly by the book. I was in severe pain!!!!! The bloating and cramping during the procedure felt like Alien was trying to rip out of my stomach... WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN WITHOUT BEING PUT TO SLEEp. 45 minutes of torture.

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eastkent@reddit (OP)

It must depend on the state of one's innards, I suppose. I've never had any abdominal surgery or digestive problems, for example, and I didn't think it was bad at all. My wife, however, has lots of adhesions from past surgeries and endo so she found her colonoscopy very painful.