My First Colonoscopy

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LHutz
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My First Colonoscopy

Postby LHutz » Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:06 am

I’ve been having a lot of health issues since contracting Covid a few months. My GI system has been a mess since then with irregular BMs with D, C, B and M on and off for a few months. So I’m going to have my first colonoscopy very soon and I’m more than a little worried about what it will show.

I’ve read that there is a risk of c. diff from a colonoscopy, but I really do need to have it done so it’s a risk I have to undertake. Unfortunately, my GI doctor who treated me for c. diff no longer accepts my insurance. So I saw my family doctor and he thinks it’s important that I have a colonoscopy ASAP. He’s referred me to a new GI specialist for the colonoscopy. They are squeezing me into the schedule to have to have the procedure done and I won’t have an opportunity to meet with the GI doctor for a formal consultation before the procedure.

I’m assuming that many people on this board have had colonoscopies. I’d love to hear some feedback about whether the procedure caused a c. diff recurrence.

Looking at the prep schedule, it doesn't seem like I'll be getting any sleep that night. Is that pretty normal?

Ril
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby Ril » Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:32 am

I have had 2 colonoscopies in the 8 years since c diff with no recurrence.
The timing of the prep depends upon the time of your appointment. This last time I had an early morning procedure so had to get up at 3 am to drink the 2nd dose of the prep and was up for most of the rest of the night just able to doze for a little while before leaving. But I did sleep for a few hours before getting up at 3 am.

After the scope I got breakfast, went home, laid on the couch, put on the television and had a good long nap!

Hopefully all will go well.
Rita

beth22
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby beth22 » Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:12 pm

My preps were always the evening before, starting about 5 or 6 in the afternoon and I was done by bedtime and slept until I had to get up early. As Rita said, it depends on your time and also what type of prep. Some preps are two step and others just one long step.

LHutz
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby LHutz » Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:04 pm

Thank you for the responses. I'm doing a Golytely split prep. So I take half the prep the day before the colonoscopy starting at 5 p.m. I take the second half on the morning of the procedure starting at 3 a.m. And the procedure is scheduled for 9 a.m. I'm not sure if I'll get any sleep that night. I guess it just depends how long the prep keeps me on the toilet.

beth22
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby beth22 » Tue Dec 01, 2020 4:28 pm

Good luck with it. I've never done the two step prep. In my case, I don't even finish the entire contents of what I need to take because it works before. Ask your doctor at what point you should stop. If after the first half, you are already running clear, maybe you don't need to do the second part, but check the instructions or with the doctor's office. They told me to stop when the stool ran clear regardless if I finished the entire contents.

Ril
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby Ril » Tue Dec 01, 2020 5:37 pm

I had the MoviePrep, which is 2 step and I had to do both parts. My appointment was 8 am and my timing was similar to yours LHutz.
It is really not too difficult to get down. If yours is similar, put the prep in the refrigerator. It makes it easier to drink.

LHutz
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby LHutz » Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:31 pm

The prep I'm doing is the older style prep with the giant 1 gallon jug. I asked my doctor's office if I could do one of the newer preps like Moviprep or Suprep which require the patient to drink much less prep solution. They said that the doctor likes the older gallon jug prep better so I'm doing the gallon one.

roy
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby roy » Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:20 am

Some say put juice in the prep to make it taste better.
Mine tasted like salty lemon to begin with but half way through it evolved into liquid fish:-(
Check if that's OK.

Ril
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby Ril » Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:21 pm

Correction- I had Movieprep first time and Suprep this last time but they both worked the same way. And yes, there is much less to drink but if your dr doesn’t let you switch preps the only thing you can do is switch drs! I didn’t think Golightly was used anymore

LHutz
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby LHutz » Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:35 am

Lemon, salt and fish go well together. I can't wait to drink a gallon of lemon fish flavor drink!

LHutz
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Re: My First Colonoscopy

Postby LHutz » Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:20 pm

I had the colonoscopy. The great news is that I don't have cancer! The frequent B is from hemorrhoids and they found a polyp so I'm happy that I had the procedure done. The prep was no fun, but I was expecting it. The thing I was not prepared for was the severe burning pain in my anus during the prep. It was like a wild fire down there!


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