Colonoscopy Comments

It is funny. I think a few comments have been added since I last saw it.

Archy, I enjoy reading what you write. Are you planning on writing any articles for this site? You have an interesting view of situations or people, or perhaps it is simply the words you use to write your views. It’s nice to have your here.

OK4now: I would be happy to write an article, how would I submit it? It’s odd, I’m not a chatter or poster on sites but feel like I have a lot to say, here. So perhaps you can thank Joe and co. (yourself?) for my presence here. Thanks for making me feel welcome.

A little pre advice I might pass along to the proc:

“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”

-Sun Tzu

Archy, did you register with a meowmail email? If that’s you, just click ‘login’ in the top set of blue links. If you forgot your password, click ‘login’ anyways and then click’ ‘forgot your password’; it’ll email you a new one.

If that wasn’t you, you’ll want to click ‘register’ above and follow the instructions.

Either way, after you login, you click the ‘Write’ link at the top left of the page, it’s fairly intuitive on that page what you do. Feel free to ask questions.

I look forward to reading what you have to contribute to the community.

I recently underwent a colonoscopy and endoscopy (sedated) for the first time at the age of 34 (female). My GE has been trying to diagnose why I have chronic

diarrhea and lower abdominal cramping (1.5 years). And yes, I tried all sorts of elimination diets prior!

The doctor’s office (pre-visit) and later the hospital (for the actual procedure) were amazing. I was slightly worried about being sedated as I’ve never

been through that before but it all went very smoothly. Everyone explained everything in detail and gave me information sheets. There was nothing left to

“guess” and I felt very comfortable during the whole procedure and also about asking questions. I gathered information from the internet, including

Wikipedia, to better inform myself about what would happen and why. I will briefly tell you what happened (along with helpful pointers):

–> The day before the procedure I started the Halflytley Bowel Prep Kit I had obtained from the pharmacy the week before. For the clear liquid diet I stuck

with Sprite all the way. Right about 2 hours after taking the 2 tablets at noon, the first BM came along. From there, and all throughout drinking the

solution every 10 minutes as others have mentioned, I had dozens of pure watery BMs. I vomited once, which can be expected, and also felt quite gassy

throughout. This is where I want people to take note: your bum is not used to this many BMs, nor wiping all the time. Even the wet bathroom tissues were

painful. I would suggest asking for advice and using a diaper/nappy cream if possible…you really do need a barrier as I was literally in tears due to pain

on the outside. It took til 2 days after for me to recover just from this. I was never further than 10 steps from a toilet because the BMs come on suddenly

and exit quickly. Plan on being stuck in and getting through this in once piece. This was by far the worst part of the colonoscopy. By the next morning I

had only 1-2 small watery BMs just before the procedure.
–>For women: I suggest take a urine sample container home with you before you start the above preparation. The morning of the procedure I had to give a

urine sample and was just about fresh out of anything remotely resembling urine as I had emptied myself all too well with the above. I wasn’t allowed

anything to drink at all after midnight and nothing on the morning of the procedure and apparently you give the urine sample as they take a pregnancy test

minutes before.
–>Upon arrival at the hospital clinic, I checked in and had a short wait before a nurse did the prep work. She got me into a gown (complete with sockies

and a warm blanket) and inserted an I.V. with electrolytes. I had never had an I.V. and I was surprised at how painless it was. Another short wait and I

walked into the colonoscopy room.
–>For the procedure my GE doctor came from his office to the hospital, and in the room with him was a colonoscopy tech and a nurse. I was introduced to

everyone, they explained what they were doing, I signed some paperwork and moments later I was sedated. I felt nothing and never stirred during. Upon waking

(I believe it was about 40 minutes later), my doctor greeted me and told me that everything looked fine, but he did take 4-5 biopsies to send off for further

analysis. I was wheeled into the recovery room where I was given fruit juice. The nurse was very good to me and explained to my husband and I about the

follow up—what to eat and when and when to go back in for the results. She was there to make sure I could sit up properly and had me sit for a while

before standing. Though I was a little bit groggy within the hour I felt just fine and had my first meal in 2 days.
–>When I left the hospital I had a follow up sheet to take home with all the instructions and appointment information and also 10 color images on a sheet of

paper from the colonoscopy and 6 from the EGD (esphagogastroduodenoscopy) or endoscopy exam. They are absolutely fascinating and this whole experience has

helped educate me in how my entire digestive system works.
–>I just found out today that my biopsies came back normal so I’m going back in 2 weeks for the Pillcam (especially for small intestine viewing). I will

write about this after the procedure and results are back.

Whatever your reason for needing/wanting/being referred for a colonoscopy and endoscopy (and I’m well aware there are risks in this type and many other types

of procedures), please be aware that the procedure can go very smoothly and you can gain vital information in diagnosing.

I guess the procedure went “smoothly”.

Ugh, a little too mucy information for what was meant to be a few funny real statements.

does Lisa have any fun childbirth stories to share? ha ha just kidding….