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Have all of you had colonoscopies?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 4/3/2007 5:55 PM (GMT -7)
Hi all,

   I was wondering if most of you have had colonoscopies?  I think I'm finally ready to agree to one.  Just curious if having one was part of your diagnostic work-up.

Posted 4/3/2007 6:04 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Cathy,
Yes, I have been scoped. I had the upper and lower done. I think any thorough GI will want to scope you to rule out anything more serious than IBS.
Posted 4/3/2007 8:08 PM (GMT -7)
I also have had both upper and lower, had lower done 4 times. The procedure is not a big deal at all except for the prep. I'm lucky I did it though because of the colitis and the polyps they found and removed. Best prevention when it comes to colon cancer.
Posted 4/3/2007 9:43 PM (GMT -7)
I haven't been scoped, but my doctor didn't feel that my symptoms were severe enough to warrant one - if they get worse, or more frequent, i'll probably have one done. my main problem is gas and bloating rather than diarrhea or constipation, although i tend toward the constipation more than the D.
Posted 4/4/2007 7:03 AM (GMT -7)
I had my first scope 2 weeks ago. It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, even the prep wasn't to bad for me. Here is the wierd part, i haven't had any other tests done. None.
Posted 4/4/2007 8:36 AM (GMT -7)
I've had both a colonscopy and an endoscopy. Everything was perfectly clear and fine (because it was my gall bladder, not my colon that I was having problems with). Get some baby wipes for your bum, because the toilet paper will rub you raw pretty fast. Staying on the toilet all day, wasn't the worst of it. I about went crazy over the all-liquid diet. I was much more preoccupied with food than with the diarrhea. Oh, and the horrible swill I had to drink. If I had it to do all over again, I'd tell my doctor that it's the laxative pills or no scope. All doctors prefer one laxative over another, be it the pills, the GoLyghtly swill or the Fleets Phospho Soda. For every doctor that says the pills don't work, there's another one that swears by them, so who cares what your doctor likes or doesn't like; make the laxative pills an absolute requirement for your doing the procedure. The GoLyghtly is just absolutely nausating. I've heard the Phospho Soda is nasty too, but you don't have to drink anywhere near so much of it, which makes it slightly better. Pico Salax, which as far as I know, is still only available in Canada, is supposed to taste just like Tang and actually taste good, so it is a viable alternative. If I couldn't get the pills, I'd certainly order some Pico Salax from a Canadian pharmacy. No more GoLyghtly for me ever again in my lifetime!!!
Posted 4/4/2007 10:00 AM (GMT -7)

I've had two lower scopes and two upper scopes.  I thought they were kind of funny, actually.  I have a really good friend who has been very supportive through this whole thing and she would come over and bring stupid funny movies and make fun of me while I hightailed it to the bathroom every 5 minutes.  I think it's important to scrutinize the humor in every situation, even if it's a little painful!

I absolutely hated the GoLytely because it was just so much liquid; the Fleet was horrible-tasting but I pretended I was doing shots and chased it with ginger ale and it wasn't that bad!  HA!

Posted 4/4/2007 10:10 AM (GMT -7)
If you have it done and the doctor gives you Fleet, hold your nose while you drink it then gargle with mouthwash.(still holding your nose) You will never taste it. The only thing i remember about it, is it salty. When i was a kid and i had to eat something i didn't like, i would hold my nose and eat it.
Posted 4/4/2007 10:21 AM (GMT -7)
I used the Fleet and agree that it is salty. BUT, it was totally worth it given that it was only a fraction of the amount of liquid compared to GoLyghtly. I mostly did what Sarita did, I mixed it with a little ginger ale and Sierra Mist (I alternated) and took shooters, then I chased it with water.
All in all, it wasn't such a horrible experience. Once you get the liquid down it is a piece of cake... No cramping, just bathroom runs. The scope was the easiest - I was pretty much knocked out.
Posted 4/5/2007 4:39 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks everyone,
Keriamon........I have the same concerns! ........about only being able to drink stuff for the day!
Would I be allowed to take pain med for a bad headache the morning of the scope? I get bad headaches when I mess with my GI tract.
I guess I'll bite the bullet and just get it done. Thanks!
Posted 4/5/2007 9:13 AM (GMT -7)
Hi, this is my second colonoscopy.  It did not go well because they made me stop taking my Konstyl for three days.  I've been taking it for 7 years so I guess I am dependent on it.  I had a large stool though I did take the pills and the prep.  It has to be done again with a two day prep which I am not looking forward to.  I had a small polyp which was removed and I have severe diverticulosis I guess because of the constipation. I am on a high fiber diet and it has worked out pretty good with konstyl and zelnorm.  Now zelnorm is off the market and who knows what will happen to me. Best of luck Kathy...I think you should do it though it is not a pleasant thing.  The prep is unpleasant, the scope is no big thing.

Posted 4/10/2007 10:12 AM (GMT -7)
I've had two colonscopies. First one they found a small polyp; second was clean. The scope itself was much less stressful than the prep.
Posted 4/10/2007 7:38 PM (GMT -7)
Dr sent me for a conoscopy right away. everyone's idea of unpleasant must be different. i found it quite humorous sitting on the toilet feeling like a rocket ship but i think i have a sick sense of humour. definitely get some flushable baby wipes. we have them in all our bathrooms now. guests love it!!! they may not like the way i cook but they never frown coming out of the bathroom! Don't beleive the hype. Pico salax is no dream elixer either. whatever you get, plug your nose and put it down. its for a good cause!!!
Posted 4/10/2007 8:37 PM (GMT -7)
Great attitude, gotta go!!!!  tongue

And good idea on the baby wipes! My tush sure did get sore... I started using the Tucks medicated wipes towards the end.

Posted 4/10/2007 9:46 PM (GMT -7)
I think they don't want you to take Advil or that group either. I think just Tylenol. I would sure like to get some of that Pico Salix. The fleets is just mineral oil and salt in my opinion. I could eat a regular lunch the day before but mine is not done till about 1PM
Posted 4/11/2007 7:41 AM (GMT -7)
LOL Gottago!
Yeah, I was just thinking I'd better get a good supply of books/magazines. hahaha
I have a few more questions for ya'll. Do you usually get to eat lunch, and then start the prep?
What kinds of things are you allowed to have.....jello?/liquids? Are you NPO after midnight?
How long does the explosion last?? Hopefully it doesn't continue all through the night.
Might I be allowed to take a headache pill in the morning? My GI tract won't tolerate NSAIDS or ASA, so I'm safe there..........although Pepto has ASA in it.
Is the cramping really bad?
Can I request an early morning test? I'm afraid I might get a really bad headache, not eating all moring too.
Thanks!
P.S. What else can they see inside you besides polyps, cancers, extra bowel, twists? Can they see some sort of infestation of parasites? Can they see other small animals? lol!
Can they tell if my transverse colon presses too much on my diaphragm? I always have irregular heartbeats when I have stool in my transverse colon, and often wondered why.
Posted 4/11/2007 11:41 AM (GMT -7)

Hey Cathy,

A lot of this depends on what time your scope will be.  Basically, you can't eat for 24 hours prior to the scope.  You can drink as many clear liquids as you want, and you should drink a LOT since you'll be losing tons of fluid with the prep.  I wouldn't worry too much about the headache as long as you're taking in plenty of fluids; if you do get one, try a cold pack on your head (works miracles).  I've found that usually the "explosion" (LOL) lasts a few hours.  I'd drink the stuff and half an hour later start the tremendous joy of expelling all matter from my innards...and probably went about 50 times or so.  Make sure you definitely have those baby wipes handy!

They will take biopsies during your scope to check for all kinds of goodies.  Usually the best way to recover any parasites are during stool tests, which aren't 100% accurate anyway since parasite eggs are only shed intermittently in stools.  But there's not really a better way to test for them (yet, anyway).  They'll be able to tell if the colon is shaped normally or not as well. 

Posted 4/11/2007 11:50 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Cathy,
I had my scope in the early afternoon… Therefore, I had to prep the night before AND the morning of. If you get the early morning scope then you will have to prep the entire day before (dinner the night before the prep day only and nothing solid the day of prep). You will be limited to clear drinks and clear jello. That’s it! Bummer! I must admit though, I wasn’t the least bit hungry after the “explosion” started. I think I was too grossed out… all that liquid you have to drink fills you up. Because I had to prep the night before starting at 7pm I was pretty much up all night long taking trips to the bathroom. I slept for maybe 2 hours in between my night prep and my 6am morning prep.
Get some good reading material, baby wipes, favorite movie, and jello. You’ll be fine.
Posted 4/11/2007 12:04 PM (GMT -7)
I couldn't eat solids after 8pm the night before my PREP or the day of my prep. I could only drink fluids, broth, and jello (no RED jello allowed :) Unlike Lil though I was extremely hungry my prep day and it seemed like all the food commercials were on that day making me miserable. With the prep, (at least for me) there was no cramping at all the last few times however that was with the Visicol pills. When I used Golytely the first time I had a scope, I was cramping and my stomach was not doing too good. Just remember to stay as close as you can near a bathroom because you don't get much warning each time you need to go. I tried to watch a movie but I couldn't because I was up and down too much. Good Luck!! :)
Posted 4/11/2007 12:22 PM (GMT -7)
That's what I forgot to mention! I didn't cramp either... I used Phosphosoda.
Posted 4/12/2007 11:22 AM (GMT -7)
I don't think I cramped. Just went POO!
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