Have you had a Colonoscopy??

Pinky said:
I've had colonoscopies in Canada, and Australia. The Canadian prep was not easy to get down, but, hopefully it may be more palatable by now. The Aussie prep was like drinking soda pop, and they allowed lolly's (sugar barley candy).

You're going to do fine, Patty.
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I just read the how to prepare for a colonoscopy and the prepared drink seems to be the worst part of it. They describe it as explosive diarrhea. They claim that it can be so bad that you might need to wear an adult diaper and bring extra clothes to the hospital.
This is alarming!!! Then they are going to shove a camera up there??? Oh dear. I’ll be fine. Yikes.

If you guys have all done it and lived to tell the story than so can I!

Thanks again Pinky.
 
I've had four (one last year). Frankly, I'd prefer to be out. I usually have an endoscopy done at the same time and I REALLY don't want to be awake for that....

Yes, the prep is the hardest. As the Miami Herald humorist Dave Barry said, at one point you swear you're eliminating stuff you haven't even eaten yet.

If you want to read something funny, look up "Dave Barry: A Journey Into My Colon - And Yours". I guarantee you'll laugh.
 
I've had several colonoscopies. I actually like the general sedation. Aside from waking up like a slobbering idiot, I've found it some of the best sleep I've gotten.

The prep seems to have gotten better over the years. What I don't like is the inability to eat solid foods after a certain time the day before the procedure. Broth and jello just don't do it for me. I've found the new prep to taste better and not be as voluminous as it once was, but being near the toilet is an absolute must because the purpose of the prep is to clean you out.
 
Thanks Jujube and seadoug. It appears like it’s a common procedure that many people go through.
Kaila said:
I haven't either.

explosive diarrhea???
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Yes. Apparently from the research I’ve done that’s what the prep stuff is for. It cleans your body from every bit of food you’ve eaten.
The info I read suggested bringing a lap top into the bathroom for the day before surgery , meaning you might as well get comfortable in the washroom cause you’ll be needing to go often. Some people vomit as well as having diarrhea. I’ve read this from more than one source as well as reading the posts here.
 
I had one in Jan 2025 in the hospital. I think it would have been better for me to have UNflavored prep mixture.

I was on the verge of vomiting all night with queasiness. Nurse had to keep putting something in my iv to prevent that.
 
Pinky said:
@PeppermintPatty

I've had several colonoscopies, and, only once did I upchuck.
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Sorry to read that.
Pinky said:
I think it was the first time, and the prep tasted horrible. I couldn't keep it down. I'm fairly certain that the prep is more tolerable now.
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From what I’ve read , it appears that the prep drink IS more tolerable than it used to be. They even suggest adding some additional flavour to make it more palatable .
 
Lawrence00 said:
I had one in Jan 2025 in the hospital. I think it would have been better for me to have UNflavored prep mixture.

I was on the verge of vomiting all night with queasiness. Nurse had to keep putting something in my iv to prevent that.
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Wow. Thats just last year. I guess I’ll just have to wait and find out myself
Thanks for contributing
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I figured there would be others who opted out of the general anesthesia.
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I think you’d have to have a real medical reason to have a general. A light, wonderful sleep is the norm. Some people want to be awake.

Kaila said:
The preps are not nearly as difficult and distasteful as they were , years ago.
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It used to be really gross 40 years ago. Now it’s ok. When they give you a prescription, get it early so the pharmacy doesn’t run out of the better flavours. I wasn’t pleased that I have to pay for it now in BC. Maybe $60.

PeppermintPatty said:
I hate the idea of being naked in front of strangers. The fact that they are shoving a camera up my butt gives me the creeps.
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They‘ve seen so many naked butts, your’s won’t be anything special.

When you wake up, they give you a cookie.

Important - make sure you have top quality, very soft toilet paper - and lots of it.

Do you know the date of your exam?
 
About 15 years ago I had 2 colonoscopy, 2 tests down my mouth. (Whatever that is called).
I did not remember anything until I woke up.I was not allowed to drive.Someone had to be there.
I just felt sleepy for about a day after.

I heard that there is an Invasive Alternative,
"Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) is a primary non-invasive alternative that uses low-dose CT scans to create 3D images of the colon without sedation, allowing patients to drive themselves home immediately. Stool-based tests like the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), and Cologuard (stool DNA) are also non-invasive options that can be performed at home, though they require no bowel preparation. "

Bless you and I hope everthing goes well.
❤️
 
Jules said:
I think you’d have to have a real medical reason to have a general. A light, wonderful sleep is the norm. Some people want to be awake.
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I read that in the states it’s standard procedure to have a general anesthesia
Jules said:
It used to be really gross 40 years ago. Now it’s ok. When they give you a prescription, get it early so the pharmacy doesn’t run out of the better flavours. I wasn’t pleased that I have to pay for it now in BC. Maybe $60.
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Oh the drink is a prescription?
I didn’t know that. I guess that makes sense. I hope it’s covered by our insurance.
Jules said:
They‘ve seen so many naked butts, your’s won’t be anything special.
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Yes this is true. I’ll try reminding myself of this when I feel uncomfortable
Jules said:
When you wake up, they give you a cookie.
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Oh joy! Oh bliss.
Jules said:
Important - make sure you have top quality, very soft toilet paper - and lots of it.
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We always have soft, top quality toilet paper.
Jules said:
Do you know the date of your exam?
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No date set yet. I only just got the letter today saying that my fecal sample was abnormal.
The letter said that they’d call me. Unfortunately I don’t have a doctor . The one I had moved to Ontario to get a better job.
 
I've had a couple of colonoscopies (aka lower endoscopies), and more recently the Cologuard. However, I have had 6 upper endoscopies (aka gastroscopies), three of which included radio frequency ablation (RFA) (about 10 years ago) which killed pre-cancerous cells in my throat (Barrett's esophagus with low-grade dysplasia).
 
spectratg said:
I've had a couple of colonoscopies (aka lower endoscopies), and more recently the Cologuard. However, I have had 6 upper endoscopies (aka gastroscopies),
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I just found out today what endoscopies are .
spectratg said:
three of which included radio frequency ablation (RFA) (about 10 years ago) which killed pre-cancerous cells in my throat
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I’m surprised that the colonoscopy can successfully remove most types of polyps while doing the procedure. My letter even states that most polyps are NOT cancerous.
 
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I've had three or four over the years. I believe @KSav is right about the prep being better. My middle grandson had a colonoscopy about a year ago and from what he told me, the prep solution is much better than the last time I had one done. I want to be knocked out despite the fact that I hate the IV starting process because my veins go into hiding. I've never had discomfort after the procedure. Can I ask why you can't get general anesthesia?
 
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