Anyone had the pleasure of a colonoscopy?

[Queen of Poop]

Sarah, I do hope you're much better now. You had to be so sick, my friend, and I am so sorry!!
QOP, I've never had a colonoscopy and wish you luck with yours. I have had a lower GI and that was no walk in the park and I was wide awake for the whole thing. I assume the prep is the same. It was not nearly as bad as the procedure in my case. The colonoscopy sounds better because at least you're out while it is happening!

Why in the world are you having to wait until December if you are having problems now? I won't get started on nationalized medicine, but this is exactly why I am opposed to it! And I'm making a big assumption that it is the health system in Canada that is causing the delay. I hope they can work you in sooner than December so you can find out what is wrong and start getting better!

It's our great Calgary health care system at work. When they thought I had breast cancer it was all taken care of in less than 2 weeks. With this daily diahrreah (spelling) issue they don't see it as a panic so I have to wait.

[Queen of Poop]

I was wondering the exact same thing - why such a long wait? If that was my GI doc - he would have me in within days - not months.

QOP - not being nosy - but have you ever been diagnosed or treated for IBS? I have the misfortune of having flareups of it, and when I do, I take Bentyl and it's cleared up almost immediately. Just a thought, but maybe your doc has already ruled that out?? I know how unpleasant living in the john can be!

The GI doctor said it seems to be IBS, gone way wrong. I have the issue every day, day after day. I am afraid to leave the house. If I do have to go out I get up 3 hours earlier to ensure I'm done in the bathroom before I go. Being over 40, having diahrreah every day and losing weight can be a number of problems so that's what he's hoping to find.

[pomtzu]

The GI doctor said it seems to be IBS, gone way wrong. I have the issue every day, day after day. I am afraid to leave the house. If I do have to go out I get up 3 hours earlier to ensure I'm done in the bathroom before I go. Being over 40, having diahrreah every day and losing weight can be a number of problems so that's what he's hoping to find.

Well I guess mine is way wrong too, and I've had intestinal issues for many years, but your doctor should be able to put you on meds to ease it. I've been the everyday route too, and multiple times each day, and being afraid to leave the house. There's no need that you should have to suffer like that, and I can't imagine him not giving you any meds to at least make it more managable. Sure you're going to loose weight with diarrhea every day - no way you wouldn't. It just seems kind of reckless for them to make you wait so long when it could be serious. What you're going thru is far from normal, and IMO, they should get you in for the procedure immediately.
Gosh - I feel so bad for you since I know exactly what you're going thru. I really wish I could help.

[Pam]

Remember - wine is a clear liquid.

Alas, the second thing on my instructions sheet was NO alcohol the day before or obviously the day of the procedure! They take all the fun out of life! LOL!

[aTailOf2Kitties]

Hopefully a colonoscopy will lead to an answer and a treatment. Do they suspect Crohn's disease? I think it results in an unpredictable colon.

[Grace]

Alas, the second thing on my instructions sheet was NO alcohol the day before or obviously the day of the procedure! They take all the fun out of life! LOL!

I can't remember if it was on my sheet - that was 8 years ago. If it was, I chose to ignore it

[Queen of Poop]

I was told to take more fiber. Like 8 tsp a day rather than the 2 I was taking as recommended by the nutritionist. Also told to eat chicken, fish and old cheddar. No meds given. So far nothing has changed, in fact, things have gotten much worse with the break in and now today someone has abandoned a vehicle at the front of our yard. So tummy is again acting up.

I have no notes about not having alcohol before the test, just can't have anything red. White wine here I come!!!

Maybe Richard will act as host that day and look after all our liquids needs!

Thanks again everyone, you're making this whole thing ever so much more bearable.

[Laura's Babies]

Had mine done today and it was a breeze! However, my daughter told me afterwards that my BP and Oxygen levels dropped and scared them, she thinks they gave me to much sedation and that what caused that. I was there longer than I should have been because of that..

All I know was I was O-U-T and didn't know a thing, went out and ate afterwards and took a long nap at home, now I am back to normal.

Only ONE polyup was found this time so I don't have to have another one for 5 years.

[Queen of Poop]

Had mine done today and it was a breeze! However, my daughter told me afterwards that my BP and Oxygen levels dropped and scared them, she thinks they gave me to much sedation and that what caused that. I was there longer than I should have been because of that..

All I know was I was O-U-T and didn't know a thing, went out and ate afterwards and took a long nap at home, now I am back to normal.

Only ONE polyup was found this time so I don't have to have another one for 5 years.

Glad it went mostly well for you today and that you're back to normal now.

[K9karen]

but I did manage to drop two pounds (got weighed the morning of my procedure) so that was a good thing.

Only to prove my point that you're full of it, girlfriend...

[Pam]

Only to prove my point that you're full of it, girlfriend...

haha! It's funny that you say that because on the morning of the procedure I said to the hubby "you can't say that I am full of cr@p, at least today!" LOL!

[boomersooner]

Haven't had one, but a good friend of mine did....He said to flavor the nasty stuff with non colored powder packets like lemonade or something...he also made up all of the glasses and put them in the bathroom since he was in there most of the evening! He was also put on a clear diet the day before fiber therapy (daily Benefiber) afterwards.....He doesn't remember anything about the procedure or afterwards for that matter.....Good luck...you'll do fine!

[Catty1]

QOP - is there any chance you could get this done sooner by going to a hospital in Airdrie, or Canmore, or somewhere? (I'll drive ya!)

Here's a link to a very similar story - how a woman cut her wait time for the procedure you are having: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...copy-wait.html

Since Alberta is all one big health region now, you should be able to get it done anywhere.

Just a thought.

{{{{hugs}}}}

ETA: When I had to 'clean out' before a surgery a couple of years ago, I found Superstore had a generic drink - lemon and ginger flavour. I compared the label with the branded stuff, and it was the same. Wasn't half bad for taste, and worked! Ask the pharmacist.

[Laura's Babies]

I overheard a lot of people talking about the stuff you have to drink and how it taste, one lady said she put a pack of Crystal light in hers are it made all the differance in how it went down and tasted. Hope I remember that next time!

As for the weight.... I hate to admit I dropped 7 pounds from beginning to end. I bet everyone I would be at 115 pounds and that is what I weighed before leaving yesterday.

[rosethecopycat]

Yep,

I dropped 5.5 lbs, but it comes right back when you start filling the 'reservoir' again.

The prep for the Colonoscopy was so delicious in comparison to the middle bowel test.
The prep for the middle bowel test was horrific.
The unflavored barium was in a large styrofoam cup, and she handed it to me, and it weighed like there was a gold bar in there or something. This is a 'heavy element' isn't it!
Certainly was not an 'edible' thing. I could only take in 1/2 teaspoon per sip. Then I had to concentrate on not hurling. I asked her what if I hurl? And she said we would have to start again.
Then I had to wait (pace) through a couple hours of xray series. Every bit of my concentration on not tossing what felt like a lead weight in my stomach.
Still with the taste of lawn furniture going on.

After the test, I went to Toojay's. Ate an egg salad sandwich and promptly ralphed it into the trash can outside.



Richard-

24 cans of Brawndo should be the prep. It's got electrolytes.