Diverticulitis Support Group

Congrats!
I am 60...never have had a scope done yet...but have been urged to. I'm terrified of the procedure & the 2 days prior of diarrhea.
My dad also died of colon cancer.

I found the preparation worse than the procedure. I had to start drinking the jug of laxative drink at 3PM the prior day, then had diarrhea for the next 6 hours or so, then some more the morning of the test.

The test itself was easy. I thought they were going to put me under, but it was just sedation. I was aware of what was going on but didn't feel any pain (or even the hose being inserted). They asked me if I wanted to watch the screen (no thanks, I took my glasses off). The procedure took about 20 minutes, then about 25 minutes in the recovery area. The nurse tested my walking and I was let go with my sister driving me home. I've felt fine all day, but I think I'll probably go to bed early tonight.

Way to go sbtier. I am 31, had my first colonoscopy 3 months ago. Now have to have 1 every 3 yrs. I agree the prep is serious...hurricane serious. I was asleep during the procedure. No big deal at all. I hear most people drinking some nasty ju ju. I did osmoprep(?). I had to down 32 horse sized pills within about a 4 hour time frame: Took 4 pills every 15 minutes for 1 hour, then 3 hours later, another 4 pills every 15 minutes for 45 minutes. Not too bad if you can swallow pills. Not everyone can take them though - health reasons. Sounds like the pills are better. I throw up the stuff before ct scans. yuk

I had my first (and hopefully only, since after surgery I won't have much colon left ha ha ha) colonoscopy last week. The prep was horrible, I did the halflytely and it made me really sick. I was throwing up before I had drank half of it and no way I could finish. I was plenty clean though. 17 hrs after I started I was still having the clear liquid bm's. Colonoscopy was great I just went to sleep. I was in a lot of pain afterwards. It felt like my whole insides were bruised, and I had to take pain pills it hurt that bad. My surgeon said it was because my colon was so twisted. I am definitely trying another way to get cleaned out before my surgery!

Summerwine, please have your colonoscopy. I've had 9 colonoscopies and yes, the prep is bad, but death is worse. I was asleep for everyone of them as I told them "PUT ME OUT". I had discomfort twice but it went away the next day. I have to have one every 3 years due to pre-cancerous polyps twice, and a sigmoid colectomy and an ascending colon colectomy.

Good Luck!
Joanne

It is not that bad of a deal. There is not 2 days of "D". Just the night before when taking the prep. I was totaly out for the procedure. My hubby said he was awake for it but felt nothing. I had no problems afterwards except for a bit of gas for a couple of hours.
They tell you to take it easy the rest of the day. So you get to be treated like a princess.

Hugs!

I just had colonoscopy #5. The best yet! I preped with Magnisuim Citrate. I fasted a all day before. Piece of cake - slept all night.

I have had the 2 red dynomite pills twice (do not know what they were - the worst). Could not leave the tolit all night. Bad cramps etc.

The RV antifreeze stuff - polyproplene glycol- bad

Phosphate of soda - bad. Causes kidney failure in some.

I am loaded with diverticula end to end. There would be no good colon left for surgery for me anyway. They can't cut mine out.

I am in the Mesalazine study. Had to get a waiver. Seems all my skipping out on those CT scans almost disqualified me. They had to take a CT scan 4 years old. They did not like it but they did take it.