31F, UK (NHS), first timer. I just wanted to share my experience here as I found this thread so so helpful leading up to my colonoscopy, thought it was only right to pay it back. This is a positive story.
Symptoms leading to referral:
- Bright red blood on stool and TP after BM on and off for over a year
- Anal pain when passing BM
- Some abdominal pain, mild/inconsistent
- On the constipated side but what would still be considered within the normal range
- No family history of CRC but close relative has ulcerative colitis
I had been reading about rising rates of CRC in younger people, and I also work in cancer screening research so I was really freaked out about these symptoms. Went to my GP who did a digital rectal exam and said he could see haemorrhoids but that they weren’t bleeding, so he couldn’t be sure that was the source of the bleeding. GP recommended a FIT test and calprotectin test, both came back negative but I was still seeing blood after going to the toilet.
GP then put me on the 6 week rapid GI referral waitlist for colonoscopy, which was scary. During this time I literally went mad with anxiety, barely ate, slept, hardly did any productive work, pretty much convinced myself I had CRC and my life was about to be turned upside down forever. My partner is a doctor and he was certain it was just haemorrhoids, but he isn’t a GI doctor and although I trust him thoroughly I just couldn’t convince myself that everything was ok.
Prep day comes around. I had Plenvu. It wasn’t as bad as people make out here. Yes it tastes disgusting but I got it down. The advice here was so helpful; I chilled it and drank through a straw holding my nose. Took a few big gulps then chased it with orange lucozade sport. I found it easier to just neck it as quick as possible rather than sip. I did the first prep drink at 7pm, expected it to work quickly but it didn’t. I didn’t have a BM until around 10pm/10:30pm and even then it was only small. Things got going around 3am. I was worried that meant something bad (I had messed up prep, or worse: something was blocking my colon) but after 3am I was going pretty much every 10 minutes. I took the 2nd prep drink at 6am, which was harder to get down because I was expecting the bad taste but I didn’t feel nauseous after. Then I was still going to the toilet regularly until around 10am when things slower and I was just producing clear yellow liquid.
My appointment was at 2:50pm. I think by this point I was so exhausted by my own anxiety, not sleeping, and the not eating/prep that I was sort of numb going to the hospital. It’s the same hospital my partner works at so I left him to do basically all of the logistics, and I switched my brain off.
I was seen on time which is good because I was worried about having to wait ages in the hospital waiting room and getting super anxious. The nurses were so lovely and friendly, assured me everything would be ok. I opted for sedation so they put a cannula in my hand. I was a bit nervous about that as I’d never had one but they asked where I’d like it which is nice and it hardly hurt - same as a blood test but better as the needle doesn’t stay in.
The doctor was very kind as well. I was so scared that I cried as I went into the procedure room but the doctor was very kind and reassuring. He gave me the me the max amount of sedation based on my weight (which I told him, they didn’t weigh me) and I immediately felt very sleepy. I didn’t feel the scope go in, but I did feel it move around some of the tight bends, it was uncomfortable but didn’t last long. The doctor was talking to me throughout and telling me what he was doing with regard to moving the scope which was also reassuring for me. It all felt like about 5 minutes even though I was in there for around 30 minutes. Doctor said everything looked fine, I had a healthy colon, prep was 9/9, I had some haemorrhoids and that was causing the bleeding. I then got wheeled into recovery bay and the nurses gave me some water and biscuits. They took my blood pressure 3 times and then I was allowed to go and meet my partner to go home.
For the rest of the day my tummy felt a bit sore (like trapped wind) because of the gas they put into you. I also got my period like an hour before the colonoscopy (which actually kindof helped because the period pain was distracting!), but I couldn’t tell you what was period cramps vs post-colonoscopy pain. I thought I’d be super hungry after but I wasn’t, didn’t have much of an appetite but was happy to be able to eat fruit and veg again.
First BM post-colonoscopy was a bit soft (probably due to the laxatives) but otherwise normal and not painful.
Overall, it was A LOT A LOT A LOT less terrifying than I had made out in my head. And the relief I feel now is indescribable. If you are worried about any symptoms, speak to your GP and get a colonoscopy. I know we don’t screen with colonoscopy in the UK and even if we did I’d be too young, but if you have symptoms like me, you can get referred for a diagnostic one. The GP was amazing and listened to all my concerns, and so was the hospital. The NHS is amazing, didn’t cost me anything and they looked after me so well. We are so lucky to have the NHS.
I wanted to include as much detail as possible here as I am someone that likes to know everything that is going to happen procedurally. If you have any questions then I’m happy to answer them. For reference (without doxxing myself) this was an East of England NHS trust - I could not fault them, they were incredible.
Tl:dr 31F UK, blood on stool / TP + abdo pain, negative FIT and calprotectin. Super anxious over 6 week wait but colonoscopy went fine, no polyps or cancer, just haemorrhoids. Relief is worth going through it.