Positive colonoscopy experience (from a VERY anxious patient)
If you’ve seen my last couple of posts on here you’ll have seen I was referred by my GP with a FIT result >200, an upswing in chronic constipation requiring laxatives frequently, and blood in stool/on wiping. I’m a massively anxious person by nature and truly made myself sick with anxiety, to the point of crying for days at a time and not sleeping.
The GP I spoke with had convinced me that I was looking at absolute worst case scenario, which I now know is way off the mark and absolutely cannot be deduced by a positive FIT result.
Anyway, I was referred on the 2WW pathway for suspected lower GI cancer.
PREP -
I was told to begin a low residue diet 4 days before, take 2 Senna at night for two days, and then had the dreaded Plenvu regime to look forwards to.
For the low residue diet, I mainly lived off chicken and mash. For snacks I had digestive biscuits, ice cream, and was allowed chocolate.
First dose of prep was 7pm yesterday. The mango flavour is no joke, it was truly disgusting. I take Laxido sachets regularly so am used to the salty taste and expected no less, that wasn’t the issue here, the issue was the strong artificial taste of “mango” 🤧 I just took big gulps and washed each down with a swig of orange Lucozade sport, however it’s worth adding it took two 500ml bottles to get each prep down, but I got both down me well below the hour timeframe.
Plenvu took about an hour for it to get into the full swing of things which wasn’t pleasant but also wasn’t the worst, given I usually tend towards constipation, I really wasn’t too bothered by it. Although I do wish I’d picked up some Sudacrem!
Second dose was due at 6am, however I accidentally slept in and so didn’t take it until 07:50 but had it down me by 8am. I had to leave the last 50mls or so because I felt so nauseous and tired, but by then I was passing clear liquid anyway.
PROCEDURE -
I arrived at the Hospital at my allotted time and was taken to pre-op by one of the Nurses. Once there, as I’d opted for sedation, I was cannulated, given a gown and shorts, and left to wait for my procedure.
I’d explained to all the staff im advance how nervous I was and that this was my first time, and they were all really understanding and put me at ease the entire time, chatting away to distract me.
Once wheeled down to the procedure room, everything was explained to me by the Dr doing the scope and I was given some painkillers and sedation.
The painkillers did definitely have some effect, I felt a bit drunk and they helped me to relax as the procedure got underway, however sedation didn’t put me to sleep or make me any less aware. I was very aware throughout and had to change position a couple of times, but honestly it wasn’t painful, perhaps just a bit of discomfort at bends, for each of these the Dr forewarned me it was coming up.
I just closed my eyes, breathed, and it was over before I knew it.
I honestly don’t think I would be even half as scared if I had to have one again in future, and it was all worthwhile for a clean bill of health at the end 🌟🌟🌟