Colonoscopy

I have had a colonoscopy and I did not need anything. I was absolutely fine.

Anno Entonox is oxygen and nitrous oxide, as used in obstetrics.
The recovery time is quicker than with benzodiazepines- I'm sure you will be fine with it.
Good luck

I had an 'up' as well as a 'down' at the same time. The sedative was only mild and I was fully aware all the time and felt very little. I wish I had gone without because they insisted I have someone with me all night afterwards, which was totally unnecessary. DD was very willing to stay over, but I hated being a nuisance to her.
I hope the experience will not be too unpleasant for you. Good luck!

I'm having both at the same time. The bumf says I should have someone with me for four hours after a sedative but I don't want my friend to have to break into her evening. If I have entinox I should be fine. If not, I will ask my neighbour to keep an eye on me.

AS one who has just come home from 'both ends'. The endoscope man was highly experienced, and only a squirt of the anasthesia sufficed...... The Omeprazole is doing its work!

Next a turn over to the rear ,was told to take Moviprep beforehand which is the devils brew. I took as per instructions, but after 4 hours it all came up, however I had eaten carefully prior with virtually no fibrous stuff..

It was not entirely pain free as they pump you full of air. I had entonox, as he had to manoeuvre round the bends. This he managed to do as well as taking samples

Whole procedure took about 1 hour, and I felt quite disonientated, but had a bout of vertigo to add to the experience.

OH was with me , and took me home, and now about 5 hours post feel fine, but will sleep well tonight.

Good luck, .and let us know how you get on , I'm sure there are many others in our situation

Had a colonoscopy, no endoscopy, without sedation, in fact wasn't offered any, felt fine and really it wasn't painful, just a little undignified! Good luck, all will be well.

Thanks for all the advice. We do have a lot of photogenic innards on Gransnet! I am getting very tired of the low fibre diet. I hope never to have to eat white bread again.

I caught a few minutes of Loose Women today and Jeremy Kyle was on. Supposedly he's doing a new programme where he's in hospital with people having various procedures done. It might be a good idea, when having such things done, to be able to think 'at least Jeremy Kyle isn't filming me' . [ps not meaning to be flippant about peoples medical problems by the way, but it made me think of various bits and bobs that I've had filmed over the past few months].

I had a colonoscopy at the end of August and opted for sedation, but they had entonox on stand by in case I needed a helping hand, as they put it. I did, as it happened, but only for a few moments when he was going round a corner! Apart from the discomfort (and that is all it should be) when the air is pumped in, it's really not that bad. As someone said above, it took about an hour, then you are in recovery for around an hour (I just felt slightly dozy - no change there then!) then they give you coffee or tea and biscuits and send you home with your minder. Good luck, anno. You'll be absolutely fine.

Everyone is different. My colonoscopy was very painful and I had a sedative and gas and air and I was still in a lot of pain. They explained that I have a very winding, twisty bowel and they kept hitting the nerve endings. I was introduced to a student when I went in and my guess is they let him have a go. I appreciate we all have to learn but preferably not on me thanks! As the majority of replies are positive, I'm guessing I'm the exception.

Hotmama at the hospital where I had my colonoscopy, it is only the consultant who does the procedure- how others learn I have no idea and do not care!

I have had 2 colonoscopies without any sedation - no problem at all.

I have had both up and down with no sedative down no problem after spray on throat colonoscopy a bit uncomfortable but I find prep for colonoscopy worse than procedure hope all goes well

Before they did mine, they explained the procedure to me and I was told that the bowel had no nerve endings that could detect temperature, touch or pain, only distension. That being the case, if they hit your nerve endings, Hotmama, you should not have felt it. Having said that, there were a few moments where I wondered who was kidding whom!! Whether that was because they have to blow more air into the bowel to be able to get round corners I don't know. I certainly didn't have a student, and you surely should have been asked for your permission before a student was allowed to carry out a procedure.

I'm waiting for an appointment for a sigmoidoscopy and the consultant told me they would give me 'laughing gas'. He also said I would be sent laxative tablets and a self-administered enema. I'm so looking forward to this!

I agree, the prep was worse than the procedure. My mind was working overtime on the short trip to the hospital, thinking please can we get there asap as I needed the loo pronto! Luckily I was not driving.

I have finally made an appointment for a colonoscopy. What sort of food should I be eating/not eating for the last couple of days beforehand? She said no muesli, nothing with a skin (grapes, tomatoes..) What have you ladies chosen for those last menus?

The literature indicated it had to be nothing with any fibre in it, so white bread, plain pasta, fish, meat, plain boiled potatoes without skins, clear soups or boillion; no fruit, nuts, vegetables or fruit juices; tea and coffee but no milk or anything containing milk. Can't remember what it said about eggs. It was an absolute gastronomic joy ! If I can find the literature (though I'm sure you may have it) I'll copy the list.

Don't know which kind of sedative they used during my colonoscopy but i wish it was on sale it made me feel that relaxed and good!

Boiled fish or grilled chicken with white rice two days before the procedure. Day before, clear fluids only and nothing carbonated.

You should receive list of foods to eat it's basically a very bland diet nothing with seeds nothing red no fruit or veg very boring but it's only for 2days I had white bread mash and grilled fish or chicken for main meal couple of rich tea biscuits for a treat !!!

All went very well yesterday. I decided on the sedative, given that I was having a gastroscopy as well. I hardly remember anything about it, though I was under the impression that they gave me entonox at one point. I got a printed report before I left. The colon is in great health - I already knew about the diverticulosis as I've been living with it with few symptoms for years. The gastroscopy more or less confirmed what the last one showed six years ago and I don't think there's much to worry about there. I had such a good night's sleep last night after all the palaver of the prep and spending so much time in the toilet. It was good to get a decent meal! Thanks for all the advice everyone. We share quite a few experiences! The biggest laugh was the baggy disposable shorts with a hole over the backside that I had to wear! So stylish!
Still don't know why I have iron deficiency but at least I know it's not from internal bleeding.

Good to know, anno!

The part of the colonoscopy where it went 'round the bend' was the only uncomfortable part and I was told to take deep breaths. If I had another one I wouldn't take deep breaths but would do the more shallow 'chest' breathing, as I learned before giving birth. I think that would be more helpful than deep breaths.