Colonoscopy advice

There was a thread on mumsnet about this - a couple of posters said if you do the enema with the right timing your bowel will be empty so hopefully no problems with travel.

The stuff that they give you to empty the bowel is pure dynamite! It makes sense that the sooner you empty the system the more likely you are to get through the taxi journey - but the miles of intestinal piping do not always function in a predictable way. Personally I would be a bit wary of a taxi journey. How far will you have to travel wobbly?

rizlett not all of us had enemas,I had some revolting mixture which I drank.

How far away is your hospital? Mine is 2 miles and I had the same worry but made it there but I would not like to have been travelling 10 miles + as some folk do.

All I can suggest is some padding in case of leakage and buy vaseline or something before you start the process because your rear end will be on fire. I bought whatever is used on babies. Good luck.

Don't worry, your bowels will be completely empty. When you have taken the emetic powder that they give to you, do not " pass wind ", get straight to the loo!! (It takes quite a few hours to kick in).

We go to London for Paw to have his colonoscopies, (11/2 hours) . The timing of the Moviprep means that the worst is over the night before and as the gut is so empty on the day, accidents are unlikely to,happen. When he was fitter we used to do it by train, total travelling time 2 hours and it was still OK
2 pairs of undercrackers might make you feel more secure, but this has never been necessary in years of annual scopes.
How far are you going?

I think it depends on the type that is prescribed, wb. I had to begin to take 'stuff' 24 hours before the procedure. There was also a pre-procedure diet sheet for I think the preceding four days. The 'stuff' was as has already been said dynamite. I was well and truly empty from the night before, no risk of anything en route. I'd speak to the prescriber, explain and ask for advice. I had a specialist nurse contact who was very helpful. When I asked about likelihood of accidents I was told many people travel by public transport and not to worry. We had a motorway journey to the hospital, it wouldn't have been easy to stop. All was fine and I felt very confident. Hope you will be the same.

I followed the instructions with Moviprep and found I was well cleared out by the following morning. It took about 2 hours before anything happened after starting the prep, it wasn't sudden with me.

Thanks for the advice. My wife does not drive, so it is either a friend or taxi, about 12 miles / 30 minutes (assuming it is at our local hospital.)

I was going to invest in some giant nappies as insurance.

I found prep worked night before and just a bit day of procedure it takes us about 1/2 hr in car we have both been 3times and been ok ?

WB if it is only 30 minutes you need have no worries at all. As I said we drive (I drive) Paw over 50 miles into London which takes 11/2 hours on a good day with a following wind if you'll pardon the expression
Paw has had annual colonoscopies for the last 15 years so he is a bit of an expert!!

6 senna and 4 litres of moviprep ensures you do not move far from your bathroom. Vaseline for bum, moist wipes and tena lady pants will help especially on the journey to the hospital. I found that my gut was still working up to the time I left the house but was fine on the journey.
My last colonoscopy was through my colostomy and that made the prep easier as I had a bag which caught any accidents.

I'm having a Bowel Scope Screening on Tuesday Wobbly and my worry is the same as yours. The bloomin' enema arrived in the post yesterday (nice) and I have to do it at home and then go to hospital. I am worried about getting there and was hoping to go alone but now I am worried about getting parked and getting in without doing... you know....etc.

You are such a brave lady harri

I start my liquid prep 24 hours before I go to test. I do not drink (even water) for 12 hours prior. I have the test yearly without problems. DH does drive me to and fetch me home.

gillybob - I had to do the same prep. as you (ages ago).
I had to use a sort of enema, cleared out most before I left the house, then got the bus to the hospital. No car at the time. Rumblings still going on.
I did actually make it without an accident.

Timed well you will be OK by the time you get into the taxi. You may feel a bit weak though but I.m sure you will be able to sit down when you get there.
Good luck!

I was told I wouldn't be able to drive afterwards due to the sedative.

That is correct Wobblybits. I elected not to have a sedative and certainly did not need one but I had asked a friend to take me there and pick me up afterwards.

I had one in August. The prep is horrible but though I was okay on the way to the hospital throughout a forty minute journey I did make extra contingency just in case! You will feel groggy afterwards due to the sedative, but they give you time to rest and come round properly, tea and biscuits, and won't let you go until they're happy that you're okay. You'll feel fine by the time they let you go, and although you may feel perfectly able to, you certainly shouldn't drive for twenty four hours. Good luck, wobbly and gillybob; it'll be over before you know it.

Sorry to ask a question on someone else's post but to all those that have to have one every year can I ask this........ My grandfather,grandmother,uncle and mother all died due to bowel cancer, my mother dying in 2013. I had a colonoscopy in 2014 and was told will have one every 5 years. Do you think that is too long between/ and also thoughts from anyone medical greatly appreciated. Thanks. Good luck Wobbly bits !

Angela1961, To a similar family history I have a yearly scan. Sedative is strong, I must be driven.

Wondered what had happened to u wobblybits haven't seen u post recently. Good luck with the procedure.

Please make sure you have a sedative if you have had any kind of abdo op in the past and may have adhesions
It's not painful but is unpleasant if insides are "normal"
Having had major major abdo/bowel surgery mine was done without sedatives and aborted since my insides are horrible
Consultant actually asked why I wasn't sedated !
As long as bowel prep taken properly all should be well when traveling although I too would take precautions for my own piece of mind

The sedation aspect is interesting. I wasn't offered any and it didn't occur to me to ask. To be honest didn't need any, dignity was preserved, the staff were kind, the consultant talked me through the process as it happened, I opted to watch on the screen and found it interesting, no pain and little discomfort. Maybe I was lucky. Certainly there had been no previous bowed surgery. In my case the preparation was far more uncomfortable than the procedure.

You will be told you will feel like to need to 'go' whilst it is happening it's a little uncomfortable but not painful. And I agree that the prep side on it is worse than the actual procedure.