Hi all,

I'm wondering what I could expect from my first colonoscopy. Please share your experiences. Did you feel anything? Were you nervous like I AM right now?? How about afterwards?

Thanks in advance

I am having my first one on Friday and I am not nervous at all. The only emotion I feel about the procedure is the anticipation of finally knowing something and the complete thankfulness that there is such a test and that we live in a day when early detection of cancer is a possiblilty.

I had an endoscopy last year and I hear it is about the same as far as the procedure and feeling what goes on: You wake up and wonder when they are going to begin it!

Trust all you hear on this board which is: the day of preparation for the test is the only pain the behind (literally). I am just gald that I am goning to get it BEHIND me an that we may be able to get to the BOTTOM of this ordeal (hee, hee...ya gotta have a since of humor).

I am having the endoscopy AND the colonoscopy and my dad told me to me sure to mention that if they happen to use the same instrument for both procedures to be sure to do the endo FIRST! :jester:

P :angel:

I had my first colonoscopy screening last Thursday. I "flunked" my first prep a few weeks ago as I wasn't able to drink the gallon of GoLytely. After one bottle of Magnesium Citrate and 6 glasses of the GoLytely prep, my body started shaking uncontrollably and I started vomiting... the doc called a halt to the prep. So... last week I used the Visicol pill prep and it was a breeze, even though I often have trouble swallowing pills. The evening before my colonoscopy, I swallowed 3 pills every 15 minutes (for a total of 20 pills) with 4 oz apple juice and followed up with 4 oz of water. After the last of the pills I drank a 12 oz bottle of ginger ale (it helps dissolve the pills). I repeated this procedure the next morning for a total of 40 pills.

I don't remember anything about the procedure itself. They inserted an IV and got down to business. Believe what they say about not driving... I don't remember coming home or much of anything that evening. Apparently I had a bowl of cereal because I found the bowl in the sink the next morning ;-) The next morning I drove to the bank and couldn't remember my ATM # or the drive there. Yikes! It took me most of the day to feel "normal". The doc said they may have given me just a wee bit too much knock-out juice.

Anyway... I was extremely nervous to have this procedure, but I was surprised at how easy it really was. Thankfully they found only one small polyp and it appeared to be okay. Just waiting now for the lab results.

Good luck... and check into the Visicol. I don't understand why more doctors don't use it.

No matter which prep you are given make sure you drink clear liquids other than just water. You will lose electrolytes during the 'clearing out'. Best bets are clear broth and sports drinks such as Gatorade(I found the orange flavor Safeway brand more to my taste). Fleet phospha soda is especially prone to cause electrolyte loss from what my surgeon says and it is no longer used in Ont.,Canada because of this.

A small amount of electrolyte loss will leave you feeling tired and without energy, if the loss continues this progresses to muscle cramps and in severe cases to heart failure. Sport drinks are specifically designed to replace electrolytes and water so they can really help.

I had my first colonoscopy 2 weeks ago. No big deal at all!! I am a complete wimp when it comes to this stuff. I was terrified. It was so EASY!! I felt silly after for worrying so much. I didn't feel anything or remember anything. No cramps later on or anything. I came home and ate and took a little nap and was good as new. Please don't waste time worrying like I did. It's so easy. They found a small internal hemorrhoid. That was it. Good luck to you!!