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Not a good time

By lm (Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 06:48:32 AM EST) (all tags)

So today I get introduced to the wonderful world of colonoscopy.

Started the laxative last night. Last night wasn't so bad.

Second does needs to be finished in 20 minutes. This is hard. Have to suppress my gag reflex.

Less than a litre left to go.

And I was typing this the last 250ml I drank just came back up.

Fun times, no?

Not sure why they do the 4 litres of liquid thing - I'd guess to make sure that folks consume enough liquid to not get massively dehydrated.

But, I for one, would rather take pills and drink 4 litres of other liquids.

< Siri, draw me an Inconvenience Store | You Take The Good, You Take The Bad... >

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Not a good time | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 hidden)

I got lucky last time by georgeha (2.00 / 0) #1 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 09:47:31 AM EST

The doctor said I was fine for another five years.

I have another one coming up by miker2 (2.00 / 0) #2 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 11:56:20 AM EST

I absolutely hate having to drink the big jug of liquid. Starts off not so bad but quickly becomes an exercise in "how can I hold this down?"

The "lucky" part about having ulcerative colitis is this will be my 7th or 8th one so I have a protocol in place for doing everything.

I've found that starting the fast 12 hours before they recommend makes it all a lot easer at the expense of being a bit more tired from lack of calories. This, coupled with no veggies for a few days before means you can get away without consuming the entire jug.

Practice makes perfect. by lm (2.00 / 0) #7 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 04:09:58 PM EST

My SO has to get one annually. I don’t envy that.

Kindness is an act of rebellion.

[ Parent ]

I _should_ be going every other year by miker2 (2.00 / 0) #9 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 06:04:13 PM EST

But have been using the pandemic as an excuse to skip the one I was supposed to do in 2021.

I've found coordinating transportation to be one of the biggest hurdles, especially now.

[ Parent ]

: A cow-orker of mine ... by lm (2.00 / 0) #14 Tue Jul 26, 2022 at 08:57:46 AM EST

... said he did a series of 24 pills his most recent time. I think I'm going to try and go that route next.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]

what's your prep ? by sasquatchan (2.00 / 0) #3 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 02:45:43 PM EST

mine was buy two 32-oz gatorades (NON-RED flavor) and a ~300 gram bottle of mir-lax. Split the mir-lax into the 2 gatorades.

Then, take 4 stool softener laxatives around 2-5pm night before. Start drinking 1 bottle at 5pm, in 8oz portions, over 1 hr.

Then, get up 6ish hrs before appointment, start the second bottle.

Wasn't too bad -- I was pooping clear water up to about 1am (that was the suckiest part), and only took maybe a third to half of the morning dose (got up at 4:50) and was still pooping clear, so said f-it and stopped drinking any more.

Mine was prescription by lm (2.00 / 0) #5 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 04:06:32 PM EST

But it was basically some amount of the same drug as in miralax to which I added four litres of water and split in half. Drank two litres at night and two the next morning.

Notes from the procedure said my prep was “excellent”.

Kindness is an act of rebellion.

[ Parent ]

: 2 liters ?!? dang by sasquatchan (2.00 / 0) #11 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 08:36:06 PM EST

a 32 oz bottle of gatorade is a bit less than a liter, and is pretty easy to chug.
(they warned me to pick a flavor I don't like already ... because now every time I smell that flavor, I think/associate it with pooping my brains out)

[ Parent ]

Are they still that bad? by xth again (2.00 / 0) #4 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 03:16:09 PM EST

When I did my first one it was torture, but the last one was bearable. There must be different version of the stuff.

I was told the one I took wasn't laxative as such, but it had a chemical in it that somehow disabled the mechanism in your stomach that redirects water away from the colon. So if you don't eat you end up washing it all up. It's quite satisfactory seeing the the images on the screen with the whole intestine spick and span. When I was in my psychedelic phase I really wanted to do one of those "detoxes" where they clean your intestine with liquid. I cringe just thinking about it now.

: They’re still that bad by lm (2.00 / 0) #6 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 04:09:15 PM EST

But there’s a lot of different ones out there. Depends on what your doc says to do and what you’re insurance will pay for.
Next time I’ll ask the doc about what my alternatives are. Knock on wood, my next one will be five years. They did find two polyps. So long as they aren’t the dangerous kind, I should be good to go for a half decade.
Kindness is an act of rebellion.
[ Parent ]

Honestly by kwsNI (2.00 / 0) #8 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 04:44:19 PM EST

For me, it’s the 24 hours of not eating solids that was the worst part. I mean, the prep wasn’t fun but I don’t do well without food.

I am coming up on that by dev trash (2.00 / 0) #10 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 08:17:34 PM EST

In October. Down the Wikipedia rabbit hole and apparently you can do the whole thing without sedation

--
I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR BALLS! ->clock

Welcome to your fifties! by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #12 Mon Jul 25, 2022 at 08:59:49 PM EST

Clean colon last time (implying good for ten) and family history of colon cancer (every five) had my last butt-doctor say I could do seven.

Alas, my 57th birthday is in a couple weeks.
---
[ucblockhead is] useless and subhuman

No family history of colon cancer by wiredog (2.00 / 0) #13 Tue Jul 26, 2022 at 05:16:22 AM EST

So my doctor has me doing the stool sample yearly.

Dave Barry has a very funny description of his colonoscopy experience in the Miami Herald.

Earth First!
_{(We can strip mine the rest later.)}

yuck by barooo (2.00 / 0) #15 Tue Sep 13, 2022 at 03:59:43 PM EST

I had a relatively minor bout of Diverticulitis last spring, took a bit to get it diagnosed because the first bout the pain was mostly referred into my groin and the pain was never that bad, but also infection symptoms. First round of antibiotics paused it a bit, then about 6 weeks later it was back but way harder. Was over Memorial Day weekend as well, so had to do the er to get a CT scan without waiting 3-4 days. But never had any serious pain, it was just the infection. It's cleared up and knock on something hasn't come back.

But as follow up I had to get a colonoscopy. I turned 45 in Nov. so was due for it either way. For me the worst part was drinking the prep; I managed the fasting okay and didn't even mind the actual pooping part, but if I never taste that nasty salted robitussin flavor again that'll be fine with me. Having it be cold, and drinking via a very large straw helped a bit. The actual procedure was fine, I enjoyed watching, and I'm not even convinced they gave me any drugs I felt 100% alert just not particularly concerned.

man, i need a beefy taco now.
-gzt

Not a good time | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 hidden)


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