So, I had my first (and hopefully last, at least for a few years) colonoscopy. My fiancé had one a few months ago, so we learned some things along the way. Here are some tips to help save your behind (because it will hurt like never before) in case you ever need to go in. First, a disclaimer: *This is not meant to diagnose, treat, etc. any medical condition, nor is it meant to be medical advice. Please consult your physician if you have any questions/concerns, and always follow the instructions in place by your physician (see more at the end of this post). This was my own experience, and the tips are what helped me get through the night. Just because I experienced things doesn’t necessarily mean you will. That being said, it’s all about being prepared in advance:
- The prep has an odd consistency and salty, plastic-y taste.
- I didn’t use the lemon flavor packet, and I didn’t refrigerate it. NOTHING will make it taste good. I chased it with Gatorade.
- The solution might hit you sooner than you think.
- Within minutes of taking the first dose, I was running to the bathroom.
- You may still be in the bathroom when it’s time for your next dose, so make sure to have it with you.
- Have a bag ready with supplies.
- We had a bag ready with the softest toilet paper we could find, wipes, phone charger, the prep and Gatorade.
- Get Depends/adult diapers.
- Even though I didn’t have an accident, it is a possibility. I wore one at night just in case something happened while I was asleep. Then, I changed and wore one to the clinic, and had one in the bag for when I left.
- Have a bidet? Use it!
- This is something I wish we had. I don’t know for certain, but I’m confident that it would have saved my behind (and his). Because there is so much acidity coming out, and for a good while you’re pushing out liquid, you rear end will be raw. Rinsing before wiping will lessen the time it stays on your skin.
- It will hurt to wipe, even a few days after.
- This one is subjective because people respond to pain, and recover, differently. For me, by the end of the prep, it was so painful to wipe I thought that I’d rather just not (but of course I did). While the wipes helped, anything that touched the area felt like razor blades. There was no comfortable way to sit. The pain wasn’t nearly as bad after the procedure, and total I was in pain for about 2-3 days.
- You will be on the toilet for hours.
- Every time I got up from the toilet I had to go back in, so I just sat. I played games and watched movies.
- Prepare Jell-O and get drinks the night before.
- I’m not sure if agar is allowed, so check with your physician. I made some lime Jell-O the night before, but it was ruined by someone in the house, so I couldn’t eat it. Even though being on clear liquids for the day seemed daunting, it wasn’t at all. It would have been nice to sink my teeth into something.
- Follow all of the instructions.
- This might seem obvious, but be sure to follow the instructions given to you. There is a reason for them. You don’t want to go through everything just to not follow the instructions completely and be faced with needing to reschedule.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
- Seriously, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Nothing question is stupid nor embarrassing. The physician and his/her team is there to help.
Have you had a colonoscopy? Let me know your experience and tips in the comments. Hopefully you found this helpful.
Peace & Love, always.
**Disclaimer: This post is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis and/or treatment options. Information on this blog should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this video are not to diagnose, treat, cure nor prevent disease.
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