Colonoscopy during menstrual cycle

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GirlFriday

GirlFriday

Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
117
Hi all,

I am booked in to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy on Friday to see if my Crohns has gotten worse. Tomorrow is my fun day of fasting and taking Picoprep. I just have a couple of questions about the prep..
1) I read that some of you mix the stuff with Gatorade - I am going to do that too but I was just wondering, did you disolve it in hot water first or just mix it straight in the Gatorade?
Also, ******question for the ladies********
2) Have any of you ever had to have a colonoscopy at *that* time of the month? I'm really scared that is going to happen to me. What did you do? I can't cancel my procedure because of that.. can I??
3) Is it actually possible to die of humiliation?
:lol:
 
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Hi GF. Good luck on the colonoscopy!
1. I did a pill only prep, so I can't honestly help with this one. sorry
2. I had a fear that that was going to happen to me too, but I know that when I had my surgery the nurses just told me that if it became that time of the month to put a tampon in. Or talk to the surgeon about it and he could say what he wanted me to do, either leave it or use a tampon. I would just call the dr office you are going to go to and ask them what they want you to do if it happens to visit.
3. Nope. Sorry. :) I had some humiliating things happen in the hospital after my surgery ... and I think I'm just now WAY over it all. :)

Good luck with everything. Hope it all goes well. Keep us posted as to how it goes.
 
I had a roommate in the hospital who was prepping for a colonoscopy and made absolutely no effort to make it to the toilet after his first outburst. He just kept shitting the bed over and over and over, then calling the nurse to have her change the mattress. If he didn't die of embarrassment, neither will you.
 
hey girl
yeah as far as the period stuff, if it happens, just tell the nurse when you get there whats going on and ask her what you should do. she should make sure that evryone knows. def tell them though, and dont leave a tampon in without alerting to them that its there. they dont like odd suprises in a operating room lol
ive had this happen to me before for fistula surgeries, so i just told the nurse and it was cool.
hun, they are looking up your butt with a camera, i dont think that the womanly process is going to cause any embarrasment ok? :)
 
Thanks all. I know I wont actually die of embarresment - it just feels that way..lol. Seriously though I'm really glad you mentioned telling the nurse - I wouldn't have thought of that.
Oh WHY does my Doctor have to be so good looking? It is just wrong.
If anyone has the answer to my first question re the Gatorade I would be v. grateful - don't want to mess it up.
Appleadams - the story of that man is just nasty. The poor nurses!
 
The prep is definatly the worst part of the proceeure, after that, relax and enjoy the drugs........

Some people just dilute the prep with cordial, but I tend to drink it as is. I try to get it all down as fast asI possibly can over about 2-3 hours, or less if I can.

Just make sure that it is cold. Drink it straight out of the fridge. don't let it get anywhere near room temp.
 
I had my period when I went to the butt doctor once, and right before I dropped my pants, I said "Umm, I have my period - just so you know." and he said "Yeah - I've seen that before..." almost in a sarcastic tone, but friendly not mean. It happens a lot I'm sure. Then he said "That's way better than poop, don't you think?" Haha. They see it all the time, I mean there is a chance that about 1 out of 6 women have their period when they go right? But mention it if you want, and then it will get the akwardness out of the way right away.
I would also call the nurse to check about the prep directions. I wouldn't think that you need to disolve it if it didn't specifically say too. The other powdered preps I took just mixed right in, but you can always ask just to make sure.
Good luck with the prep and the results!
 
I just did a search for picoprep directions and found this

Picolax instructions:

• One hour before your times above dissolve entire contents of one sachet in a large glass or bowl of (250mls) of warm water. Stir until effervescence ceases. Chill in fridge.
• At your times above drink the contents of the glass followed by one glass of water.
• Continue drinking approved fluids at least one to two glasses per hour to avoid dehydration and to ensure a clear bowel. Try to drink at least 500mls of clear fluids after each sachet of Picolax. This is the key to good bowel preparation.
• This will eventually cause watery brown diarrhoea and will wash the contents from your bowel.
• Stop fluids 4 hours before your procedure time.

-from this gastros site.
http://www.gastroenterology.net.au/procedure-colonoscopy.php
It does say to use warm water, and it also says to NOT follow the dosage directions on the package. Did your doc give you directions of what time to start and how much to take?
 
Make sure you don't drink red or pink gatorade! Someone might know why but I don't, this is what they told me. I didn't do picoprep, I drank trilyte, but what mbh found looks good! Good luck, it will be a breeze.
 
Thanks guys for all the answers!
MBH - my Dr gave me a printed list of instructions which says I should drink the first lot at 1pm, the second lot 90 minutes later and the third lot an hour after that. I'm going to do that. get it all over nice and quick ;)
I'm not stressing anymore about the period thing. As Kello said, if they are loking up my butt with a camera you can't get much more personal than that!
Off to make some Jelly.
 
GirlFriday said:
Thanks all. I know I wont actually die of embarresment - it just feels that way..lol. Seriously though I'm really glad you mentioned telling the nurse - I wouldn't have thought of that.
Oh WHY does my Doctor have to be so good looking? It is just wrong.
If anyone has the answer to my first question re the Gatorade I would be v. grateful - don't want to mess it up.
Appleadams - the story of that man is just nasty. The poor nurses!
Click to expand...


Hey GF. Re: the good-looking dr., you and MissCriss have the same prob lol

Good luck, and be sure to let us know how it went.
 
Lisa5326 said:
Make sure you don't drink red or pink gatorade! Someone might know why but I don't, this is what they told me. I didn't do picoprep, I drank trilyte, but what mbh found looks good! Good luck, it will be a breeze.
Click to expand...

I think it has something to do with it leaving a residue resembling blood after it passes through, or the actually liquid could easily be confused with blood
 
Haha Marissa I'm glad to hear someone else has to suffer through the curse of the Extremley Good Looking Butt Doctor. There should be a law against it I think. My first GI was an older man with silver hair and twinkly eyes. Perfectly fine, I could handle that. THEN he had to retire and be replaced with a charming, olive skinned Jude Law look alike didn't he??

Oh I am so hungry... Remember that scene in Seinfeld where Kramer looks at people and they look like giant roasted turkeys? That's me right now.
 
hahah theres so many things making me laugh in here right now, youre funny gf!!
"everyone looks like giant roasted turkeys" LMAO.
im sorry to laugh at your misery though ;)

glad your not worrying about the period issues anymore

OH the good looking doctors?! GRR! i hate it when theyre good looking!
most of my hospital visits have been for problems with my BUTT so that means that that is always the focus of attention. and guess what else happens when you are staying in a hospy (im sure you all know) but of COURSE all the interns come around to learn!!
ah its so depressing. a hot med student comes in and your already like "oh dammit i havent showered for 18 days, and i smell, and i dont have makeup on..."
and then he starts asking you questiong about your condition. which my condition was always things draining from my anus. and on occasion, poo coming out my lady parts. joy it is to describe the consistency of such vaginal discharge to a hot guy only about 5 years older than you.
*sigh*

ok sorry to steal your thread. hopefully you get a laugh out of my misery when you read this :D
good luck with your poop fest!
 
Hello all,
Well my Extremley Good Looking Butt Doctor did his butt doctor thing today, and I have survived my endoscopy/colonoscopy :)
News wasn't so great I guess (although a lot of what he said is a bit fuzzy from the drugs lol.) While my endoscopy was clear which means it hasn't spread to my upper tract, things down below aren't as great.
On the letter for my doctor (oops, couldn't resist opening it) it says 'In the terminal ileum the mucosa was granular and congested with multipule small ulcers. At the ileo-caecal valve, deep ulceration with fissuring is present and active.'
SO - Extremley Good Looking Butt Doctor said the inflamation has gotten worse and we are going to have to up my medication. I'm seeing him next month to discuss it all. Till then I am just guessing what it all means for me really..
 
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Oh, and of course thanks so much to all of you for cheering me up with your funny stories yesterday! You made me feel much better. I love this place! And not just because I could picture you all as assorted roast meat while I was hungry.. :)
 
So glad things went really well on the scoping aspect GF.

Sorry the crohns isnt so good but at least they are going to nail it positively and discuss options with you soon. ((hugs))

Keep us posted honey.
 
Couldn't help but smile at your comment re Good Looking Butt Doctors, GF! :D I don't actually have a good looking butt doctor. However, when I had to go in the ER a few weeks ago, I had a surprisingly good looking young man-doctor (younger than me probably, and I'm 24!) come and take care of me, when I was all weepy and drugged up on morphine - not only was he good-looking, but he was incredibly sweet and didn't POKE my tummy like one of the other doctors who examined me. That made me feel a lot better! ;)

I found it more embarrassing when there was a really pretty (girl) nurse when I had a colonoscopy. Not sure why...

Glad the colonoscopy is over. I always hate the prep more. Hope they'll do something for you soon :)
 
Thanks soupdragon and coachvee - it is suh a relief to have it over and finished. I am glad there is a few of us who can commiserate with he good looking Doctors.
Kello your story made me smile (and wince in sympathy.. lol)
 
:) So glad it went well girly!!!

P.S. I have a hot Dr too....why can we not have the 80 year old ones? Hmmmm
 
I dont care what they look like... just as long as they can manipulate that £$**^& endoscope so it doesn't hurt.
 
Misscris and Jillian - should we start a petition? Lol :)

appleadams your indicator comment made me laugh - I can image that it would add an extra level of embarrasment to the whole thing!
 
agh 80 is a little TOO old!
lol glad to cheer you up a bit gf, and glad you survived the double dip :D
 
Aww thanks Kello :)

My relief has faded somewhat today, and I am actually feeling a little bit upset and anxious. The reality is that I was diagnosed 2.5 years ago and I had 'mild' Crohn's disease, with a few small ulcers and no scarring. Now from the sounds of my doctors letter it has gotten a lot worse (so have my symptoms) and I'm feeling a bit... scared really.

Anyway, sorry for being so mememe when I know lots of you suffer worse than I do, but it just feels like a reality check for me you know? No more pretending I am fine - I have to accept that I have a serious, chronic disease nd start dealing with it.

Sigh.
 
GirlFriday said:
Thanks all. I know I wont actually die of embarresment - it just feels that way..lol. Seriously though I'm really glad you mentioned telling the nurse - I wouldn't have thought of that.

Oh WHY does my Doctor have to be so good looking? It is just wrong.

If anyone has the answer to my first question re the Gatorade I would be v. grateful - don't want to mess it up.

Appleadams - the story of that man is just nasty. The poor nurses!
Click to expand...



Hahaha I feel your pain! I had my
First upper GI scope without sedation and the young doctor was rather lovely. Unfortunately I did the largest and most embarrassing belches all the way through....CRINGE!!

I was so embarrassed afterwards that I kept trying to apologise and my heart rate went through the roof so they made me lie down on the bed til I calmed down [emoji85][emoji23]
 

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