Hello

[sunshine11]

I have IBD. I was first diagnosed in 1999 but have had rare bouts of it. I have a family history of colon polyps and cancer and just recently after eating have had pain in my lower abdomen along with some blood in feces so went and had it checked and this is where I am at now...waiting to have some procedures done. I am scheduled to have a colonoscopy and endoscopy here in December 2011 and my husband's mom has totally freaked me out. She said that it is not good to have a colonoscopy in the afternoon because your colon can get bacteria the longer the day goes on (doesn't make sense but still freaks me out) and says having the procedure done first thing in the morning is best. She then said the liquid they give you will make me very ill and not only will I be on the toilet but will have the joy of vomiting as well. Is that true? Is anyone willing to share their experience with me for prepping for this procedure? Thanks everyone.

 

[Emily]

oh boy. Not sure WHERE she got that info. I have had multiple colonoscopies and at varying times. It's fine, the prep is just a whole bunch of liquid laxative that you drink. This is just to clean out your bowels. You'll spend a day on the toilet which is a little annoying but must be done. You will be anesthetized during the scopes and won't feel a thing. These are pretty standard and safe. You should be just fine!!
This is very worth it too, the scopes will give your doctor some really good information so you can start treatment.
Good luck!

 

[danielleD]

Oh my :/ I get one done every few months !! You will have a lot of bathroom breaks from drinking the prep .. But this has to be done .the cleaner your bowels the better . As for vomiting I never had any at all .. They do put you to sleep.. You feel nothing at all .. But really they no what they are doing .. So no worries .. It will be over be 4 you know it .. And you will have a better idea what is going on with you take care and try not to stress over it DanielleD

 

[PGHCrohnsGirl]

She then said the liquid they give you will make me very ill and not only will I be on the toilet but will have the joy of vomiting as well. Is that true? Is anyone willing to share their experience with me for prepping for this procedure? Thanks everyone.

If you go to the wiki page on this forum for colonoscopy prep, there are some good tips on how to deal with the prep, such as using wet wipes versus dry toilet paper, creating a protective barrier with vaseline or a similar ointment to prevent over-irritation of the rectum, etc. It might seem scary, but, really, colonoscopies are not all that bad. It is true that the prep is not very fun, but, it is not horrendous. I have found that having a little entertainment station set up in the bathroom helps to deal with all the time spent on the toilet - think TV tray with laptop, magazines, and puzzle books - as sometimes it is easier to just keep yourself planted on the toilet rather than run back and forth every time you need to go.

There is a possibility that you may get nauseous from the prep for the colonoscopy. The last time that I got one done, my doctor gave me a script for one reglan to help with the nausea; this time I'm going to try an over-the-counter liquid anti-nausea treatment before I start the prep. If you are afraid of getting nauseous during the prep, you could ask your doctor about what type of anti-nausea medicine you could take to help prevent it.

And, the only difference between getting one in the morning and one in the afternoon is the time of day that they are performed. I'm getting my next one in the afternoon. I'm not sure where your MIL got her information from because there is always bacteria in the colon, no matter what time of day it is, and in the small intestine, too.

 

[Jessi]

Hi Sunshine and welcome to the forum.

The others are right.I don't think it was very nice of your mother in law to scare you the way she did. Is that common for her? She needs to be more supportive. I didn't feel nauseated at all during the prep. Toilet runs, yes, but no vomiting. I remember the colonoscopy was very easy. I felt very relaxed. They put me to sleep for 15 minutes, and I woke up really happy.

You didn't mention what kind of IBD you have. Do you have Crohn's? Or ulcerative colitis? Or a kind of microscopic colitis? It's great that you rarely have flare-ups. Are you currently taking any meds? I hope after this scope, you and your doc can find a plan that will get you well quickly.

Hope you stick around! It's great to have new people on board! :hug:

 

[scl]

My most recent colonoscopy was done at 5 p.m. It was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. but some patient from the emergency room needed an immediate colonoscopy. I hung out with the nurses and techs working together on the NY Times crossword puzzle.

My prep was typical - lots of bathroom breaks but no vomiting. Was expecting worse. Maybe Crohn's patients are used to multiple diarrhea runs - it was a typical day for me! Ha!

Anyway, I wouldn't be inclined to have many conversations about your disease with your MIL unless she refrains from offering opinions on subjects she clearly has no knowledge of or experience with.

Good luck. You'll do fine.