Oh, Jannie, I'm so sorry for the awful health problems you are having. My prayers are coming your way. Yes, I had a colonoscopy a couple months ago. Really, nothing to it. And I'm a big baby.They gave me something to relax me but not put me to sleep. I didn't feel anything. The worst part was the liquid diet for two days. Actually a funny thing happened during my procedure. The nurses and Dr were talking and I kept butting in their conversation, so one of the nurses came over and shot a little more of the "relax' stuff into my IV. probably to shut me up. LOL Good luck to you, kiddo, considering what you have been through, this will be a snap. Dottie

Jannie, I had my first one last November. That's when they discovered I had a cancerous tumor. They gave me a liquid to drink the evening before the colonscopy and I threw it up, so had to reschedule. The next time they gave me tablets which were much easier to take. You won't even know when they do the colonoscopy. You will wake up and it's over. They removed a couple of polyps, but I never felt any discomfort at all.

(((Jannie))) Sorry to hear you have such a devastating disease, but glad to hear you are on the transplant list. The battery of tests are just "stepping stones" to a better life for you in the future. Best wishes!

As for your question....I have yet to experience a colonoscopy....it has been mentioned a couple of times when I was or had a battery of yearly testing and one more test was not something I relished. Besides I always have a PET Scan and it will show any active cancer cells.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your post!

Jannie, the colonoscopy is one of those things that is much easier than the anticipation. For myself, I had a colonoscopy in April, and I was worried about low blood sugar during the prep. But I drank a mixture of 100% apple juice (or apple-peach juice, also 100% juice) and electrolyte water all day, and my blood sugar stayed fine.

The best tip I can give you is to do the Miralax prep. It's the one my doctor recommended, and it was much easier than other preps I've heard about. Not a huge amount to swallow, and it went down easily. Plus you can buy the large size of Miralax over the counter.

Good luck to you in all your tests and your transplant.

Susan

let me know how it goes, as I have one tentatively scheduled for november 18

It's not a big deal at all. The prep is the worst part. There's lots to drink and you'll need to be near the bathroom for hours.

When you go to the hospital for the procedure, they'll insert an IV and give you some medicine to relax you. It's not anesthesia to knock you out, but you might fall asleep anyway - I did.

I felt pressure during the procedure, but no pain. I fell asleep for part of it.

Afterward, I was tired for the rest of the day, and took a long nap. I was fine by the next day.

It really is *much* worse to think about it than to do it. Good luck with the procedure and with the kidney transplant. A friend of mine had one 15 years ago and is healthier than ever, and I wish the same for you.

I've had 2 and been knocked out for both of them. My sister stayed awake and watched on the screen....no thanks. Lucky for you they have better prep meds than a few years ago.

I had a sigmoidoscopy last month and once I was undressed they asked for my family history, when I told them my brother had colon cancer at age 35 and 40, they said get dressed, you need a colonoscopy. I said no way, I did the prep, you do the procedure! The prep was drinking a tiny bottle of some citrus-tasting liquid. So they did the sig and then scheduled the colonoscopy. LOL

I had the colonoscopy last Monday. Prep was a bit different. Same theory, different approach. They flood your innards with 4 liters (1 gallon) of a disgusting drink called "Golytely" that was incredibly hard to swallow. For some reason it goes through your bowel instead of through your kidneys. They give you 2-4 hours to drink it all. It took me 5 hours and I still had a tiny bit I just couldn't manage. Then I spent the next 8 hours ... oh, nevermind, you don't want to know those details. LOL

The only reason I got as much down as I did is because I had read somewhere to take a tiny sip of mouthwash after each chug (do not try to drink the Golytely slowly, it only makes it worse).

The pharmacist suggested mixing the Golytely powder with water the night before and put it in the fridge. Makes it easier to get down. Not for me, I only was able to get it down easily once it warmed back up to room temperature. Your mileage may vary.

The actual procedure was a breeze. :-)

Jodi-

What Joann said. The test isn't bad, the prep kinda ruins a whole day, but it's worth it to be sure everything is ok.

Good for you, taking good care of yourself, getting ready for that transplant.

Best wishes,

Susan

Jannie, I'm just popping in to wish you nothing but the best going forward.

For me, dreading it was the worst part!

I'm sending good wishes your way.

Jannie, or anyone, if you have to take the Golytely for the prep, put some Lemon Crystal Lite in it for flavor, and I liked it better cold. Nothing red. I slept through mine too. I couldn't get the entire gallon down, but left probably 2 cups.
Oh Yes, one other tip. Have some diaper wipes handy. It's a lot softer than toilet tissue after a while.
Leslie

After reading the Golytely posts above, I have to reiterate what I said about the Miralax prep. Forget Golytely! Miralax is much easier and more pleasant!

Also, I was knocked out for the colonoscopy. I didn't want Versed (the memory eraser), so I told them to come up with something else. They said I would be asleep, and I was. But when I woke up I had no grogginess at all. My friend and I went directly from the colonoscopy center to Panera, where we had a delicious lunch.

It's an easy test and it saves many lives every year...Even if it was unpleasant, I would still have it done. It's a nothing test...do it...

Just had one done late July. I agree with everyone here - the anticipation is much worse than the test. I didn't have a problem with the prep - it is what it is. You drink it, it cleans you out and you're done. When I had the procedure, they gave me a nice warmed gown to put on and then nice warmed blanket while I waited.

I agree - easy. The anticipation is the worst.

Also - a tip. Eat very lightly a couple, three days
before you have to prepare. It makes it easier.

It is over before you know it. Best of luck.

Thank you so much, everyone who answered. I guess I got scared because my DH and late MIL had colonoscopies and told me how "horrible" it was for them. Glad to hear it's not bad for most people. Heck,I go to dialysis three days a week and I'm used to it. And I'm dreaming of the day I get my kidney transplant and I'm feeling so much better!

Jannie, I will keep you in my thoughts.

Gayle

I had my third one last Friday, nothing to it! I drank an ounce and a half of liquid in the morning and then at night (tasted like salt water) the day before and ate lime jello, drank water all day, and some lemon water ice. I watched movies and slept most of the day. I went in the early morning on Friday and they do knock you out, but if feels wonderful, your go into a nice deep sleep for about a half hour and it is over! Then I went out to breakfast and I was fine.

I can't imagine how your DH and MIL found it "horrible", especially if they had some type of medication. I insisted my colonoscopy be done with no drugs (including no anti-anxiety medication) and I only felt one short pinching sensation as I watched the camera negotiate a tight corner, lol. (I'm not brave, just extremely sensitive to most drugs.) So with medication you shouldn't fear it at all, it'll be painless and over before you know it!

I have my first colonoscopy scheduled for this Thursday at 7:00am. I was given two options of prep, Golightly (ya right lol) and EZ prep phospha soda by Fleet. I chose the EZ prep and drink my first little bottle at noon tomorrow and the next bottle at 10pm, with tons of liquids in between. I was told to drink alot of gatorade.

Good luck Jannie!! My husband has had 9 colonoscopies and said they were no problem, in fact he doesn't even take the sedation anymore. I'm taking it though :)

I had one in May of this year. I was knocked out because I had an EGD and colonoscopy that day. It wasn't so bad except for the area of diverticulitis the doctor had to go through. It did hurt but the peace of mind that it was nothing worse made it all worth it. Try to get the pills--I had another scheduled and it was cancelled because the liquid didn't do it's job good enough. I don't have to go back for 10 years so it all worked out. Good luck with this and all your health concerns.

I was awake through mine, and actually remember it. Even being awake, it wasn't uncomfortable, and I watched on the monitor while the doctor snipped off a couple of polyps. I didn't feel a thing even when he did that.

There are two kinds of prep they can use. I took the one that was the quickest (one day I think instead of two). I don't remember what it was called.

doxiemom-- Do you mean they canceled yours because the pills didn't do enough? I have high hopes of taking the pills next time because I just can't get the other stuff down.

sjerin, they cancelled mine because the liquid didn't do enough--I think it was the Golytely that I took the first time. I actually felt like it cleaned me out more than the pills but apparently not!! I figured something was up with the liquid when I got there and they wanted to do an X-ray first to see if it worked--apparently they have lots of problems with that at this hospital. I'm actually glad I didn't have it done at the first hospital--the X-ray tech was going to do the colonoscopy--not the doctor.