Colonoscopy Secrets: Tips & Tricks for an Easy Procedure!
Yesterday, I successfully endured my first colonoscopy!
Although I’m only 34 (most people don’t need to get one until they’re 50), my older sister had some pre-cancerous polyps removed – so her doctor said all of her siblings should get scoped… just to be safe.
So Thursday, at 2 p.m., I began drinking a 4-liter jug of Colyte, with lemon-lime flavor crystals.
I’d like to share a few tips to help anyone else getting a colonoscopy endure with ease and success!
First of all, all day Thursday I wasn’t supposed to eat any solid food. I drank some Gatorade, apple juice, and water. I could’ve had clear broth soup, but opted not to.
At 2 p.m., I chugged my first 8-ounce glass of the Colyte (which I mixed up the day before and chilled in the fridge overnight – good choice).
The Colyte tastes like salty kool-aid, which isn’t as terribly bad as most people I talked to warned me about.
Every 10 minutes, I drank a glass… and, after a couple glasses, it wasn’t as easy to chug down. After about 5 or 6 glasses, I decided to flush the salty aftertaste out of my mouth by chasing it with a sip of apple juice. Good choice!
By about 3:30 p.m., I had my first bowel movement. I’ll spare you the details, but the first BM was pretty normal.
After about glass number 4 or 5, I got cold… my feet & hands were chilled, so I put on slippers over my socks, and put a hat on my bald head to stay as warm as possible. Not sure why this happens, but my guess is all the blood rushes to your innards to help digestion or something…
After about 18 glasses, I had drank the entire 4-liter bottle. It went pretty fast. The last couple glasses seemed to be a bit more “potent” than the first, as I’m sure the contents settled a bit – so I would suggest you continue to shake well before each glass 🙂
Eventually, the stools become clear liquid. It takes awhile… but after about 3 BM’s, everything is liquid.
With the final glass comes celebration! I wrapped up in a warm blanket and took a nap. For about 20 minutes…
I slept pretty good through the night, getting about 8 hours of sleep. Then, at 7 a.m., it was time to head to the doctor’s office.
After the colonoscopy prep, I was ready to get this over with. So, I wasn’t too anxious about having the scope done. I checked in, changed into a gown (lovely), and they took my blood pressure. 127/67. Not bad. (Especially since most people have “white jacket hypertension” – which is when your BP rises at the doctor’s office).
Then they stuck my right hand with an IV, and started the saline solution. (Did you know that saline solution (saltwater, basically), helps open up your blood vessels – and the reason salt is considered “bad” for high blood pressure is due to a lack of potassium, not an abundance of salt… so, some people can simply increase their intake of potassium, and lower their blood pressure without doing anything else!)
Anyway, they rolled me into the procedure room, I talked to the doctor a bit (and shared with her that my mom was more worried than I was, since when I was a baby, I had 6 or 7 operations on my intestines for Hirschsprungs Disease… which is when some of the nerves in your intestines are basically dead, and you can’t pass stools. Thankfully, they fixed me and I’ve had no problems since the age of 1.)
After our chat, they gave me some drugs… and I dozed off. My last words to the doctor were “have fun!”.
About 45 minutes later, I woke up in my recovery room without any memory of what just happened. I was sipping some apple juice (I think), and a few minutes later (I think), my wife and 2 of my boys came in. Somehow, I got dressed (I barely remember anything…) and my wife took a few pictures of me. She said I didn’t talk much… but I do vaguely remember mooning her (I won’t show you that picture).
The doctor came in and gave me the good news that everything looked great! No polyps or anything! Also, she said my colon was 70cm long, compared to 100cm for most people – so the procedure went a little quicker for me 🙂
Soon we were off – I had no pain whatsoever, and we went out for lunch at Ruby Tuesday’s. I had a really good salad. I also called my parents on the way there, to let them know all was well (and I have no remembrance of that call, either…).
So, there you go!
Tips to a good colonoscopy:
1) Keep a good attitude, follow the directions, and don’t worry
2) Sip some light-colored juice after each glass, to rid the salty taste
3) Wear sweatpants for easy access (multiple trips to the bathroom)
4) Eat a healthy meal after the procedure – why introduce junk to your intestines after they’ve been detoxified?
5) Have someone video tape you in the recovery room – you might say some funny things that you won’t remember later 🙂
Most importantly, I highly recommend the Ultimate Colon Cleanse from Organica Research!
Enjoy!
Joe
p.s. Visit some of my websites, listed to the right, for natural remedies for all sorts of conditions like acid reflux, hypertension, kidney stones, gout, depression and much more!
Comments
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Greetings Joe,
You are wonderful. My son and I recalled our colonoscopy experience (taken at different times, he is 56 and I am 81). But for anyone who has not endured the experience you have for sure prepared them for what to expect.
t h a n k s -
Glad to hear that you had a nice “trip”.
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Am 65 – Have not had a colonoscopy yet due for one next summer – your article is appreciated, esp. the juice after the cleanser. I live by myself – do I need someone to drive for me after the scoping??
Jerry -
I kept dozing off during the prep since I didn’t get much sleep the night before. One time after I dozed off for a few minutes (I thought) and asked the nurse how long the procedure would last. She laughed and said “Are you kidding? It’s all over–do you have someone to pick you up?” Like you I had no after effects and had a friend drive me home to take a nap. After the nap, I treated my friend to lunch while I ate breakfast and then took off on a 12-hour trip with no repercussions. I remember thinking, “this is what people who have been abducted by aliens must feel. You lose a couple of hours of your life and can’t believe that any time has lapsed. What you forgot to mention was that in years past, doctors used to recommend a colonoscopy every 5 years but now only recommend one every 10 years since colon cancer is so slow-growing. But, this is only for people who do not have colon cancer in their family.
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Hi Jerry – glad to hear you’re getting a colonoscopy. Yes, you’ll want to arrange for someone to drive you home after the scope… the drugs they give you make you groggy for a good 8 hours or so, and they tell you not to drive that day.
Good luck!
Joe -
Hi Jeremiah – you’re right… we could’ve been abducted by aliens and not even known it! 😉 The doctor did recommend I get another one in 5 years, but I’ll probably wait 10… unless another family member gets some bad news. You’re right about colon cancer being slow-growing… they say a polyp usually takes about 12-16 years to develop into cancer.
Thanks,
Joe -
Thanks for the info. I am having my first colonoscopy when I have my annual medical in Bangkok Phuket Hospital in December. I have heard some horror stories, but you have put me completely at ease with your wonderful account of your journey into the unknown. Thank you!
By the way I have been having an annual medical in Phuket, Thailand, for the last five years or so when I go on vacation there. It takes about half a day. The hospital, which is fully equipped to the highest standards and staffed by the most wonderful, caring and competent staff and specialists, runs a very good and popular health-check program for foreigners at great value prices. It is well worth looking into.
Some time ago they warned me that I had the possibility of developing a kidney stone. When I did your cure got rid of it. Thanks again.
Steve
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You did not mention how raw and painful the skin may become after several hours of cleaning out ones bowels. My experience was so bad that I recommend keeping a good diaper rash ointment on hand!
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Freddilee – you’re right… I must’ve forgot about that part 🙂
Good advice about the diaper rash ointment – if it’s safe for a baby’s bottom, it should be safe for an adult doing a colon prep!
Thanks,
JB -
I had my first colonoscopy in Sept 07. Being a nurse I was very worried because I know to much. But the procedure was easy. As soon as the nurse gave me the versed” Good night” woke up 20 min. later and the procedure was over. I need to go back in March for a recheck. The colonoscopy save my life. That is why they tell you to get one at the age of 50.
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Thanks Joe, this is certainly timely. My first colonoscopy is in 10 days. Different from you though I have to take 32 tablets and a lot of water instead of the liquid. Instructions say if the tablets are too large to swallow they can be broken in half. How big can these things be?
Glad to hear you passed with flying colors.
Pat Thompson
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Clear liquid diet is a part of colonoscopy preparation prior to colonoscopy and the prep is probably the worst part. People may not realize that clear liquids don’t have to be just water and soda etc, but some clear liquid products can provide some nutrition too.
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THANKS FOR THE INFO. I AM 85 AND HAVING MY FIRST COLONOSCOPY NEXT MONTH. IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE. BUT THANKS TO YOU, AT LEAST I WILL BE SOMEWHAT PREPARED. JUST HOPE I DON’T GET SICK ON THE STOMACH. THANKS AGAIN.
BILL
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Thanks for the information.Plan on having my first colonoscopy in a few weeks.
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I had a colonoscopy a couple weeks ago, the first in too many years. They found a tumor and the bio said it was first stage cancer. I went in for surgery, they did a stress test to see if my heart was up to it…it wasn’t. They put two stents in my heart. The whole stress test to wheel me out with two new stents happened in less than twenty-four hours and two hospitals. (The first one couldn’t do the stent thing.) Now I’m waiting a couple more weeks to have my surgery. By the way, no more gallons of water etc., I mixed a liquid into a half liter of water twice and remained close to the bathroom for a couple hours.
Moral of story…get a colonoscopy if you are over forty…no big deal…they even gave me a DVD of the trip through my insides. Interesting.
John
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I go for my first colonoscopy in a week. I am scared to death over taking Versed. Will it “erase” any part of my memory not during the procedure? Ie I will forget how to do my job at work, forget birthdays, etc.
I am just plain scared.
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Thank you for sharing your experience!
I am 26 & am gearing up for my 1st colon-probe in 2 days.
I am looking forward to an orange jello breakfast, fat free soup broth lunch & then drinking the Klean Prep solution tomorrow.
A healthy colon is key to a healthy life. -
Thanks for the insight Joe. I just returned home from my procedure. I too drank the lovely liquid, although I used the HalfLyte formula, which allowed me to take 2 pills at noon, and then drink 1 liter of fluid. I think you nailed the taste Joe, it is like salty Kool Aid. I used the orange flavor as I like orange! After about 1 1/2 hours I had the liter gone, and was making frequent trips to the bathroom. After 2 or 3 trips it was clear, and the solution had done its job. My proceedure was this morning. I have no history of colon cancer in the family, but as I turned 50 recently, I felt it was my duty to get tested. This test may have saved my life. I was found to have 3 pre-cancerous polyps. 2 of them were easily removed, but I will need to return to the doctor in 4 months for the final one to be removed, as it is in a very difficult place to reach by scope. If they cannot remove it then I will need surgery, but I really dont care what they have to do as long as they get it. The procedure was painless and took about 45 minutes. I was fed a very nice meal afterwards and my wife was there to drive me home. All things considered, if I was to have neglected this test I would most likely have gotten cancer and died way too early. Please go get tested. If your 50 its a must do…if your younger but have a history of cancer its a must do. It is an easy proceedure and is covered by insurance, so NO EXCUSES….the life you save my be your own! Use Joes tips and you will have no problems. Thanks Joe!
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I am 34 and underwent my first colonoscopy two days ago. My sister suggested diaper wipes for a tender tush, and she was right! Didn’t need any diaper rash cream. I would recommend having some treats lined up, such as a favourite TV series on DVD, a movie or new book. Also, there may be times when you want to break the fast, so have someone available to talk you out of it and remember that it’ll all be over soon. I found the second day of the fast was easier than the first. I wasn’t really interested in food by that point, and I knew I was on the home stretch. Thank you to those who’ve posted and good luck to those who’s turn is next.
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To the person who posted about being hesitant to get a colonoscopy with Versed: don’t do it!! Versed causes horrible memory loss and mental depression in about 10% of the patients who receive it. Versed is a patient-control drug; it forces you to lie motionless, awake and in pain but unable to communicate or resist. It has no pain-relieving properties; unfortunately it is the nuber one drug used for colonoscopy (with a small amount of painkiller). The only reason that this terrible drug continues to be used is that most people who get it forget the terrible experience, at least immediately after the colonoscopy, then they remember it and have a lifetime of nightmares. 10% of patients having a terrible experience with Versed is HUGE! Check out versedbusters or askapatient.com for the truth about this drug. I have been a advance practice RN for 30 years and I am clinicll privledged to administer conscious sedation; I will never recommend Versed to anyone unless short-term and long-term memory as well as cognitive function don’t matter to them….Colonoscopy is best done with nothing or with painkiller only, a few, and I mean a few, need to be done with sedation and that should be done with propofol administered by anesthesia nurses. My family has been crushed by colon cancer; but nothing is worse than my sister, who at age 40 had a colonoscopy with Versed and now is basically so damaged mentally that she can no longer live alone. And before getting Versed, she was a teacher and sharp s a tack. After gettingVersed, shes confused constantly and lives in a very structured nursning home because Versed caused her brain damage. Befre Versed, she was a teacher and an independent mother of 3. Now she’s a ward of the state. It all happened with 4mg Versed and a 15 minute screening exam that she could have easily skipped. Or at least done it without this terrible drug…….Think before you believe the lie “sign here so we can give you something to make you comfy”….wite on the consent” No Versed/…any good doctor will espect your wishes.
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I had one a year ago and was frightened out of my mind! Afterwards, I woke up and said “That was it?” It really isn’t a big deal. Here are some tips to help you get through it:
1) You will be going to the bathroom a lot the day before the procedure, so I recommend applying a thin layer of vaseline after each trip to the bathroom. Helps with the soreness from going/wiping so much.
2) Have lots of different “clear liquid” options in the house and keep eating/drinking. Don’t let your stomach have a chance to feel empty. I survived on jello (remember – not red), sherbet and broth.
3) Keep busy! Play video games, read, watch movies. Boredom often equals the desire to eat.
4) Try to get an early morning appointment for your colonoscopy. The later in the day you get it, the more hungry and uncomfortable you’ll be.
5) Don’t worry…I am a total chicken and a world-class worrier and now I look back on it and think “Why was I so nervous?”
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What a great article – your story will help others get through this. My prep was 4 dulculax tablets at 2pm and the Miralax/Gatorade mixture at 5pm (every 15 minutes until gone). I was pretty nervous about the prep after reading several horror stories. But, I have to say that while the procedure was annoying, it wasn’t that bad. The gatorade was the hardest part for me since I can’t stand it. The best advice I received was to use a straw towards the back of the throat when drinking the mixture. You can get it down faster and you don’t have to taste it. Just a thought.
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Just had a colonoscopy, had to shop around to find a doc who would do it without sedation; I would never consent to Versed. I have too many family and financial responsibilities to risk the memory loss that we see all too often from conscious sedation with Versed and similar drugs. One thing-if you get an unsedated exam (you can get painkilleronly if you want), you will probably have a very comfrotable exam…I do not understand why some docs insist on sedation; it’s certianly not for the patient’s benefit. A recent Wall Street Journal article documented tha most patients accepted sedation-free colonoscopy and actually prefered it to the sedated exam. Oh, the prep (golitely) is a nuisance, but not that bad. The endo nurse gave me some baby wipes and that was a good idea. Everyone was telling me that I was crazy doing the exam unsedated; but whenI got to the endo center, the doc doing the exam said that a lot of patiends demand sedation-free or painkiller only; that’s how she had hers done. You get a slower, better exam. Mine was positive and I get to do it again next year. Yipee! I will definately do it unsedated.
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New to all this, this colonoscopy stuff, I know, I know, being 51, I am suposed to get it, have one planned for May 13, but I may delay and pospone it until a latter time this year, until I am really confortable about it. When I read what the main post has to say or what others have posted in comments, that is fine, but it is them, not me. Need to do more studying about it more before I am TRULY CONFORTABLE about it. Plus my family most likely did not have cancer problems, although will have to do a medical history about that though to find out. Plus I have no one to take me to and from, and is public transit dependent so I would have to use public transit or a cab.Please be supportive of me in my decision to delay the test until I am confortable about going ahead. Thank-you.
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Great article and I hope that everyone who reads it will consider getting a colonoscopy. There is a TON of misinformation about colonoscopy, especially with the sedation drugs. My job involves a lot of international travel (I fly for a commercial airline) and my healthcare always takes a back seat to the rest of the things that I have to do. My primary care doc is always admonishing me to get a colonoscopy (FAP runs in my family and I could not be in a higher risk catagory for colon cancer) BUT I don’t want to risk the long term memory-loss that sometimes occurs (rarely) with the sedation drugs such as midazolam (Versed). My neighbor is a nurse practitoner and she sustained some pretty serious and long-term memory loss after getting just 4mg of Versed for her colonoscopy and this is the most commonly used drug. I’m not a doctor (although I did get accepted into med school before starting my current career); when I google “versed problems” I get a slew of credible horror stories about Versed and memory loss/PTSD. Sure, some of these people are nuts, but most are certianly not. My primary care doc says that Versed is usually safe, but in a certian percentage of patients, it’s really, really bad and that you feel great immediately afterwards, but then you gradually notice memory loss (PIN numbers, birthdays etc). She said that Versed is commonly used because it’s cheap and that a lot of insurance companies won’t pay for diprivan (the MJ drug) which is much better. Now I’m having symptoms (bleeding) and have been trying to find a doc who will do the colonoscopy without drus (common everywhere but in the USA and with a decent doc, it’s painful without drugs). What really bothers me is that I scheduled an exam, was promised no drugs, did the prep and reported only to have the doc try to browbeat me into accepting an IV (just in case) and she insisted that I sign a sedation consent! Luckily a nurse told me that if I signed the consent that I would get sedation no matter what I was promised, so I politely proceeded to get my clothes and leave. I was bleeding slightly and the GI doc insisted that I not leave; she explained that they basically use subterfuge to get everyone to sign the sedation consent then give them the Versed and that most will have amnesia anyway, so what is the harm?? I have been told that I’m a really calm, nice guy (especially with female medical people) but I lost it after hearing that. The nurse verified what most people say about colonoscopy: immediately afterwards they feel fine (are we really done?) but after they get home, the creepy amnesia starts and they get hostile, call and get really agitated as they begin to remember what really happened to them. Cute. When did ethics get stricken from medical practice in the GI suite? This scared me badly (and I have been in real combat). To be honest, the GI doc freely admitted that they lie to patients about the sedation to get them to agree to the colonoscopy and you can’t dispute that this saves lives. She said that if they actually explained that Versed may cause a small number of people to have long-term memory loss, that few would agree to receive it. Especially when they find out that an alternative exists (diprivan/propofol) but that it’s expensive. Anyway, I didn’t sign the sedation consent, the doc started the exam without any drugs and it was pretty comfortable. She then ran into a bend that she couldn’t navigate and told me that the nurse anesthetist who was standing by would give me propofol; which I declined..the GI doc then told me that she was going to finish the exam and that I was getting sedation despite my protests. The nurse anesthetist said: “I’m not administering anything to this guy since he’s refusing to consent” and she verified that Versed had a lot of problems but that propofol did not..I still didn’t want to risk it. I asked to have the scope removed and the anesthetist suggested just painkiller (fentanyl)which I agreed to, she gave it and in went the scope without problems. The GI doc apologized about her deception; she explained that a previous patient who refused sedation (same reasons) had an incomplete exam (same problem) and that he ended up with undetected colon cancer that killed him within months. At this point I stopped seeing the GI doc as a liar and understood her posistion; reluctantly admitting that sedation with propfol was probably o.k. The anesthetist asked if I was consenting to propofol for the rest of the exam, I replied yes and the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery. Long story, but it’s sad that docs have to lie to patients about Versed just because insurance companies often refuse to pay for propofol. I now understand (sort of) why GI docs feel that they have to decieve colonoscopy patients; I don’t agree but I understand the logic. And I had a precancerous condition so I need yearly exams. When the doc called me to tell me that I needed a repeat exam in 12 months, I thought that she would be surprized that I readily agreed to do this. She laughed and told me that I was already on the schedule for next year, with the anesthetist…go figure.
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Anyone have any issues with being HUNGRY the day before? My biggest fear is not being able to eat anything . . . I nibble virtually all day?
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Yes, you cannot have the procedure done unless an escort is with you.
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the “sedation” is a joke, you don’t need it an you run a chanec of brain damage if you sign a consent for sedation….don’t do it. the exam is easy without drugs
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I have been through four of these procedures and I just want to mention a few tips.
1) It is better to have sugar-free liquids if you drink other stuff while you are doing the prep because sugar in juices can cause you to have more gas and discomfort. (This is info from my gastroenterologist) It is ok to have juices before and after, but during the prep avoid sugar.
2) For a lot of people it might be better to eat something with a little less “roughage” than a salad for their first meal. I do agree with not eating junk, though. If I may suggest a broth-based soup, steamed vegetables and other things that don’t cause gas.
If you’re over 50 and haven’t gotten a colonoscopy yet, why not? Even natural doctors recommend getting this done!
And, if you’re 40+ and have a family history of colon cancer (siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins), it’s better to be safe than sorry!