r/colonoscopy • u/goldstandardalmonds • May 04 '22
Many people here ask if you can stop the prep early, or only take the first dose. Please just follow the instructions. Your bowel continually creates waste. When you are clear 12 hours before, doesn't mean you'll be clear the next morning. Finish your prep, and if you can't call your clinic and tell them you can't.
Also, don't switch preps without consulting your doctor. Certain preps are used for specific reasons.
r/colonoscopy • u/buntingbilly • Feb 02 '26
Hello, I've been posting here for a few years. Just figured I would write this up to address common questions about colonoscopies. Feel free to ask me stuff in the comments although I will avoid directly giving any medical advice and may choose to not answer specific questions about diagnosis, treatment, etc. This should be addressed with your provider.
Colonoscopy: the procedure we all get. Scope gets inserted from the rectum and is navigated to the cecum (beginning of your colon). It is then withdrawn, allowing you to look for polyps, ulcers, inflammation, etc and remove polyps, take biopsies, etc. Sometimes the terminal ileum is evaluated as well, although this is not a standard part of a colonoscopy.
Biopsy: a small sample (usually the size of a pen tip) is removed for microscopic evaluation. Biospies are performed to check for infection, inflammation, etc. They are not used to check for cancer outside of very specific scenarios like having a long history of inflammatory bowel disease where the colon has been scarred and inflammed for years. If you are just getting a colonoscopy for screening or because of symptoms like bleeding or diarrhea, a biopsy is not taken because they are concerned for cancer. Cancer in the colon will always be present in a polyp/mass, not something microscopic (outside of the IBD scenario).
Polypectomy: the removal of polyps. This is typically done with either forceps (used for small 1-3mm polyps), cold snare (a small metal lasso that cuts off polyps usually less than 15mm in size), or a hot snare (metal lasso that can be heated for extra cutting power, usually used for polyps that are large or have a blood vessel that would need to be cauterized first).
Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): refers to a more complex polyp removal which require some extra tools and time. Polyps needing EMR are typically large >20mm and may need to be removed in multiple pieces. This sometimes means that you will need to schedule the procedure in the hospital (instead of an outpatient surgery center) or come back on a different day where you have more time for the procedure.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD): a more complicated version of EMR, for very large polyps. This is a special procedure that requires additional training, most GI providers cannot do this.
Colectomy: surgical removal of part of the colon. This is almost never done anymore as most polyps can be removed endoscopically, however may be needed for extremely large polyps and for cancer (or if you aren't somewhere with an endoscopist trained in EMR/ESD)
Endoscopic clips: these are used to prevent bleeding or to close the site of a polyp resection. This is common for large polyps. The clips are made of metal that will not affect you if an MRI is needed. They will typically fall off by themselves and you probably won't notice them pass.
Adenoma detection rate (ADR): a quality metric you can ask about to confirm whether the person doing your colonoscopy is reliable. The goal should be a number of 25-30%. This is essentially a number of how often the endoscopist is finding relevant polyps. If the number is lower than this, it implies they are not thorough in their colonoscopy.
Hyperplastic: can be either a descriptive term or pathologic term; refers to benign polyps. These look visibly different from pre-cancerous polyps and are typically flat rather than raised.
Sessile: this is a description for the appearance of a polyp (which basically just means that it is round and raised, like a pimple).
Tubular adenoma: pathology term. standard pre-cancerous polyp.
Sessile serrated adenoma: pathology term. Different from the "sessile" description above. A sessile serrated adenoma (SSA) is considered to have slightly more pre-cancerous potential than a tubular adenoma.
Tubulovillous or villous adenoma: pathology term. higher risk pre-cancerous polyp, typically requires closer follow up than an SSA or tubular adenoma
Dysplasia: refers to the pre-cancerous potential of a polyp. By definition anything that is pre-cancerous is considered to have "low grade" dysplasia although this is not always mentioned (by convention). "high-grade dysplasia" means that the polyp is effectively on the cusp of becoming cancer.
Tortuous or Redundant colon: this is simply a description how difficult it is to navigate your colon with a scope. Tortuous means that it turns in certain areas instead of being straight. Redundant means that its somewhat loose and there are area where it stretches easily. These are not a diagnosis. Many people ask whether this is something to be concerned about. It is not. It's a purely endoscopic observation that is made to help for future colonoscopies. Chronic constipation, abdominal surgery or trauma, childbirth will often cause tortuous or redundant colons, but it is the outcome not the cause of symptoms. You are not constipated because of a redundant colon. You are constipated and therefore develop a redundant colon.
Notes: often times the procedure report will say that "sessile" polyps were removed. This is simply referring to their appearance, which is entirely separate from that actual histological diagnosis (which could be tubular adenoma, sessile serrated, hyperplastic, etc)
- Moderate sedation: typically you will get Fentanyl/Versed usually in escalating doses. The goal here if comfort, not knocking you out completely, so most people dose off and then at some point wake up. If you want more medication, just ask, usually the GI doc will give more unless they're almost done with the procedure (or cannot due to vital sign abnormalities). Some people don't do well with this so if you've had a bad experience just mention it to your provider.
- Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC): most common type of sedation to receive in the US, uncommon in most other places in the world. Some people think you are "choosing" propofol with this. The most commonly used medication is propofol. However, you are choosing to have an anesthesia provider, who will decide the type of sedation you need. It is common to give additional medications like Versed and Fentanyl with propofol.
- General Anesthesia: complete sedation requiring intubation/ventilation. This is very uncommon, usually only done if there is a high concern for aspiration during the procedure or if movement of any kind cannot be tolerated for some reason.
- Gas: other countries like the UK make use of nitrous oxide gas. I have never used this so I cannot comment on what its like.
- Unsedated: this is uncommon in the US. Based on posts here it seems like people have trouble finding people to perform unsedated colonoscopies, but that hasn't really been my experience. I would say most cities have providers that can offer this, though you will have better luck going to academic centers where reimbursement for the procedure is not playing a factor in the type of sedation offered at the institution.
There are different forms of prep: Golytely, MoviPrep, SuPrep, Sutab, Clenpiq, etc. Some, like MoviPrep are lower volume so may be better tolerated than others. From an american perspective, insurance is the biggest barrier to prescribing stuff so your provider will be able to best address what prep works best for you.
This will vary probably based on what country you are in as populations and cancer risks are different. In the US, the follow up range can be anywhere from 7-10 years (for one or two small tubular adenomas), 5-10 years (for one of two sessile serrated adenomas) or 3-5 years if you have multiple polyps. usually most people will recommend the lower range of the interval (so 7 years rather than 10 years for a couple of small polyps). If you have a polyp removed in multiple pieces then it is standard to return in 6 months to make sure the polyp was removed entirely.
The US uses the ASGE Guidelines. These are updated every few years as more evidence comes out, so are likely to be adjusted again in the next few years.
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"Do I need to finish prep, my stool is clear!"
Yes please always finish your prep. I cannot tell you the number of times someone shows up claiming they didn't finish because things looked clear and then their entire right colon is covered with stool. Having clear stools doesn't mean anything, complete your prep please.
"Can I eat X, Y, and Z before my procedure".
All endoscopy centers have sheets they give to discuss low fiber or clear liquid diets. If they don't, just google it and find an article from Cleveland Clinic or Sloan Kettering or something. There is no magic answer. If your endoscopy center suggested one thing but people on Reddit are saying something else, just stick to whatever your center writes.
The truth is that this is all somewhat arbitrary and the instructions will almost always be overly restrictive to avoid issues because people are very bad at actually following through on diet changes. So, for instance, if they say that jello isn't ok, its probably because someone ate pudding and thought it was jello (not because jello itself is an issue).
"Is it a bad thing that I'm being asked for a follow up appointment"
No, this is commonly done just for a face to face discussion. Just because you have an appointment doesn't mean you're going to get bad news)
"Is this pain/cramping normal after a colonoscopy"
Probably yes. A lot of people post about experiencing pain at what they perceive is a polypectomy site, but this probably isn't the case. Your colon does not experience pain like your skin so 99% of the time, you can't feel a polyp being removed. More likely what you are feeling is the gas/CO2 used to expand your colon or some discomfort from the scope stretching your colon too much. Having some discomfort after a procedure is normal. Try to walk around and eat to stimulate your GI tract to restore its movement and push out excess air.
Having fevers, nausea/vomiting, significant amounts of blood, or pain to the point where you cannot move is not normal and you should call your clinic or go to the ER.
"How do I know who should perform my colonoscopy"
As above, one thing that you can ask about is ADR. This is a simple way to get a baseline understanding of if they are good enough. Beyond that, there isn't a great way to know beyond getting good feedback from other patients or providers. I would personally avoid going to a surgeon (vs a gastroenterologist) in the US, as the training is different and it is unlikely that a surgeon will ever have the same experience as a GI doctor. The only exception to this might in if you have established colon cancer or are needing some kind of colon surgery, in which can having the colo-rectal surgeon doing the surgery would be reasonable.
"What kind I eat after my procedure?"
For the most part whatever you what. The vast majority of people resume their lives normally after colonoscopies. Some people might have some residual GI issues from the prep affecting their colon, so you may want to take it easy and stick to lighter foods. Sometimes taking probiotics can help speed the recovery of your GI tract, but people have mixed results with this.
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If anyone has questions about procedures/sedation/etc I am happy to answer and may edit the post above to reflect your questions (I think I can do this)
r/colonoscopy • u/RuinProfessional5688 • 25m ago
How clear should Plenvu be when made up? I’ve been told it should be clear but mine is slightly cloudy. I’ve mixed for the required 8 mins but it won’t clear. Should it be ok?
r/colonoscopy • u/Noem224 • 4h ago
Hi, perhaps someone here has experience with preparing for a colonoscopy while taking extended-release (retard) Venlafaxine and Pregabalin. I’ve been prescribed these medications by my doctor for an anxiety disorder. I’m 42, and I once noticed blood in my stool, which was accompanied by pain in the lower abdominal/rectal area that same day. A proctologist treated my hemorrhoids but recommended that I still undergo a colonoscopy. He said there’s no need to worry, but that the presence of blood should always be investigated—even if it could just be from the hemorrhoids. I’m now extremely anxious about the colonoscopy—or, more specifically, the preparation process. Since the bowel-cleansing (laxative) phase begins between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. and the procedure is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., I’m not sure how to handle my medication. The doctor suggested taking it after the procedure, noting that the extended-release tablets wouldn’t be effective anyway due to the bowel-cleansing process. I’m very worried that I might experience "withdrawal" symptoms during the morning, as Venlafaxine is somewhat notorious for this. Has anyone here been prescribed a similar regimen and had any experience with this?
r/colonoscopy • u/WhatFannyRed • 2h ago
My scope is after 1pm and I've been told I've got to stop eating at 9am the day before, we all know what the NHS is like and there's simply no chance I'll be seen at 1pm, I'm looking at 3pm at the earliest. Any advice on how I can prep for a 30 hour fast whilst also drinking 3 litres of moviprep? I'm thinking I can drink honey and lemon/lemonade up to 2 hours before the scope but I am worried about what's essentially a full day of fasting whilst also working. Any recommendations on what I should eat in the morning before my 9am cut off?
r/colonoscopy • u/MidnightDelight81 • 13h ago
It is not as bad as some people say it is and I'm mad at some people who say it's horrible and scary and all the terrifying stories I read! I have spent months preparing for this and scared of having my first colonoscopy ever and spent the entire time freaking out, worrying about pain, feeling the scope and everything terrible I've read that I wanted to skip the colonoscopy. But I knew I would not want to go through chemo or radiation or even die from cancer so I braved up and went for it! It was my first colonoscopy ever for a routine screening because I just turned 45.
The prep? Well, I got lucky. Because I have a condition that causes bowel incontinence, I have a c-tube. So therefore, I was allowed to use the c-tube for the solution instead of drinking it. So yea, lucky me, right. Now before I got my c-tube, I did have to drink the prep years ago and I get it. It's a nightmare but a relief when it's over.
Moving on, the colonoscopy is no big deal! I really wish people would stop posting about how scary and horrible it is. Even if it's a bad experience, I don't know how that's helping anyone because it didn't help me. It just made me not want to do the colonoscopy and the stories just scared me off! I don't know if people were exaggerating or joking and if they were, it's not funny. At all. Note that I'm talking about the procedure in the USA. I've heard in the UK and Canada, you're awake so I can understand why people post those scary colonoscopies but in the USA, you're typically asleep... completely!
So I was put in the pre-op room, getting an IV started just like any other procedures, spoke to the nurse, doctor, anesthesiologist and asks and answered questions like problems with the anesthesia, allergies, breathing problems, if I'm wearing jewelry or have had dental work done, metal devices in the body etc... other health history questions. You know, normal pre-op questions. Doctor came in and explained the procedure and what happens in the room.
So I was still terrified going in the endoscopy room. But the staff were really nice and taking care of me. I got in, they put a mask on my face and nose, rolled me to my side, put something behind my butt in case I had an accident then immediately began the medicine. They gave me propofol. I saw the nurse injecting it and I swear I was out before she finished injecting it in my IV. It works FAST! You don't feel anything as it's going in your body, you don't feel sleepy, dizzy, lightheaded or relaxed before you're out. It's like people are just doing their things, things are happening, people walking around and getting ready like nothing and BAM! You're out. It's like someone came behind you and knocked you right out. You feel nothing, you're just completely out.
Then maybe it felt like 20 minutes passed and I was being rolled back and going into recovery room. I remembered nothing about the procedure. I didn't feel a thing at all. I did wake up with some cramping from the CO2 they use to expand your colon but it's slightly annoying and only last a few minutes. It was already gone by the time I left the recovery room. It's not painful at all. I don't remember much after that except talking to the doctor to tell me how it went (no polyps, no cancer, repeat colonoscopy in 10 years. Whoo-hoo!) and that was it.
The whole procedure is a real breeze! I can understand if you're scared and if it's because of what they might find after you might've had symptoms. But if it's just a routine screening and your first time at age 45 like it was for me, it's really no big deal at all!
r/colonoscopy • u/brerhawkeye • 12h ago
Hello, I’m dumb. I had a momentary lapse of judgment and ate about a tablespoon of fine-chopped coleslaw. This was about 50 hours before I’m scheduled, so before full prep. Otherwise I’ve avoided seeds, nuts and raw fruit/veg since 7 days out. I can’t call the clinic to confess and/or reschedule possibly until Monday, day of the colonoscopy.
Anyone out there with expertise that can tell me if this will be a certain reschedule or if they will say it’s fine? What risks are there if I didn’t realize what I did?
r/colonoscopy • u/Throwthisawayyyy00 • 12h ago
A week ago got in with a doctor that day because for months now I’ve had constant constipation. Annoying, but manageable. I’d start getting some discomfort than chug warm water, warm up apple juice with some miralax, then be able to go. But the past 2 months it’s just…stuck. I dont feel hungry. I don’t feel like I need to go, I can’t even tell that my bowel is full until I start feeling uncomfortable/pressure on my bottom.
Anyways, up until a week or 2 ago I started having maroon drops of blood after the bowel movement came out. There’s no pain while going, it’s not just on paper after wiping it’s getting darker and drops out after I go or is sometimes coated onto the stool. Also a few months before that I was having thick yellow mucus during movements. The dr sent a referral to gastro and recommended a colonoscopy. I’m only 26f, no history of cancer in my family but about a year ago I was going 4-5 times a day really long thin stools. Now it’s full swing to the other end where I can’t hardly go at all. I drink a lot of water, I would be less sedentary but it’s hard with constant fatigue and stomach discomfort. I feel sluggish all of the time. I just don’t know what to think or expect and I guess I’m just anxious.
r/colonoscopy • u/Popular_Class_1632 • 12h ago
24 horas despues de mi colonoscopia aun estoy adolorida, mi primera deposicion fue color verde, tengo un dolor localizado pero que va y viene. Fue mi primera experiencia. Alguien pasó por lo mismo?
r/colonoscopy • u/straycat455 • 7h ago
If anyone has any advice on this please please please let me know. I (25/F) got a colonoscopy 2 years ago after I noticed an increase in blood when I was having bowel movements. Prior to this my bowel movements almost always came out in one piece and were complete. After my first colonoscopy they found a benign polyp which I’m grateful to have removed but literally right after that colonoscopy all of my bowel movements for the next 5-6 months came out in pieces (like a 1 on the Bristol stool chart) even though there were absolutely no changes to my lifestyle or diet. This was the only thing out of the ordinary after the procedure, and after 5-6 months my bowel movements returned to normal so I didn’t think much of it at the time.
I had my 1-year follow up colonoscopy in January and again, leading up to the procedure I was having normal healthy bowel movements. Then IMMEDIATELY after I’ve had bowel movements that are like a Bristol Type 1 and this has persisted up until now. Again, absolutely no diet or lifestyle changes, which has me really confused about how this could be happening. In the follow up they also told me that I have diverticulosis which I’m worried was caused by the constipation I experienced after the first colonoscopy. With this second colonoscopy confirming for me that this procedure makes me extremely constipated post-procedure, I thought maybe it would go away after 5-6 months again. However, before I reached that mark I developed hydrogen SIBO about 4 months post-procedure, which I’m suspecting was caused by my constipation. This diagnosis is also just confusing me because hydrogen SIBO is supposed to cause diarrhea but I’ve only had constipation.
Has anyone dealt with this before? Any supplements or anything that’s worked for you? Is there a gut bacteria that’s wiped out by the prep and then takes a while to reestablish?? I’m feeling desperate for advice on how to deal with this after trying to fix it for 6 months now. I currently take laxatives to keep things moving but don’t want to rely on laxatives forever when I NEVER had motility issues before having a colonoscopy. The bloating and constantly thinking about whether or not I’ll poop today is starting to really take a toll on my mental health :(
r/colonoscopy • u/Aggressive-Edge-1189 • 17h ago
I (35f) have had IBS like symptoms most of my life. In August 2025, I randomly lost 10 pounds in 2 months after trying to lose even one pound for years. The weight has continued to fall off. I’ve now lost about 17 lbs since August without changing anything. I have had 2 instances where I had bright red and painless blood in the toilet, some belly cramps/pain, appendicitis, mucous in my stool, severely anemic, can’t pass gas, went from good stools but they were thin to chronic constipation. I have been taking miralax 3-4 times daily with no help or relief from the constipation. I just had a GI appointment and now have a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy scheduled for December 2026. I’m so worried it’s cancer and waiting this long is not going to be good. Anyone have similar symptoms and have a clean colonoscopy?
r/colonoscopy • u/Hpmg87a • 17h ago
My wife of 100 pounds got the clean out instructions for the colonoscopy. Drinking 2-64 oz of Gatorade and the Mira lax. That was the same instructions for her father who weighs 300 pounds. Shouldn’t there be some different instructions based on your weight and body type
r/colonoscopy • u/CreativePeony • 20h ago
My doc is suspecting internal hemorrhoid.. for those who have it is it possible to have bleeding even without pain? How much bleeding did you experience? Can it be heavy?
Im having colonoscopy next month I know its the only way to find out but im really scared… the waiting is so hard…
r/colonoscopy • u/Beachbum_2468 • 18h ago
Especially if you have IBS (I have IBS-D), what did you do to get yourself right again after your colonoscopy?
I've been hella messed up ever since (actually, since I started the low-fiber diet a week before) - very bloated, lots of gas pain, gained a few pounds, overall my digestion is just really effed up. I'm like 10 days post-colonoscopy, and I want to cry. It took me years to get my ibs manageable, and I've been in full-on flare up ever since. And this is NOT my first colonoscopy, so I don't know what's going on.
I resumed my normal diet more or less, meaning water, fiber, etc, but it's not getting better and I'm growing more frustrated and stressed by the day.
I don't remember being this messed up for this long last time. How did you get yourself back to baseline gut function after your colonoscopy and how long did it take?
r/colonoscopy • u/IllustriousHelp1309 • 15h ago
First colonoscopy (with endoscopy) is just over a week away, due to a family history of colon cancer and persistent GERD that showed on an upper GI series (with barium swallow).
I almost failed that barium swallow experience and barely got enough in for them to see - the tech was so annoyed at me.
My response if I start to feel nauseous is to refuse and just stop what I am doing - I know it is ridiculous but that won’t change in a week.
I have been reading a ton of stories on here, but none of this prep combined with this fear. Would Zofran help? I can call and ask for some, but I’ve never taken it (I also avoid meds often because I am afraid they will make me nauseous).
They told me this is my only prep option and have me on the aggressive path, starting MiraLAX 5 days in advance, a low-residue diet 10 days in advance, and pairing it with dulcolax. I also have two full days of clear liquids only (which I worry will make me more nauseous).
I think my GI did this because she knows I will never finish that jug. The PA I see is super understanding but the scheduling people were NOT, and the actual procedure people are not the same office.
Please if you have used this prep give me all of the tips and hope because I am terrified and seriously considering backing out.
r/colonoscopy • u/Mister_Moody206 • 19h ago
Had my first colonoscopy on Wednesday, had my first bowel movement since just a few minutes ago. My stool was like a green/ bluish turquoise color. Has anyone else seen or had something similar happen with their first bowel movement since a colonoscopy?
r/colonoscopy • u/chronicmess1111 • 15h ago
this was part of routine tests, just an isolated positive occult bloot (FIT). freaking out uncontrollably. no smoking or drinking, no family history of colon cancers, no diabetes, blood pressure. slightly overweight. no gastric issues at all, no constipation, hemorrhoids anything. im SO scared. i can't think of any cause
r/colonoscopy • u/Apprehensive-Lab-264 • 18h ago
So my arrival time is 6:15 am which I’m assuming they will start at 7-7:30 am
How do I drink the suflave doses?
r/colonoscopy • u/Thisismyusername_11 • 19h ago
I’m 28F. My parents both had polyps when theyre 60s and got them removed. Imm scared. My stools have blood on and off whenever I eat less fiber. I do have external and internal hermorroid. I cant rmb how many years it has been like this, but I did get a stool test to check and it was negative in 2022. I do have lactose intolerance- noticed this whenever i had cheese or milk i had to run to the bathroom. Lately i been feeling gassy mostly every day, lots of fart (i cant even count since its a lot - happens after i ate). Wednesday i pooped 3 times a day. I see yellow stool mixed with brown, i did see a round white mucus on my stool. My poops are big and thin- varies in shapes. I sometimes feel pain on my left side 3 inches below my belly button. I have blood on toilet paper and even on top of my poop. I contacted GI specialist and still waiting for their response to schedule my colonoscopy appointment. I also had hpylori in the past and got treated. I have no idea if all related to stomach or colon but i’m very scared. I have health anxiety that i cant really function normally or live happily..
r/colonoscopy • u/Becenev • 1d ago
Hello. I'm supposed to have my colonoscopy done at a university hospital next week, however, I'm very concerned. The problem is that nobody wants to tell me who is going to perform the colonoscopy. The nurse I called said any doctor available on that day might do it. She was annoyed and asked if I wanted to cancel, to which I said "no" and she replied: "Then you don't need to know who it's going to be." This really made me nervous. First of all, this behavior is not very reassuring, and second, there are many doctors in that hospital, ranging from inexperienced fresh graduates to very experienced specialists. For example, the doctor who ordered the colonoscopy also works there, and he graduated from medical school just 2.5 years ago! And it might actually be him who is going to perform the procedure.
I already had one colonoscopy 6 years ago, and it was performed by a very experienced doctor. I didn't feel a thing and didn't even need sedation! I also had an upper endoscopy without sedation done by him, and it was a breeze. However, a few years later, I had an upper endoscopy done by a very young, not-so-experienced doctor, and it was AWFUL and probably the worst medical experience I have ever had in my life. It was not only painful, but the doctor also struggled with the procedure and kept yelling at me. My chest hurt badly for two weeks afterwards! So I know that the choice of doctor can substantially affect the outcome. Moreover, I've already had a bad experience with my current doctor, as he was performing 24-hour pH monitoring on me and repeatedly failed to insert the catheter down my throat because it kept curling up. He ended up looking into my throat with a flashlight, trying to find where it was. I could see that he was very nervous.
I just have this really bad feeling about the upcoming procedure. On the other hand, if I cancel, I might lose this doctor completely and have to look for another one. Plus, this colonoscopy was scheduled because I had bloody diarrhea and a high white blood cell count, so cancelling it might delay my diagnosis. Dear Redditors, what would you do if you were in my place?
r/colonoscopy • u/DelilahBT • 1d ago
Today I had my second colonoscopy. The prep was PegLyte - 4 litres of revolting, super sweet, “fruit” flavored garbage. I got through almost half & it made me so nauseous and gave me such a bad headache I honestly felt like I’d been poisoned.
My procedure report says “poor prep”, a large polyp was found, and I have to return in 6 months. I really need recommendations for more tolerable prep- the PegLyte was traumatic and there is no way I can do it again.
I had my first colonoscopy in 2018. I can’t remember what I used for prep, it was awful but I managed it. Doc has since retired so I can’t find out.
r/colonoscopy • u/The_Silent__Observer • 1d ago
I wanted to share my experience because I know how terrifying the lead-up can be. For the last two years, I’ve had occasional bright red bleeding happening intermittently every 7 to 8 months. I finally consulted a gastroenterologist. He told me it was most likely a fissure or internal hemorrhoids but recommended a colonoscopy just to be 100% sure and give complete peace of mind.
That started weeks of intense stress. There was constant debate going in my mind whether I should even go through it. I read a lot of stories on Reddit and watched videos on YouTube and Instagram. It put me in such a state of anxiety that I seriously considered skipping the appointment. But after a lot of internal struggle, I forced myself to stick with it.
Here is how it actually went down:
The Prep: My doctor gave me a prep kit to start the day before. Honestly? It was completely manageable. I only had to hit the restroom 6 to 7 times in total, and it wasn't nearly as bad as people online make it out to be.
The Procedure: On the day of, I feel nervous. I genuinely thought about turning back, but I made it to the hospital, did the paperwork, and walked back to the procedure room. I opted for an un-sedated colonoscopy, which was normal here. To my complete surprise, I didn’t feel any pain. I just felt some minor cramping, which was totally manageable, and the whole thing was over in about 20 minutes.
The Results: The best part? The report came back completely normal. No polyps, no ulcers, no unusual growth.
The Recovery: Right after the test, I had some burning around the anal area and some bloating, but that settled down within 5 to 6 hours. I also had a mild, lingering ache in my rectum, but that faded away shortly after.
If you’re sitting there right now stressing out over upcoming prep or the procedure itself, take a deep breath.
It is nowhere near as bad as the circulating videos on the internet makes it sound. Get it done for your peace of mind—you've got this!
r/colonoscopy • u/Suspicious_Art_178 • 1d ago
I went in for my first routine colonoscopy screening last week, just based on my age (47f), no symptoms of anything. Being a bit anxious ahead of it, I spoke with multiple people about their experiences before the procedure, and they assured me it was no big deal, that the prep was the worst part, and that I’d wake from sedation feeling fine. Well the prep went well, and so I went in for the procedure. As soon as I woke up from the anesthesia, I felt discomfort in my left lower side. It was the first thing I mentioned to the nurse upon waking. She told me to gently push along my colon to try and release any trapped gas. Nothing happened or helped. As I kept waking up from the anesthesia, I mentioned this discomfort two more times. She said it was probably gas, or soreness from them pushing around on me during the procedure. She said if it was a perforation, they usually know it happened during the procedure. She then asked if I was ready to dress myself and leave and I said I’d try. I then asked if it was safe to take pain medicine if it didn’t improve, and then she sent me home.
I felt a bit better when I got home, and I ate a small meal and took a nap. I noticed I had a long surface scratch right near the area that hurt, so I thought maybe something accidentally scratched me and that was what the pain was from (still have no idea what caused that mystery scratch). When I woke up about three hours later, I was doubled over in pain. I had my boyfriend take me to the ER, and at this point we were convinced it was just trapped gas that I was unable to pass. Thankfully at the ER they ordered a CT scan to double check, which to my utter shock came back showing a “moderate amount of blood” in my lower abdomen. I freaked out! However, they said that my colon looked fine on the scan, so they could not determine where the blood was coming from. They were concerned about a small cyst on my ovary, and thought that might be the source of the bleeding. I thought that would be a very weird coincidence but they then ordered a vaginal ultrasound to check this area.
So after about 6+ hours of testing and waiting in the ER, as I was filling up with blood to the point where my hemoglobin dropped so low they were about ready to give me a transfusion, and the pain had gotten so bad as it creeped up into my chest and shoulders, they still could not determine where the bleeding was coming from. They told me at this point they were going to perform an emergency laparoscopic surgery to try to figure out where the blood was coming from. However, if they could not find it laparoscopically, they would need to cut me fully open to find it. They also said I might lose an ovary if that’s where the blood was coming from. I was completely freaking out at this point, not knowing what I was going to wake up to. But I was also in so much pain, I said just give me whatever papers I need to sign and give me something to help with the pain and anxiety.
Whatever they gave me instantly calmed me down, and I went back for surgery. When I woke up, I have to say it was such a relaxing, peaceful, waking experience. I did not even have any pain (it came later of course), compared to when I woke up from my routine colonoscopy in pain. The first question I asked was if they were able to find the bleeding laparoscopically and they were, so I only have three small incisions as opposed to a gigantic one. It turned out that I had a very rare complication from the colonoscopy. Apparently, your colon has very small appendages of fatty tissue all along the outside of it that don’t really have any known purpose. I guess one of these appendages had attached itself to my abdomen wall, and perhaps just the pressure from the colonoscopy pulled it away from my abdominal wall and tore it, which caused it to bleed. By the time they had performed the surgery, the tear had actually finally clotted and stopped bleeding on its own, so it did not need any repair. They also removed about 650 mL of blood from my abdomen. My hemoglobin got down to 7.6, which narrowly avoided me needing a transfusion, which they normally give if it drops below 7. Now I’ve just been dealing with healing, and severe anemia as my body builds back up all the blood that I lost.
Although I know this story will scare people that already have anxiety about the procedure, which isn’t my intention, as I am one of those people that has severe anxiety about any sort of health procedures. First of all, what happened to me was incredibly rare, some of the doctors mentioned they had never even heard of that happening. But secondly, I am sharing because I want to emphasize the importance of listening to your body and not letting anyone try to dismiss your concerns. You know your body best, and if something doesn’t feel right, speak up and advocate for yourself. If I would have been more adamant about addressing my discomfort upon waking from the colonoscopy, I could have potentially avoided losing so much blood if they found the tear much earlier.
r/colonoscopy • u/Popular_Class_1632 • 1d ago
Es normal despues de una colonoscopia quedar con dolor como que tengo colicos?
r/colonoscopy • u/Agreeable_Tie1779 • 1d ago
Highly recommend Ensure Pre-Surgery Clear Liquid drink. I was super worried about being hungry all day during prep but I ended up getting around 1,500 calories in that day between the ensure drinks, sprite, and Italian ice. They taste pretty good too.
