Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Colonoscopy

Octoberme

Recommended Posts

Octoberme Apprentice
Octoberme
Posted

HELP :-(

No, I am going in for my first ever colonoscopy on Monday. I am gearing up for an extremely un-fun weekend for all the " prepping " that is for sure...

But....what shoudl I be expecting with this? What should i be prepared for? Does it hurt? What about after effects - how do you feel after? Should I know anythign special to ask the doctor to do or check for???

I dunno....I am very nervouse and scared. :o

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
HELP :-(

No, I am going in for my first ever colonoscopy on Monday. I am gearing up for an extremely un-fun weekend for all the " prepping " that is for sure...

But....what shoudl I be expecting with this? What should i be prepared for? Does it hurt? What about after effects - how do you feel after? Should I know anythign special to ask the doctor to do or check for???

I dunno....I am very nervouse and scared. :o

The worst part of it is the prep. The procedure itself is nothing to worry about. They let me drift off to sleep and woke up and everything was over.

Guest j_mommy
Guest j_mommy
Posted

It's not bad...the prep is no fun. Afterward you feel like your old self.

I would buy some baby wipes.....after awhile they feel better than old fashioned TP!

Good Luck!

MyMississippi Enthusiast
MyMississippi
Posted

Hi,

Don't be nervous :)

As an RN , I can tell you that whenever I helped out in the endo lab in the hospital where I worked, all the patients said it was "not bad, at all".

They will sedate you well, before it is done. Every patient I ever dealt with said they didn't feel anything and most woke up in recovery not remembering anything about it. SO RELAX ! ! :D It's not a long procedure.

Just make sure that your drug allergies, if any, are noted on the chart. ANd make sure they know what medications you take.

THe bowel cleansing is worse than the colonoscopy :D

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I was nervous before mine, too. It's really not as bad as you think--the prep is unpleasant, but nothing you won't be able to handle. Maybe put a book or some magazines in the bathroom ;)

The actual procedure is a breeze--I was out for the whole thing (I also had an endoscopy) and woke up feeling a bit groggy at first, but fine. I had no pain or anything whatsoever.

Best of luck--it's going to be fine :)

Octoberme Apprentice
Octoberme
Posted
  • Author

Awwww...thanks everyone for the replies. I am feeling a tich less nervouse now.

And yes, I do expect the prep to not be so much fun. I went and rented a whole bunch of movies, and i have a portable DVD player, lol, so I figured I woudl just set up camp in the bathroom.

Lol, thanks.

pixiegirl Enthusiast
pixiegirl
Posted

People are so careful about saying anything bad... well I will. The prep was so awful for me. The procedure was a breeze, nothing to it.

I told my doctor that next time I need one I will fast on liquids only for days to avoid the prep. It wasn't that I had to remain so close to the restroom, that part was controllable for me. The prep gagged me and I could not drink it. I tried to hide it in chicken broth, or soda pop. You can't hide that stuff, no way.

The good news is there are a number of products on the market they use for prep so there is a good chance you won't have the one I did! :) And everyone is different, whatever my BF had he said, "its not so bad" and was guzzling it down! (guys will eat anything).

But really the procedure was fine for me. It was so easy for my 80 year old mother then after they were done she got dressed and said, "lets go out for Thai food!".

Susan

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Octoberme Apprentice
Octoberme
Posted
  • Author

Lol, thanks Susan for the honesty.

Ya, I am told the prep is bad. The drinks sucks, and the bathroom time and only fuilds is even worse. but you gotta do it right. As for the prep drink...

tomorrow I have to start with drinking the 300ml bottle of citro-mag......and the on Sunday I need to drink this freekin HUGE thing of PegLyte...." apparently " it is fruit flavored, RIGHT.

Anyway, again, thanks for all the insight. I am sure I will be glad when it is done tho

Guest digmom1014
Guest digmom1014
Posted

All I can graphically say is, when the slightest urge comes-run to the bathroom! I had a few mistakes unfortunately.

Other than that Susan is right on target.

Octoberme Apprentice
Octoberme
Posted
  • Author
All I can graphically say is, when the slightest urge comes-run to the bathroom! I had a few mistakes unfortunately.

Other than that Susan is right on target.

Lol, yes I have been told that from a few as well. I am thinking that after I drink the stuff I am gonna just STAY in the bathroom in order to avoid accidents?!?! Got my portable DVD player, my movies, and my trusty baby wipes. Lol.....I am set :-(

jenrn Apprentice
jenrn
Posted

I was lucky and tolerated my prep very well. I had to drink the gallon of stuff. The way I got through it was to try not to taste it. This may sound strange but I didn't taste a drop of it by doing this. I held my nose as I drank the glass of it. Then still holding my nose I wiped my lips with a napkin to get any extra stuff off and popped a lemon drop in my mouth for a few seconds. By the time I let go of my nose all I could taste was the lemon drop. Towards the end of drinking the prep I had the lemon drops in the bathroom because I often found myself in there drinking the glass of stuff! Like I said it sounds like a strange way to drink it but I did not want to taste it!

Good luck with yours.

Jen

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I wasn't being less than honest or afraid to post about anything bad regarding my experience. In my personal case, the prep was just unpleasant--not terrible. I had to drink the gallon of thick liquid laxative--hated it but got through with not much difficulty. Certainly nothing as bad as the illness that led me to be tested in the first place.

I think the whole point is to hear other's stories in hopes that it will give an idea of what to expect. For some it will be a horrible ordeal, for others, it's no big deal--and for most it falls somewhere in between.

OBXMom Explorer
OBXMom
Posted

You've gotten the lowdown, but I can add one suggestion. Vasoline. If your skin is the least bit sensitve, use it before and throughout the prep. Babywipes aren't always enough! Hope it is a breeze for you.

-Jane

Octoberme Apprentice
Octoberme
Posted
  • Author

Thanks guys for all the tips / advice and stories. I am gonna try the holding nose thing while I drink it cause I tend to gag if I don't like the taste of stuff.

And thanks for the tip about vaseline. I do have the baby wipes but I may have to try that too! I am sure all in all I will be okay and that when it is all said and done I will find it all worth it becuase then HOPEFULLY they can tell me what the heck is for sure wrong with me.

Thanks everyone. MUCHO helpful.

pixiegirl Enthusiast
pixiegirl
Posted

Oh I'm sorry I certainly didn't mean to imply that anyone was dishonest! I just meant that some times we sugar coat things. I've known people that had different prep things and said it wasn't so bad.

In regards to the running to the bathroom, I never had that issue, I had to go often but for me there was nothing uncontrollable about it. Instead of Vaseline I used baby diaper stuff, Balmex, its basically like a vaseline type product with zinc oxide in it but it does NOT come off like Vaseline does, it really stays put! (the things we talk about!)

But without a doubt everyone has different experiences!

Susan

Octoberme Apprentice
Octoberme
Posted
  • Author

This is all so very helpful thanks!!

I hope that I do nto have " controll " issues!

I am hours into the fuilds only diet and I am FREEKIN starving :-(

In a few hours I gotta drink that bottle of citromag or whatever it is.....

:-(

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,547
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    gizmo1jazz2
    Newest Member
    gizmo1jazz2
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.