Are you looking for an honest review about a colonoscopy experience? I've just been through the process and I'll tell you everything you really need to know about it!
Yes, I regularly have problems after eating. Bloating, stomach ache, cramps and everything else that goes with it. Great if you just want to go out for dinner with friends in the evening. 😥
But nobody needs to be embarrassed.
Because digestive problems are one of the most common complaints. And you are not alone. More and more people have serious problems with their gastrointestinal tract. This ranges from a slight Pinchup to strong Cramps and diarrhea.
I don't need to tell you that the quality of life is anything but good as a result. 🙈
Once you've had a few tests, such as lactose, fructose and so on, your doctor will sooner or later refer you to an internist. That's what happened to me.
It wasn't pleasant. But I would still like to thank you from my colonoscopy experience and hopefully put your mind at rest. Because in hindsight, it was half as bad.
Let's delve into the world of colonic irrigation today. I'll tell you how it went for me and what I wish I'd known beforehand.
Table of contents
What is a colonoscopy and who should have one?
A colonoscopy is a medical examination of the intestinal tract. Large intestine and the last part of the small intestine. The doctor uses a flexible tube for this, which is connected to a Camera is equipped.
It's a bit like sending a camera through a curved tunnel to make sure everything is in order and taking samples here.
The main purpose of this investigation is to Early detection of colorectal cancer and other Intestinal diseases.
But who should think about having this procedure? In general, people over 50 are recommended to have regular colonoscopies, as the risk of colon cancer increases with age.
If you have a family history or certain Symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain, blood in the stool or unexplained weight loss, you should talk to your doctor, regardless of your age.
My family doctor after various food intolerance tests sent for a colonoscopy. He wanted to have it clarified that no Inflammations, ulcers or similar hide in my intestines.
I wasn't enthusiastic about it at first. Who wants to experience a colonoscopy? Absolutely no one! But what the heck, eyes closed and through. 🙈
I will divide my report into three parts:
- Preparation for the colonoscopy
- The colonoscopy experience
- The time afterwards
Let's start right away with the preparation. You've probably already received some information about this from your doctor. But I also have some information for you that helped me a lot.
My preparation for the colonoscopy
The preparation for this extremely great undertaking is actually the worst thing about it. You're given a long list of things that you're not allowed to eat for days beforehand. That's actually a big punishment in itself. But then there's something else: Laxatives - and lots of them.
The preparatory meeting
My family doctor and the internist explain things to me. Unfortunately, I can't remember exactly which one said what. I was clearly too excited. But I made notes so that I didn't forget anything.
I recommend you do the same!
While the family doctor was able to give me a rough overview, I'm now sitting at the internist's and am getting a detailed explanation. I want to know which tube does what and how I can prepare myself for it.
I have to admit that the conversation makes me a little uncomfortable. For whatever reason.
He asks me again about my symptoms and when they occur. I chat away and tell him about my bloated stomach, diarrhea, stomach cramps and everything else I've tried. He takes notes.
Now comes the exciting part: the doctor explained to me how the colonoscopy works. I'm told exactly what I can eat in the days leading up to it and what I have to avoid.
In return I get a Printed listwhich contains additional information. There are countless of these lists. My doctor simply gave me one from the hospital in Vienna.
Tips for you
I'm not going to go into detail about what I ate, when and how. The topic is so extensive that I have written a separate article for it. If you're interested, have a look here: "This is my meal plan - including recipe suggestions“
In the end, I leave the practice after about 15 to 20 minutes and am really dreading this examination. On the other hand, I think to myself: "That's the doctor's job, he does it every day and it's just routine."
With this knowledge and a Appointment in 7 days the doctor sends me home. How lucky I am that someone has canceled for next week so I can get an appointment extra early. I really don't know how I should feel. I'm glad it's over in a week, at the same time I'd love to avoid the appointment. 😅
And on the other hand, my stomach is making itself felt again at this very moment. It's rumbling quite loudly, pinching and tweaking in every nook and cranny.
The preparation phase
Equipped with the knowledge, I would like to read a few reports about the process. I would like to learn how to even better prepared for the colonoscopy and what awaits me on the day of days.
I am looking for reports about a Colonoscopy experiencethat sounds honest and sincere. But I can hardly find anything. Most of the time I end up on hospital and doctor websites. That's not what I need right now.
At this moment I decide something: When the whole thing is over, I will write a detailed colonoscopy experience report. I would like to hold on to everythingthat I can remember.
Overall, I'm doing pretty well in preparation, except for my bowels - but they haven't been playing ball for a long time.
Today is Friday. I can now familiarize myself well over the weekend, the Study the food list and buy everything I'll need from Monday.
Shop and prepare
I sit down, write my shopping list and then it's off to the supermarket.
I wonder if people already have an inkling of what's in store for me with these healthy purchases. At least that's how it seems to me. 😄
On my shopping list:
- Bananas
- Wheat flour
- Eggs
- Rice
- Vegetables
- Vegetable broth
- Yogurt
- Pasta
- and some other foods that you can read about here: "My shopping list for the colonoscopy„
What I don't know at this moment is that I am very sensitive to too much Wheat flour. That's why my stomach didn't like it at all that I was eating so much white flour in preparation.
My gastrointestinal tract really rebelled this week. I was constantly bloated and didn't feel well. On the one hand, I lacked the filling foodson the other hand, I had to eat a lot of things that didn't agree with me at all. According to a home test, this also includes foods such as Carrots and eggs. If you are interested, you can read about it here: "I did a food intolerance test - this is the result!“
But that's not all, I have also dealt with the topic of intestinal flora analysis in detail. You can read about it here: "Is an intestinal flora analysis worthwhile for me?“
The day before the examination comes the part I dread: the laxative.
I also really liked this video and it calmed me down a bit:
Cleanse the intestines
Two days before the colonoscopy I go to the pharmacy and get the Laxative. It is a powder that comes in a sachet and actually looks quite innocent.
This is to get everything out of my bowels that might have been hiding in any of the coils.
The evening before, it's time to go: Vegetable broth without any additives and the laxative.
You need to read up on exactly when to start drinking the remedy and in what proportion it is diluted with water. There are many different preparations.
I dissolve the product in a glass of water. Put it on and drink it down in one go. I am "lucky" my laxative has a pleasant and subtle taste. Orange flavor. However, I have also read in forums about one or two colonoscopy experiences that were not so tasty. Apparently there is also a remedy that tastes intensely of salt!
Now we have to wait. The package leaflet states that it takes up to three hours lasts until the laxative acts. Diarrhea is supposed to set in now and really flush me out.
Although there can be virtually nothing left in my intestines anyway. That's what I think. I'll spare you the exact details. There was probably still a little bit left. I wonder where that came from? 😅
My colonoscopy experience
So. It's getting serious today. I didn't get much sleep. As always, I've been thinking far too much. As a wise precaution, I've already made the Sofa prepared. Cosy pyjamas, cushions, fluffy blankets and the TV await me after the appointment.
I take a deep breath, take another shower, get dressed and then I'm ready to go. Luckily, my appointment is at 9am.
At least then I won't have to go hungry for so long and can eat something good by lunchtime at the latest. I console myself with this thought and head off to the doctor.
I'm not allowed to drive alone or use public transport. That's why my boyfriend comes with me. He then has to take me home because I not roadworthy will be.
In the doctor's office
Oh, I'm so glad that everyone here is so nice and can see that I'm not looking forward to the appointment. "It'll be quick, it's not that bad," the assistant tries to cheer me up. I give her a tentative smile.
"Follow me. You can change here." I have to take off everything except my socks and get a typical Hospital gown missed. My heart begins to pound.
The doctor comes through the door. I take another deep breath. Oh, boy. I wonder what's going to happen now. Quite frankly, I'd like to run away and Cancel colonoscopy experience. But I won't get far with the smock anyway 😂
My colonoscopy experience
"You'll sleep really well right now and when you wake up, it'll all be over." That sounds like a good plan to me.
But before that, I have to lie down on the special examination table. Sideways, of course. I'm given instructions on how to position my legs and arms.
Then I get an IV inserted and finally the redemptive Propofol. The doctor is still talking at me, but I can't hear half of it any more. Zack and then it was all black.
I know absolutely nothing anymore. I have neither felt nor heard anything.
After colonoscopy
When it's over and I slowly wake up again, I feel really dizzy. It's like partying for three days straight. 🥳
Everything is spinning, I'm tired and exhausted and would love to go back to sleep.
Beep, beep, beep - I hear my heartbeat and look at the monitor showing my heartbeat. Pulse monitored. It was amazing. I haven't been this relaxed and calm for a long time.
I doze off again for a moment. Then a door opens. An assistant checks on me and asks me how I'm doing. Only now do I realize that I'm lying in a completely different room.
"You've prepared extremely well for the colonoscopy," says my doctor with a smile. Incidentally, that was in reference to how clean my bowel was - but I'd rather not go into that in detail now. 😂
My Belly is inflated like a balloonI also have a feeling of pressure in my abdomen. But that's completely normal, the doctor explains: "It goes away quickly when you go to the toilet." Okay, I get it, then I know what I have to do.
Off home
If I feel fit enough, I should get dressed slowly, go to the toilet and then I can make my way home.
How glad I am that I can now see a familiar face in this zombie mode and have someone to lean on - literally.
I now feel right after the colonoscopy experience just listless, exhausted and somewhat confused. Off home. 30 minutes later, I can flop down on the sofa - before I've even been to the toilet.
Although I thought I would eat first, I now sleep for two hours straight. I close my eyes and I'm off. I feel really refreshed and rested.
Now the hunger is coming back. Finally solid food again! However, the doctor has advised me to take it slowly. I should start with start with light dishes and not eat so much for a while. From tomorrow I can eat again as usual.
These articles may also be of interest to you:
- How to build up your gut flora after antibiotics
- 10 probiotic foods for a healthy gut
- Build up intestinal flora in 5 simple steps
What happens now after this colonoscopy experience?
I now have to wait a week. During this time, samples taken by the doctor will be stored in the Laboratory evaluated. But he calls me the same day in the evening and tells me that he didn't see any inflammation or tumors or anything like that on the images.
That's good news for now. So my complaints are not coming from that.
In the following week I am supposed to come back to the practice to discuss the results. Also the Samples are all unremarkable. So in theory, my gastrointestinal tract should be fine.
Unfortunately, this is not the case at all. So I will probably have to do another series further tests to know what's wrong with me. But the doctor disenchants me a little: "You most probably suffer from a Irritable bowel. There's very little you can do except try out for yourself which foods are good for you and which are not."
So I continue to try, make notes and use the process of elimination that I have been following for some time now. What has emerged in the course of my research is this list with FODMAPS - These are foods that can damage a sensitive intestine and lead to flatulence, diarrhea and the like.
My conclusion
A lot of fuss is made about colonoscopy. In retrospect, however, it is half as bad. It is purely routine for the doctor. Much "worse" than the examination itself is the Long preparation and that you can't and shouldn't eat what you want beforehand 😂
Try to take a reasonably relaxed approach to the undertaking and don't think about it as much as I did. I know that's easier said than done.
I would like to say a few words about my result:
I was secretly hoping that I would get some kind of clue at the end of the process. It's good that I now know that I don't have a tumor or intestinal inflammation. But in the end, I've hardly made any progress.
If you look around in forums, this is probably the case in 99 % of cases. Hopefully there will soon be a reliable diagnosis and cure for the problem. I don't want to have to suffer permanently from a bloated stomach, flatulence, diarrhea and the like.
I wish you all the best for your examination! 😊
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