[JMS2021]

UK here for context. We only have to fast for 12-24 hours prior to the colonoscopy. You can drink water or plain tea (no sugar, cream or milk).

They offer "gas and air" mainly. You don't even have to have that. You are fully awake during the procedure, laughing at the live HD video feed from inside you on the big screen.

You can be fully anaesthetised but that's very rare here in the UK.

After the appointment, it's a free cup of tea, and some biscuits. You have to wait for a couple of blood pressure tests, but after 15 mins recovery you can leave and go home. The entire process from entering the clinic unti leaving is about an hour.

The process is mildly uncomfortable but not really painful. Nothing like childbirth for example.

Don't be scared. It doesn't hurt too much. And as other commenters have written, any polyps they remove could have become tumours in 10 years, and afterwards, you are effectively safe from colon cancer for a decade.

If the NHS (UK) find and remove any polyps, they'll add you to a watch list for regular colonoscopy procedures. I have one every 2-3 years, others have them annually.

Get that camera up you... It might save your life.

[xtracto]

I've suffered from IBS all my life. At this point I've had several colonoscopies done in different countries.

The one in the UK was done without sedation and was a terrible experience. Apparently having an overly sensitive colon makes it pretty unbearable.

But yeah, the stigma around a doctor introducing a tube/camera up your ass is just that. You dont lose anything and you dont become any more/less anything. The prep is a bit rough but nothing unbearable as well.

I am 40 now, but will deffo get to it yearly once I'm 45.

[soco]

In Switzerland it's 4 days restricted diet (zero fibers etc), a day fasting with liquids or sugar, and strong laxatives the evening before and the morning of the action. You sleep (aka pass out for like a blink) during the intervention then wonder at your incredibly clean pipe on TV. 5 years later you come again if they found and removed something, otherwise after 10.

[elric]

> UK here for context. We only have to fast for 12-24 hours prior to the colonoscopy. You can drink water or plain tea (no sugar, cream or milk).

Are you saying you only have to fast, without laxatives/prep? How does that work? I find it hard to imagine that anyone's colon is clean enough to get a good view after only fasting for a day?

[ben_w]

Based on how much my need for toilet paper depends on what I’ve been eating recently, I suspect diet makes a massive difference to how clean you are inside.

Not sure how waiting longer than 24 hours is going to get you much cleaner in any case.

[JMS2021]

We have to take laxatives as well. The night before the appointment usually. That's when you must start fasting.