My Experience

I have a mild case of Crohn’s disease and had been advised to have a colonoscopy to check on its status every 5 years.

The preparation is the worst part. The day before, starting in the late afternoon for an early morning procedure the next day, I had to drink a gallon of a prep liquid that “cleans out” your system. The day before, I reduced my food intake and then stopped eating by afternoon. The rest of the day, I did not eat and drank a gallon the prep liquid, the lemon-lime flavor, alternating with an energy drink. The prep liquid has an unpleasant tang to it which grows worse with each glassful. It is quite effective in clearing out anything in your digestive system, however!

The morning of the procedure, I came in early and had “twilight sleep” anesthesia. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes, and I have almost no memory of it. By noon, I was done. A friend drove me home. There is little post-procedure discomfort except for general wooziness from the anesthesia. I couldn’t have driven a car. Even the next day, I felt a bit hung-over. But there is no other pain.