I am in the UK and of course colonoscopies are free at the point of delivery - I hate to think what one might cost in the USA.
I had my first colonoscopy last Wednesday and since I live alone and had nobody to look after me, it was either Entonox (gas and air) or an Intravenous feed of some mild sedative. They popped in a canula but I managed perfectly on Entonox and whilst there was some discomfort, they do weave the device into your colon slowly if at time a little forcefully but it is all do-able with Entonox and the benefits are that you are awake to see the device as it works backwards and after 30 minutes you are good to go (after a very British cup of tea and a biscuit).
It is nothing to worry about. My appointment was for 9:30 am Wednesday and so I was asked to not eat after 9am on the Tuesday. Then at 5pm I had to mix up the first litre of Mediprep (2 sachets) and down it quickly. It was quite pleasant to be honest, a lovely lemony taste. Then a few visits to the loo and at 9pm repeat the process with the second pack. It was all easy to do and one got advance warning of a need to ‘visit the facilities’. The Mediprep sort of wears off after 2 hours so you can get to bed safe in the knowledge that no further ablutions visits are needed. A word of advice tho, just in case you might involuntary break wind in the night, put a bath towel under your bottom and wear underwear.
You do appreciate that the ‘unpleasant passing of foul smelling wind from the back passage’ is called a trump in Britain! Probably a perfect description of the present incumbent of 1600 Pensylvania Avenue methinks.
