Now… I never thought I’d be getting a colonoscopy and gastroscopy in my early 20s… but here we are. If you’ve been told you need one, or you’re dealing with ongoing stomach issues, I want to share my real experience, from the anxiety beforehand to how I felt after.
Why I Needed It?
I’d been dealing with ongoing stomach symptoms that just weren’t improving, so my doctor recommended both procedures to get a clearer picture of what was going on.
The Prep (The Part Everyone Dreads 😭)
The preparation was honestly the hardest part. I had to follow a low-fibre diet four days before my procedure, then take Picolax and senna which completely cleared me out.
Tip: you’ll want to stay very close to a bathroom.
The Day of the Procedure
When I arrived, I was checked in and taken through everything step by step. I was offered the choice of sedation or gas and air (entonox) and I chose sedation. They told me I most likely wouldn’t remember much from the procedure but funnily enough… I remember everything.
How It Felt (Before / During / After)
I was definitely anxious beforehand, mostly because I didn’t know what to expect.
During the gastroscopy, I was told to lay on my left side and given a numbing throat spray. When I swallowed it, it felt like my throat was completely blocked, which was a weird sensation, but it was just the lack of feeling from my gag reflex. After that I was given a mouth guard to protect my teeth. Once my throat was numb they put the flexible camera tube down my throat, looked inside and took a biopsy. The whole thing was over really quickly.
After that we went straight into the colonoscopy. I was still on my left side and the doctor inserted a colonoscope and passed it through my entire colon. They pumped some air in to inflate my bowel for a clearer view and did a little rinse too since my bowels weren’t fully emptied. The colonoscopy is useful because it can detect things like precancerous polyps and help prevent colorectal cancer.
Thanks to the sedation, neither procedure was painful, just slightly uncomfortable at times. Afterwards I was taken to a private room for 20 minutes and given orange squash and a shortbread biscuit. I felt a bit tired and had some mild discomfort, especially in my upper stomach area, but it was all very manageable.
Results / What They Found
They found a small hiatus hernia and took biopsies to investigate further. Getting those results actually brought some relief and founding out that I have a hiatus hernia explained so much of the reflux I’d been experiencing, and it was reassuring to finally have an answer.
A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through the diaphragm. It’s actually really common and can cause acid reflux and heartburn.
What Helped Me Recover
Honestly, rest! When it comes to food, don’t overdo it straight away. I made the mistake of getting Vietnamese street food after and I definitely felt it. I’d recommend something easy to digest like mashed potatoes or yoghurt for the first 2 or 3 days.
What I Wish I Knew Before
If I could go back and tell myself a few things before walking through those doors, it would be these…
1. It’s okay to feel anxious. Genuinely, everyone does. You’re not being dramatic.
2. Stay off TikTok the day of your procedure. I made this mistake and most of the videos I came across were really negative experiences. Everyone’s procedure is different and watching those will only spiral your anxiety.
3. The prep is honestly worse than the procedure itself. Once you’re through that part, the hardest bit is behind you.
4. The staff are there to support you. They do this every single day and they will make you feel as comfortable as possible.
5. It’s over quicker than you think. Seriously. I built it up so much in my head and before I knew it, I was in the recovery room with a biscuit.
Reassurance
If you’ve been putting this off or feel scared, I completely understand because I was too. But getting answers about your health is genuinely worth it.
Taking care of your health isn’t always aesthetic or comfortable… but it’s powerful.
Have you had this procedure before or are you preparing for one? I’d love to hear your experience 🤍
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