Has Anyone Done A Bowel Screening Test

[emmie]

i have been sent a letter from NHS to say they are sending me a kit, is it easy to do, sorry if its early to talk about such matters, but i guess now is as good a time as any..

[Vagus]

Jj, the bowel screening camera didn’t go as far round the bowel as a colonoscopy camera does, and didnt require the same bowel prep stuff as the whole bowel didn’t need to be emptied.
For a colonoscopy, a low residue diet has to be followed for a few days prior to the procedure, and litres of some special stuff has to be drunk for 24 hours preceding the procedure, which makes for lots of watery bowel movements to ensure the entire bowel, right the way round, is completely empty.

[jennyjoan]

ok thanks Vagus - it is just I did have a colonoscopy about 10 years ago and so I got confused with your post - must say mine was definitely a colonoscopy as then I remember sorta screaming "no no I can't go on" then they said "oh just a few more seconds and that'll be it". They have rounded the corner of my bowel LOL.

Now I do believe one can be sedated - is that correct?

[Vagus]

Yes, jj, everyone is offered sedation.
And for those who have had a particularly difficult and painful previous colonoscopy, and which the normal sedation didn’t really work, you can ask for anaesthetist supported sedation which is deeper sedation and like being asleep. You don’t feel a thing.

[jennyjoan]

that's good to know Vagus - hopefully I won't need another one ever. That stuff you drink is also gross.

[richtee]

Please do the test emmie- the only reason I am still here is because it picked up bowel cancer- had the op 4 years ago, and the last folow up CT scan picked up lung cancer, so had the op for that over Christmas, so still here and all good!!

[dave50]

I sent it off and they've come back saying I need further test ie a colonoscopy, do I need to worry?

[Vagus]

It just means theyve found some blood in your poo, Dave, and need a good look. Could be from a pile or even a slight tear, but it needs investigating.
My other half had a colonoscopy after a dodgy screening result which turned out to be an internal pile.
Better safe than sorry Dave.

[dave50]

Thanks vagus

[playersdigger]

Yes I have been sent the latest type of test. I am 76 and they are supposed not to send them routinely after 74. I could request one but for get and they sent one anyway. The test used to be a length of card with about 6 little cut out windows. One put a tiny bit of your sample in each window. The new test is just a small bottle with a bit of liquid in it.

[playersdigger]

Yes,I am 76 and have sent in this rather unpleasant test for about 10 years. It was supposed to end at 74 but they have sent me another one without me asking. It's a tiny bottle bottle with liquid in it and a small stick in the lid. One collects a little from the sample and puts it in the bottle and posts it off.They will write back with the trust.