[BlondieUK]

My DS1 is being admitted to hospital on Tuesday to have a colonoscopy - and the surgeon today mentioned colorectal cancer as a possibility.

Does anyone here have a child who has been through a colonoscopy or this kind of cancer?

If you prefer to talk via PM - that's fine by me. Just looking for some information and thoughts.

Thanks.

[roses7]

I'm afraid I don't have relevant information for you but I couldn't read and not respond. I have regular colonoscopies and my brother had colorectal cancer as an adult (18 years ago and he made a complete recovery). The preparation for a colonoscopy is not very pleasant as you have to drink a bowel prep solution. However the actual procedure is fine as you are sedated and have no recollection.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry you are going through this and I hope the tests are all clear.

[BlondieUK]

roses7 - how much of hte solution do you have to drink and does it taste really disgusting?
DS1 has autism and I am trying to work out how much to tell him in preparation.

[ILBB]

Sorry to hear your DS is facing this BlondieUK. I had one last year and I think off the top of my head there were 3 (or maybe 4) sachets to put in water and drink. I have a gag reflex thingy going on due to throwing up a lot with morning sickness and just to let you know I really struggled getting enough of the prep down for it to work without bringing it back up. I don't know how I would go getting my NT child to drink it I wonder if there is an alternative prep for children???? Fancy and Epic might know????

I will have my fingers crossed for you and your DS in the coming weeks and months.

[madmother]

I have had a colonscopy but do not know the process for children?

It tastes like a really salty drink, but as I had to down 2 litres of it, it made me feel quite ill after 1 litre.

I do know there are different mixtures they use. I had to diet then fast over a 4 day period. My friend had only to fast and use the prep over 24 hours...

The only other thing I would advise is not to research into the cancer until you have an answer. DS2 had a strange liver enzyme issue when a baby. One of the things it may have been was childhood leukamia. The worst thing I did was research as the specialists investigated and stuffed around for 6 weeks. I nearly drove myself crazy.

It was a rare virus which caused the result and it rectified itself.

Please, don't do it to yourself until you have some concrete answers.

[girltribe4]

Have they given you any info sheets ?
I have to have colonoscopies every 2 yrs and I get a ''diet'' sheet as there is a procedure to follow over 3 days to start clearing the bowels . You generally end up being allowed only clear fluids before taking the bowel prep medicine.

Mine is 3 glasses of a fizzy lemon type drink . Its not the nicest thing in the world and tends to make me gag but its VERY effective

The prep is the worst part of the colonoscopy in my opinion the actual procedure I have never remembered as I am under sedation and the sandwich they give me once I am awake enough is yummy after pretty much fasting

Hope all goes well with your son xxx

[livvie7586]

no experience myself, but from talking to some of mum's friends, the best way to take the prep is icy cold and with a straw.

[MaggieL79]

My son has had a couple of colonoscopies, when he was 3 and 5. He also has a lot of sensory issues. For him, we just had to fast from mid morning, he was admitted to hospital at lunch time, they put a tube in his nose and mid afternoon started running the prep through. As soon as his bowel motions were clear they stopped the NG. He also had some IV fluids running through a cannula in his hand so he didn't get dehydrated. Fortunately the prep running into his belly stopped him from feeling hungry. Unfortunately he is a slow responder to the prep and both times has vomitted from his belly being sooooo full with litres of the solution!

Best of luck to you and your son.

[BlondieUK]

MaggieL79 - my son also has sensory issues, which have proven to be quite a challenge in terms of blood tests and examinations.

We need to be at x hospital at 10am for more blood work and examination, with the likelihood of being transferred to another hospital (about an hour away) as hospital x does not have a pediatric surgery unit. So, by the time anything happened, it will be a long time since breakfast. It may even end up being Wednesday.

I was just wonderful what measures were used to help keep the children calm or to keep the still or to help them get the solution in?

[MaggieL79]

The solution was given to him through a nasogastric tube, so he didn't have to do anything, or taste it at all.

We took lots of colouring, his DS and portable DVD player to keep him amused.

Good luck today.

The solution was given to him through a nasogastric tube, so he didn't have to do anything, or taste it at all.

We took lots of colouring, his DS and portable DVD player to keep him amused.

Good luck today.