Preparing And Going In For A Colonoscopy

Join me for my fourth colonoscopy! I take you through what to eat in the days leading up to the procedure, the colonoscopy prep I use, how to make the prep more comfortable, what to expect when you go to the office, and how recovery is. I'm here to take a little of the mystery out of getting a colonoscopy and help you get ready for yours!
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer at the age of 34, so in addition to this being my 4th colonoscopy I also had to do many bowel preps for procedures and tests throughout my treatment.
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[@xdrive300011]

Thank you Jelena. You are a hero!

[@traceyjenkins4748]

Hey there Jelena, it's been a while since I checked in with you and your videos. You look great. I'm still in NED this is year # 4. I'm grateful to God for bringing me through. I struggle a little bit with my doctor appointments being every 6 months now, but I'll be fine. Keep up the good work with the informative videos. Oh yeah by the way I got engaged 💍, wedding will be in June. So with that said for anyone who might read this comment, despite the cancer diagnosis chose to keep living. ❤

[@SurvivorJelena]

So many good things in this comment! 🥳🥂 Glad to hear you’re doing so well and are happy 💙

[@robertmtaylor2472]

Congratulations for your Engagement @traceyjenkins4748. Congratulations! And is important to live. Is Important to live.

[@denikawilson978]

Wonderful news Jelena! I am so happy to hear your results! Whew, at least you dont need to have another colonoscopy for 5 yrs.😊

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thanks 🥰 I’m happy too.

[@robertmtaylor2472]

@@SurvivorJelena, me also! Me also!

[@MyChannel706]

This is the best video I have seen on this topic. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Wow, thank you!

[@AndyPlaytime]

Am going for a colonscopy this weeks and to be honest i hav insomnia mostly because am scared of the anaesthesia to fall asleep plus what the results will be. The thought of doing my prep makes me so so so so weak . I pray God helps me through it cause already am tired. overall am so so so grateful for your video. I love you so much. You have become a friend of mine

[@SurvivorJelena]

You can do this 💪🏼💙 The anesthesiologist will be next to you the entire time you’re asleep to monitor you and make sure you’re getting the right amount of medication to have you stay asleep during the procedure but to also be able to wake up quickly once it’s done. It’ll be a relief once you finish.

[@AndyPlaytime]

@@SurvivorJelena my mothers family all died due to cancer and I lost my biological sister 2 years ago to cancer. Now inexperience extreme pain and bloating plus I fail to have a bowel movement hence why it's recommended. You have given me so much encouragement. I believe I can do this now. Will let you know how it went this week. Praying for good news

[@judithritner9696]

Thank you so so much for this video. I’m very sorry you’ve had to go through so much. You have such an upbeat and charming personality even with all you have endured. And I am thrilled to hear everything looks good and you won’t need another for 5 years. The prep is always miserable for me. Once the purge starts I get freezing cold, and all of your suggestions are great. I am saving this to watch again soon. I have to have another colonoscopy this year and am dreading it. I think that watching this as I get nearer to time will relieve quite a bit of anxiety. I will have all of the recommendations ready ahead of time. I think I will also have a heating pad in my purge bathroom. I have had a small bowel obstruction from a previous emergency surgery, so I already have several of recommended items. Again thank you so very much for this great video. Bless you and I pray for your continued good health. Hugs, 🙏😊💕

[@tamiewert808]

Thank you so much for your videos! Very informative and you are a very good speaker!!

[@SurvivorJelena]

I appreciate that! 💙

[@JANAEBROWN-zm1xy]

Stage 3 colon rectal cancer survivor going on 14 yrs now. Have had colonoscopies every 3 years. Trying this regiment Sunday for appt on Monday. I two have diarrhea issues. We joke that I have stop and go pills and I always check out where the bathrooms are located when going somewhere special. Something my family has gotten used too. Thank you for the editorial as it has been very helpful. Wish me luck!!

[@tortugalisa4748]

Watching your channel for the first time, I love how complete you are on your video information genres. Positive on my FIT test and want to follow up with a colonoscopy but knew nothing about it until now👍 PS- isn't it easier to throw in a straw and suck that prep yuck down?☺️

[@blueomega2853]

Hey Jelena, been a while since i said Hi so, Hi! 😊 You're looking fantastic, hope you're keeping well. I watched the full video, very interesting to see, not something ive done myself yet, but this is good to learn for the future.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Glad to hear from you! Thanks for watching, as always 💙

[@scottlane6393]

Thanks for all your insight, help and advice. I was diagnosed with the same kind as you. I had my ileostomy reversed two months ago so dealing with all the retraining and healing. Thanks again!

[@clairecarden]

Thanks for the video, I am having this procedure on Monday, I'll be doing Clenpiq as well, and this has helped me not feel so nervous!!

[@FeHopeCyndiW]

I am 53 and haven't had one yet. (I know, I know!) I just scheduled. My husband had fibrolamellar cancer and died last year. I put off all of my medical while I care gave, took care of our young daughter, and ran a business. He fought valiantly through many surgeries, including a craniotomy, and 4.5 years of continuous chemo. Cancer sucks. I work 80+ hours a week (he had been the major breadwinner and I have his medical bills still), and I looked for videos to figure out the real story of how much time to pull out of my work schedule versus the doctor's quick overview of what to do. I caught your video from 4 years ago first and all I have to say is that I am *very happy* to see that you have a more recent one. And, you look great! Cancer sucks and takes too many people. Keep on with your bad*ss self.

[@erikadpeterson]

VERY helpful, thank you so much! I think I’m ready for my first colonoscopy in two days. 😊

[@SurvivorJelena]

Good luck! 💙 Happy to help.

[@petercreagh8797]

I am from New Zealand and started my prep at 5pm this evening and it started working at 7.15. I was prescribed Glycoprep Orange which did not taste too bad other than giving me a mild headache. The 5pm prep was for 2L made from 2 sachets of Glycoprep. I have to have another 1L of prep at 5am tomorrow morning. My colonoscopy is as a result of a bowel screening test that I failed rather than from having any cancer symptoms.

[@petercreagh8797]

Finished my last litre of Glycoprep Orange this morning. I am glad I took your advice to wear diapers last night although no accident luckly. I will wear a pair to my appointment and on the way to the post colonoscopy care home.

[@petercreagh8797]

Hi Jelena I am back home now. It was a painless procedure and I was happy when the doctor said my prep was pretty good. She did find 3 polyps which she has sent to the lab for analysis but does not think they are cancerous. Prior to surgery the doctor did warn me of risks and I said what symptoms would I get from those problems and she said they will be able to let me know straight after the procedure if they have any problems and they did not have any. I felt I may have left with constipation last evening but I was back to normal this morning with no indication the Glycoprep Orange was still affecting me. I was given a discharge form with images on it. As its very likely I will need another one sometime due to polyps being found I will write everything down that I had for the LF diet and and steps I took to consume the Glycoprep. Maybe by next time they will have come out with a Glyco prep in the form of tablets to take. The hospital gave me complimentary transport to and accomodation in a care home last night in case I was to suffer any complications manly due to the anaesthetic.

[@jenniercalderon8426]

Thanks again for this informative video and taking us Along . You have been so helpful ❤ I’m glad to hear you are doing well and don’t have to do another prep for five years 🎉 I took the day of the procedure off , I works nights . With that being said , do you think I’d be ok going into work the day night before? I’m wondering since I don’t think I’d have time to run to the RR since I work at a huge warehouse which requires walking all night bending and climbing ladders ? Thank you again and congrats on your results ❤

[@SurvivorJelena]

Once you start taking the actual prep I wouldn’t attempt to work. You never know how many times you’ll have to go to the bathroom and it’s usually pretty urgent.

[@robertmtaylor2472]

@@SurvivorJelena True This, True This.

[@robertmtaylor2472]

Glad Jelena, you made it through your Colonoscopy successfully. I will do my very best, to recover from my Colonoscopy, when it happens, this: Wednesday March 20th, at the Hospital, in: Deer Park, CA

[@nollaigire2367]

Your looking great Jelena 👍

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thank you 😁

[@jaydenp4975]

Thank you for making your videos. I’m having my first colonoscopy this week and I’m nervous.

[@SurvivorJelena]

You got this!

[@robinmaynard1640]

So happy for you

[@simonemorejon893]

Thank you Jelena for sharing your story and for this amazing video. I am so happy you received a clean bill of health! Take care of yourself and keep smiling! :)

[@MadAudi]

I’m having an upper and lower tomorrow morning. Yay. 🎉

[@Aloglow]

I am glad it all went well! I have my first colonoscopy at 48 in one week and I am nervous! Your video helped a lot. Hope all keeps well with you and your health 🙏🏻✨

[@petercreagh8797]

I have one on Thursday after failing a bowel screening test. Prior to watching her video I sort of wondered if I would need adult diapers and she has confirmed I would plus not to expect to get much sleep the night before. I may even get a tarpaulin to replace the sheets on my bed.

[@LeaJackson-f1v]

I’m 30. I had one done today because my doctor at the Sloan Memorial Cancer Center recommended because I had lymphoma when I was 19

[@yadrak2354]

I'm at 10:48 in and I think you are an amazing lady. Appreciate you sharing your experience with us.

[@rbrown2746]

I had stage 1 colon cancer in 2021, I had a resection, and reversal and you videos were a big help. Have you had iron issues since your surgery. I am having very low iron and feratin levels, post menopause

[@SurvivorJelena]

I haven’t had any iron issues and I never did before cancer. I am on hormone replacement therapy, I don’t know if that would help with iron levels/absorption or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@rbrown2746]

@@SurvivorJelena , I'm just hoping it isn't back. Thank you

[@monicafranzo9378]

Why couldn’t you do the Gatorade Myralax prep ? Excuse my spelling ! Happy you got a good report 👍

[@tonifly1979]

thankyou so much jelana thankyou for this video i got my first colonoscopy on the 18th march and i had the shock of my life when my bowel movemeant suddenly changed it went so sticky and was like gravy and it would not flush it was so strange and the same night i had maroon coloured poop mixed with blood and it was not piles of a tear it was quite and it shook me up . i then kept having really hot smelly farts stinking the whole house out it was every few mins i could not hold it in and david was cussing so much its strong like sulphur and this sticky poop carried on x when i laid on my left side and the gas was bubbling away it felt like theres a lump inside but i can feel it onside but cant toich it if this makes sense ive had pain under my breast done in the center and like a cramp/stitch bottom right ive had fevers waking up soaking wet and two of the days my apple watch kept going off every 10 mins for a good 45 mins and i was only curled up watching tv and it stayed over 120bpm every 10 mins ran my battery down i was peaking at 137bpm it was scary i took propanolol to get the pulse down maybe im just worrying to much xx its now happening where i get no feeling that i need to go until last min and ive had many accidents and im so embarressed xx so on the 14th feb i went do my GP and i talked over whats happening she gave me two poop containers to tesr H-phylori and bowel inflamation and the FIT kit for colon cancer and i had full sets of bloods taken . she also had a feel inside and said theres no piles and to bottom looks normal out side no tears . so i went home and did the samples and took them back in the morning x on the 18th feb my H-phylori came back possituve so i went on a week triple therapy penicillin , antibiotics and omaprozole xx The inflamation came back normal xx on the 22nd feb the FIT test came back possitive for blood in my poop nd im refered for suspected colon cancer im 44 years old my dad had it 19 years ago and my sister had polips xx ive been refered for a colonoscopy in the 18th march i had my pre op phone call today xx A couple of days ago i got my bloods back my iron store is low so ive got liquid iron to take and my liver is a bit stressed i had fatty liver years ago and i almost died in 2019 perforated stomach , peritinius and sepsis where i stomach ruptured my liver stuck to it and they did not peel the liver from it until last may so that may not help the liver xx i gota peg feed so in a way for the bowel prep if i dont like the taste i could pug it down my peg so i guess that one good thing out of something so bad xx Because of how complex i am i could not have it done in the mobile unit on sunday as i got to be in the main hosptal the next date was wednesday the 6th march and im flying to egypt for a 4 day break to relax with my eldest daughter and hubby is looking after my 11 and 17 year old daughters as they got studies my 18 year old wanted to do a mummy daughter trip because ive gone through so much since 2016 my colonoscopy is 18th march at 2pm xx thankyou so much for your video im a bag od nerves and so scared i hope you dont mind me reaching out i feel like im in quick sand and cant get out xx ive never felt alone being in the uk its all taboo you start talking about your bowel problems and knowone wants to listen xx sending you love and hugs xx

[@Carolyn-es7pf]

Bless you!!

[@Doririchard77]

I don't like the prep colonoscopy to drink the nasty stuff. I did apple juice, water and broth. Try apple juice. Congratulations

[@ahmadalmahdi]

hi my dearest jelena .. how are you .. hope you are fine and all your family .. what about your last investigation .. is it good .... I passed now 2 years and I am fine .. Thanks God ... waiting for your answers

[@chadbonsack1166]

Do you have to stop solid foods 36 hrs before or 24 hrs before?

[@SurvivorJelena]

My instructions said 24 hours

[@taranjeetsingh3561]

Do u have PET-SCAN too?as an alternative of colonoscopy

[@SurvivorJelena]

No. Sometimes a CT scan may be used instead, but a colonoscopy will see everything much better and you can have any polyps removed immediately.

[@TheWhateverMan420]

Graphic Content Warning: I am having issues. GI issues for 3 years, Im 40 now. They came all of sudden. All my blood work and CT scans are good but I do have lots of nodules in lungs and many granulomas on liver and spleen. They say Im fine. But I cant go...if you catch my drift. This is just getting worse and worse. 2 weeks of nothing but a couple pencil thin stools. Feeling of fullness, no apetite, my stomach and bowels feel "frozen" went to ER, they did labs, said Im good. Sent me home with an enema and a miralax prescription (which I already have and take) the enema did not work. Med said to call DR if no movement in 30 mins. They didnt care nor get back to us. Google said to try to get it out since you dont want to leave the solution inside too long. I tried and tried. Had no energy to really push and then my hemmoroids swell and prolapse. But after 40 mins, all that came out what clear emema fluid. Common sense tells me theres an obvious blockage. These doctors wont listen and have not been listening to me. I dont feel right!

[@jaydenp4975]

How are you doing now? Have you had a colonoscopy?

[@manjugaire9917]

Hi jelena im from Nepal. I ve done my ileostomy reversal surgery on 26 December. Since then im having difficulty in passing stool and gas. I can pass very little stool and gas. Is it normal ? Did you ever experience this type of problem. Hope you would reply me. Im really frustrated and exhausted with my life😢😢😢😢

[@SurvivorJelena]

After my reversal I didn’t have any problems with constipation, I was going too much. I have heard of others that also deal with constipation post-reversal. If you’re worried, check in with you doctor.

[@DrummerGrrrl]

If you live in a state where marijuana is legal, get yourself some CBD skin balm. Yes, you can use it around your butt. It will make things slightly less painful!

[@edgarrivera6012]

HEY....😂

[@gregnettles3677]

Clenpic is the devil

[@Unknown-hu4gf]

You need to start eating meat....

[@tommac21]

Nobody cares how you prepared or about your colonoscopy. Why do people believe they need to share this.

[@heatherinCT]

People who may be nervous about this procedure would care.

[@tommac21]

​@heatheriYeah and these videos will discourage people more then anything. I know Im 59 and will never get one but these just reinsurance me of never getting one.nCT

[@heatherinCT]

@@tommac21 I'm not sure why you're even on here

[@mrskhillman6042]

Thank you for the video. I'm preparing for my first colonoscopy tomorrow so this information is EXTREMELY helpful. Thx for sharing.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Glad it was helpful! Hope your colonoscopy went ok!