What to Expect for Colonoscopy Recovery Time

I was fine the same day. I also was not completely under when they did it. I was starving afterwords so we went to lunch and i took it easy the rest of the day.
Yes the prep is the yuckiest part.
Many blessings and good luck

You should be completely fine when you come home.

As a precaution they tell you not to drive that day and to have someone with you at all times. You will feel completely normal like you could do anything, but like I said, it is all precautionary. You should be completely fine to do what you need to do the following day.

Unless you have GI "issues", you should be fine by the next day. My husband was fine that evening with no problem. If you have GI issues, it could be a whole 'nother ball game. When I had to have my last several, I needs 2-3 days of recovery, but that's definitely not the norm. Thankfully, I never have to have another one! One benefit of a full colectomy, I suppose. ;)

I believe they used a Demerol sedative during mine. I woke up a bit later, after the procedure, just feeling like I had taken a very intense nap. Was a little groggy, but not bad, and they do have a nurse to help you dress if needed.

What I wished I'd known was to take it easy on the digestive system for the next couple of days. No exciting or exotic foods. My GE was a jerk, honestly, and said that I could eat anything I wanted. NOPE. Start with easy stuff and remember that probiotics might be a good idea, since you really get cleaned out.

Groggy and a bit gassy on the day of, fine on the following day. Definately capable of sitting in a car, checking into a hotel, readying for games.

Best,
F. B.

K.,

Breathe!!! Promise you will be "normal" the day after!

If they have to remove polyps? You might have MILD pain, but really? You should be fine.

When I got home? I was HUNGRY!! And sleepy! I had the twilight sleep done and took a 2 hour nap afterwards and good from that point forward.

The prep can be bad. Talk with the pharmacist about what you can do. Broth will be good during the prep...

I was fine even right after. I was awake the whole time, just mildly sedated. I had no pain. They say not to return to work that same day, but I would have been more then okay to do so. The prep is the worst part for sure. I could not handle the regular drink (it made me vomit) so they let me use miralax in gateraid which was much easier to handle for me. Best of luck.

You will be fine for your daughter's softball tournament.

Drink lots and lots of water and apple juice. My doctor told me to drink that so that my glucose levels stay high and I stay hydrated while fasting prior to the scope. If you are not fully hydrated it is a bit harder for them to put the IV in. My last one I thought I drank enough and I didn't but it was all okay. Follow the guide given to you and you should be fine.

Take it easy after your scope and rest. You will probably be sleepy that day so sleep. Don't do anything that you have to sign any legal documents as your judgment maybe off that day. Otherwise you will be fine. I have one scheduled for next week and yes the prep work is harder to do than the scope.

the other S.

The anesthesia used for a colonoscopy is similar to what they used for impacted wisdom teeth extraction. You're groggy for an hour or so afterwards - and maybe take-out for dinner is called for. but you'll be jsut fine by the next morning.

It's true drinking the awful clean-out liquid the day before is the worst part of it. Stay very close to a bathroom...

I just had one in March. I didn't have much appetite afterwards and was pretty gassy most of the rest of the day. (Caused by the air they use to inflate the colon. Not clear the room kind of gas.). I wasn't necessarily groggy afterwards but I was really tired. I fell asleep in the car and went home and slept for 3-4 hours. They would not let me drive home after having anesthesia and wouldn't even do the procedure unless I had a driver check in with me. The next day I was pretty much 100% back to normal. Recovery was a picnic compared to the prep!

I remember that the worst part was the prep! Buy some Desitin and USE it! I actually sent my hubby to the store to buy me some because my backside was on fire from the acid. Don't eat during the prep because then you have more to get rid of. Staying hydrated is the main thing that you need to worry about.

I was fine after the procedure, went to sleep, woke up a little groggy like from a really good nap, and went to lunch. Went home hung out had a restful day. Really, after you get all the "poop" out, the only other hard thing is the IV placement. Not that invasive at all really. Well, I guess it is, but since you're asleep it's not so bad.

You should be fine to do whatever you want to the next day.

I drove my mom home afterwards, she was groggy and took a nice long nap and just took it easy the rest of the day after her procedure.

You could just sleep in the back seat. The next day you should be just fine.

I had a colonoscopy a few years ago and I was fine afterwards. I had my hubby drive me home just in case...but really I felt fine. I took it easy that day, but I felt fine. Riding in a car and checking into a hotel should be perfectly fine. PS - I was really nervous too, but it all was fine. The Dr told me as he started that if I felt "anything" even if it didn't hurt to say the word ouch. I felt something slightly uncomfortable, so I said ouch...the next thing I knew I was waking up in another room. It was a total non-event and everyone was super nice.

My husband had one done last year. He was groggy, but mostly because they gave him more anesthesia than they should have (long story). And he needed to be near the restroom for a few hours. By dinner time he was ok. We ate pretty bland that night and the next day...just in case.

I've never really had trouble with the recovery part. They do want you to have someone to drive you, and they'd like you to rest afterward. You should be fine the day after that. Double-check with the doctor if you still wonder.

The prep is no fun... but colon cancer would be worse.

Yes, it's the Michael Jackson drug.
After his colonoscopy, my husband went to Denny's.
He was fine.

I was fine later that day. The grogginess only lasted a short while (an hour or so maybe?). Like you, I traveled the next day about 3 hours for a wedding and was completely fine, not even lingering grogginess at that point, so you should be perfectly okay. Good luck!

You'll be fine in the car. I went on an airplane overseas...

It's BEST to sleep or rest after the procedure. You will need the rest. Have EVERYTHING done, even having the car packed, before you start the prep. Wear comfortable clothes on your car trip - no tight pants. Your stomach is going to be full of air. They have to pump air into your abdomen. What it takes to get rid of it is to walk around and move around - a little hard while you're in the car, but once you reach your destination, you'll be able to do that.

So, wear baggy pants with a loose waist, a big shirt so that people don't think you look pregnant, and make sure you rest when you get home. You might THINK that you won't feel the usual grogginess, but you don't know how YOUR body will react specifically to this drug.

If you rest the first day, wear appropriate clothes on your trip, you aren't going to wreck the trip for the family.

LOL! Don't worry hun. Had this done 2 Years ago, and the worst part IS the prep. Had to drink the most disgusting stuff I have ever tasted. Anyway, long story short, I was just a bit groggy afterward. You WILL need someone to drive you home. Just rest the remainder of the day, and you should be fine the next day.

My husband recently had a colonoscopy and was fine later that day. He was put totally under for his procedure, not just the twilight sedation. I had to drive him home after the procedure, and he was sleepy/groggy for several hours, but was fine by dinner time. You should be fine the next day, I would think.

You are correct that the prep for the procedure is by far the worst part. Whatever you do, plan to be at home for that part of it! ;)

I was fine with mine. No problem. Made dinner that night and the next day was like nothing happened.

I was knocked out. When I got home, I was very groggy for several hours. The next day I was completely fine.

I had terrible gas after, but that was all.

You will be fine. They reverse the drug so when you wake up you are up and ready to go.

K.,

I have gotten colonoscopies every year for 14 years do to a cancer history. When I had my 1st one, I left the appointment, my then husband drove me to my mom and I cooked dinner for everyone. I felt great! I was just very hungry. I have never had an issue afterwords. I do not get put out for them though, I stay awake with just enough meds on board that it isnt uncomfortable.

You will be fine, I promise. If you need advice, I am here.

Yes, that is the "Michael Jackson drug," but it is considered very safe when used properly and under the proper supervision. One of its benefits is supposed to be that it does not leave you feeling groggy or out of it. Regardless, you will probably be a little "out of it" that day, but feeling alert the next day. Everyone responds differently though.

For me the issue was that it took my GI system several days to recover. That part was worse and took longer than I anticipated. I do have IBS though. My husband wanted to go out to lunch on the way home from the procedure. NO WAY I felt up to that! We got some carryout and I tried to eat some soup, but it didn't go very well. I was surprisingly not very hungry anyhow. I had to follow a bland diet for a few days afterwards and had some cramping. Depending on how you react my concern would be riding in a car for three hours. I would've needed to have quick access to a bathroom. You will be coherent, but whether or not you need ready and frequent access to a bathroom is another question. The answer to this question probably depends on your medical history and perhaps your doctor could help you with that. Good luck!

The actual procedure was a piece of cake after the prep--the sedative they used knocked me out and then made me giddy and happy when I woke up. My husband said I was much more entertaining and easy going than usual! My doctor told me his wife liked the sedative too and has asked him for a "to-go bag!" (JK, of course.)

Like others responses, you'll be fine for the trip & to watch the softball games.
P

Just wanted to add that you will probably have some short term bouts of memory loss after having this drug. You will feel like you understand and you are with it, but you may notice later that you have forgotten something somebody just said or something someone did. The sedating part is reversed pretty quick, but it will take a while to get completely out of your system. A good idea is to have hubby bring your phone and have him record what the doctor says about the results. That way you can play the conversation back when you forget and you aren't so loopy.

Start eating light a few days prior. Cut out meat. Chew your food really well days prior. I 'clean' my bowels that way prior to so that I only have to drink one bottle of magnesium citrate. It works!

Afterwards I slept in the doctors office as my ride could not get me until 3 hours afterwards.