Many many times - due to the fact that I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis - a known associated condition of RA.

What would you like to know............?

Let's see. Well first and foremost, the preparation for the exam is worse than the exam itself because you have to fast for 24 hours prior and take a purgative to empty your system. Mm MMM!

The other main thing to concern yourself with is the amount of sedation you are offered or want. Some practitioners like to minimise after effects for you by minimising the amount of sedation. That means that you may well feel discomfort. Personally I find the sensation on an already sore gut to be too much, especially if they decide to examine as much of the lower colon as they can, and I insist on being properly sedated. And if you are sedated you will need someone to drive you home because if you drive yourself you will have no insurance.

Now then, that may sound alarmist, but it is not intended to be. With a little sedation you will know nothing, and ignorance is bliss. Of course if you are more stoical than me (I am mere male) you may get by without. All I am saying is there is no need for you to feel anything. So make your choice and make sure they know what you want.

Are you on iron supplements? If so you will need to stop them I think it is 30 days before the exam, because iron supplements coat the lining of the gut and make it more difficult to see what's going on.

Above all else, don't be embarrassed by it. It's all routine to them and they will help you through it.

They will get you to lie on your left side in a semi foetal position and when the sedation kicks in the next thing you are likely to know is when you wake up back on the day ward. Like I said, the 24 hour fast and purge is the worst bit! :)

Enjoy!!

Good Luck! :)

Hi Nat

Sorry to hear you have to undergo a Colonoscopy, I will be thinking about you and hoping you get an answer of sorts.

Take care.

Lisa x

Gut problems (specifically Ulcerative Colitis) is an associated condition to RA. I have both. One thing I would recommend is a low fibre diet. To know what constitutes low fibre use the following NO PIPS. SKINS, SEEDS, NUTS. In addition I would add no SPICY FOOD. I did this in 2005 and had an immediate and sustained improvement.

But you should also talk to the dietitian and your GP practice if they have one. Also see if your GP will prescribe VSL#3 probiotic. Recommended to me by my gastroenterologist

Sorry - I missed that bit. Why have you stopped your RA meds? Unless you are on MTX, which is known to upset guts, there's no reason why you should. I take meds for both conditions. Indeed, one of the regular DMARDs - sulfalsalazine - is a primary treatment for UC (assuming that is what you have)!!

Your choice but the dietitian explained to me that the high fibre food groups will abrade the already sore gut. I'd had gut symptoms for years and treatments / ops to try to control it to no avail. The low residue diet turned things around almost immediatly.

Diclofenac - yeah that will do it