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"Colonoscopy"

About: Broome Health Campus / Theatre

(as the patient),

I had a procedure 10 years ago with the same diet, but a different liquid to drink.  The previous dose was taken at 7.00 pm the night before procedure - by 7.30 you were on the toilet and all over within an hour.  Clear bowel.

The latest stuff you take some at 3.00 pm and another dose at 9.00 pm.  I had a few very loose bowel movements - from 3.30 maybe every couple of hours - all through the night.  I had a moment when I stood up from my chair and without warning had poop in my pants. The constant bowel movements were very annoying, little notice, just knew you couldn't even think about farting.  The worst part - still going through the night when you couldn't take a drink after midnight.

Arrive at the hospital at 8.30 am feeling very dehydrated, could still taste the stuff I drank.  One other patient was still trying to poop at 10 am.  

Anyway, procedure not until 2.30 pm - had a drip in to stop becoming too dehydrated - but still not great - only to find out my bowel was not clear enough - have to do it again!

Are you kidding - Told the previous stuff was too harsh on patients - so they're doing this again, also takes up hospital resources.  Go back to the old stuff - I am the 3rd person I know of to have had this problem and I believe another on the day of my procedure was a failure too.

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Responses

Response from Sue Phillips, Regional Director of Medical Services, WA Country Health Service Kimberley 5 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Sue Phillips
Regional Director of Medical Services,
WA Country Health Service Kimberley

Manages the Medical Services across the Kimberley region

Submitted on 22/01/2019 at 12:52 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 1:09 PM


Dear Pinkliz,

Thank you for sharing your story - it sounds like a frustrating process. I can imagine that it would be upsetting to prepare yourself for an unpleasant procedure - and then have to go through it all again.

As a direct result of your feedback, the Broome Hospital theatre and bookings team are in the process of reviewing current procedures, as well as the dietary and bowel preparation fluid advice given to patients in the lead up to a colonoscopy. I am hoping to see an improvement in how we assure ourselves that patients are well prepared for these procedures so that their time and efforts (and hospital resources) are not wasted.

Thank you once again for providing us with this opportunity to improve our service.

Kind regards

Sue

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Update posted by Pinkliz (the patient)

Wonderful - as I have also spoken to more people now who have had this procedure, and it is not unusual for a 'failure to see' even after the correct instructions are followed. Someone going in soon I have advised to drink water until you cannot drink any more right up to midnight prior to procedure - just to try and help!

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