For anyone anxious/nervous or scared about the prep and procedure. Read this. You will be fine.

I can promise you, it's totally normal to be nervous or anxious about the prep, the procedure, the results, etc, but it's an absolute cakewalk compared to what you are actually imagining. This is the second time trying to write this post as i accidentally closed reddit the first time so this won’t be anywhere near as detailed unfortunately as im not typing it all out again.

Take it from me, someone with severe ADHD, a crazy imaginative brain, and bad health anxiety after a few major surgeries and complications in the past.

I wanted to make a post here after seeing how helpful the other ones were for me.

I couldn't find any one single post that covered everything in detail so I thought I would make one to help any other anxious people visit the sub.

I'Il start with the prep, I did prepkit orange (Picoprep and Glycoprep)

Let me tell you, i was dreading the prep almost more than the procedure, I have Emetophobia (fear of vomiting, or feeling nauseas) and I was convinced it was going to feel like gastro or a stomach bug/flu. I thought I'd be feeling disgusting and be stuck on the toilet with no escape and going through hell for the 24 hours before the procedure, which made me an anxious mess.

So much so that I had a bloody panic attack just drinking the first 250ml of Picoprep. I somehow convinced myself I was having an allergic reaction and had all the classic symptoms of your run of the mill anxiety attack. After about 15 mins I realised I was just being stupid and prepared to settle in.

I set up the bathroom with candles, my book, my phone, my gameboy, got some Vaseline, and turned the heater on.

The ambience was so good in there and I felt really comfortable.

First things first, it feels NOTHING like gastro or a stomach bug, no queasy feeling, no nausea, no pain, in fact I felt totally normal. Also, the Picoprep didn't even taste gross at all. Literally just tasted like a powdered sports drink.

Anyway, about 50 mins in I feel a little polite knock knock at my bootyhole and realised it was about to go down.

Learning not to trust a fart from other posts in here, I got up and went to the bathroom and let the thunder clap.

After about a 5 min round in the ring I was chilling again, ! need to mention im a huge Pokemon go fan, and have been on the hunt for a shiny Pikachu for ages, and of course, jus my luck, it was a Pikachu hour on Pokemon go right as l started prep. I mention this because I was so fine that I was walking up and down my street trying to catch a shiny pikachu in between bouts of explosive country gravy. I didn't feel sick or any different at all other than going to the toilet every 30 mins or so. I wasn't glued to the bathroom at all and actually worried that maybe I did something wrong. I had been fasting as mentioned and drank the solution as instructed. First round down. Suer easy, zero discomfort, well this is to say other than putting gloves on and rubbing Vaseline on my ballon knot, which was a first for me....

Side note, I was drinking 200ml of Powerade after every blow out on the toilet, and I probably drank 5 litres of water and bone broth throughout the day. I'm a powerlifter and compete so drinking plenty of fluids is normal for me so no struggle there.

Round 2.

Got the second batch out of the fridge, I'm feeling good at this point, I down it, and fair warning, it works much quicker. At this point that old viral chocolate rain song is on repeat in my head as i was conducting an aerial strike on Porcelainistan. Still no sickness or anything and was only going to the bathroom in between Pikachu hunts every 20 mins or so! Time was running out, I had 15 mins left in the Pikachu hour and I had to start the fudge shuttle back up in a dire way, with three minutes to spare I was off the throne and in the front yard and I found a shiny Pikachu! It was a sign, all was going to be gravy, literally.

Anyway, things basically go back to normal, I'm chilling, shitting, chilling, shitting. All in all, I dropped the browns off at the superbowl about 8 - 10 times I think. Nothing bad, or unpleasant besides the sound of a running tap blowing out my asshole. It's around 11pm when I go to bed and sleep all the way through to my 5 am alarm to start the Glycoprep.

Round 3: Glycoprep and the procedure.

Glycoprep actually tasted good. Might be weird but everyone made out like it was the worst thing ever. It legit just tasted like thick Gatorade. This part is going to be much shorter than my first attempt as I can’t remember the saga I wrote out before losing it. Long story short, I drank it, felt fine, had to run to the bathroom a few times but other than shitting liquid fire I was completely fine. I went back to sleep for a few hours and then woke up and went to the hospital. All that worry for nothing. It was a legit cakewalk.

Round 4: procedure.

I got to the hospital and was feeling super nervous. Just to paint a picture, I’m a large man, 6 foot 5 and 140kg (310lbs) covered head to toe in tattoos, and this small nurse was holding my hand telling me everything was going to be alright. I had to laugh at myself at this point. She told me everyone is nervous and she’s had it done so many time and in her 30 years of nursing she’d never seen a single complication during the process or after.

She told me, and she was right, that the worst part would be waiting in the bed without my phone or kindle once I went into the next waiting area. My lord, that was by far the worst part. Staring at the roof for an hour felt like forever but I had heated blankets and a comfy bed so I eventually fell asleep.

I was woken by the anaesthetist who was awesome. Again, much longer story short, I told him I was anxious about the procedure and the drugs he was going to give me as I have a stupid fear of allergic reactions. He assured me that I’d be fine and that other major surgeries I had before had much higher risks. He said nothing they give me can cause anaphylactic reactions or anything and assure me I would be fine. He even offered to put me to sleep earlier so I didn’t have to wait or be anxious. I declined as I wanted to be out as little as possible. They wheeled me into the room about 30 mins later, and at this point I started freaking out a little bit and I was tempted to legit bail on the entire process but the nurses were just so amazing about it all. One of the main nurses told me I’d already gone through the hardest part and not knowing was a lot scarier than having a nice peaceful nap. It’s hard to imagine being peaceful and relaxed whilst cameras explore the depths of my anus but I agreed and gave them the go ahead and I was lights out within seconds.

They woke me up 35 mins later and I was good as gold. Was legit the most amazing nap I’ve ever had. I was eating sandwiches and drinking juice like it was nobodies business and then the doc came for a chat. He told me they removed two polyps and some small haemorrhoids and that everything else looked fine. I had both done, stomach and bowels. 20 mins later I was on the way home, stopped at nandos for a cheeky little chicken snack and the went home and fell asleep watching Harry Potter.

No pain or anything and I felt normal. I woke up and had a sore back and lower right flank pain so I got a heat pack and went for a walk. I passed some major gas and it felt so good. Came home, ate dinner and slept all night.

It’s currently 9:45 am the next morning and everything feels great. I’m hungry as a fucking hippo but besides that I feel good.

Lastly, I suppose, why was I even getting scans?

For months and months now I’ve had hardcore indigestion all day every day no matter what I eat. I wake up in the middle of the night choking on stomach acid and bile. It felt like someone was constantly stabbing me to death through my stomach, and I have this ring of absolute fire and hell in my upper right abdomen every time I eat, and whenever i burp it feels like a nuke has gone off in my stomach an esophagus. I was convinced I was going to get instant bad news and had the worst things possible inside me, and so far it looks to be all clear on the really bad side of things.

I guess I just wanted to write this in the hopes that it helps you, like many of the posts in here helped me prior to my procedure. It’s an absolute cakewalk compared to what you think it will be and the fear is absolutely much much worse than the reality. It felt NOTHING like I imagined. You’ve got this without a doubt. If you are feeling nervous or anxious always feel free to message me during your prep for some reassurance or comfort. I’m happy to chat and walk you through it. I can’t help with the results you may get but I can definitely help get you through the prep!

You can do this.