What is an Ileoscope?

For those of us with IBD, colonoscopies, endoscopes and gastroscopies are par the course of life alongside nasty bowel preparation and having things put where the sun wouldn’t typically deem fit to shine upon. Scopes are par the course, occasionally strip away one’s dignity and are the butt of many comedian sketches.

What happens when you no longer have an available exit to check one’s bowel? How on earth do you have a scope? It is the same camera, just entered via the stoma instead of your back passage.

Ileoscopy

A ileoscopy is something that those of us minus a large bowel or rectum may have done. From my own experience, it’s a far easier procedure and doesn’t involve having your bottom hanging out for all to see and is devoid of any moviprep or citrafleet.

You may have to do a form of bowel preparation 5 days prior leading up to the scope; you may have to stop eating fruits and vegetables, live a beige diet for those 5 days and drink plenty of fluids.

The day prior to your scope you may be told to have a light breakfast before 9am and then its liquids only.

I woke up rather late that morning so I had fasted for nearly 48 hrs prior to my scope, suffice to say I may have been slightly grouchy by 1pm on Friday when they went ahead with my scope.

The ileoscope itself only took 5/10 minutes. My gastroscopy I couldn’t tell you because I was 3 sheets to the wind on sedation by then, I had biopsies taken, my Crohn’s is flaring and I am now awaiting results from the biopsies to check if it’s gone microscopic on me again.

Current hospital situation

Please make sure you wear a mask before going in, have hand sanitiser on you and wash hands where possible. If you can please avoid public transport and drive up to the hospital.

For me, it’s a bit of a mire as I have to drive into central London but it’s preferable than risking the trains in my personal opinion.

For those of you worried about going to the hospital please don’t be; they are incredibly well equipped to manage during this current pandemic. You may get a phone call the day before confirming you don’t have Covid symptoms and they check your temperature before being admitted onto the unit.

Social distancing is in place and they are working on a 1 in and 1 out basis. All in all, I think I spent 4 hours in. They wouldn’t let me off of the ward until Ben came up to get me, that may well be because I have a habit of wandering off when I have been sedated. one time he lost me on the train, another time I was taken to Oxford street shopping after and my Mum lost me for an hour in central London…

Neither scopes were unpleasant, I was squiffy after, didn’t feel overly bloated or windy. However once 6 pm came around and some food had entered my digestive system, then the fun and games started.

They blow up the bowel with air to get a good picture of what’s going on inside. With an ileostomy we don’t have the option to expel wind at will. Continuous burping and cramps lasted well into Saturday afternoon and the left side lower abdomen is still a little tender.

It may have been partly my own fault as I chowed down a fair amount after the procedure…

I used Paracetamol, codeine and buscopan to help me pass what could only be described as going into labour again. I was in bed by 8pm Friday and slept it off with painkillers every 6 hours until I felt better.

I am now awaiting the two weeks for biopsy results.

All in all an easy procedure that felt a far less invasive than a colonoscopy.

As always

Many thanks for reading

Louise Xx

Louise uses our Platinum Vitamin E range to keep her stoma site healthy. If you’d like to try a sample, click here.

This blog post is intended to give advice to ostomates. The information given is based on Louise’s personal experience and should not be taken as clinical advice. Each ostomates needs are unique to them and their stoma care routine. Please consult with your Stoma Care Nurse before undertaking any changes to your stoma care routine or if you are experiencing any health issues.