Colonoscopy prep - oh what fun!

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

i have crohns, that orginally started as colitis when i was 15. i have to go for scopes all the time. i can promise you the prep is the utmost worst part!!!! i use colyte and it's like drinking pineapple gelatin- yuck!!!!! clear like water but it tastes so thick going down it's awful. last year i was supposed to havea sigmoid scope- five inches, so i needed only to use a flush for a bit of cleaning....well while there my gi doc figured meh, lets go all the way-sans meds!!! it really wasn't all that bad. a bit painful when they pumped the air into my intestines, no meds on board so i could feel it. this july i had to do the whole clean out. yuck!!! atleast i got meds this time!

i passed out about 10 yrs ago with it as i was really really ill with a flare, but since then i've managed to stay awake and gotta admit it's pretty cool to watch! surprisingly it's a very clean pink area of your body given what passes through it!

i hope they figure out what's causing you to be so sick....it's not fun going through these types of problems....i swear i keep walmart pharmacy in business! keep us posted!

 

[MIGrandma]

Soapy salt water? I used Fleet and had lemon packets to add so it didn't taste all that bad. But yeah, the prep was the worst. I pretty much set up camp in the bathroom that evening. Got a lot read in my book though.

What I was worried most about, was the IV. They usually have a hard time getting it in, but I had a great nurse who got it, almost painfree, on the first try. I was impressed!!

After they wheeled me into the room for the actual procedure, they started the demerol (I think that was it) drip and she said "this might make you a little dizzy" and I remember saying "wow, yeah, it does make you dizzy" and that's all I remember until I woke up in my room. Had a snack/drink and got dressed and went home.

Piece of cake. I won't worry about having another in 5 years.

Good luck to you!

 

[PatsMom]

Got to agree with the others - the prep stinks but the procedure is nothing. I had an endoscopy on the same day so I only had to fast once! I used MoviPrep which you need a prescription for and it tasted awful but I got it all down. It was better refrigerated.

 

[MomRN]

I took the pill prep and had a special diet (full liquid followed by clear liquid followed by NPO). Mine was done under general anesthesia because it was done as the same time as a fistula repair.

I'm 31 and had 9 polyps, a few of which were pretty yucky. The surgeon pretty much said if I had waited until 50 I would have had cancer. I'm now on a 3 year schedule.

Anyway, the pill prep wasn't bad at all. It was multiple large pills taken frequently...made me somewhat nauseated, but it couldn't be as bad as the drink, I wouldn't think.

 

[bellebud]

anyone know why they don't give everyone the Pill for the prep instead of the drinking stuff? I'm going to insist on the pill when I get one.

 

[SC Minnie]

Hope you got good news

 

[TLuvsD]

Just checking in to see how you are doing. I hope today was easier and you get the answers you need asap.

 

[daisax]

anyone know why they don't give everyone the Pill for the prep instead of the drinking stuff? I'm going to insist on the pill when I get one.

I think because sometimes the pills don't break down all the way and end up leaving debris on the colon walls that look like something bad so they need to be investigated, resulting in more work and more time.

The prep stinks, but it's do-able. Most folks I know were not chained to the toilet for fear of a massive accident -- just had to go every 15 mins or so.

The poster who said the insides look really clean was right -- my doc gave me pictures and it's so smooth and pink/white. I don't know what I was imagining (well, I guess I do) but it's really kind of fascinating.

And I found that whether it was the drugs or the cleanout, I felt for days like I had just taken a two week vacation. Lots of energy and felt like I was completely rested in a way I hadn't been since my last vacation! Whatever they gave me last time, I want to make sure I get next time!

 

[C.Ann]

Not I.. Every single time I have been scheduled to have this procedure done, I have ended up so deathly sick (not to mention passed out cold on the floor several times) the doctors have cancelled the procedure.. So far we've tried everything out there and no luck..

Good luck to you though..

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Nobody's Colonoscopy prep is complete without this!



But really it's not fun having a colonoscopy.

This is the absolute funniest thing I've ever read. I was sitting at my desk in work with tears streaming down my face trying to not disturb everyone around me.

And also makes its point abundantly clear.

Not I.. Every single time I have been scheduled to have this procedure done, I have ended up so deathly sick (not to mention passed out cold on the floor several times) the doctors have cancelled the procedure.. So far we've tried everything out there and no luck..

Good luck to you though..

C.Ann, I'm so sorry you've had such a horrible experience with this. Hopefully they will be able to find a way to get it done.

OP -- I'm praying that all went well today and you'll be back to report good news to us.

For everyone else who has had this done -- BRAVO! My gastro said I don't need to go until I'm 45, but I think in January I'm going to insist we do it now. Let's just say I'd like peace of mind due to something that's making me wonder. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Blech. Who else has been through this joyous prep? Please tell me the actual event is not nearly as bad as the preparation!

Been sick as a dog for over 2 months so hoping for some answers but surely there is an easier way than drinking a gallon of what tastes like soapy salt water.

My mother has had that soapy water but she is having damage caused by radation treatment sorted out.

 

[hellokitty86]

I just got one done on Monday. The prep is definitely the worst part. The rest was VERY easy! I was wheeled into the room and was on my left side. They didn't even tell me they were starting the sedation so apparently I just went to sleep and when I woke up it was over!

The worst part besides the prep? One of the nurses recoginizing me and saying "Did you go to _____ High School?" right before they started the sedation. That's not a place where you want to have a reunion. I was pretty horrified and the nurse got a "What were you thinking?" look from the Dr.

The other bad part was the gas pains afterwards, but I got some gas pills and that helped some.

 

[mookie]

I've been having them done since I was 20 because of family history....in fact, my poor boyfriend at the time that I was living with in college actually helped me through my first procedure. Talk about a labor of love...guess that's why he turned into my DH!

As all have said, prep is the worst. But I have to agree that I LOVE how I feel afterwards...lots of clothes fit better from getting all that "junk" out of your system, and you have a lot more energy. It's the perfect time to motivate yourself to start a new diet since you are "clean."

OP - Good luck to you...crossing fingers for good results and that you are feeling better today now that it's all over!

 

[PatsMom]

I just got one done on Monday. The prep is definitely the worst part. The rest was VERY easy! I was wheeled into the room and was on my left side. They didn't even tell me they were starting the sedation so apparently I just went to sleep and when I woke up it was over!

The worst part besides the prep? One of the nurses recoginizing me and saying "Did you go to _____ High School?" right before they started the sedation. That's not a place where you want to have a reunion. I was pretty horrified and the nurse got a "What were you thinking?" look from the Dr.

The other bad part was the gas pains afterwards, but I got some gas pills and that helped some.

Even worse than a reunion was what a friend of mine had to do - she has a family history of colon cancer and her husband had asked some of us to bug her about going for her test. One day at lunch we said something about it and she told me that I was a fine one to talk since I went outside every hour to smoke! If I quit for 3 months, she said she would go for her test, take my last cigaretee, ask the nurse to put it in a very personal place, and take a picture before the procedure.

I am very competitive so I quit smoking. The nurse at her test was in hysterics but said that she couldn't take a picture like that! But my friend swears she asked. Four years later, she is grateful since they found pre-cancerous polyps and I am still not smoking.

 

[manning]

You have to admit the person who gave the name of the stuff you drink has a warped sense of humor.........Go-lite (SP?)

 

[mhsjax]

I am glad I don't have the Dr's you guys have. Mine told me to take 2 Dulcolax,that was bad, then buy a large Miralax and mix with so many ounces of Gatoraid and drink. You can't taste Miralax at all, just tasted like Gatoraid.

My mom's Dr told her to use Golightly, she threw up. I love my Dr. The worst part about the prep was not eating, and the test itself, the last thing I remember was telling the nurse that I thought the drugs were starting to work, nest thing I know they are waking me up and telling me I am fine.

 

[C.Ann]

You have to admit the person who gave the name of the stuff you drink has a warped sense of humor.........Go-lite (SP?)

I know someone who had to use that for a prep and then later changed their email addy to "Mary-Go-Litely@xxxxx"...

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Well, I'm back and everything went fine. I didn't get much sleep at all last night - about 2 hours at best - so I was pretty tired when we got there. They were pretty busy and were running behind (no pun intended) so my procedure was later than scheduled.

I have no fear of needles or IVs so that part didn't bother me at all and I was impressed that the nurse got me on the first stick. They wheeled me back to the procedure room and waited until the Dr walked in to have me roll onto my side because that is my shoulder with the torn rotator cuff (ouch). The nurse started giving me the Diprovan in my IV and I remember telling her I wasn't feeling anything yet a couple of times then next thing I know I am in the recovery room.

Funny story - when I woke up in recovery I obviously woke up from a dream where I had told my oldest DD16 that she could not have a friend spend the night. When I woke up I could see 2 females standing over me (the nurses) and said LOUDLY "I told you that you couldn't have a friend over!". Both nurses busted out laughing then I realized where I was. I told them I thought they were my 16 year old daughter and her friend and they said they had no problem being mistaken for teenagers!

Other than being really sleepy (which was more from the lack of sleep than the anesthesia) afterwards and a little bit of gas pains, I was fine. No nausea or dizziness. The Dr said that everything looked normal and they didn't find any reason for the problems I have been having but he did take some biopsies. So the good news is they didn't find anything but we are back to square one with why I have been so sick. I have been suffering with colitis caused by e.coli but the doctors have also suspected there was more going on and this was to look and see what was inside.

We left the outpatient center and went straight to Applebee's so DH could get his free meal today for Veteran's Day.

Anyone hesitating to have this done, DON'T. It's a BREEZE. The prep is gross but not unbearable. Just plan to stay home the day before with some extra reading material.

The GOOD side - I weighed myself before and after I started the prep and I lost almost 10 pounds! I don't know whether to be thrilled or horrified. The nurses said a good bit of that is water since the prep draws water from your body to flush your system out but most of that is umm "stuff" you are carrying around. Ick ick ick.

Thanks for all the comments and well wishes.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

So glad you got good news. Hopefully they'll be able to get to the bottom (no pun intended ) of your problems soon.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

I hate the prep too but a clean colon is the only way the doctors can get accurate testing. My dr prefers the golytely; the liquid does a better job of flushing the system apparently.

I'm due for another one next spring & sure wish time would stand still... Now if I can manage to get through it without DH catching on. He'd hover so much it would drive me crazy!