Colonoscopy prep

[Alex2kMommy]

Now I know why I'm reluctant to schedule my consult with the GI dr about some pain I've been having. My stomach is hurting just thinking about the prep involved with certain procedures and I'm thinking that he'll want to run some test.

Me, too! I've been sitting here, reading other threads since this one, and my stomach is just roiling in memory. Blech!

 

[SeaSpray]

I drank the phospho-soda, too. I mixed it with juice and that made it worse; I couldn't drink juice for a long time after that. lol That stuff tastes like a mix of urine and battery acid. Now I have no idea what urine and battery acid actually taste like, but if I had to guess, it'd be Phospho-soda.

I think next time I'd try the pills.

I hope you're able to get the pills or something else, luvflorida, so you can get this test done. Like others have said, the test itself is a snap!

 

[luvflorida]

I mixed it with juice and that made it worse; I couldn't drink juice for a long time after that.

I don't think I'll ever be able to drink ginger-ale again.

 

[DisMN]

I gag just thinking about it, so I know there is no way I'm going to be able to try it again. I'm mad at myself for not being able to do this.

I chilled the phospho-soda in the fridge overnight. I mixed it with ginger-ale this morning, and added ice. I sipped water to get rid of the salty taste, but I STILL couldn't keep any of it down.

Oh dear, I see exactly where you could change this to make it more palatable. Take the stuff mixed with the ginger ale but ALSO have a cup of COLD ginger ale sitting there so you can chase the mixture down with GOOD tasting stuff. You should be allowed to have all the clear liquids you want today so the tasty ginger ale shouldn't interfere.
If you just keep drinking water to get rid of the salty taste you'll just keep tasting salt. Ick. Horrible. You poor thing.

Try it again MY way if you can bear to. Just remember to chase the mixture down with something else that tastes better, NOT water as you need something with flavor. Honest. I wouldn't lie to you.

Good luck.

 

[4greatboys]

I didnt have to drink that stuff for mine. My GI had me on a liquid diet for 3 days prior and then I did a small prep the night before.

If you dont think you can drink all of that stuff talk to your about a different way to prep. Im sure you guys can come up with something that works better for you.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I totally understand. I have a VERY sensitive gag reflex also. I have blown a barium "shake" all over an exam room! I have had 2 colonoscopies and could not drink the stuff at all.

Does your doctor have an on call number? If so, CALL IT! Let them know you are having problems and ask for an alternative. You could also call the pharmacy, but the Dr. is your best bet. If you can't reach your Dr. or his sub, then call the local ER and see if you can talk to a nurse.

I ended up having to take a bunch of OTC laxatives. I had cramping and stomach pain, but I really preferred that to gagging down and then puking up the liquid stuff. Just get some pillows, a heating pad, and reading materials and camp out in the bathroom when they start working. You may be up all night.

But the test is important. I would rather endure a day of stomach cramps and diarrhea than untreated Colon Cancer.

Good Luck

 

[piglet too]

I hope you are able to either get it doen as suggested above, or find another way to do the prep. My DS7 had to do this last summer, and we used Citromag for his. The first suggestion was to mix it with jello, that did not work and he still hates the stuff now. We did manage to get the minimum down, but it was hard.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

they gave me pills instead of the liquid for my prep

 

[luvflorida]

Does your doctor have an on call number? If so, CALL IT! Let them know you are having problems and ask for an alternative. You could also call the pharmacy, but the Dr. is your best bet. If you can't reach your Dr. or his sub, then call the local ER and see if you can talk to a nurse.

I just called the doctor's office and got the answering service. I explained the situation and she is going to call the doctor and have him call me. This whole thing is stressing me out and making me sick to my stomach.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Good They should be more than happy to call you and discuss alternatives. Let us know what they say, and how it all, ahem, goes...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Hang in there! You're doing the right thing letting the doc know the situation; the worst thing would be cancellation of the test because you couldn't take the prep. Then you'd have to start all over again.

Hopefully the doc will prescribe pills to take care of it. (I didn't know you could have anti-nausea meds; I don't think I got those!)

 

[ChristmasElf]

Ask your Dr for the pills that you can take. There are a lot and you take them in 4's every 15 minutes. You start about 12 hours before the procedure until you have taken 16 pills.
Then about 5 hours before the procedure you take the pills 6 at a time every 15 minutes 3 or 4 times. This should work much better for you.

By the way, taking the pills is the WORST part of the whole procedure. When you get to the medical facility, you will get an IV put in with an anesthetic. Next thing you know, you will be out like a light.
The procedure itself is very quick like 10 minutes is all.
You will then be taken to an area to rest where they will wake you up a short time later. You get dressed and get to go home. You will also be allowed to eat after about an hour. Anything you want, just try to avoid anything that causes gas like green pepper or salad, beans etc.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I was required to pass gas several times before they let me leave. DH nicknamed the recovery area the Toot Suite cause of all of us "tooting" constantly!

 

[annegal]

I gag just thinking about it, so I know there is no way I'm going to be able to try it again. I'm mad at myself for not being able to do this.

.

I SOOO hate that stuff. My Doc now gives me pills instead...now its 28 pills to take with water, but SO much easier! Ask your Doc!

 

[Cindyluwho]

I had to do it last May to prep for abdominal surgery, and almost didn't make it, but I did. It was really awful, and for months afterward my stomach would curl at the thought. I know your pain!

I'm supposed to have a colonoscopy, too, but I can't bear the thought of going through that again. Someone was telling me that there's something in pill form they can give now. A couple people I've talked to about it said it works great, but another person (maybe she works in a doc's office?) said it tends not to work as well for some people.

I'm going to ask for it, though!

Yep, there is a pill now. I think you have to take it with a quart or gallon of liquid though Still, anything would be better than that other stuff!

 

[Shugardrawers]

I have one scheduled for Thursday. My Dr. prescribed something called NuLytely and it Has flavor packs. They tried to do the barium lower GI thing but the standard prep didn't work on me so now it's on to the industrial strength stuff I actually didn't find the magnesium citrate too bad, it tasted like dry 7up. I have no idea about this one. I thought he was kidding when he said he'd give me a gallon of drano to clear me out. No, he wasn't. This jug is HUGE

He did say if I had trouble tolerating this to do as much as I could and go to the drugstore and pick up a couple 2 packs of Fleets. Then attack the pipes from the, uh, "exit" to try to clear them that way. He said to still come in and they'd check to see if I was cleared enough to run the test. Wish he'd offered me some pills!

Now I know why I'm reluctant to schedule my consult with the GI dr about some pain I've been having. My stomach is hurting just thinking about the prep involved with certain procedures and I'm thinking that he'll want to run some test.

Please don't put it off Tiggy. I know you have less reason to worry than I do but in the back of your mind you are thinking the same things I am. Ignorance is not bliss in this case. If I can do it you can too.

I was required to pass gas several times before they let me leave. DH nicknamed the recovery area the Toot Suite cause of all of us "tooting" constantly!

You know you have a real friend when you can fart in front of them!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Please don't put it off Tiggy. I know you have less reason to worry than I do but in the back of your mind you are thinking the same things I am. Ignorance is not bliss in this case. If I can do it you can too.

Of course you are right and I've had more pain the last couple of days, so really shouldn't put it off . I might have something as simple as a retained stone and not need one of these tests that involve prep at all.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Of course you are right and I've had more pain the last couple of days, so really shouldn't put it off . I might have something as simple as a retained stone and not need one of these tests that involve prep at all.

I'll come hold your hand while you fart!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'll come hold your hand while you fart!

What are friends for?

When my mom had hers 2-3 years ago I flew out to Oregon to hold her hand. Don't remember her farting, however.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I'll come hold your hand while you fart!

I'm gonna hold your had while you do. That reminds me, what did I do with that gas mask?