Colonoscopy prep

[ead79]

I'm so sorry! My mom was made so ill by the Nulytely that she called the doctor in tears. She just couldn't keep it down. Her doctor told her that the next time she could use some laxatives for prep, so perhaps that's an option. I sure wish there was an easier way to screen for colon cancer, but it's worthwhile to have the test FOR SURE!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

4 PAGES ON A COLONOSCOPY PREP!!!!!!!!!

I COULDNT EVEN READ THE RESPONSES! yuk

OH, in the end you'll have one.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'm sorry you weren't able to have the procedure afterall - I hope your doc can come up with something.

I''m one who puked up most of the prep on every colonoscopy I've had. I have a horrible gag reflux and usually am so sick by the time we do one that I haven't eaten solid foods in months. The last one, I got hardly any down BUT I had been on liquid only diet for so long that there truly wasn't too much to clean out. Thankfully, the GI was able to do it anyways.

I found the prep for one of my CT scans to be the worst; I was throwing up on the table as they were trying to get more down me. Thank goodness my last CT scan just required 2 bottles of Crystal Light with the prep mixed in, not the gallons of powdery fruit flavored junk.

 

[luvflorida]

I have a horrible gag reflux...

Me, too. The weird thing is that I still can't drink anything. Ever since this morning when I threw up the prep, I haven't been able to drink anything except a few sips of water. I'm addicted to Pepsi, but it doesn't appeal to me at all right now. My stomach is still roiling.

If I start to think about the taste of the prep, or ginger-ale, I start to gag. And, my husband didn't help any by setting a bottle of ginger-ale beside my computer earlier. I did not find it humorous.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I'm addicted to Pepsi, but it doesn't appeal to me at all right now. My stomach is still roiling.

Sounds like now would be a good time to give up the evil Pepsi

 

[Christine]

our office does not use the pill prep. it's a horrible prep that doesn't work as well as the others. we use half-lytely or trilyte. we also very rarely use the phosphosoda as it can cause an electrolyte imbalance.

.

This is funny because my GI doctor told me that, in the last year, the pill prep has been working better than any of the other preps. When the pills first came out, they were called Visicol. Apparently, they left a "residue" in the colon that looked a bit like snow flurries!! They took these off the market, reformulated them, and they are now called OsmoPrep and do not leave the residue and work wonderfully. I was told my colon was very clean.

I have a sensitive stomach, reflux, and gastritis, and I didn't have a problem with these.

 

[Mermaid02]

Am I the only person that just couldn't keep it down?

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy tomorrow afternoon. I turned 51 last year, so this is a test recommended by my doctor. I started the prep this morning.
I drank a glass of ginger-ale mixed with 1 1/2 ounces of phospho-soda, and I'm supposed to drink another mixture this evening.

Well, I managed to keep it down for almost an hour. I drank water, I tried not to think about the stuff I drank, but nothing worked. I ended up throwing up the entire contents of the drink. I was afraid this would happen. I have an awful gag reflex, and the phospho-soda has a salty taste. That's all I'm going to say, because if I think about it any more, I'm going to make myself sick again.

So, I guess I'll have to call my doctor's office in the morning and tell them I just couldn't keep the prep down. I HATE having to make that call. I'm sure they won't be too pleased with me.

Has anyone else gone through this procedure? Anyone else not able to follow through with the prep? Any other alternatives to drinking this stuff?

My Mom threw hers up too. Nasty stuff!

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Hope everything goes well. My mom is getting one today. She spent all day yesterday prepping. I don't recall what she drank yesterday, she only told me she had to drink clear liquids all day and no food and nothing today. I know she drank a lot of different things because I spent most of the day opening ginger ale bottle, lemonade, apple juice, and a couple other things for her. I'll have to ask her what else she had to drink, I didn't hear her mention anything about the phosphorous stuff. She didn't get sick at all from anything.

 

[Bob NC]

The good part about colonoscopy prep is that you're going to find that crayon you ate in third grade.

 

[luvflorida]

The good part about colonoscopy prep is that you're going to find that crayon you ate in third grade.

I didn't eat many crayons, but I did like to sample that white paste that came in little plastic jars. And, for right now, that paste can stay where it is. My stomach is still recovering from yesterday's prep sessions.

 

[shovan]

What a miserable rotten test this one is! Had one 6 years ago & I'm having lots of IBS problems again. On Thursday I begged the Dr. to give me another month of improving my diet & the new meds to try & avoid another colonoscopy!

I'm glad to hear about the pills! I will ask for that instead of drinking all of that yucky stuff!

 

[Christine]

I'm glad to hear about the pills! I will ask for that instead of drinking all of that yucky stuff!

The pills were pretty easy as far as any prep goes, but let me warn you--it is a LOT of pills. 32 to be exact.

They had me start at 5:00 p.m. I took 4 pills with 8 oz of Gatorade. I did this every 15 minutes until 6 p.m. (that is a total of 20 pills). On the last set up pills, you have to drink a can of ginger ale.

Then, I had to get up at 5:00 a.m. and take 12 more pills over 30 minutes. Same thing--ended with a can of ginger ale.

My friend is doing this in a few days. She is also doing the pills (she's had 8 colonscopies due to colon cancer). Her doctor is having her do all the pills in the evening prior. So each doctor is different in how they do the pills.

I still thought they were fairly easy considering I have a very sensitive stomach and I'm not much of a drinker at all. I had the biggest concern about getting all that fluid down, but it really was easier than I expected.

 

[piglet too]

Now if they could just make an "easier" way for kids to do the prep. There was talk about DS having to repeat his test, and none of us are looking forward to that.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Has anyone had the MRI or CAT scan thing instead of the "hands-on" colonoscopy? I'm really interested in trying that instead. I have some serious fears about a regular colonoscopy and don't really want to spend another 5 years in therapy trying to get over any issues that might come up.

 

[Christine]

Has anyone had the MRI or CAT scan thing instead of the "hands-on" colonoscopy? I'm really interested in trying that instead. I have some serious fears about a regular colonoscopy and don't really want to spend another 5 years in therapy trying to get over any issues that might come up.

I have heard that you still need a "prep" for the virtual colonoscopy (you still need an empty colon) and that they cannot detect polyps under 10 mm. To me, that's not good enough.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I have heard that you still need a "prep" for the virtual colonoscopy (you still need an empty colon) and that they cannot detect polyps under 10 mm. To me, that's not good enough.

While the "prep" would not be easy for me, it's the other part that would be unbearable. And yes, I know they give you a twilight sedative, but I'd need to be completely out. Even then, I'm not sure that I could handle it mentally.

 

[floridafam]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they put you out for a virtual colonoscopy. Isn't it done by CT or MRI? I believe that you would be completely alert.

I requested conscious sedation for my colonoscopy but they only do that as the first or last appointment of the day and I wasn't going to reschedule.

I had general anesthesia and was completely out for the procedure. It was light general anesthesia.

I believe the Anesthesiologist will work with your particular requests if they know about them ahead of time. They want the procedure to go well the first time and they want you to be comfortable.

Last Thursday, I went to the surgical center at 9:45 am after doing the prep the day before. I actually managed to get a decent night's sleep as most of my bathroom time was before I went to bed.

I sat in a room, changed into my gown and they started an IV and I talked with the Anesthesiologist. They offered something to relax me but I declined. I was given some Benadryl in my IV because I had hives after my last procedure. It made me VERY SLEEPY!

I then walked to the room and got up on the bed. They gave me a pillow to hug and I was told that I was getting the medicine now and that's the last thing I remember until I woke up in the recovery area. I was in the colonoscopy room for about 30 minutes and the recovery area for about an hour. The Dr. spoke with my DH and then we left.

Hope this helps.

 

[Christine]

While the "prep" would not be easy for me, it's the other part that would be unbearable. And yes, I know they give you a twilight sedative, but I'd need to be completely out. Even then, I'm not sure that I could handle it mentally.

I can't believe you are any crazier than me!! I had a very tough time with it all (prior) but it was something that I *had* to do as I have anemia with no cause. I really felt like I didn't have a choice. But I get what you are saying about it all. I was scared to death and didn't sleep for at least a week before the procedure. And I used Xanax for awhile before the procedure.

 

[Alpental]

they're all the rage these days, but no insurance carriers will cover it and if they find something, they'll have to do a regular one anyway to remove and biopsy the polyp. and you have to do the exact same prep for a virtual one.

our office does not use the pill prep. it's a horrible prep that doesn't work as well as the others. we use half-lytely or trilyte. we also very rarely use the phosphosoda as it can cause an electrolyte imbalance.

i've tasted all the preps. the gallon jug ones taste the best unfortunately.

Electrolyte imbalance would be avoided if you drink plenty of Gatorade and if it makes people more willing to have the test then isn't it worth offering it as an option? I read of all the people who can't keep the gallon jug stuff down and feel like it's too bad they hadn't bought an over the counter version of the phosphosoda just in case. It's been six years ago but my boyfriend went to fill a script for a prep (I can't remember which) and it was expensive so he asked the pharmacist if there was something that would have the same result that was cheaper. What he bought was less than $25 and it worked great.

 

[nephthys43]

Zombie thread!!!