Colonoscopy prep

[Micca]

BTW, I mixed the powder with some generic dry lemonade mix. I was prepared for the worst, but thought it tasted like a cheap margarita. Get it cold, gulp it down(no baby sips) and don't think too much about it.

 

[Hrhpd]

I have had 2 this year.

Popsicles, lots and lots of lemon and lime popsicles. Psychologically, it feels like solid food...sort of.

I also used Crystal Light Lemonade in my prep rather than the gross packets they provide. Great advice from the Gastro nurse.

I was told it would go down better through a straw, but I preferred drinking it.

The docs said to eat lightly after the procedure. Nahhh, I was so hungry, we stopped at the Burger King next door for a whopper and onion rings.

 

[NMAmy]

I always feel like a Public Service Announcement but I've been urging everyone to get their colonoscopy. I had to have an endoscopy done this summer and just before the test was scheduled, I had a blood test that showed extreme anemia. We were all fairly sure the anemia wasn't related but since I'm 49, I opted to just do the colonoscopy at the same time and get it over with.

Turned out I had a very large pre-cancerous polyp. The doctor told me if I'd waited until I was 50, I would have had to wear a bag for the rest of my life.

Because of that, oh, joy, joy, I have to have another one done this spring. I'm quite grateful that I'm able to take pills for the prep instead of the liquid, though. My insurance covered most of the cost of the pills and I paid the rest OOP thinking that I'd much prefer that to the liquid.

 

[Kitty 34]

The only thing I really hated was several times in the night I had to make the mad dash to the bathroom which really interrupted my sleep! I was so afraid I'd still have to "go" that bad the next morning on the way to the hospital but luckily I was all cleaned out!!


Good luck to you!

 

[wishing4PA]

OP, good luck! DH has done that several times, and I know it was important, but if it comes down to my life or drinking that stuff, I'm not sure I value my life that much!
They really need to come up with better tasting stuff. I could probably deal with the side effects (well, not side effects since that's the intended effect), but drinking the stuff? No. Not yet.
Best wishes for good results, OP.

 

[PeterPanic]

I always schedule mine for early in the morning. That way I get the prep done the night before and am out of there by about 10. The hard part for me is that that pump you full of air and get all huffy if you are unable to pass it out. That has been a problem for me. I am extremely uncomfortable until I finally get to eat something and as soon as I do that...all else follows.

I don't go unconscious during the procedure, in fact I watch it on the monitor. Most people get all squirmy when I mention that but I find it fascinating. I even watched them remove a polyp...it was cool.

 

[Jennasis]

I wasn't given a packet of stuff. My prep consisted of:

2 Dulcolax tablets.

Two hours later I had to mix 255mg of miralax powder with a 64oz Gatorade and drink 8oz every 20 minutes until it's gone.

Then 4 hours before procedure I have to drink a bottle of Magnesium Citrate laxative.

Right now I switch between nauseous and starving. DH is eating a delicious fried chicken dinner right next to me and it's KILLING me.

 

[Cinderella94]

I've had to drink the stuff maybe 5 times? because I had ulcerative colitis until I had my colon removed two years ago. It tastes awful. No advice, really, just saying that I've shared your misery . It'll be over soon!

 

[figmentswife]

I've had to drink the stuff maybe 5 times? because I had ulcerative colitis until I had my colon removed two years ago. It tastes awful. No advice, really, just saying that I've shared your misery . It'll be over soon!

Please pm me more info about the removal... DH is on remicaide and we are told that if it fails removal is the only other option. I am really hoping this little flare up he is in right now is just a little flare and not failure of the meds.

 

[figmentswife]

My DH is a pro. He has them every year at least once a year because he has UC. Don't think about how nasty it is just drink he says. You can get a big fat burger as soon as your done.

 

[lilaurora]

Yech! I've been there, too. Had my first one shortly before my 30th birthday....Just made turning 30 that much better, yeah, that's it......

Wet wipes are a super idea. I also ended up using some Desitin we had from when DD was a baby. That's some good stuff!

I also was super hungry before doing the mega drink. I got so full from the liquid that I felt really nauseous. However, I made the mistake of trying to force it down. Well, let's say that my body didn't like that idea and I ended up having to drink even more of that nastiness....

Sending thoughts your way for a good result.

 

[diznee25]

I had a colonoscopy for the first time back in July. Hard to believe, but the fasting was harder for me than the prep!

Quick tip: In between drinking the prep every 20 minutes, (or whatever your timeframe is), swish with mouth wash. This helps "reset" your mouth before the next prep drink. My prep tasted really gross, so I started having a gaging reflex, but once I started using the mouth wash....problem solved!

Good luck! I too had my Nook Color, and laptop in the bathroom with me. Helps pass the time!


diznee25

 

[Jennasis]

I didn't mind the taste of the gatorade prep stuff. I don't even mind the running to the potty constantly (though to be honest, i thought it would be more "eventful")....it's just that I'm SO HUNGRY. I'm also tired of drinking any liquid. It's a chore. Even water.

I'm also not looking forward to the IV tomorrow. Historically I'm usually so dehydrated by the time I'm stuck that they blow out the veins in my hands poking around. So I'm forcing myself to drink water as much as I can to counteract that.

 

[hops&dreams]

I didn't mind the taste of the gatorade prep stuff. I don't even mind the running to the potty constantly (though to be honest, i thought it would be "eventful")....it's just that I'm SO HUNGRY. I'm also tired of drinking any liquid. It's a chore. Even water.

I'm also not looking forward to the IV tomorrow. Historically I'm usually so dehydrated by the time I'm stuck that they blow out the veins in my hands poking around. So I'm forcing myself to drink water as much as I can to counteract that.

Compared to having to get all that miralax/Gatorade down, the IV will be a breeze. I also had the miralax Gatorade prep, but I had to do 1/2 the huge miralx bottle the night before, and half starting 6 hours before procedure. So I got to get up at 4 am and had 30 mins to chug that puppy down. And yeah, I chose orange too. I started with yellow until dh pointed out that yellow is the only thing served at most of the half marathons I run. That would have been bad association on the course.

Good luck tomorrow and enjoy sleeping off the anesthesia. I never sleep as well as I do with the help of versed.

 

[Micca]

I didn't mind the taste of the gatorade prep stuff. I don't even mind the running to the potty constantly (though to be honest, i thought it would be "eventful")....it's just that I'm SO HUNGRY. I'm also tired of drinking any liquid. It's a chore. Even water.

I'm also not looking forward to the IV tomorrow. Historically I'm usually so dehydrated by the time I'm stuck that they blow out the veins in my hands poking around. So I'm forcing myself to drink water as much as I can to counteract that.

OK, hang in there. The drugs are awesome. I also suffer from needle-phobia,but ...you won't mind a bit when the meds kick in.

 

[low-key]

just hated the prep, I hope they invent a easier way to check

 

[mommyrosa2]

just hated the prep, I hope they invent a easier way to check

Ditto...I had my first endoscopy & colonoscopy this past Spring and as a person who doesn't like jello & doesn't like Gatorade, all I can say is that it was one very long prep day for me. Like a pp said, by the time I finished drinking everything, I was shivering uncontrollable. While I was so nervous for the actual tests, that ended up being a breeze. Thank God I don't have to do another for 5 more years.

OP: good luck tomorrow!

 

[westjones]

I did this last month and they did find something (not cancer) but I have to do it again in 6 months. But I told my doctor next time I want to start an hour earlier than what they told me to. Especially for the second day. I was not 'done' by the time I had to go to the doctors office which was NOT fun.

She told me that was fine, so whatever you do don't delay when you start your second round on the day of the procedure and you might want to call your doctor and ask if you can start an hour earlier if you have a long drive to get there (luckily I was only 5 minutes away and could just run to their bathroom).

I had frozen cokes on my prep day. I love them, but don't get them often.

The day of the procedure I thought I would be starving but honestly I wanted sleep more than food. I did not get much sleep at all the night during prep.

Best of luck to you!

 

[sasywtch]

What confuses me is why some have to drink a gallon of stuff and others don't? I had to take 2 pills and then a few hours later, I drank that 16 oz bottle (I think it was 16 oz) of the lemon lime stuff they had me buy at Walmart.

My sister had the white stuff that was huge but not understanding why some get the other stuff like I got.

The bathroom part wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I expected it to be like when I have an intestinal flu but after the first time, not too bad. Not eating was rough but I did what other's mentioned, broth, jello. I did take a muffin in with me and ate it coming out of the office

My biggest mistake? Meeting my new boyfriend for lunch after the procedure. Trying to think of a nice way to say this.............be with someone who you know will make no judgements of you or any noises LOL how's that for tact?

 

[disfan07]

I didn't mind the taste of the gatorade prep stuff. I don't even mind the running to the potty constantly (though to be honest, i thought it would be more "eventful")....it's just that I'm SO HUNGRY. I'm also tired of drinking any liquid. It's a chore. Even water.

I'm also not looking forward to the IV tomorrow. Historically I'm usually so dehydrated by the time I'm stuck that they blow out the veins in my hands poking around. So I'm forcing myself to drink water as much as I can to counteract that.

If your that hard of a stick, request that they try in the AC instead of your hand. In general, they dont like doing the AC unless they need quick access because of the location and it prevents you from bending your arm but for a procedure like tHis, it should not be a problem. My veins are so shot at this point that my IVs infiltrate and fail usually within 24 hours of being inserted regardless of where they are and since I am such a hard stick, they usually just go straight for the AC with me. They won't even try anywhere else unless I've become so bruised that they can't get one in and at that point they bring in the ultrasound to do an ultrasound guided IV in my upper arm. I have IV nurses who cringe when they see my name as an inpatient. I've challenged even the most experienced nurses. Once I had 4 different IV nurses trying to get a new IV in over a 4 hour period before they decided on a central line.